MEB School Equivalence Application: Documents and Procedures for Primary, Lower Secondary and High School

What need does school equivalence address?

Equivalence, enrolment and placement are not the same procedure

An equivalence certificate shows the level of education; school enrolment, by contrast, is carried out according to the enrolment conditions of the relevant type of school. That a student’s equivalence at the 9th-grade level has been determined does not mean that the student will be admitted without conditions to every high school or to a school that admits students through a central examination. The provisions of the Equivalence Regulation on grade placement and on schools admitting students by examination preserve this distinction. [1]

For the family, the process should be followed through three separate questions: What education has the child completed? What is the level of that education in Türkiye? With the level determined, which grade of which school can the child attend, and under which enrolment conditions? In a file in which the first question has not been answered, simply requesting enrolment, or in a file in which the third question has not been assessed, relying solely on the equivalence certificate, can delay obtaining a result.

How is MEB equivalence distinguished from YÖK equivalence?

The subject of this article is education documents obtained from primary and secondary schools. The assessment of a foreign high school diploma as a secondary-education graduation in Türkiye and the academic equivalence of a foreign university diploma are subject to different competent authorities and legislation. That a high school equivalence certificate is requested at university enrolment does not make YÖK the equivalence authority for the high school document. [1] [2]

It is useful to write a clear purpose at the head of the file, such as “high school graduation equivalence”, “lower secondary intermediate-grade equivalence” or “equivalence for the purpose of attending the 9th grade”. This prevents the application from being confused with an examination of a university diploma or with a direct school transfer.

How is the scope of equivalence determined?

The place of education and the legal nature of the institution

The 2024 Equivalence Regulation governs the education documents of private educational institutions at primary and secondary level that are international schools in Türkiye, and of the relevant institutions abroad. It also provides that no equivalence will be given for documents obtained from private schools or institutions outside the scope of Law No. 5580. An educational establishment in Türkiye is not an international school merely because it bears a foreign name. [1]

While this general scope rule is being assessed, the arrangement announced by MEB on 17 August 2026 for transfers from intermediate grades to Turkish schools must be examined separately. Without seeing the special application section below, it should not be assumed that every application will be decided the same way merely on the ground that the institution is unlicensed. [9]

For this reason, the file should set out, alongside the trade name, the institution’s official title, the country and address in which it is located, the education stage, the programme it applies and the body that issued the document. An establishment’s stating that it cooperates with a school in a foreign country is not the same fact as the student’s being legally registered and educated at that foreign school.

Education received in Türkiye under a foreign programme

The establishment’s opening and operating licence in Türkiye, its student admission status and its programme are researched together. That the document in the family’s hands is written in a foreign language does not show that the education was given abroad. The application should state where the education was actually received; education that continued in Türkiye should not be presented as if it had been spent abroad.

Education received abroad

In education received abroad, besides the school documents, records showing presence in the country concerned are also important. The Regulation lists among the application documents the entry and exit pages of the passport or a document showing that the person was in the country concerned throughout the education. However, a passport record does not explain school achievement to the same extent, and a report card by itself does not explain physical presence to the same extent. These documents show different facts and are examined together. [1]

Cases in which equivalence is not required

The Regulation has separate provisions for persons coming from schools opened abroad by the Republic of Türkiye, from schools of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation abroad, and from public or private schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education of the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). In addition, persons who completed the whole of an education stage in international institutions that apply the Turkish programme and weekly course schedule are not subject to the equivalence procedure. These exceptions do not remove the school’s own admission conditions where it admits students through a central examination or an aptitude test. [1] [2]

The first check in preparing the application is whether equivalence is required at all. Instead of trying to complete a procedure that is not required, it may be necessary to follow the enrolment or transfer route based on the education document. If it is claimed that an exception applies, how the school and the programme fit that definition must be shown with documents.

What limits apply in distance and online education?

Article 12/3 of the Equivalence Regulation provides that no equivalence is given to documents and diplomas obtained through distance education by those who have completed all or part of their education that way. Article 5/1-c of the same Regulation, by contrast, provides for a transcript or education document for persons who have studied by distance education in extraordinary circumstances announced by the official authorities of the Republic of Türkiye and who will enrol in an intermediate grade. These provisions must be applied by examining together the purpose of the document and the conditions under which the education took place. [1]

The file should state whether the programme was organised as an online programme from the outset, whether an in-person school moved to distance education for a certain period, what the official announcement on the extraordinary circumstance is, and whether the request concerns attending an intermediate grade or graduation equivalence. A foreign school’s online registration or its declaration of international accreditation does not by itself conclude this examination. The narrowly framed document arrangement for intermediate grades cannot be interpreted as meaning that all distance-education high school diplomas are recognised. In mixed files in which only part of the education was conducted at a distance, the periods must also be shown clearly; where there is doubt, the reasoned Presidency opinion route explained below should be considered.

The 2026 application for transfer from unlicensed foreign schools to Turkish schools

Scope of the announced opportunity

MEB’s announcement of 17 August 2026 sets out an equivalence application for students who will leave the intermediate grades of foreign schools operating without a licence in Türkiye and continue their education in public or private Turkish schools affiliated with the Ministry. Students may apply with their parents until 31 December 2026 at 17:00. This procedure does not mean that the institutions concerned are recognised or that their activities are found lawful. [9]

In the legal assessment, this announcement must be considered together with the general limitation in Article 12/2 of the Equivalence Regulation. It cannot be concluded from the announcement that the Regulation provision has been repealed or that an amnesty covering all unlicensed education activity has been introduced. The subject of the examination is a particular transfer application of the student, not the remedying of the school’s lack of a licence. [1] [9]

Which distinctions should be explained in the application file?

The file should show the institution’s real name and address, the years the student attended, the last grade, the circumstances of leaving the intermediate grade and the request to continue education at a Turkish school. The current report card, grade transcript, attendance record and school letters should be submitted in chronological order. These are filing suggestions; they should not be accepted as a mandatory list of documents that the announcement does not set out.

In particular at the end of the 8th grade or at the transition to high school, it should be clarified in writing whether the student will be assessed under the intermediate-grade transfer or in respect of the graduation of a stage. On the basis of the announcement, it cannot be said that all graduation diplomas are valid, that the two missing years will be added automatically, that enrolment directly in the 9th grade will be made, or that there is a general exemption from the level determination examination. Which document will be taken as the basis for which grade result is determined in the competent authority’s examination.

Before applying, the equivalence centre may be asked about the date and number of the implementation letter, the method of accepting the application, how a document deficiency can be completed and the route to follow for a pending school enrolment. The final application date should not be overlooked because the search for documents is continuing. The receipt or system record showing the date on which a properly made application was registered should be kept; it should not be assumed that merely creating an appointment request preserves the time limit. The announcement does not set out a separate scope condition tied to citizenship. The student’s citizenship and enrolment history should be shown in the application, and a written assessment based on the implementation letter and the concrete circumstances should be requested on the scope. [9]

How is the grade in a foreign education system determined at the Turkish level?

Country, programme and academic result are assessed together

Articles 4/7 and 6/1 of the Regulation provide for assessing the number and content of the courses and the education system of the country concerned. Primary and secondary education are treated as a whole; equivalence is made grade by grade, taking as the basis the age at which compulsory education begins in Türkiye. There is also a special assessment of the final grade in countries where the total length of education differs from twelve years. For this reason, the grade number in a foreign document should not be interpreted by numerical equality alone, without examining the structure of the education system. [1]

The Equivalence Guide, which carries the year “2025” in its name, was updated on 25 February 2026. The Presidency’s announcement states that the content on country education systems and education documents has been reviewed. In preparing the file, the version used and the relevant country section should be recorded as well as the name of the guide. [8] The table below is a working arrangement that the applicant can submit for assessment; it does not replace the competent authority’s equivalence decision.

The right to skip a grade or finish early abroad may be preserved

Article 16 of the Equivalence Regulation provides that a person who, in the country from which he or she has come, acquired the right to move to higher education by finishing a school stage early, or to skip a grade, retains that right if he or she documents it by an official letter from the ministry of education or the embassy of the country concerned. [1]

Where there is a difference between the student’s last record in Türkiye and progress in the foreign country, the right to continue recognised by the foreign authority must be researched separately. The letter should make clear which school stage has been completed or to which higher grade a right to continue has arisen. This provision is not a way of adding two years for which there is no official record on the strength of the parent’s declaration. Recognising a progression right validly acquired and proving a period of education that has never been documented are different problems.

Why do the student’s identity and citizenship history matter?

The child’s own status is taken as the basis

In the file, the citizenship of the parent and the citizenship of the child should not be confused. The child’s foreign identity, Turkish citizenship, dual citizenship or Blue Card (Mavi Kart) status should be stated together with the dates of the education. The position of a person who acquires Turkish citizenship after enrolling at an international school as a foreign student may not be subject to the same assessment as that of a student who has been a Turkish citizen from the start of the education. Article 11 of the Regulation refers to Laws No. 5580 and No. 222 for the equivalence assessment of this group. [1]

The most useful method is to show in a single chronology the entry to the school, the start and end of each grade, the acquisition of citizenship, programme changes and the dates of application to the new school in Türkiye. In this way it can be seen in which part of the education the change of status falls. A later change of citizenship should not be treated on the assumption that it automatically invalidates every past record or automatically validates every period.

The applicant and representation documents

It must be explained who is authorised to pursue a minor student’s file. If the parent’s surname is different, a document showing the birth or family tie may be required; if guardianship is involved, a document of representation. The official e-Denklik (the Ministry’s online equivalence system) explanations provide for submitting documents in the case of discrepancies in surname and identity details. The procedure laid down for the student or the parent/guardian in the first equivalence application must be examined separately from legal advice and from pursuing an objection through counsel. That a power of attorney exists does not mean that the first application and the presentation of the original documents can in every case be completed by the attorney alone. [1] [2]

The TTKB’s official FAQ explanation, as a rule, does not accept a first application by power of attorney; it states an exception for applying within Türkiye by power of attorney where there is no education counsellor’s office in the foreign country where the education was received. Application on behalf of minors through a parent or guardian, and the personal application of an adult student, are explained separately. This administrative application arrangement should not be confused with a lawyer’s preparing the document file and pursuing legal remedies. [7]

Hiding a custody dispute within the family from the equivalence file is not a solution. Documents should be submitted that enable the administration to handle the matter concerning the child with the authorised representative. At the same time, only the personal data necessary for the procedure should be shared; unrelated information about siblings or other family members should not be placed in the file.

Which documents are prepared for primary school, lower secondary school and high school?

The document file according to the purpose of education

The same list of documents is not sufficient for every grade. Continuing education in an intermediate grade and being deemed to have completed an education stage are different assessments. The table below is a summary of the Regulation and the official explanations converted into application preparation; supplementary verification may be requested depending on the country and the nature of the document. [1] [2]

In applying the table, a “student certificate” should be distinguished from a “grade-promotion certificate”. A letter stating that a student was enrolled at a school on a particular date does not always show that the student successfully completed that grade. The applicant should understand what outcome the document proves and should have any missing information completed by the authority that issued it.

Grade promotion must be clearly shown in the document

According to the official explanations, if promotion to a higher grade cannot be understood from the report card, a document showing it is requested; where it cannot be submitted, the grade level in the existing document may be taken as the basis. For this reason, “attended the 8th grade” and “completed the 8th grade and became entitled to move up to the next stage” do not produce the same result in the procedure. [2]

The supplementary letter to be requested from the school should contain the student’s name, the education year, the grade, term grades, attendance and achievement, the grade-promotion or graduation decision, and the authorised person who signs the document. The nature of the letter should be clear; a teacher’s personal assessment and the school’s official education document should not be treated as interchangeable.

How are translation, apostille and document verification carried out?

The meaning of a document and its authenticity are examined separately

Translation makes the document readable; certification or apostille concerns verifying the document within its own legal function. A notarised translation or an apostille does not mean that the education shown in the document will necessarily be accepted as equivalent in Türkiye. Even if these procedures have been completed in the application file, the school’s status, the length of the education and the academic content are examined. [1] [2]

The official explanations provide for requesting a certified translation where the equivalence centre does not have enough staff for the language of the document, and for requiring consular certification for translations made abroad. The certification route required for high school graduation documents and the certification arrangement for intermediate-grade report cards should not be assessed under the same heading. Before applying, what certification is required for the type of document and the country should be confirmed with the relevant centre. [2]

Does a later examination of a document affect an equivalence already granted?

Article 5/3 of the Equivalence Regulation provides that where a document is found to be forged or altered, equivalence will not be given; if it has already been given, it will be cancelled and a criminal complaint will be filed with the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor (Cumhuriyet başsavcılığı). Receiving the result certificate therefore does not in itself remove such a problem in the underlying education document. [1]

In the examination of the file, awaiting a verification reply, an explicable difference in names, and the finding of forgery or alteration are separate facts. Where there is an unfavourable decision, it should be clarified which document was found problematic, as a result of what research, and on what grounds. The issuing institution’s original record, the verification reply and the copy submitted with the application should be kept together. The applicant should not make corrections on the document; if there is a clerical error, the issuing authority should be asked to make a proper correction. An application against the cancellation of equivalence and the criminal proceedings that may follow a criminal complaint are examined separately.

What else is checked for international high school documents?

For documents bearing names such as IB Diploma, Cambridge, Matura and Baccalaureate, the exact type of the document and whether it confers high school graduation must be determined. The official explanation of e-Denklik also requires an apostille or the approvals of the specified competent authorities for documents that are international in nature and confer high school graduation. A claim of international recognition does not remove the certification and education examination of the equivalence file. [2]

For graduates of international schools abroad, it is also stated that a document showing that progression to higher education is possible without restriction as to field of study is requested from the ministry of education of the country in which the school is located or to which it is affiliated. [2] Whether to attach to the application, together with the programme name, the graduation certificate, the transcript of the education stage concerned and the letter showing this right to progress should be researched. If a provisional graduation certificate is to be used, its own validity and its submission within its validity period are checked; a single validity period is not assumed for all countries.

Discrepancies in name, date of birth and document number

Differences in spelling between the passport, identity card, population register and the education document can make the document’s belonging to the person arguable. A name changed on acquiring citizenship, the use of a different alphabet or a date format should be explained in this context. Submitting a document showing an official correction or change is possible; the applicant must not interfere with the document. [2]

In a document list, the old and new names can be shown together. In this way a traceable link is established, for example, between a report card issued under the name on the earlier passport and the new Turkish identity card. A document explaining the change of identity does not replace the document showing that the education was successfully completed; it only resolves the problem of belonging.

What is done if documents are lost or were never issued?

A certified copy of a lost document

The loss of the original education document is not the same as the education never having been documented. The Regulation allows procedures to be carried out with copies bearing the necessary certifications. The first place to research is the archive of the school or competent institution that issued the original document. If the school has closed, the authority to which the archive was transferred should be identified. [1] [2]

In the request for a copy, the type and year of the document should be clearly stated. Instead of merely saying “send me my student record”, requesting separately the transcripts for the relevant years, the grade-promotion decisions and the graduation record reduces the later need to complete missing items. The date on which the document was first issued and the date on which the copy was given should also be distinguished.

A document never issued or a record not found in the system

A diploma that the school has not issued cannot be made to be accepted as though it existed by attaching a fee receipt. Nevertheless, payment documents, correspondence and documents and records relating to lessons are valuable for explaining the child’s relationship with the school, the claim that the child actually received education in a particular period, and which records should be requested from the school. The function of this evidence should be clearly written.

If no record appears in the system, the record system used is also researched. It should not be assumed that the records of all private and international institutions in Türkiye can be seen on the same screen. The school may be asked for the system name, the institution code, the student’s registration number and a certified extract of the records for the relevant period. The proving of missing records is detailed in this series’ article on e-Okul records and proving the period of education.

Where and in what order is the application made?

The e-Denklik application and presentation of the originals

The official application channel is the e-Denklik system. Within Türkiye, the provincial directorates of national education and authorised district centres carry out the procedure; abroad, the education counsellor’s offices or attaché offices do. Uploading documents to the electronic application does not by itself remove the stage at which the originals are examined at the competent centre. [1] [2]

The practical sequence is as follows: determining the purpose of the application, arranging the documents by grade and year, completing the necessary certifications, registering the e-Denklik application, making the appointment and presenting the documents, following up requests for missing items, and checking the result. The screenshot of the application, its number, the appointment date, the list of documents delivered and the letters received should be kept.

Article 4/3 of the Regulation gives the effect of notification to announcements and results made electronically. One should therefore not wait only for the post; the notifications, results and date records on the application screen should also be preserved. The effect of a specific notification on application and litigation time limits should be examined separately within the distinctions in the article on legal remedies. [1] [5]

A short explanation that makes the file understandable

On the first page of the application, the student’s identity, education history, the level requested and, if there is one, the dispute can be explained briefly. Each attachment should be linked to an education year and to the fact it is intended to prove. A file supported by a one-page chronology makes the examination easier than a file made up of documents in mixed languages, in no order and without explanation.

When is the procedure concluded after the appointment?

The Directive on Equivalence and Document Verification of 24 September 2025 provides, as a duty, that equivalence applications are to be concluded within five working days at the latest from the appointment date. This provision does not mean that the application will be deemed accepted automatically at the end of the fifth day. If there is a document deficiency, a need for verification or another procedure, this should be explained in the file and the delay should be followed up in writing. [3]

Instead of merely obtaining information by telephone, it is useful for the applicant to ask in writing what document is considered missing, to which authority it has been referred and at what stage of the procedure the application stands. If the examination is prolonged, the approaching school enrolment calendar should also be notified in a document.

How is a TTKB opinion requested in a file not expressly regulated by the legislation?

The basis for a reasoned opinion request

Article 18/3 of the Equivalence Regulation provides that, on matters not covered by the legislation, action is taken according to the opinion of the Presidency of the Board of Education and Discipline (Talim ve Terbiye Kurulu Başkanlığı, TTKB). Article 9 of the 2025 Directive provides that the equivalence centre is to direct its opinion request in a reasoned and explanatory manner; Article 10 provides for applying for the Presidency’s opinion on matters not found in the Regulation and on matters that raise doubt about the original or certified documents submitted. [1] [3]

In this framework, if only the answer “there is no such procedure in the system” has been received, it should first be clarified whether a technical obstacle or an objection on legal scope is involved. If it is thought that a situation requires an opinion, the equivalence centre may be asked to forward the file to the Presidency with the existing documents and the concrete legal question. The opinion route does not confer authority to disregard an express legislative limit or to make undocumented education valid automatically. It should be shown at what point the application is unregulated or in doubt.

Which questions should be answered in the opinion file?

The application statement should present together the student’s education and citizenship chronology, the institution’s status in the relevant years, the authority that issued the document and the level requested. It should then be written in which provision’s application there is doubt. For example, the difference between an old e-Okul record and a foreign education document submitted may be explained by years and grade-promotion results rather than by an abstract narrative of grievance.

The request may be directed to determining the application route to be followed, the legal nature of the existing document or the matter to be completed for equivalence. The date of sending, the letter number and the opinion given should be kept in the file. During this time, temporary attendance, high school enrolment and any litigation time limits are monitored separately; awaiting the opinion does not suspend all time limits automatically. The details of the legal application time limits are in the article on application and litigation routes. [5]

Can the student attend school while awaiting equivalence?

The purpose and limit of temporary attendance

The Equivalence Regulation provides that, so that a student who arrives during the school year without an education document is not kept away from education, temporary attendance based on the parent’s declaration is allowed, with the documents to be submitted within three months. This route does not mean that the grade temporarily attended is definitively acquired or that graduation is complete. If the documents cannot be submitted within the stated period, the provisions on level determination are considered. [1] [2]

The application should expressly request not only recognition of past education but also that the child not be cut off from education while the examination is under way. The school at which the child is currently enrolled, the grade actually attended and the pending enrolment procedure should be explained. This information is important in determining which temporary or definitive act the administration should take.

In which files is level determination considered?

The 2026 STS guide (the Level Determination e-Exam guide) contains different application groups. Among them are, under certain conditions, those who cannot submit the education document within three months, and those who cannot submit an education document in Türkiye, are of compulsory primary-education age and have no e-Okul record. Having no record at all and having a record in an older grade are not the same condition. The scope of the guide should be examined according to the student’s own situation. [4]

Level determination should not be presented as an unlimited correction mechanism for every education whose documents or licence status are problematic. Within the relevant provisions, it should be determined with reasons whether an examination, an equivalence based on documents or another placement procedure is required. The details are in the article on level determination and grade placement.

What should be checked when the equivalence certificate is received?

The content of the result certificate

On delivery of the certificate, the student’s identity details, the education documents taken as the basis, the grade or graduation level determined and, if any, the field/branch information should be checked. Where the purpose of the application was to attend the 9th grade and the result certificate shows a lower level, this may be a mere clerical error or a substantive difference in assessment.

A clerical error and an academic-level dispute should be explained separately. For the first, a document showing the error in identity or figures is needed; for the second, a comparison is needed that shows which period of education or record of achievement was not taken into account. In the file, it is not enough to say “we find the document wrong”; it must be stated which result conflicts with which document.

Following enrolment and the objection together

After the equivalence certificate is issued, the new school’s enrolment process is followed separately. It should not be forgotten that high school transition, the central examination, local placement and transfer calendars are different procedures. This area is explained in the high school transition guide.

The Regulation allows a three-month objection period against an equivalence certificate from its date of issue. This cannot be accepted as the same as the administrative litigation time limit, nor can it be accepted that every application automatically suspends the litigation time limit. The assessment of time limits and the type of procedure is addressed separately in the article on application and litigation routes. [1] [5]

Which mistakes should be avoided in file strategy?

The most important mistake is to gather different problems into the single sentence “equivalence was not granted”. If the institution’s status is disputed, the licence and programme should be researched; if the genuineness of the document is disputed, verification; if the level of education is disputed, the courses and grade promotion; if the system record is missing, the registration procedure. Several of these may be present in one file, but the evidence and the request for each must be built separately.

The method that strengthens the application is not to select only the documents that appear favourable but to present the whole education chronology consistently. If information such as an unsuccessful term, absences or a change of citizenship is concealed, later official correspondence may conflict with the file. The legal assessment should explain this information and discuss why and to what result it matters.

The right to education is the fundamental guarantee to be observed in the procedure; however, this right does not automatically produce a particular document or grade result. The request that the child not be cut off from education and the academic and legal bases of the equivalence level sought should be presented together. Such an application converts an abstract emphasis on rights into a request for a concrete administrative act. [6]

How is an application planned in a file with a two-year education gap?

Hypothetical example: grade 6 in the system, grade 8 in the school’s account

This example is constructed to illustrate the method; it is not a real student file or an administrative decision that has been issued. Suppose that on the student’s registration screen in Türkiye the student last appears in the 6th grade, while the family states that the student received two more years of education at a school applying a foreign programme. The first request is not framed as adding these two years to the system without any examination. For each year, the school’s legal status, the programme it applied, the student’s registration and the achievement result are researched.

That the student has a document showing promotion to a higher grade at the end of the first year is not the same as there being only a receipt for school fees. For the second year too, the final-term report card, leaving certificate or graduation record is examined separately. If one document was issued under the former foreign identity number and the other under the identity held after Turkish citizenship was acquired, the chain of identity is explained. This explanation does not replace the academic document that proves the education result; it ensures that the existing document is matched to the right student.

Three different file directions according to the research result

In the first possibility, the school’s authorised records contain grade-promotion and education documents, and the problem is that the family cannot reach them or that they have not been transferred to the system concerned. In this case, obtaining the certified records, explaining the data error and submitting the file for the necessary equivalence procedure take priority. It should not be accepted that the education is wholly disregarded merely because no record appears on the parent’s screen.

In the second possibility, education documents cannot be submitted and the conditions for level determination for the student need to be assessed. Here, the student’s having no e-Okul record at all is distinguished from having an old 6th-grade record. It cannot be said that sitting the examination is the definitive solution without matching the application groups in the 2026 STS guide to the concrete file. The temporary attendance and document-completion process is also handled under its own conditions. [1] [4]

In the third possibility, the problem is not merely missing papers; it is argued that the educating institution or the form of education falls outside the scope of equivalence. The provision on which this reasoning rests should be asked about in writing. Submitting more receipts or witness accounts does not remove the scope problem by itself. Even so, the administration’s mischaracterising the institution’s real status or its failure to examine the existing licence documents may be a separate ground for objection. [1]

If the student is leaving an unlicensed foreign school in Türkiye, then within this third possibility, conformity with the 2026 transfer arrangement should also be researched separately. The earlier general assessment does not remove the need to examine the special transfer request that the student made within the time limit. [9]

A tracking schedule for the file while education continues

It is useful to keep two parallel calendars in the application file. The first shows the dates of requesting documents, translation, appointment, examination and objection. The second contains the student’s current school, the grade attended, upcoming examinations and high school enrolment dates. In this way the possibility that the education year will be lost through another procedure while the document examination is awaited becomes visible earlier.

For each step in the schedule, the person responsible and the record of delivery should be stated. It should be possible to trace on what date what was requested from the school, which document was answered and what remains missing. When the equivalence result is received, the earlier request is compared with the result certificate; then it is learned from the enrolment authority what additional procedure is required. This method does not guarantee a result, but it prevents a two- or three-year education gap from being lost in general statements and makes the real cause of the dispute visible.

Conclusion

The basis of a successful equivalence file is to set out the student’s real education history with verifiable documents that belong to the right institution and suit the purpose. In the first stage, the scope and the necessity of equivalence; in the second, the documents and status arrangement; in the third, the need for temporary attendance and definitive enrolment should be examined. The result of the application should be checked not only as to whether a certificate has been issued, but as to whether it correctly shows the education level the student needs.

Where documents are missing, the school archive and official certified-copy routes are considered; where the conditions exist, level determination; where the procedure is flawed, the appropriate administrative and judicial application. A documented right to skip a grade or finish early is examined separately; on matters not regulated by the legislation, or raising doubt about the documents submitted, the reasoned Presidency opinion route is followed. Following each stage in the same file but with its own legal function serves both to reduce the loss of education and to set out the dispute in a way that can be reviewed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the application for school equivalence made to YÖK or to MEB?

The MEB equivalence system is used for education documents at primary, lower secondary and high school level. Academic equivalence of a university diploma is a separate procedure. That a high school equivalence certificate is requested at university enrolment does not change this distinction. [1] [2]

Can the application be completed only over the internet?

The application and uploading of documents are done electronically; presenting the original documents to the competent equivalence centre and their checking are also important. That the files have been uploaded to the system does not show that all stages of examination have been completed. [1] [2]

Is the document of every school that teaches in a foreign language suitable for equivalence?

No. The institution’s location, legal status, programme and the nature of the document are examined. A foreign language or a foreign school name does not by itself determine the scope of equivalence. [1]

Is it enough that the child’s age is suitable for the 9th grade?

Age is one element of the education and enrolment assessment; it does not replace documenting the education level completed. The grade level and the enrolment conditions of the school concerned are examined separately. [1]

If there is a last report card, can the documents of earlier years also be requested?

The documents requested vary according to the education stage and purpose of the application. In particular in the examination of a high school intermediate grade or of graduation, the transcripts and education records of past years are important. [1] [2]

What is done if the report card does not show promotion to a higher grade?

The official document explaining promotion to a higher grade should be completed. Where this document cannot be submitted, the assessment may be made on the basis of the grade level in the existing document. [2]

Is equivalence impossible if the original diploma is lost?

No. Copies issued and certified in accordance with the proper procedure can be assessed. Which certification is required should be checked according to the country that issued the document and the nature of the document. [1] [2]

Does obtaining an apostille guarantee equivalence?

No. The procedure for verifying a document is different from determining the level of the education in Türkiye. The school, programme, duration and achievement records are assessed separately. [1] [2]

Is the child left out of education while equivalence is awaited?

The Regulation provides, under certain conditions, a temporary attendance route based on the parent’s declaration. This request should be made expressly; the obligation to complete the documents and the definitive level determination are followed separately. [1]

What happens if the documents cannot be submitted within three months?

The provisions of the Regulation and of the current STS guide are considered. Not every file is tied automatically to the same examination or grade result; whether the student meets the scope conditions is examined. [1] [4]

If no reply is given within five working days, is the application deemed accepted?

No. That the Directive contains a duty to conclude from the appointment is not a provision under which silence means acceptance. The reason for the delay and the procedure concerning the application should be followed up in writing. [3]

Can direct enrolment be made at the desired high school with the equivalence certificate?

Equivalence determines the level of education. The examination score, placement, quota, transfer and the other enrolment conditions of the relevant type of school apply separately. [1]

Where is an application made if the grade in the equivalence certificate is wrong?

A reasoned objection may be made to the equivalence centre that issued the certificate. The objection period in the Regulation and the judicial application period should be assessed separately; documents showing which record is wrong and why should be attached to the application. [1] [5]

What document is requested from a student who skipped a grade abroad?

Under Article 16 of the Equivalence Regulation, the right to continue acquired by finishing early or skipping a grade must be documented by an official letter from the ministry of education or the embassy of the country concerned. The school’s actually admitting the student to a higher grade should be distinguished from the competent authority’s verification of that right. [1]

Can equivalence be obtained for an online foreign high school diploma?

The limitation in Article 12/3 of the Regulation on documents and diplomas obtained by distance education must be examined. The document arrangement provided in Article 5/1-c for enrolment in an intermediate grade in officially announced extraordinary circumstances is not a general acceptance rule applicable to all online graduation documents. The form and period of the education and the purpose of the application should be clearly shown. [1]

What request can be made if the equivalence centre says “no procedure in the system”?

The technical or legal reason for the reply should be requested in writing. If there is a matter not found in the legislation or one on which there is doubt about the documents, a reasoned referral for the Presidency’s opinion may be requested by setting out the concrete question and the supporting materials. This does not guarantee a favourable equivalence outcome and does not remove the need to follow other application time limits. [1] [3] [5]

Is the name of an international high school diploma alone enough for equivalence?

Whether the document confers high school graduation, its certifications and the education records are checked. For graduates of international schools abroad, a document from the ministry of education of the country concerned showing the right to progress to higher education is also researched. The recognised name of a programme does not replace the document requirements in the application file. [2]

Is the Equivalence Guide 2025 an out-of-date document?

This conclusion cannot be reached from the year in its title alone. The TTKB has announced that it updated the guide published under this name on 25 February 2026. The version used in the application, the relevant country section and the nature of the education document should be checked together. [8]

Is there an application route in 2026 for a student at an unlicensed foreign school?

The intermediate-grade transfer opportunity announced by MEB should be considered. The leaving of the school, the purpose of continuing education and the application made within the time limit should be shown in the file. No definitive grade level or graduation result can be drawn from this application; the document deficiency and the procedure to follow should be asked of the equivalence centre in writing. [9]

What happens if the underlying document is found to be forged after the equivalence certificate is received?

Article 5/3 of the Regulation provides for the cancellation of equivalence previously given and for a criminal complaint. The finding on which the procedure rests should be distinguished from a simple spelling or identity discrepancy. The legal route against the cancellation decision and any criminal investigation are assessed within their own procedures. [1]

Sources and legal bases

1. Ministry of National Education Equivalence Regulation (Millî Eğitim Bakanlığı Denklik Yönetmeliği), Official Gazette 09.07.2024, No. 32597; in particular Articles 1, 4–6, 8, 10–16, 18. Resmî Gazete · MEB official PDF copy.
2. Ministry of National Education, e-Denklik System (e-Equivalence System), Frequently Asked Questions; explanations on application, documents, certification, temporary attendance and grade promotion. Official explanations.
3. Ministry of National Education Directive on the Equivalence and Document Verification Branch and Equivalence Centres (Denklik ve Belge Doğrulama Şubesi ile Denklik Merkezleri Yönergesi), 24.09.2025; in particular Articles 4–10 and 17. Official text.
4. Ministry of National Education, Level Determination e-Exam for Equivalence (Denklik Seviye Tespit e-Sınavı) Application and Implementation Guide 2026; in particular sections 1 and 4. Official guide.
5. Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 (İdari Yargılama Usulü Kanunu); in particular Articles 7, 10, 11 and 20/B. Ministry of Justice UYAP legislation text.
6. Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye, in particular Articles 13, 40, 42 and 125. Official text of the Constitutional Court.
7. Presidency of the Board of Education and Discipline (Talim ve Terbiye Kurulu Başkanlığı), Frequently Asked Questions, “Equivalence Procedures” section; explanations on the person who may apply, the parent/guardian and the power of attorney. Official TTKB explanations.
8. Presidency of the Board of Education and Discipline, “Equivalence Guide (2025) Updated!”, 25.02.2026; announcement of the current version concerning country education systems and document examples. Official announcement and Turkish/English guide links.
9. Ministry of National Education, “Equivalence Opportunity for Transfer from Foreign Schools Operating Without a Licence to Turkish Schools”, 17.08.2026; scope of the intermediate-grade transfer and the final application deadline of 31.12.2026 at 17:00. Official MEB announcement. This source shows that the arrangement has been announced by the Ministry; it has not been treated as a substitute for the detailed implementation letter.