Diploma Equivalency Applications for Foreigners YÖK
Foreign or Turkish citizens who have a university, master’s degree and doctorate outside Turkey are required to apply for equivalence to YÖK (Higher Education Council) in order for their diplomas to be valid in Turkey. In this article, we will try to explain in detail how to apply for YÖK equivalence and what are the documents required for YÖK equivalence application.
What is the process of YÖK diploma equivalence application?
1- Firstly, the foreign identity number of the person who will apply for equivalence is taken.
2- Then an E-Devlet password is obtained for the foreign person.
3- “YÖK denklik basvurusu” is written via E-Devlet and an online application is made from the application page and an appointment is made from YÖK.
4- Necessary documents are prepared as a result of online application.
5- After the necessary documents are prepared, the documents are submitted to the Department of Recognition and Equivalency Services of YÖK (YÖK Tanıma Ve Denklik Hizmetleri Daire Başkanlığına ) -Only in Ankara-
Where to submit the documents for YÖK equivalence application? Address: “Presidency of the Council of Higher Education Universities Mah. 1600. Cad. No:10 06800 Bilkent Ankara-Turkey” Google Map location link
6- After the documents are submitted, YÖK makes correspondence through the consulate of the relevant country and waits for the response from the relevant university. You can get the equivalence certificate after the positive response. The whole process can be checked from the e-government application tab.
Application with the help of a lawyer:
If you want to make your Diploma application in a correct and professional way, if you do not have time to go to Ankara submit the documents, if you want to submit your documents to a reliable lawyer, you can contact BaltaşGlobal and make the diploma process together with the lawyer.
Now let us explain the details of the process we have summarised above;
What is YÖK diploma equivalence application?
In order for the diplomas obtained abroad to be valid in Turkey, it is necessary to apply for equivalence to the YÖK Recognition and Equivalence Services Department. With the application for equivalence to YÖK, you can make the diploma received from abroad valid in Turkey by obtaining YÖK Equivalency Certificate.
After the application for recognition and equivalence of diplomas received from abroad in Turkey, you will only have a diploma equivalent to universities in Turkey.
YÖK Equivalency Application Required Documents
We apply online for YÖK equivalence application and after the online application is made, an appointment button appears on the following page. By making an appointment from this appointment section, the documents are submitted by going to the YÖK Recognition and Equivalence Services Department in Ankara (only in Ankara). In this title, we will tell you about the documents required for the YÖK Equivalency Application on the way to Ankara.
YÖK Equivalence Application Required Documents;
1- Equivalency application form. (you can examine the sample image below)
This form is created automatically by the system after online application. After the online application is made, it must be printed out in colour from the system and signed.
2- Declaration of Consent.
The Declaration of Consent form on my website must be filled in and signed.
3- Photocopy of passport and photocopy of residence card/work permit card (Colour photocopy)
4- Original diploma for which recognition is requested
You must take the original diploma with you and present it to the officials. The officials will return the original to you after examining it.
5- Notarised translation of the diploma for which recognition is requested
6- Original transcript document
You must take the original transcript document with you and present it to the staff. The staff will return it to you after examining the original.
7- Notarised translation of the transcript
8- Justification of the Diploma Recognition Applicant
Foreign nationals’ written statements showing the reason for applying for graduation recognition or diploma equivalence certificate for associate, undergraduate and graduate diplomas.
9- Receipt showing that the application fee has been paid.
How much is the application fee and how to apply?
The application fee is 1.000,00 (one thousand) – Turkish Liras (for the year 2025). The fee is sent by eft to the IBAN number on the website of the Council of Higher Education Strategy Development Presidency with an explanation. The explanation can be made as ‘…..Your name …. adına denklik başvuru ücretidir’.
How to Apply for Diploma Equivalency?
First of all, we need to make a pre-application for equivalence to YÖK online for equivalence application. The pre-application process is done at https://denklik.yok.gov.tr/online-basvuru. Here, people enter this address, fill in the necessary information and complete the online pre-application.
It should be noted that there are two separate applications for foreign individuals and Turkish citizens. Turkish Citizens with a Turkish ID number must apply from the tab that suits them.
Persons without a foreign ID number starting with 99 cannot apply for equivalence. People who do not have a foreign ID number starting with 99 must first obtain a residence permit or work permit.
Below we have explained the online application stages in detail for you;
1- Entering Information into the YÖK Application System
At this stage, we fill in the necessary information. After the information is filled in, the document upload section will appear.
2- Uploading Documents to the System
We upload documents from this document upload section. Documents to be uploaded to the system;
1- Colour photocopy of identity card passport
2- Original Diploma in colour
3- Sworn Turkish translation and notarised colour photocopy of the diploma
4- Original transcript
5- Turkish translation and notarised colour photocopy of the transcript
6- Declaration of consent document – DECLARATION OF CONSENT(Rıza Beyanı)
3- Making an appointment for submission of documents
After filling in the necessary places online, we come to the appointment making page. On this appointment booking page, we need to make our appointment and physically deliver the documents to Ankara on the appointment day. You can deliver the documents in person or you can deliver them by giving power of attorney to the lawyer.
The address where YÖK recognition and equivalence certificates will be delivered: YÖK Tanıma Ve Denklik Hizmetleri Daire Başkanlığı
YÖK Equivalency application where will the documents be delivered? Address: “Yükseköğretim Kurulu Başkanlığı Üniversiteler Mah. 1600. Cad. No:10 06800 Bilkent Ankara-Türkiye”
4- Receiving the Pre-Application Form for Recognition
After all online application procedures are completed, we will be presented with the Equivalency pre-application form. This form should be downloaded from the application page, printed, signed and ready on the application day.
Example of online application petition;
Issues to be considered in the application?
If you do not want to have problems with recognition procedures, you must fill out your application completely and accurately. There may be differences in applications according to the country where you received your diploma. In order for your application to be concluded positively, you should pay attention to how the YÖK Recognition and Equivalence Services Department requests the application and make preliminary preparations accordingly.
Upload the documents requested from you in the file upload section by scanning them in colour. The documents you upload must be in PDF format.
After finalising your application, you will be directed to the last screen, where you must print the final version of your application document and sign it at home. We will deliver this document to the YÖK administration in Ankara on the appointment day.
When is the diploma equivalence application finalised?
After the documents are submitted, the periods generally vary. The Department of Recognition and Equivalence of YÖK, which receives the documents, writes to the consulate where the diploma comes from. In the letter, it is asked whether the diploma applied for equivalence is real or not and a response is expected from the consulate. In general, the finalisation time of your application varies according to the response speed of the countries.
According to our experience in the applications we have made as BaltaşBlobal company lawyers, the finalisation time for US citizens is 1.5 months, the finalisation time for Cyprus is 1 month, the finalisation time for Iranian citizens is 1 year and above, 4 months for Spanish citizens, 2 months for England, 6 months for Brazil. These times are not exact times and vary according to the response time and the care taken by the consular staff.
To request professional help for your applications, contact page.
Lawyer Cihat BALTAŞ
Lawyer Cihat BALTAŞ graduated from Police College in 2006, Police Academy in 2010, Yalova Law Faculty in 2016 with a degree and has worked and specialised in foreign law throughout his professional life. Cihat BALTAŞ, who is currently working as a lawyer in Kadıköy, Istanbul, is the founder of BaltaşGlobal law and consultancy office.