Erdal Nuhbasa – Law and Consulting Firm – Legal Services
Erdal Nuhbasa – Law and Consulting Firm – Legal Services
Diploma equivalency certificate is an official document issued to recognize education obtained abroad as valid in Turkey. It is issued by different authorities depending on the level of education. Since applications are submitted online, the certificate may also be issued as an electronic equivalency certificate (e-equivalency certificate).
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.
YÖK Diploma Equivalency Certificate is issued following the recognition and equivalency procedures for an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree diploma obtained from a higher education institution abroad.
Turkish citizens and foreigners who have studied abroad may apply for diploma equivalency provided that they meet the required conditions.
To submit an online application, you must log in to the e-Government system. A foreign identification number is required for this process. If you do not have 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. (Foreign Diploma Equivalency Preliminary Application Process)
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. Processing 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:
For the equivalency of a master’s degree obtained abroad, additional documents may be requested depending on the applicant’s educational background and the country where the education was completed.
These documents may include:
YÖK may request additional information or documents depending on the circumstances of the application.
Turkish citizens who completed their bachelor’s or master’s degree abroad and wish to apply for a master’s or doctoral program in Turkey must apply for diploma equivalency.
The situation is different for foreigners. Foreign nationals applying to master’s or doctoral programs outside healthcare fields involving clinical practice do not need to apply for diploma equivalency. Instead, they may obtain a “Higher Education Institution Recognition Letter” from YÖK and use it when applying to universities.
For example: A Turkish citizen who completed a bachelor’s degree in Germany and wants to pursue a master’s degree in Turkey must first complete the diploma equivalency process. However, an Azerbaijani citizen who wants to pursue a master’s degree in Business Administration in Turkey may apply with a Recognition Letter instead of a diploma equivalency certificate.
If the language of instruction of the program is a language for which an examination is administered by ÖSYM, the applicant must submit a verification-code-enabled examination result showing a minimum score of 60 in the relevant language examination.
If this document is not submitted to the institution within 2 years from the date of application, the application will be rejected.
Accepted foreign language examinations include:
NOTE: International examinations must meet the relevant equivalency criteria in order to be accepted.
SYBS stands for the Level and Proficiency Assessment System (Seviye ve Yeterlik Belirleme Sistemi). In certain cases where educational documents are incomplete or verification problems arise, the applicant may be evaluated in terms of their field and degree, and may be subject to the SYBS process if deemed necessary.
Depending on the nature of the application, different methods may be used, including:
Therefore, SYBS should not be considered simply a “diploma equivalency examination.”
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:
Individuals who completed an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree abroad and have applied for diploma equivalency but whose equivalency process has not yet been completed may request an “Application in Progress” letter for purposes such as employment or military service registration.
This request can be made during the application or later through a written petition.
YÖK Diploma Equivalency Certificate is an official document required to establish that a diploma obtained abroad is recognized as valid in Turkey. Foreigners may need a YÖK Diploma Equivalency Certificate when they wish to continue their education or work in Turkey.
In short, the YÖK Diploma Equivalency Certificate officially confirms that your foreign diploma is equivalent within Turkey’s education and professional system.
There is an additional requirement for applicants who graduated in the field of pharmacy and apply for diploma equivalency.
Applicants are required to provide an Internship Certificate showing that they completed a one-month internship at a pharmacy registered with the Chamber of Pharmacists in Turkey.
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.
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.
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