Turkey is home to a growing number of expat-owned businesses — tech startups, consultancies, international schools, NGOs and SMEs. Commercial insurance needs are different from personal insurance — here’s what you need to know.
What types of business insurance are available in Turkey?
1. Business property insurance (işyeri sigortası)
Covers your business premises and equipment against:
- Fire and explosion
- Flood, storm and water damage
- Theft and burglary
- Earthquake damage (separately via DASK — see below)
DASK is compulsory for business premises too. Any building with a registered address requires DASK. Business property insurance then covers everything else.
2. General liability insurance (genel sorumluluk)
Covers claims from customers, clients or members of the public who are injured or have their property damaged as a result of your business operations.
Essential for:
- Retail and hospitality businesses
- Offices with client visits
- Any business interacting with the public
3. Employers’ liability (işveren sorumluluk sigortası)
Required if you have employees. Covers claims by employees for workplace injury or occupational illness. This is a legal requirement for all employers in Turkey.
4. Professional indemnity (mesleki sorumluluk sigortası)
Covers claims that your professional advice or services caused financial loss to a client. Relevant for:
- Consultants and advisers
- Architects, engineers, lawyers
- Accountants
- Technology and IT service providers
5. Directors’ and officers’ liability (D&O)
For company directors and officers — covers personal liability arising from decisions made in their professional capacity. Increasingly required by investors and international boards.
6. Group health insurance
Offering health insurance as an employee benefit is increasingly expected by skilled workers, particularly international hires. Group plans are significantly cheaper per person than individual policies.
We arrange group health policies from 3+ employees. Plans can include in-patient, out-patient and dental.
Special considerations for foreign-owned businesses
Registered address: Your business premises will need DASK if it’s a registered address for a property in Turkey.
Foreign employees: Employees on work permits have the same employment law rights as Turkish citizens. Employers’ liability applies equally.
Cross-border operations: If your business has operations or clients in multiple countries, consider whether your Turkish policy coverage is adequate for international exposure.
How to get a business insurance quote
Contact us with your business details →
Tell us:
- Business type and sector
- Number of employees
- Premises details (owned or rented, size)
- What you want covered
We’ll prepare a tailored package from our panel of Turkish commercial insurers.
