DASK insurance Turkey is the compulsory earthquake policy that every residential property inside municipal boundaries must carry, and yes, that includes homes owned by foreigners. If you have bought or are about to buy an apartment in Turkey, a valid policy acts as a practical gatekeeper. Without one you cannot connect electricity or water, and you cannot complete a title deed transfer. This guide explains what the cover is, why it exists, what it does and does not pay for, and how a foreign owner buys and renews it.
Turkey sits across active fault lines, and the state built this system so that no home is left uninsured against the one risk that matters most here. Understanding it early saves you a scramble at the notary or the utility office.
What Is DASK Insurance in Turkey?
DASK insurance Turkey is a state-backed compulsory earthquake insurance scheme that covers the physical structure of a residential building against earthquake damage. DASK stands for Dogal Afet Sigortalari Kurumu, the Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool, the public institution that runs the programme. The system was created by law after the 1999 Marmara earthquake to make sure ordinary homeowners had a baseline of cover, rather than depending on emergency aid after a disaster.
The important point for a buyer is simple. DASK compulsory earthquake insurance is not optional and not tied to your nationality. Any residence registered in the land registry within a municipality needs it. The policy itself is standardised by the state, so the wording and the coverage rules are the same whichever insurer sells it to you.
Why DASK Insurance Turkey Is Compulsory for Foreign Owners
DASK insurance Turkey is legally required, and it is checked at several practical moments, so a foreign owner cannot quietly skip it. You will be asked for a valid policy number in at least three situations:
- Title deed transfer. When you buy and the title (tapu) is transferred at the Land Registry Directorate (Tapu ve Kadastro), a DASK policy in the buyer’s details is normally required to complete the transaction.
- Utility subscriptions. To open or transfer an electricity or water account into your name, the provider asks for the DASK policy number. No policy, no meter.
- Renewal each year. The cover runs for twelve months and has to be renewed. Turkish earthquake insurance does not roll over on its own unless you set up automatic renewal with your insurer.
Because DASK insurance for foreign property owners is enforced through these everyday steps rather than through fines, the risk is not usually a penalty. The risk is being blocked: unable to switch on the power, unable to sell, unable to close at the notary. In our experience advising foreign buyers, the most common surprise is discovering at the electricity office that the seller’s old policy has lapsed and a fresh one must be bought on the spot.
What Does DASK Cover, and What Does It Not?
DASK covers the building structure against earthquake and the direct results of an earthquake. That is the whole purpose of the scheme, and it is narrower than many buyers assume.
What is covered
- The load-bearing structure: foundations, columns, walls, floors, stairs and the roof.
- Damage caused directly by an earthquake, and by fire, explosion, landslide or tsunami that an earthquake triggers.
- Shared parts of the building such as walls, corridors and lifts, within the cover limit.
What is not covered
- Your belongings inside the home: furniture, electronics, valuables. Contents are not part of the compulsory policy.
- Loss of rent, alternative accommodation costs, or business interruption.
- Damage from causes other than earthquake, such as a burst pipe, a fire that no earthquake caused, or theft.
- Any value above the state-set maximum cover limit.
This is why many owners add a voluntary home policy on top. DASK compulsory earthquake insurance protects the shell of the building up to a capped amount; a private policy covers contents, non-earthquake risks, and the value of a larger or higher-end home that sits above the DASK ceiling.
How Much Does DASK Insurance Turkey Cost?
DASK insurance Turkey is priced by a fixed state tariff, not by insurers competing for your business, so the same policy costs the same wherever you buy it. The premium for this Turkish earthquake insurance is driven by three factors:
- Earthquake risk zone. Turkey is mapped into risk zones, and a home in a higher-risk zone carries a higher rate per square metre.
- Construction type. Steel and reinforced-concrete buildings, masonry, and other structures are rated differently.
- Size of the home. The gross square metres of the dwelling multiply the rate, so a larger apartment costs more to insure.
For a typical city apartment, the annual premium is usually modest, often in the range of a few hundred to a couple of thousand Turkish lira as of the time this article is written. The maximum amount DASK will pay out is also capped by a state-set limit that is revised periodically, again as of the time this article is written. Because both the tariff and the cover ceiling are updated by the authorities, you should confirm the current premium and cap with your insurer or an advisor before you rely on a number, since these figures change often.
How to Get DASK Insurance in Turkey, Step by Step
Knowing how to get DASK insurance in Turkey is straightforward once you have your paperwork. The policy is sold by licensed insurance companies and their agents, and increasingly online, but the process is the same. Owners often ask how to get DASK insurance in Turkey while they are still abroad, and the answer is that an authorised agent can arrange the policy remotely once you supply the property and identity details.
- Gather the property details. You need the address, the DASK or UAVT building code (a national address code), the gross square metres, the construction type and the year built.
- Have your identification ready. A foreign owner uses the tax identification number obtained in Turkey, along with a passport. The tax number is the same one you use for the title transfer and the utility accounts.
- Choose a licensed insurer or agent. Any authorised insurance company can issue the standard DASK policy. Your bank in Turkey often sells it too.
- Pay the premium and receive the policy. Payment is immediate, and the policy and its number are issued the same day. Keep the number handy for the utility and title offices.
- Set a renewal reminder. Note the expiry date, or ask the insurer to set up automatic annual renewal so the cover never lapses.
Whether the standard cover is enough for your particular home, or whether you should layer a voluntary policy on top, depends on the property’s value and your contents; our advisors can assess that in a short consultation.
DASK vs Voluntary Home Insurance
DASK and a private home policy solve different problems, and most careful owners hold both. The table below sets out the difference.
| Feature | DASK (compulsory) | Voluntary home insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Required by law | Yes | No |
| Covers building structure | Yes, up to a capped limit | Yes, usually to full value |
| Covers earthquake | Yes | Yes, if added |
| Covers contents and belongings | No | Yes |
| Covers fire, flood, theft (non-earthquake) | No | Yes |
| Price | Fixed state tariff | Set by the insurer |
Reading it simply: DASK is the floor the state requires, and a voluntary policy is the fuller protection you choose. One does not replace the other.
Common Mistakes Foreign Owners Make with DASK
A few errors come up again and again, and each is easy to avoid once you know it.
- Letting the policy lapse. DASK insurance for foreign property owners runs for one year only. Owners who live abroad often forget the renewal date and get blocked at the next utility or sale step. Set automatic renewal.
- Assuming the seller’s policy transfers cleanly. When you buy, the policy should be updated into your name and details. An out-of-date policy in the previous owner’s name can cause a problem at the title office.
- Understating the square metres. The premium and the payout both depend on the correct gross area. A wrong figure can reduce what you recover after a claim.
- Treating DASK as full cover. It insures the structure up to a cap and nothing inside the home. Owners who skip a voluntary policy discover the gap only after a loss.
- Ignoring the building code. Missing or mismatched address and UAVT codes slow the whole process. Confirm them before you apply.
In our experience advising international clients from our Istanbul office, a short check of the policy details at the time of purchase prevents almost all of these problems later.
What Happens After an Earthquake?
If an earthquake damages your home, you claim directly against your DASK policy. You report the loss to DASK, an expert assesses the structural damage, and DASK pays out up to the cover limit for the repair or rebuild of the qualifying structural elements. Contents and non-structural losses fall to your voluntary policy, if you hold one. Keeping your policy number, the tax number on it and your contact details current makes a claim far smoother, which is one more reason not to let the cover lapse.
Summary
DASK insurance Turkey is the compulsory, state-backed earthquake cover that every home inside a municipality must carry, foreign owners included. It protects the building structure up to a capped amount, it is priced by a fixed state tariff, and it is checked at the title office, the utility office and each yearly renewal. It is the baseline, not the full picture, so many owners add a voluntary policy for contents and higher value. Get the policy at purchase, keep the details accurate, and renew it every year.
Considering Turkish Citizenship or Moving to Turkey?
Gordion Partners is an Istanbul-based advisory firm that has helped foreigners with Turkish citizenship by investment, residence and work permits, and property purchases since 2020. To discuss your own situation, reach us by phone or WhatsApp at +90 533 140 04 96, by email at [email protected], or visit us at Merkez Mahallesi Hasat Sokak No:12A, 34384 Sisli, Istanbul. Contact us for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DASK insurance in Turkey mandatory for foreign owners?
Yes. DASK insurance Turkey is compulsory for every residential property within municipal boundaries, and the requirement applies to foreign owners exactly as it applies to Turkish citizens. You will be asked for it at the title office and when connecting utilities.
How do I get DASK insurance in Turkey?
You buy it from any licensed insurance company or agent, and often from your Turkish bank or online. You provide the property’s address and building code, its size and construction type, and your Turkish tax number and passport. The policy is issued the same day.
How much does DASK cost?
The premium follows a fixed state tariff based on the earthquake risk zone, the construction type and the square metres of the home. For a typical apartment it is usually modest as of the time this article is written, but confirm the current figure with your insurer, because the tariff is revised periodically.
What does DASK not cover?
DASK does not cover your contents or belongings, losses from causes other than an earthquake, or any value above the state-set maximum limit. For those you need a voluntary home insurance policy in addition to the compulsory cover.
Do I have to renew DASK every year?
Yes. The compulsory policy runs for twelve months and must be renewed annually. Turkish earthquake insurance does not renew automatically unless you arrange automatic renewal with your insurer, so set a reminder or ask for auto-renewal.
Can I buy property in Turkey without DASK?
In practice, no. A valid DASK policy is normally required to complete the title deed transfer and to open utility accounts, so you will need it to finish the purchase and move in.
Is DASK enough on its own?
DASK is a baseline, not full protection. It covers the building structure against earthquake up to a cap and nothing inside the home. Many owners add a voluntary policy for contents and for risks such as fire, flood and theft.
About Gordion Partners
Gordion Partners is an Istanbul-based advisory firm specialising in immigration and real estate services for foreigners in Turkey. Since 2020, our advisors have guided international clients through Turkish citizenship by investment, residence and work permits, and property purchases, working in English, French, Turkish, Russian and Chinese. The firm is led by Burak Unal, an investment advisor and registered real estate broker in Turkey (Tasinmaz Ticareti Bilgi Sistemi, registration no. 3408704), who holds an MSc in Finance from the London School of Economics and a BBA from Bogazici University. We focus on clear, responsive and professional guidance at every step.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and you are strongly advised to consult a professional to evaluate your personal situation. No liability is accepted that may arise from the use of the information in this article.
