In Türkiye, a health facility that treats foreign patients must hold an International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate from the Ministry of Health. An intermediary, meaning a company that arranges treatment, accommodation and transfers, must hold one from USHAŞ. Certificates cannot be transferred, and an intermediary needs a separate certificate for each branch.
The certificate shows that an organisation is legally authorised. It does not guarantee quality, the dentist's expertise or that treatment suits you. To verify, check three separate questions: is the facility authorised, is the agency authorised, and is the dentist registered?
What to verify, who issues it, where to check
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Facility authorisation certificate
- Issued by
- Ministry of Health
- Where to check
- The HealthTürkiye portal (“Certified Healthcare Providers”) and Ministry records. Also ask the facility for a copy of the certificate.
- It shows
- The facility can legally treat foreign patients.
- It does not show
- Treatment quality.
-
Intermediary authorisation certificate
- Issued by
- USHAŞ (International Health Services Inc.)
- Where to check
- The HealthTürkiye portal (“Certified Facilitators”) and USHAŞ records.
- It shows
- The agency is authorised.
- It does not show
- That the facility the agency recommends is authorised. Check that separately.
-
The dentist's professional registration
- Issued by
- Ministry of Health (registration). For self-employed dentists, also the dental chamber.
- Where to check
- Ask the facility in writing for the dentist's name and registration details. We found no public online lookup for this.
- It shows
- The dentist is allowed to practise.
- It does not show
- A claimed specialism, or experience with a particular procedure.
-
Accreditation or certification
- Issued by
- Accreditation bodies (TÜSKA, international bodies)
- Where to check
- The accreditation body's own page.
- It shows
- A quality system has been assessed.
- It does not show
- That your result will be good.
These four are not interchangeable. The authorisation certificate shows legal permission, dentist registration shows professional authority, and accreditation shows a quality process.
Verifying step by step
A. Verify the facility
- Get the full trade name and address.The brand name, the social media account and the legal entity can all be different.
- Ask for the certificate number and its validity.Confirm it in the official record rather than relying on a screenshot or photocopy.
- Search the HealthTürkiye provider list.Look for the same name and address. Organisations listed on the portal are presented as authorised.
- Check the branch separately.Another branch of the same group being authorised does not show that the branch where you will be treated is.
- If you find no match, do not go ahead.Do not start treatment or pay. Ask for a written explanation and call +90 850 288 38 38.
B. Verify the intermediary, if there is one
- Ask for the agency's trade name, certificate number and business address.
- Under the regulation, facilities cannot take intermediary services from people or organisations without a certificate, and there must be a protocol between agency and facility. Check separately that the facility the agency suggests is authorised.
- Intermediaries must offer a call service 24/7 in at least two foreign languages, including English. An agency you cannot reach is a warning sign.
- If you go through an agency, make sure you can speak directly with the dentist who will treat you.
C. Verify the dentist
- Ask for the dentist's name, title and graduation or specialist training. Under the authorisation criteria, facilities are expected to publish dentist information on their website.
- Ask about Ministry of Health registration and dental chamber membership. Dentists who graduated abroad need diploma recognition and registration to work in Türkiye.
- If a specialism is claimed (implantology, prosthodontics, orthodontics), ask which official document it rests on.
- Make sure the name of the dentist who will treat you is in the written treatment plan.
Verification checklist
Tick each item when you have confirmed it. Your ticks stay in this browser only. Note the date you verified, and keep a screenshot of the official record.
What a certificate shows, and what it does not
It shows
- The Ministry has authorised the organisation to treat foreign patients.
- It is subject to inspection and to performance criteria such as complaint rate and patient satisfaction.
- It has taken on the administrative duties the regulation lists: language, communication and HealthTürkiye integration.
It does not show
- A dentist's experience with a particular procedure.
- That the proposed treatment suits you, or how it will turn out.
- Material quality, or what a guarantee covers.
- That the price is fair.
Even at an authorised organisation, question the treatment plan, the consent, the alternatives and the follow-up just as carefully.
HealthTürkiye from the patient's side
HealthTürkiye is the official international health services portal, run by USHAŞ with the support of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Its official FAQ page states that the patient rights rules apply to all public and private institutions.
The portal has also announced a visa facilitation service for approved patients (2023). For visa and entry rules, check the official page and consulate information.
The portal is a promotion and service platform. Being listed on it is not a guarantee of treatment quality.
Frequently asked questions
If there is a certificate, can I safely start treatment?
No. It is only the first filter. Ask separately about the treatment plan, consent, alternatives, materials and follow-up.
Is the certificate on the clinic's wall enough?
A copy of a certificate on its own is not enough. Match the certificate number and trade name to the official record.
Do I have to use an agency?
No. The regulation allows an authorised facility to accept a foreign patient who applies directly. If you use an agency, make sure it is authorised.
I paid an agency and the facility turned out to be unauthorised. What should I do?
Keep your documents, ask both the agency and the facility for a written explanation, and contact the call center and your home country's consumer body. The regulation bars facilities from working with unauthorised agencies. An agency working with an unauthorised facility is also treated as non-compliance.
How do I know my dentist is a specialist?
Ask in writing which official document the specialism rests on. An official specialist title is not the same as a course or certificate programme.
Sources
- Official Gazette, regulation of 26.04.2025, text (article 5)
- HealthTürkiye: Certified Healthcare Providers and Certified Facilitators
- HealthTürkiye FAQ (scope of patient rights)
- USHAŞ and Ministry statement: language, call centre, six-month compliance
- Ministry of Health statement: performance criteria
- Bıçak Hukuk: the 2025 framework (verification per branch)
- Mondaq: summary of the 2017 regulation (advertising ban, protocol)
- Consulate notice on using the HealthTürkiye portal (2024)
- Work permit for foreign dentists: recognition and registration (secondary source)