Moving to Turkey with a foreign diploma or school certificate inevitably raises one specific question: how will Turkish authorities, universities and employers see that your education is worth something? The answer is denklik.
Denklik is an official document issued by the Turkish Ministry of Education (MEB) that confirms your foreign diploma or school certificate is equivalent to the corresponding level of the Turkish education system. Without it you cannot enrol in a Turkish university, take up certain positions or obtain a professional licence.
This article has everything you need to know: why it is required, which documents to collect and how to go through the procedure step by step.
Why denklik is needed and in which situations it is mandatory
The need for denklik comes up in several typical scenarios:
- Admission to a Turkish educational institution. Schools and universities require confirmation of the level of foreign education before enrolling. Take a look at the universities of Turkey section — most of them list denklik among the documents required from international applicants.
- Employment. Many employers in Turkey request official confirmation of qualifications when the diploma was obtained abroad.
- Professional licence. Doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers — for regulated professions in Turkey, practising without denklik is not possible. These diplomas are also checked the most thoroughly and take the longest.
- Naturalisation. In some cases denklik may be required when applying for Turkish citizenship.
Full document list for obtaining denklik
Before going further, check that you have everything you need:
- Original diploma or school certificate — depending on your highest completed level of education.
- Notarised translation into Turkish, done in Turkey. Translations done abroad are not accepted by Turkish authorities.
- Academic transcript covering the entire period of studies with subjects, semesters, hours and grades for each.
- Copy of the passport.
- İkamet (residence permit in Turkey) — recently this has become a mandatory document for submitting a denklik application. Without it the application is not accepted.
- Biometric photograph — 4.5×6 cm format.
- Completed application form for denklik.
Step-by-step application via e-Devlet
The entire application procedure is handled online through Turkey's state portal.
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Processing times and what affects the speed
The range is wide — from 2 weeks to 3 months. Several factors affect the speed:
- School certificate — 2–4 weeks
- Bachelor's degree (humanities) — 4–8 weeks
- Medical or legal diploma — up to 3 months
The country of issue matters too: documents from states with established agreements with Turkey are processed faster. It is also important that your institution is accredited at home — non-accredited universities create additional difficulties during the review.
Can denklik be obtained before arriving in Turkey?
Yes. An alternative route is to apply at a Turkish consulate or diplomatic mission in your country. In some cases this is actually simpler than going through the procedure after moving. However, the requirements and document list may differ slightly from one consulate to another — check directly before your visit.
How to obtain an internationally recognised diploma
If the goal is to work or continue studies in several countries, denklik in Turkey becomes just one piece of a broader strategy:
- Finish studies at an accredited educational institution.
- Confirm equivalence in every country where work or study is planned.
- Obtain denklik in Turkey if needed.
Cost and additional expenses
Processing denklik through MEB is free of charge. However, related expenses are unavoidable:
- Notarised translation of the diploma into Turkish — the cost varies depending on the document length and the notary.
- Apostille on the original document (if required).
- Biometric photograph.
Exact amounts are best checked with notaries in the Turkish city where you are located.
Important tips before applying
A few things that will save you time:
- Check the accreditation of your university or school in the country where the diploma was issued — this is the first thing MEB looks at.
- Have the translation made in Turkey: translations produced abroad, even with an apostille, are not accepted in the denklik process.
- Track the application status through your e-Devlet personal account.
- İkamet is mandatory — obtain it well in advance, otherwise submission is not possible.
- If refused, you have the right to appeal or to seek legal help.
If you need support at every stage — from collecting documents to submitting the application — take a look at the frequently asked questions about studying in Turkey or learn more about the Edu Turkish company.
Denklik is an official MEB certificate confirming that a foreign diploma or school certificate is equivalent to the Turkish education standard. Without it you cannot enrol in a Turkish university, obtain a professional licence or take up a number of positions that require official confirmation of qualifications.
The original diploma or school certificate, a notarised translation into Turkish (done in Turkey), an academic transcript with subjects and hours, a copy of the passport, an ikamet, a biometric photograph and a completed application form.
From 2 weeks to 3 months. School certificates are reviewed faster — usually 2–4 weeks. Medical and legal diplomas take the longest, up to 3 months.
Application and document upload are done online via edenklik.meb.gov.tr. However, after the appointment is scheduled you still need to attend in person and hand the original documents to a MEB representative.
Yes. Recently the ikamet — a Turkish residence permit — has become a mandatory document. Without it the application is not accepted for review.
Yes. Turkish consulates and diplomatic missions accept such applications. Requirements may differ slightly from one country to another — check the document list directly with the nearest consulate.
