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What information does an SGK social security contribution statement contain?
The document available on e-Government as "SGK Registration and Social Security Contribution Statement" summarises a person's insurance history in Türkiye. Institutions abroad can use this single document to review employment history, occupational information and social security status.
- The insured person's identity and registration details
- Insurance type (4A, 4B, 4C) and registration records
- Employment start and end dates
- Numbers of contribution days and earnings subject to contributions
- Names of workplaces and occupation codes
- Codes relating to missing contribution days and reasons for termination of employment
The list of workplace names at the end of the statement shows which employer the person worked for in each period. This section is particularly important in overseas job and visa applications because it allows experience stated on a CV to be verified against official records.
What do 4A, 4B and 4C mean?
Insurance statuses are named according to the article structure of Law No. 5510, and the statement may be organised into separate sections for these statuses:
- 4A: people employed under an employment contract by an employer, formerly covered by SSK. Most private-sector employees have this status.
- 4B: people working independently on their own account, tradespeople and company partners, formerly covered by Bağ-Kur.
- 4C: public officials, employees who were covered by the Pension Fund (Emekli Sandığı) under the former system.
An institution abroad may require a statement for only one status or a long-term statement showing the person's entire insurance history. The required scope should be confirmed from the document list of the institution receiving the application.
For which procedures abroad is it required?
As the contribution statement is an impartial official record proving employment history, it is encountered in very different types of files:
- Documenting professional history in work visa and residence permit applications
- Overseas pensions, aggregation of insurance periods and social security agreement procedures
- Evidence of experience in professional equivalence and recognition files
- Scoring work experience in immigration and points-based applications
- Reference verification by foreign employers
A contribution statement is also needed to establish contribution history in Türkiye for pension procedures in countries that have social security agreements with Türkiye and for calculations involving payment of contributions for periods spent abroad.
How is the document obtained, and which format is accepted?
The statement can be obtained free of charge through e-Government as a barcoded PDF. The barcode enables electronic verification of the document's authenticity; many institutions accept this printout directly.
Some institutions require the document to be obtained from a social security centre with a stamp and signature. This distinction becomes important if an apostille is required: the document submitted for an apostille must be issued in the format required by the authority providing the endorsement. Clarifying the requirements of both the requesting institution and the apostille authority before applying avoids the inconvenience of obtaining the same document twice.
e-Government documents are issued in Turkish; it is not possible to obtain the statement directly in English or another language. A sworn translation is prepared for use at a foreign institution.
What should be considered in the translation?
The contribution statement is a dense table consisting of rows of dates, codes and amounts; the value of the translation lies in reproducing this information flawlessly. A one-character error in the number of contribution days or an employment start date can change the foreign institution's calculation.
- Using the correct equivalents for occupation codes and job titles in the target language; a mistranslated job title can lead to experience being assessed incorrectly
- Preserving the table layout and row order
- Adapting date formats to the destination country's conventions while preserving amounts exactly
- Matching first names and surnames exactly to the passport spelling
- Clearly reproducing termination and missing contribution day codes together with their explanations
For long statements, clarify in advance whether the institution requires only a particular period or the entire history; the scope directly affects both turnaround time and cost.
What level of certification is required?
A sworn translation is sufficient for many visa and job applications. Files submitted to official institutions and pension and immigration procedures may require a notarised translation, and some countries may also require an apostille. There is no single correct answer; the requesting institution's current list is the basis.
The sequence also varies by institution: some files require the document to be apostilled first and the document and endorsement to be translated together, while some institutions require an apostille on the notarisation of the translation. Confirming this order before document delivery avoids having to restart the chain.
Frequently asked questions
Is an e-Government barcoded statement valid abroad?
It varies by institution. Most institutions accept the barcoded printout together with its translation; some also require a stamped and signed document or an apostille. Check the document list of the institution to which you will apply.
Can the contribution statement be obtained in English?
No; the document is issued in Turkish. If it will be used in English or another language, it must be translated by a sworn translator.
Is the entire statement translated?
It depends on the institution's request. For some files, only a particular status or period is sufficient, while pension and aggregation procedures usually require the entire history. Clarifying the scope determines turnaround time and cost.
How long does the translation take?
Statements of standard length are completed quickly; for histories spanning many pages, turnaround time increases with the content. A definite delivery date is provided when you send the document as a legible PDF.
This content is for information purposes. The documents and procedures required by institutions may change; we recommend confirming the requirements with the relevant institution before applying.
