The Key to Serving Foreign Patients: How to Obtain a Health Tourism License?

In Türkiye, providing healthcare services to foreign patients or connecting foreign patients with healthcare facilities is not a simple commercial activity that can be carried out by merely establishing a company, launching a website, and accepting patients from abroad.

Healthcare facilities and intermediary organizations operating in the field of international health tourism are also an International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate . Activities carried out without this certificate may be suspended; the organization's promotional activities may be restricted, and administrative sanctions may be applied in accordance with the relevant legislation.

The Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health , published in the Official Gazette dated April 26, 2025, and numbered 32882, has reorganized the processes for issuing authorization certificates, reviewing applications, on-site inspections, post-certification obligations, suspension, and cancellation. This regulation repeals the previous regulation from 2017.

What is a Health Tourism Authorization Certificate?

A Health Tourism Authorization Certificate is a document issued by the competent administrative authority allowing a healthcare facility or intermediary organization to operate in the field of international health tourism.

The document states that the organization;

• It is legally authorized to operate,
• It meets the institutional and physical requirements stipulated in the regulation
• It has the infrastructure for communicating with and registering foreign patients,
• The staff member has fulfilled the foreign language and website requirements
• It will carry out health tourism activities under the supervision of the Ministry and USHAŞ,

It shows.

This document does not replace the basic license or operating permit of the healthcare facility. A hospital, medical center, clinic, dental clinic, or other healthcare facility must first be licensed according to its own specific legislation. The health tourism authorization certificate, in addition to the existing license, grants the authority to provide planned healthcare services to foreign patients.

Similarly, an intermediary agency license does not grant the authority to provide healthcare services or perform medical interventions. An intermediary agency may provide services such as consultancy, healthcare facility organization, accommodation, transportation, and transfers. Diagnosis, treatment, and medical decisions can only be made by authorized healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals. The regulation defines an intermediary agency as an authorized legal entity that provides consultancy services to international health tourists and their relatives, and carries out services related to healthcare facility organization.

Which institution issues the authorization certificate?

The competent authorities for a healthcare facility and for an intermediary organization are different.

The competent authority in terms of health facilities

The authorization certificates for hospitals, medical centers, polyclinics, private practices, oral and dental health institutions, medical laboratories, dialysis centers, and other health facilities licensed in accordance with relevant special legislation are issued by the Ministry of Health

Applications are not sent directly to the Ministry in paper form. Applications EKIP . Initial review and on-site inspection are carried out by the provincial or district health directorate where the health facility is located. The final authorization decision is made by the Ministry of Health.

The competent authority with regard to intermediary institutions

The authorization of international health tourism intermediary organizations USHAŞ—International Health Services Joint Stock Company .

USHAŞ's authority in this matter is based on Article 2 of the Annex to Decree Law No. 663 and Article 5 of the Regulation dated 2025. The Regulation explicitly states that the health facility authorization certificate will be issued by the Ministry, while the intermediary organization authorization certificate will be issued by USHAŞ.

Therefore, it is not sufficient to submit the intermediary organization application to the provincial health directorate. The application must be completed through USHAŞ's electronic intermediary organization authorization system.

Who can obtain a Healthcare Facility Authorization Certificate?

Healthcare facility authorization certificates are not granted only to private hospitals. They are also required to be licensed in accordance with specific legislation

• Public hospitals,
• University hospitals,
• Private hospitals,
• Medical centers,
• Doctor's offices,
• Polyclinics,
• Oral and dental health hospitals and centers,
• Dental offices,
• Medical laboratories,
• Dialysis centers,
• Rehabilitation and other licensed health facilities,

can apply.

However, simply having a doctor as a partner in a company, or listing "health consultancy" as the company's business activity, does not automatically transform the company into a healthcare facility. To provide healthcare services, the establishment must possess a license or certificate of conformity in accordance with relevant health legislation.

The applicant for a health tourism authorization certificate must be a licensed healthcare facility. It is not possible for an advertising, consulting, or organization company separate from a healthcare facility to obtain a health facility certificate; such a company may need to obtain an intermediary agency authorization certificate depending on the nature of its activities.

How to Obtain a Healthcare Facility Authorization Certificate?

The application process for a healthcare facility basically consists of five stages.

1. Preparation of the licensing and institutional infrastructure of the healthcare facility

Before applying, the healthcare facility must possess the necessary license, operating permit, or certificate of conformity for its field of activity.

In general, the application file should include:

• Document regarding HealthTürkiye Portal membership,
• The application form must include the name of the healthcare facility, contact information, and bank details
• License, temporary license, operating permit or clinic suitability certificate,
• Documents relating to personnel to be assigned to the international health tourism unit,
• Personnel's diplomas and work certificates,
• Foreign language proficiency certificate,
• Healthcare quality assessment information,
• Information regarding the website that offers a foreign language option,

It is located there.

The annexes to the 2025 regulation stipulate that healthcare facilities must, as a rule, receive at least 85 points in the latest healthcare quality assessment. There are specific regulations for facilities with TÜSKA accreditation or relevant Ministry certificates.

Before applying, not only the documents but also the actual operation of the healthcare facility must be brought into compliance with the criteria. This is because an on-site inspection is conducted after the file review.

2. Establishment of a health tourism unit

At the healthcare facility, the international health tourist;

• Acceptance,
• The record,
• Diagnosis and treatment process,
• Invoicing,
• Discharge,
• Translation services,
• Relations with the intermediary organization,
• Complaints and requests,

An international health tourism unit should be established to coordinate matters in this area .

It is mandatory for at least one staff member working in this unit to know a foreign language and provide documentation of their language proficiency. Staff members working in this unit must be reported to the provincial or district health directorate via the EKIP system. A responsible staff member is assigned for each foreign patient, and their information is recorded in the HealthTürkiye Portal.

Foreign language proficiency can be proven by accepted exam results, internationally recognized documents deemed equivalent by ÖSYM (Turkish Higher Education Council), European Language Portfolio B2 level, or other educational and academic documents accepted in the Regulation. The Ministry of Health also publishes updated announcements regarding acceptable foreign language documents.

Application must be submitted through TEAM 3

Applications for healthcare facilities are made through EKIP, along with the documents listed in Annex-1/A of the Regulation.

It is important that the application is submitted with accurate facility information, correct license information, and correct ownership information. Inconsistencies between the trade name, license holder, website address, and bank information may lead to the application being deemed incomplete or inappropriate.

The presence of content on the website that gives the impression that the healthcare institution provides services in branches outside its authorization level also poses a legal risk, both in terms of applications and subsequent audits.

4. Inspection by the provincial or district health directorate

Upon receiving the application, the provincial or district health directorate will first review the documents.

If any deficiencies or discrepancies are found in the application documents, the applicant will be notified within 15 business days . If the deficiencies are not corrected within 30 business days after notification, the application will be considered rejected.

Correcting deficiencies within the specified timeframe is not simply a matter of uploading documents. For example, if there are issues such as the social security registration of personnel who speak foreign languages, a discrepancy in job titles on the website, or the fact that the health tourism unit has not been physically established, these must also be corrected within the given timeframe.

5. On-site inspection and Ministry approval

If there are no deficiencies in the documents, an inspection team formed by the provincial or district health directorate will conduct an on-site inspection at the health facility.

The review specifically examined:

• Whether the health tourism unit actually exists,
• Whether the staff are working at the facility,
• The availability of the foreign patient registration system,
• Translation and communication infrastructure,
• Website and corporate documents,
• Patient admission, information, and discharge processes,
• Health information management system,
• Protection of personal health data,
• Physical space and service standards,

It is evaluated.

Applications found suitable after on-site inspection are sent to the Ministry of Health by the provincial or district health directorate within 15 working days . If the Ministry also approves, within 15 working days .

Who can obtain an Intermediary Institution Authorization Certificate?

The intermediary organization must be established as a legal entity. Conducting health tourism intermediary activities in the name of an individual or solely through a social media account is not sufficient for authorization.

The intermediary's main activity is to provide services to foreign patients;

• Healthcare facility selection and organization,
• Consultancy,
• Communication coordination,
• Accomodation,
• Transport,
• Transfer,
• Translation and support services,

to present.

According to the 2025 Regulation, it is not mandatory for the intermediary organization to possess a travel agency operating license in its own name. However, accommodation, transportation, and transfer services must be provided through authorized travel agencies under Law No. 1618. If the intermediary organization is itself an authorized travel agency, it can offer these services directly; otherwise, it must enter into a service procurement contract with an authorized travel agency.

How to Obtain an Authorization Certificate for an Intermediary Institution?

1. Preparation of company structure and scope of activity

The company applying must have its health tourism activities registered in the trade registry.

The company's;

• Capital and ownership structure,
• Authorities with representation and binding authority,
• Tax records,
• Commercial registry information,
• Bank account,
• The website,
• Personnel and call center infrastructure,

It must be made suitable for the application.

If operating through a brand or website, it is important that the domain name, trade name, and ownership information on the authorization certificate are consistent with each other.

2. Becoming a member of the HealthTürkiye Portal

Before applying to USHAŞ, the intermediary organization must complete its membership registration on the HealthTürkiye Portal.

Companies that have not completed their portal membership will not appear on the electronic authorization certificate application screen. After completing portal membership, company information is transferred to the application system, and the document upload process can be initiated by selecting the company.

3. Preparing application documents

According to USHAŞ's current application list, the intermediary organization generally submits the following documents:

• HealthTürkiye Portal membership certificate,
• Application form containing company and representative information,
• Travel agency operating license or service contract with an authorized travel agency,
• Trade Registry Gazette showing health tourism activities and partnership structure,
• Commercial registry certificate,
• Signature circular,
• Representative identification samples,
• Tax certificate,
• Previous year-end balance sheet approved by a financial advisor
• Call center service procurement contract or in-house call center documents,
• Employee employment declarations,
• Foreign language proficiency certificates,
• Consent form,
• Responsible personnel notification,
• Screenshots of websites in foreign languages.

Formal requirements such as ensuring the trade registry certificate is up-to-date; submitting an e-signed or notarized copy of the Trade Registry Gazette; and ensuring the domain name is legible in website screenshots should also be considered.

4. Call center experience and foreign language requirement

The intermediary organization must have the infrastructure to handle incoming calls in at least two foreign languages ​​and provide service 24/7.

This infrastructure can be established in two ways:

• The brokerage firm employing its own staff,
• Entering into a service procurement contract with a suitable call center.

If the call center is to be established outside the company, the contract must clearly state the languages ​​offered, the 24/7 service requirement, and the call center phone number to be used.

If the call center is to be established in-house, at least two employee employment notices, foreign language proficiency documents, and documents relating to the responsible personnel to be assigned to the health tourism field must be submitted.

5. Electronic application and digital review

Applications are submitted through USHAŞ's intermediary agency authorization screen. Documents must be complete, legible, and uploaded to the system in PDF format.

USHAŞ first reviews applications digitally. If any deficiencies are found, a written notification is sent to the email address provided by the organization's representative in the application.

According to the regulation, any deficiencies or discrepancies will be notified to the applicant within 15 business days . If the deficiencies are not rectified within 30 business days after notification, the application will be deemed rejected.

According to USHAŞ's current application guidelines, after a rejected application, a new application can be submitted by paying the current preliminary application fee. Since fees may be updated periodically, it is necessary to check the current tariff before making a payment.

6. Original documents and on-site inspection

If no deficiencies are found in the digital review, USHAŞ requests the original documents. After the original documents are also found to be satisfactory, an on-site inspection is conducted at the intermediary organization's business address.

During the on-site inspection;

• Whether the company is actually operating at the application address,
• Whether the staff are actually working,
• Call center infrastructure,
• Foreign language service,
• The website,
• Patient communication and record keeping system,
• Consent and data security processes,
• Travel agency contract,
• Responsible personnel and work area,

It can be examined.

According to USHAŞ's statement, the certificate is issued after the on-site inspection yields a positive result and the authorization fee is paid. The certificate is delivered to the authorized signatory of the intermediary organization or to a person duly appointed by them.

Do I need a separate authorization certificate for each branch?

If a legal entity owning an intermediary institution wishes to open a second intermediary institution or branch, it is mandatory to obtain a separate authorization certificate for each institution or branch.

An authorization certificate obtained for the main center does not grant the right to conduct health tourism activities at a branch located at a different address. Accepting patients, organizing events, or promoting health tourism at an unauthorized branch may constitute a violation of regulations.

Furthermore, the Health Tourism Authorization Certificate is non-transferable. Any transfer of company shares, change of name, change of address, change of personnel, or significant changes in the business structure must be reported to the relevant authority.

The transfer of shares does not automatically mean that the authorization certificate is transferred to another person. Whether the change affects the conditions for issuing the certificate may be examined by USHAŞ or the Ministry.

Obligations After Obtaining the Authorization Certificate

Obtaining the certificate does not mean the process is complete. Organizations must maintain their authorization requirements throughout their operations.

Responsibilities of healthcare facilities

Healthcare facilities in particular;

• Keeping the international health tourism unit active,
• Having staff who speak foreign languages,
• Registering health tourists on the Portal,
• The ministry uses a health information management system registered in its registration system
• Processing personal health data in accordance with the legislation,
• Detailed invoice and service breakdown preparation,
• Using a website that has a foreign language option,
• Compliance with health tourism pricing regulations,
• Avoiding obtaining services from unauthorized intermediaries

is necessary.

Within the scope of international health tourism, it is mandatory for healthcare facilities to obtain complication insurance for surgical and interventional procedures performed in an operating room environment. Since the regulation stipulates that this obligation must be fulfilled by December 31, 2025, it is currently in effect.

Hospitals, medical centers, medical laboratories, and dialysis centers must be accredited by TÜSKA (Turkish Accreditation Agency); other healthcare facilities must obtain a certificate issued by the Ministry. The transition period for this obligation has been set as December 31, 2026.

Obligations of intermediary institutions

Intermediary institutions;

• Maintaining the requirement for a 24/7 call center
• Maintaining service infrastructure in at least two foreign languages
• Reporting changes in responsible personnel and other staff,
• Keeping the data on the HealthTürkiye Portal accurate and up-to-date,
• Arranging accommodation, transportation and transfers through authorized travel agencies,
• It should only refer the patient to authorized healthcare facilities
• Not making misleading promises about healthcare services and medical outcomes,
• Processing health data securely,
• Providing the patient with a detailed breakdown of the costs of the services provided

is necessary.

The intermediary agency cannot assume responsibility for the medical aspect of healthcare services. However, it may be held responsible for deficiencies within its area of ​​service, such as referring a patient to the wrong healthcare facility, misleading advertising, incomplete translation, or incorrect transmission of a patient's documents.

How much does the authorization certificate cost?

Authorization certificate and application fees are updated periodically.

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Health, the fee for an International Health Tourism Health Facility Authorization Certificate for 2026 has been set at 18,604 TL.

For intermediary agency applications, the preliminary application and document fees listed on USHAŞ's current application screen will be used. Different fees may apply during re-application, title change, branch opening, or document issuance.

Payment of the fee does not guarantee acceptance of the application. The organization must also meet all financial, personnel, physical, and institutional criteria.

Can the Authorization Certificate be Suspended or Canceled?

Yes. The authorization certificate does not create a permanent and unconditional vested right.

The performance of the organizations is evaluated by USHAŞ at least once a year according to the criteria in the annex to the Regulation. Organizations found to be partially or completely inadequate are subjected to a control evaluation. If the deficiencies are not rectified, the certificate may be suspended for three or six months; if compliance is not achieved in the second control evaluation, it may be revoked.

Moreover;

• In emergency situations that endanger the health and safety of a health tourist,
• If records are kept in violation of regulations,
• If the same record violation is repeated,
• If no health tourism activity has been carried out in the last year,

The suspension or cancellation of the document becomes an issue.

If records are kept improperly, the license may be suspended for six months. Repeating the same offense within one year will result in the license being revoked. The license of a healthcare facility or intermediary organization that has not conducted health tourism activities within the last year will also be revoked. No new license will be issued to the revoked organization for a period of one year.

What happens if health tourism is practiced without a license?

Healthcare facilities or intermediary organizations without the necessary authorization certificates cannot conduct international health tourism activities.

Within the scope of unauthorized activity;

• Providing planned treatment to foreign patients,
• Recruiting foreign patients through social media and the internet,
• Referring patients to healthcare facilities in exchange for a commission,
• Organizing events through an unauthorized branch,
• Using the authorization certificate of another organization,
• Marketing medical services under the guise of health tourism packages,

If detected, the activity may be suspended and the relevant administrative sanctions may be applied.

Individuals and legal entities engaging in unauthorized brokering may face legal action under health legislation, as well as consumer, advertising, tourism, tax, and personal data protection legislation.

A healthcare facility cannot obtain services from individuals or organizations without the necessary authorization for matters requiring intermediary services. Therefore, a licensed healthcare facility working with an unauthorized patient finder or social media consultant could jeopardize its own credentials.

Is it possible to file a lawsuit against the rejection of an application or the cancellation of a document?

The rejection of an authorization certificate application, the suspension or cancellation of the certificate are actions based on public authority and directly affect the organization's right to operate.

In opposition to these actions;

• Requesting the justification for the transaction and the supporting documents
• Making an administrative appeal against the detection of deficiencies or irregularities,
• Filing a lawsuit to annul the administrative act,
• A stay of execution may be requested if halting the activity would cause serious harm

It may come up on the agenda.

Before filing a lawsuit, the authority that initiated the process, the date of notification of the decision, whether a special appeal route exists, and the competent court must be determined. The legal nature of actions taken by the Ministry of Health regarding healthcare facilities and by USHAŞ regarding intermediary organizations, within the scope of their authorization duties stemming from the law, must be examined on a case-by-case basis.

For a stay of execution to be granted, it is not sufficient for only material damage to have occurred. It is also necessary to demonstrate that the action is clearly unlawful and that its implementation would cause irreparable or impossible-to-remedy harm.

Pre-Application Legal Checklist

Before applying for an authorization certificate, the following points should be checked:

Corporate structure

Trade name, ownership structure, field of activity, tax certificate, representation authorities, and bank accounts must be consistent with each other.

License and operating permit

Medical specialties or procedures not included in the healthcare facility's license should not be marketed as part of health tourism.

Employee

The employment records, diplomas, and foreign language certificates of the assigned personnel must be up-to-date and verifiable.

Website

The foreign language option must be active; the trade name, address, and ownership information on the website must match those on official documents.

HealthTürkiye Portal

Portal membership must be completed and personnel to manage data entry must be designated.

Brokerage agreements

Travel agency, call center, and healthcare facility contracts must be prepared in accordance with the Regulation. The contracts should not create the impression that operations will commence without obtaining the necessary authorization certificates.

Patient documents

Consent forms, price quotes, personal data disclosure statements, interpreter registration, cancellation terms, and complaint procedures must be prepared in a language that the foreign patient can understand.

Insurance and quality requirements

It should be checked whether the complication insurance, TÜSKA accreditation, or Ministry certification obligations apply depending on the type of organization.

Conclusion

The Health Tourism Authorization Certificate is not an optional quality certificate for organizations wishing to provide services to foreign patients or organize foreign patient visits; it is a mandatory authorization document required to ensure the legality of the activity.

The authority to issue the certificate regarding healthcare facilities belongs to the Ministry of Health. Applications are made through the EKIP system; the provincial or district health directorate conducts the document and on-site inspection process and sends the appropriate application to the Ministry.

As for intermediary organizations, authorization is carried out by USHAŞ. Prior to application, HealthTürkiye Portal membership, company and personnel infrastructure, foreign language services, call center, travel agency connection and a foreign language website must be prepared.

Obtaining the certificate does not exempt the organization from continuous oversight. Loss of authorization, improper record keeping, failure to meet performance criteria, or inactivity for one year may result in suspension or cancellation of the certificate.

Therefore, the application should focus not only on completing the necessary documents but also ensuring that the company structure, personnel, website, patient contracts, data security, and daily operations are fully compliant with health tourism regulations .

This study has been prepared for general legal information purposes. Since authorization certificate fees, application documents, electronic systems, and administrative procedures are subject to update, the current guidelines published by the Ministry of Health and USHAŞ (National Health and Safety Agency) on the specific application date should also be checked.