Erdal Nuhbasa – Law and Consulting Firm – Legal Services
Erdal Nuhbasa – Law and Consulting Firm – Legal Services
A diploma equivalency certificate is an official document issued to recognize foreign education qualifications as valid in Turkey. It can be issued as an e-equivalency certificate since the application process is carried out online.
In Turkey, equivalency procedures are divided into two categories based on the level of education:
Equivalency for primary, secondary, and high school education is handled by the Ministry of National Education (MEB). Students who have studied abroad at primary, secondary, or high school level and wish to continue their education in Turkey must apply through MEB.
Equivalency for university diplomas is granted by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Individuals who have completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree abroad and wish to continue their studies or practice their profession in Turkey must apply to YÖK.
The YÖK Diploma Equivalency application begins with an online pre-application through the e-Devlet system and requires following specific steps. After completing the pre-application, you must schedule an appointment and personally visit the YÖK Recognition and Equivalency Services Department in Ankara to submit your documents. Since document submission can only be done in Ankara, it is not possible to send documents by post or submit them in any other city.
To apply online, you must first log in to the e-Devlet system. For this process, you are required to have a Foreign Identification Number (Yabancı Kimlik Numarası). Without a Foreign Identification Number, you cannot complete the online application.
1. Log in to e-Devlet
After logging into the e-Devlet system, type “Yurtdışı Diploma Denklik Ön Başvuru İşlemi” into the search bar.
2. Access the Application Page
Click on the page that appears: https://www.turkiye.gov.tr/yok-denklik-basvurusu
3. Complete the Online Application
Fill in all required information completely and create your appointment date.
4. Prepare the Required Documents
Prepare all the documents required for the equivalency application before your appointment date.
5. Document Submission
On the appointment date, personally go to the YÖK Recognition and Equivalency Services Department with your prepared documents and submit them. (Click here for the address.)
Important Note: This process can only be carried out in Ankara. It is not possible to send the documents by post or submit them to a center in another city.
6. Waiting Period
After your documents are submitted, YÖK contacts the relevant university through the consulate of the country in question and waits for verification. Once a positive response is received, you can obtain your equivalency certificate.
You can track the status of your application at any time through the application section on e-Devlet.
The documents required for a YÖK Diploma Equivalency application must be prepared according to the list provided by the system after the online application. All documents must be uploaded to the online system in color PDF format and physically submitted in Ankara. Submitting incomplete or incorrect documents may result in rejection or significant delays.
The general required documents are as follows:
The costs for a YÖK equivalency application include translation and notary fees, application fees, and consultancy fees. If you handle the application yourself, the total cost usually ranges between 8,000 – 15,000 TL.
This range depends on the total number of pages in your diploma and transcript, as well as translation and notary expenses. For an average bachelor’s degree (2-page diploma + transcript), the cost is typically around 7,000 – 9,000 TL.
The duration of the YÖK equivalency application process varies depending on the country of graduation, the field of study, the recognition status of the university, additional document requests, and the evaluation by the Scientific Field Advisory Commission.
Based on our experience, the average processing times as of 2026 are as follows:
Once the documents for the diploma equivalency application are submitted to YÖK, they are reviewed by the Recognition and Equivalency Department, which aims to issue a decision within 60 days.
In general, the process proceeds with YÖK sending verification letters to the relevant authorities (consulate or authorized institution) in the country where the diploma was obtained. YÖK carries out this correspondence to confirm the authenticity of the diploma and waits for a response. The response time varies significantly depending on the country, which directly affects the total processing time. If the correspondence takes longer, the entire process may extend up to 6 months.
For the most accurate tracking, you can monitor the status of your application using your transaction number through the YÖK system after submission. Professional follow-up usually helps the process progress more smoothly.
The YÖK Diploma Equivalency Certificate is an official document required to recognize a foreign diploma as valid in Turkey. International students and foreign nationals need this certificate if they wish to continue their education or work in Turkey. In short, the YÖK Equivalency Certificate officially proves that your foreign diploma is equivalent to the Turkish education and employment system.
If your YÖK equivalency application is rejected, there is no need to panic. You can exercise your rights within 60 days from the date the rejection decision is notified to you.
Rejection reasons usually stem from the university or program not being recognized, insufficient duration of education, or issues related to distance/open education. After receiving the rejection decision, determine the best course of action as soon as possible. Many applicants have successfully obtained their equivalency through the court process.
YÖK Diploma Equivalency Application
If you are looking for professional support to complete your YÖK diploma equivalency application smoothly, feel free to contact us immediately.
Contact Us Now!
