Residence Permit

Ensuring parallelism in the implementation of international law and international law rules has an important place in creating a system that respects human dignity and preventing human rights violations. In this context, foreigners in our country have various rights and obligations. Residence permits, rights and obligations of foreigners in this framework constitutes a legal basis for not residing in Turkey.

Beyond the visa or visa exemption period or ninety days in Turkey to stay longer they must obtain a residence permit for foreigners. Extension applications are made to the provinces within sixty days before the end of the residence permit and in any case before the end of the residence permit.

Work permit as a residence permit

Under the law, a valid work permit is accepted as a residence permit, which means that the owner of the work permit has the right to stay in our country without a work permit.

Residence Permit Fee

The residence permit fee is subject to the Law No. 492 on Fees. In cases where the subsequent extension of the reference made to end the residence permit, residence permit fees for fees spent in Turkey No. 492 Fees will be charged in accordance with article 83 of the Act.

Adress in Turkey

Foreigners are required to provide information about the place of residence in Turkey and the address can address a fixed address or accommodations. However, in any case, foreigners must provide their address information accurately and completely. In addition, the address, telephone number or e-mail information must be up to date for the residence permit to be sent to the address.

If the address information changes within the residence permit period, the necessary documents must be submitted to the provincial immigration management directorate and the provincial registration and citizenship directorate within 20 (twenty) business days.

Right to Exit for 15 Days

Foreigners, approved by the Directorate "Residence Permit Application Form" within 15 days of receipt by the input they can exit from Turkey. However, visa provisions are applied to foreigners if they stay abroad for more than 15 days.

Finalization of Residence Permit

According to Article 21 of the Law in question, residence permit applications are finalized within ninety days at the latest.

In addition, pursuant to Article 22 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, the ninety-day period starts from the date when the information and documents are submitted to the fully competent authority. If this period is extended, foreigners are informed.

Work permit

Work permit for a certain period of time:

Unless otherwise specified in bilateral or multilateral agreements to which Turkey is a party, the labor market situation, taking into account developments in business, it will be valid for a maximum of one year work permit for a period of time. , employment-related sectoral and economic conjuncture changes to work in a particular workplace or business and a specific job, depending on the duration or duration of the foreigner's service contract.

After one year of legal work, the duration of the work permit can be extended up to three years, provided that you work in the same workplace or business and the same job.

At the end of the three-year legal work period, the duration of the work permit can be extended up to six years, to work in the same profession and at the disposal of a desired employer.

Work permits for a certain period of time may also be granted to spouses and dependent children who have come together with the foreigner or later, provided that they have lived legally and without interruption for at least five years.

The Ministry has the right to expand or restrict the geographical validity area of the work permit for a certain period of time.

Work permit for an indefinite period:

Unless otherwise specified in bilateral or multilateral agreements to which Turkey is a party, and without prejudice to the rights of foreigners granted work permit for an indefinite period prior to the date 04.11.2014; 6458 No. foreigners and foreigners who legally worked for continuously residing or eight years for at least eight years with the owners or residence permit in Turkey of a residence permit in accordance with International Protection Act will be given a work permit for an indefinite period of time.

Foreigners who have a work permit for an indefinite period enjoy the same rights as the long-term residence permit stipulated in Article 44 of Law No. 6458.

Work permit for an indefinite period shall be canceled at the request of the foreigner or his employer or in the Law numbered 6458, in the cases specified in Article 45, which stipulates the conditions in which the long-term residence permit will be canceled.

Independent work permit:,

By the Ministry, in Turkey legally and operationally independent continuous residence for at least five years provided they can be given an independent work permit to foreigners.

Exceptions:

in bilateral or multilateral agreements to which Turkey is a party unless otherwise indicated, regardless of the period prescribed in the law, work permits given to foreigners corresponding to the following;

a) a Turkish citizen who is married and the marriage contract in Turkey to foreigners living with their wives or husbands after marriage contracts for at least three years after the end of foreigners who have settled in Turkey and a Turkish citizen spouse,

b) Those who have lost Turkish Citizenship and their subordinates within the framework of Articles 19, 27 and 28 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 403,

c) before reaching the majority, who was born in Turkey or had come to Turkey, no nation, according to Turkish legislation and professional schools, foreigners who graduate from high school or college in Turkey

d) Foreigners accepted as immigrants, refugees or immigrants according to the Housing Law No. 2510,

e) Citizens of countries that are members of the European Union and spouses and children of non-citizens of countries that are members of the European Union,

f) Employees in the service of The Diplomat is a foreign state within the framework of the spouses and children of reciprocity diplomats tasked with administrative and technical staff in the representation of consulates and embassies in the international organizations in Turkey and the condition limiting the commission duration, embassies and international organizations in Turkey, the consulate in and representatives of official administrative and technical personnel,

g) For the purpose of scientific and cultural activities temporarily for more than a month to Turkey and sports activities to foreigners coming for more than four months,

h) To give contracting procurement procedures to the foreigners who are in the position of key personnel to be employed in the procurement of goods and services, who do a job or operate a business, Ministries and public institutions and organizations authorized by law.

ı) Foreigners and stateless persons who have applied for international protection and have received conditional refugee status by the Ministry of Interior.

Investment Incentives

Please contact us to lead detailed and more about investment incentives given a general framework as follows, in all its parts.

General Framework

The new investment incentives scheme is specifically designed to encourage investments with the potential to reduce dependency on the importation of intermediate goods vital to the country’s strategic sectors.

Amongst the primary objectives of the new investment incentives scheme are: reduce the current account deficit; boost investment support for lesser developed regions; increase the level of support instruments; promote clustering activities; and to support investments that will create the transfer of technology.

Effective as of January 1, 2012, the new investment incentives system has been comprised of four different schemes. Local and foreign investors have equal access to:

1-      General Investment Incentives Scheme

2-      Regional Investment Incentives Scheme

3-      Large-Scale Investment Incentives Scheme

4-      Strategic Investment Incentives Scheme

....

1- General Investment Incentives Scheme

Regardless of the region where investment takes place, all projects meeting both the specific capacity conditions and the minimum fixed investment amount are supported within the framework of the General Investment Incentives Scheme. Some types of investments are excluded from the investment incentives system and would not benefit from this scheme.

The minimum fixed investment amount is TRY 1 million in Region 1 and 2, and TRY 500,000 in Region 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Major investment incentive instruments are:

a) Exemption from customs duties:

Customs tax exemption for imported machinery and equipment for projects with an investment incentive certificate.

b) VAT exemption:

VAT exemption for imported or domestically purchased machinery and equipment for projects with an investment incentive certificate. 

2- Regional Investment Incentives Scheme

The sectors to be supported in each region are determined in accordance with regional potential and the scale of the local economy, while the intensity of support varies depending on the level of development in the region.

The minimum fixed investment amount is defined separately for each sector and region with the lowest amount being TRY 1 million for Region 1 and 2, and TRY 500,000 for the remaining regions.

The terms and rates of support provided within the Regional Investment Incentives Scheme are shown in the following table. 

*OIZ: Organized Industrial Zones  

The new investment incentives system defines certain investment areas as “priority” and offers them the regional support extended to Region 5 by the Regional Investment Incentives Scheme, regardless of the region of the investment. If the fixed investment amount in priority investments is TRY 1 billion or more, tax reduction will be applied by adding 10 points on top of the “rate of contribution to investment” available in Region 5. If priority investments are made in Region 6, the regional incentives available for this particular region shall apply.

Fields of investment with specific priorities to be supported with Region 5 instruments regardless of the investment’s region are:

• Tourism accommodation investments in Cultural and Tourism Preservation and Development Regions and investments that could benefit from regional incentives with regard to thermal tourism
• Mine extraction and/or processing investments
• Mining exploration investments to be made in the licensed areas by investors with a valid Exploration License or Certificate issued pursuant to the Mining Law
• Railroad and maritime freight or passenger transportation investments
• Investments in the defense industry to be made with respect to the project approval received from the Undersecretariat for Defense Industry
• Test centers, wind tunnels, and similar investments made for the automotive, aerospace or defense industries
• Investments made by the private sector for kindergartens and day-care centers, as well as preschools, primary, elementary, and high schools
• International trade fair investments with a minimum indoor area of 50,000 square meters (excluding accommodation and shopping center units)
• Investments for the manufacturing of products or parts developed by an R&D project that is supported by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, TUBITAK or KOSGEB
• Investments in the motor vehicles main industry worth a minimum amount of TRY 300 million, engine investments worth a minimum amount of TRY 75 million, and investments for motor engine parts, transmission components/parts and automotive electronics worth a minimum amount of TRY 20 million
• Investments for power generation where metals stated in the 4-b group of Article 2 of the current Mining Law No. 3213 within the scope of a valid mining license and permit issued by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources are used as inputs
• Investments for energy efficiency projects which are to be carried out at existing manufacturing industry facilities with minimum 500 TEP (ton equivalent petroleum) annual energy consumption, which would provide minimum 20% energy savings compared to the current situation, and with 5 years or less return on investment as a result of energy savings
• Investments for electricity generation through waste heat recovery in a facility (excluding natural gas-fired electricity generation plants)
• Liquefied natural gas (LNG) investments and underground gas storage investments with a minimum amount of TRY 50 million
• Investments for the production of carbon fiber or composite materials made ​​from carbon fiber provided that it takes place along with carbon fiber production
• Investments for the production of items in high-tech industry segment stipulated in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) definition for technology intensity
• Priority investments with a minimum fixed investment amount of more than TRY 3 billion are considered to be strategic investments. Yet, the amount of interest support for these investments cannot exceed TRY 700,000.
• Investments for the production of turbines and generators used in renewable energy generation, as well as investments for the production of blades used in wind energy generation
• Integrated investments for the production of aluminum flat products by hot rolling and direct chill slab casting methods
• Licensed warehousing
• Nuclear power plant investments
• Investments for research and reference laboratories, consumer safety and infectious diseases reference laboratories, pharmaceutical and medical device analysis and control laboratories, as well as laboratory complexes for in vivo testing and research centers

Furthermore, together with the amendment to the incentives legislation on October 5, 2016, investments for the production of items in medium high-tech industry segment stipulated in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) definition for technology intensity will be able to benefit from the instruments of Region 4 regardless of the location of the investment. The investment subjects in question are as follows:

• Painting substances not classified elsewhere (NCE); inorganic products used as luminophore
• Sulphites and sulphates
• Phosphinates, phosphonates, phosphates and polyphosphates, nitrates
• Manufacture of other organic main chemical substances
• Manufacture of chemical fertilizers and nitrous compounds
• Manufacture of synthetic rubber and plastic raw materials
• Manufacture of glue and gelatin
• Modeling pastes; dentist’s wax, plaster-based preparations used in dentistry, fillers and compounds for fire extinguishers; prepared culture media used for the cultivation of microorganisms; not classified elsewhere (NCE) mixed reagents for laboratory or diagnostics use
• Doped chemical elements for use in electronics such as disks, scales etc.
• The preparations used in cleaning of metal surfaces; vulcanization accelerator substances; not classified elsewhere (NCE) plasticizer and stabilizer compounds for rubber and plastics; not classified elsewhere (NCE) reaction initiators, accelerators, catalysts; not classified elsewhere (NCE) alkalibenzene and alkalinaphtalene mixtures
• Manufacture of internal combustion engines and turbines (excluding aircraft, motorized vehicle and motorcycle engines)
• Manufacture of pumps and compressors
• Manufacture of bearings, gears, gear sets and drive mechanisms
• Manufacture of industrial furnaces, kiln and furnace ignitors
• Manufacture of hoisting and handling equipment
• Manufacture of other general purpose machinery
• Manufacture of agricultural and forestry machinery
• Manufacture of machine tools
• Manufacture of metallurgy machinery
• Manufacture of mining, quarry and construction machinery
• Manufacture of food, beverage and tobacco processing machinery
• Manufacture of machinery used in textile, garments and leather processing
• Manufacture of weaponry and ammunition (excluding hunting rifles and ammunition, components and accessories for hunting rifles)
• Manufacture of other specialty machinery
• Manufacture of not classified elsewhere (NCE) household appliances
• Manufacture of electrical motors, generators and transformers
• Manufacture of power distribution and control devices
• Lead-acid accumulators for starter-piston engines
• Nickel-cadmium, nickel-iron and other electrical accumulators
• Manufacture of not classified elsewhere (NCE) electrical equipment
• Manufacture of motorized land vehicles
• Manufacture of railroad and trolley engines and cars
• Manufacture of motorcycles
• Manufacture of vehicles for the disabled

3- Large-Scale Investment Incentives Scheme

12 investment subjects, which will potentially foster Turkey’s technology, R&D capacity and competitiveness, are supported by Large-Scale Investment Incentives Scheme instruments.

The terms and rates of support provided within the Large-Scale Investment Incentives Scheme are shown in the following table. 

 *OIZ: Organized Industrial Zones 

The following categories of investment within the Regional and Large-Scale Investment Incentives Schemes can benefit from support granted to a one-grade lower region in terms of tax reduction and social security premium support (employer’s share).

• Investments in Organized Industrial Zones (OIZ)
• Joint investments to be made by at least five companies operating in the same sector with the purpose of greater integration

E.g.: A Region 3-level investment in an OIZ can take advantage of the tax reduction level in Region 4. Similarly, a Region 6-level investment may benefit from an additional 5% contribution to the investment.

4- Strategic Investment Incentives Scheme

Investments meeting the criteria below are supported within the framework of the Strategic Investment Incentives Scheme:

• The domestic production capacity for the product to be manufactured with the investment shall be less than the import of the product.
• The investment shall have a minimum investment amount of TRY 50 million.
• The investment shall create a minimum added-value of 40% (this condition is not applicable to refinery and petrochemicals investments).
• The total import value of the product to be manufactured with the investment shall be minimum of USD 50 million as of the past one year (excluding products that are not locally produced).

The terms and rates of support provided within the Strategic Investment Incentives Scheme are shown in the following table.

*Provided that it will not exceed 5 percent of the investment amount

Support Instruments

 VAT Exemption:

VAT is exempt for imported and/or domestically delivered machinery and equipment within the scope of the investment incentive certificate.

Customs Duty Exemption:

Customs duty is exempt for imported machinery and equipment within the scope of the investment incentive certificate.

Tax Reduction:

The income or corporate tax is calculated on basis of reduced rates until the total amount of reduced tax reaches the amount of contribution to the investment. The rate of contribution to investment refers to the rate of the total fixed investment amount that is subject to tax reduction.

Social Security Premium Support (Employee’s Share):

For additional employment created by the investment, the employee’s share of the social security premium calculated on basis of the legal minimum wage will be covered by the government. The instrument is applicable only to investments made in Region 6 within the scope of the investment incentive certificate. There is no upper limit for Social Security Premium Support and it is applicable for 10 years.

Social Security Premium Support (Employer’s Share):

For additional employment created by the investment, the employer’s share of the social security premium calculated on basis of the legal minimum wage will be covered by the government.

Income Tax Withholding Allowance:

The income tax with regard to additional employment created by the investment, within the scope of the investment incentive certificate, will not be liable to withholding taxes. The instrument is applicable only to investments made in Region 6 within the scope of the investment incentive certificate. There is no upper limit for income tax withholding allowance and it is applicable for 10 years.

Interest Rate Support:

Interest rate support is a financial support instrument provided for investment loans with a term of at least one year obtained within the scope of an investment incentive certificate. A portion of the interest/profit share regarding the loan equivalent, at most 70 percent of the fixed investment amount registered in the investment incentive certificate, will be covered by the government for a maximum of the first five years. 

Land Allocation:

Land may be allocated for investments, with an investment incentive certificate, in accordance with the rules and principles set by the Ministry of Finance, depending on the availability of such land.

VAT Refund:

VAT collected on construction expenses, made within the scope of strategic investments with a minimum fixed investment amount of TRY 500 million, will be rebated.

R&D Incentives

1-      R&D Law

The R&D Law provides exclusive incentives for R&D and design investment projects in Turkey provided that a minimum of 15 personnel are employed in an R&D center and a minimum of 10 personnel are employed in a design center. The required number of personnel has been set by the Council of Ministers as 30 employees in the production of motor vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft, and related machinery thereof, including military aircrafts. The incentives within the new law will remain in effect until 2024 and include: 

• 100 percent deduction of R&D expenditure from the tax base
• Half of the R&D and design expenditure increase incurred in the operational year compared to the previous year will be deductible (criteria will be determined by Council of Ministers)
• Income withholding tax exemption for employees (until December 31, 2023.)
• 50 percent social security premium exemption for employers (until December 31, 2023)
• Stamp duty exemption for applicable documents
• Customs duty exemption for imported products within the scope of R&D projects
• Techno-initiative capital for new scientists up to TRY 500,000
• Deduction from the tax base of certain funds granted by public bodies and international organizations

2-      Support for Technology Development Zones

The advantages in Technology Development Zones are:

• Profits derived from software development, R&D, and design activities are exempt from income and corporate taxes until December 31, 2023.
• Sales of application software produced exclusively in TDZs are exempt from VAT until December 31, 2023. Examples include software for systems management, data management, business applications, different business sectors, the internet, mobile phones, and military command control.
• Wages of R&D, design, and support personnel employed in the zone are exempt from all taxes until December 31, 2023. The number of the support personnel covered by the exemption shall not exceed 10 percent of the number of the R&D personnel.
• Investments for the production of the technological products obtained as a result of the R&D projects conducted in the zone may be made in the TDZ if deemed suitable by the operator company and allowed by the Ministry.
• 50 percent of the employer’s share of the social security premium will be paid by the government until December 31, 2023.
• Customs duty exemption for imported products and stamp duty exemption for applicable documents within the scope of R&D, design, and software development projects.

3-      Industrial Thesis (SANTEZ) Program

Direct financial support for new technology adaptation, process development, quality improvement, and environmental modification projects to be achieved via university partnerships:

• Up to 85 percent of the project budget could be supported by direct grants
• Project term is 2 years, with a possible extension of 6 months
• Expenditure on staff, travel, consumable materials, machinery equipment, consultancy, and relevant service procurements, transportation, insurance, and customs are supported
• The application file could be approved within 4 months, and the project supervision committee is independent

4-      TUBITAK Support

TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) compensates or grants R&D related expenses and capital loans for R&D projects.

Projects eligible for TUBITAK incentives:

• Concept development
• Technological research and technical feasibility research
• Laboratory studies in the translation of a concept into a design
• Design and sketching studies
• Prototype production
• Construction of pilot facilities
• Test production
• Patent and license studies
• Activities concerning the removal of post-sale problems arising from product design

TUBITAK 1515 – Frontier R&D Laboratory Support Program

The 1515 Program applies an integrated perspective that extends beyond a consideration of the initial establishment phase of the R&D laboratory. The 1515 Program offers an entirely grant-based financial model to cover up to 75 percent of the operating expenses of the R&D laboratory in Turkey up to TRY 10 million for each calendar year for a duration of 10 years at most.

The coverage of the grant support consists of the following items:

• Personnel costs
• General operating costs
• Consultancy fees

For eligibility to have personnel costs covered in the total grant amount, at least 50 percent of the personnel must hold Turkish citizenship and at least 1/3 should have a doctoral degree.

5-      TTGV Loans

The Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV) offers long-term interest-free loans for R&D projects on agriculture technologies, health technologies, education technologies, and energy efficiency improvement.

The loans are intended to provide financial support to those activities whose purpose is the development of new products with commercial value in the aforementioned technological areas, or for the promotion of competitiveness of current products in these areas. The scope of the program includes:

• The duration of project support is at least 1 year and is at most 3 years.
• The upper and lower limits for the amount of support to be provided are USD 3 million and USD 250,000, respectively.
• Support shall be provided 50 percent by TTGV and 50 percent by the project coordinating company’s contribution.
• The pay-back term is 4 years in total after project execution, including a one-year grace period.

Export Support

Inward Processing Regime

The aim of the Inward Processing Regime is to enable exporters to procure inputs at world market prices for the production of their exports without being subject to customs duties, including VAT, as well as trade policy measures.

The Inward Processing Regime includes two types of processing measures: Conditional Exemption System and Reimbursement System.

1)      The Conditional Exemption System waives commercial policy measures and taxes that arise during the importation of non-freely circulating raw materials, auxiliary materials, packages, and operating equipment used in production of the export product subject to Inward Processing Regime. It is called conditional as the exporter has to guarantee through collateralization of the imported materials and equipment that they will only be used for the production and exportation of the product subject to Inward Processing Regime. The guarantee given for the collateralized materials and equipment will be released upon exporting of the final product.

2)      The Reimbursement System is the reimbursement of taxes that were paid during the importation of freely circulating raw materials, auxiliary materials, packages, and operating equipment used for the production of the exported product subject to Inward Processing Regime. These taxes are reimbursed upon the exporting of the final product subject to Inward Processing Regime. Commercial policy measures are applied to the imported materials and equipment and all the import procedures such as technical regulations in foreign trade and standardization legislation must have been completed.

Evaluation of Applications

• It should be possible to determine whether the imported raw materials are used to produce exported products.
• The activity should not have a negative impact on the economic interests of the producers in the customs territory.
• Activities should create added-value and the final product should not have a negative impact of the competitiveness in the sector.
• The company should be built in the customs territory in Turkey.

Benefits of Inward Processing Regime

• 100 percent Customs Duty Refund
• 100 percent  VAT Refund
• 100 percent Special Consumption Tax Refund
• 100 percent Resource Utilization Support Fund Refund
• 100 percent Stamp Tax Refund
• Exemption from quotas and surveillance measures: There are import quotas determined by the government for a number of goods, and Inward Processing Regime certificate holders will not be affected by these quotas. The government also determines market prices for some products and imposes excise taxes to these products based on the determined market price, irrespective of the price paid by the importer. Participants in the Inward Processing Regime would also be exempt from such surveillance measures. 
• It is permitted for domestic sales and delivery

Sectoral Incentives

Incentives for Renewable Energy

In addition to the General, Regional, Priority, and Strategic Investment Incentive schemes that apply to investments in the energy sector, the government provides specific incentives for electricity production investments that are based on renewable energy sources.

• 100 percent exemption from Customs Duty and VAT
• Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) scheme for 10 years

           Differentiated FiT scheme based on resource type

          Extra premiums for domestic components

• Grid connection priorities
• Lower license fees

           Only 10 percent of licensing fee (preliminary license and license fee)

           Exemption from the annual license fee for the first eight years of operation

• License exemptions in exceptional circumstances
• Various practical conveniences in project preparation and land acquisition

Source; http://www.invest.gov.tr

Establishing a Company in Turkey

Turkey’s ForeignDirect Investment (FDI) Law is based on the principle of equal treatment,allowing international investors to have the same rights and responsibilitiesas local investors.

The conditions for setting up a business and share transfer are the same as those applied to local investors. International investors may establish any form of company set out in the Turkish Commercial Code (TCC), which offers a corporate governance approach that meets international standards, encourages private equity and public offering activities, creates transparency in managing operations and aligns the Turkish business environment with EU legislation as well as with the EU accession process.

Turkey has launched reforms with a view to making it easier to do business in order to enhance the investment environment, eliminating red tape in setting up a business and minimizing costs and procedures. To this end, establishing a company is now only carried out at Trade Registry Offices located in Chambers of Commerce and designed to be a ‘one-stop shop’. The process is completed on the same day.

Company Types under TCC and Alternative Forms

There are corporate and non-corporate forms for companies under the TCC, which states that companies may be established under the following types:

a. Corporate forms

• Joint Stock Company (JSC)
• Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• Cooperative Company

Although some financial thresholds (i.e., minimum capital) and organs differ from each other, the procedures to be followed for establishing a JSC or an LLC are the same.

b. Non-corporate forms

• Collective Company
• Commandite Company

Although companies may be established according to these five different types, JSC and LLC are the most common types chosen both in the global economy and Turkey.

Please contact us so that we can find out the optimum type of company that complies with your fiscal situation at a low cost and quick, in line with the Turkish trade and tax legislation.

Education in Turkey

Frequently Asked Questions About Recognition and Equivalence Transactions

1. What is the legal basis of recognition and equivalence processes?

According to the article 7/p of the Higher Education Law No. 2547, equivalence procedures of the associate degree, undergraduate and post-graduate (master’s degree only) diplomas received from foreign HEIs are carried out by the CoHE. Equivalence procedures of the diplomas received from foreign HEIs are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations on Recognition and Equivalence of Foreign Higher Education Diplomas published in the Official Gazette dated 20 February 2016 and numbered 29630.

2. Are the recognition and equivalence processes chargeable?

Recognition and equivalence processes are subject to a fee. 150 TL is charged for recognition applications, 150 TL for equivalence applications, 150 TL for re-examination requests, 50 TL for HEI Recognition Letters, and 50 TL for the other transactions related to equivalence and recognition.

3. What do I need to do for the recognition and equivalence application?

The application form at the webpage of Equivalence Office is printed out, filled and signed. Required documents are completed and the application fee is paid. The application is made to the Equivalence Office in person with all documents including the receipt showing that the application fee has been paid.

4. What documents must be submitted for the recognition and equivalence application?

Information on the necessary documents for the recognition and equivalence applications can be found at the webpage of Equivalence Office both in Turkish and English.

5. Do I have to give the official diploma to the CoHE at the equivalence application?

As stated in Article 4 of the Regulations on Recognition and Equivalence of Foreign Diplomas, examinations are made on the official documents. Thus, the official diploma must be submitted to the CoHE at the recognition and equivalence applications.

6. I do not want to send my passport, what should I do?

You do not need to submit the official passport if you submit the photocopies of the legible pages of your passport including visas during your education approved by the notary public or the Foreign Representatives of the Republic of Turkey, and the entry-exit document received from the provincial police headquarters.

7. How can I get a “High School Equivalence Certificate”?

High School Equivalence Certificates can be obtained from the Provincial Directorates of National Education or from the Foreign Representatives of the Republic of Turkey.

8. I do not have a High School Diploma as I was enrolled in the university without high school education. Documents to be submitted for application include a High School Diploma/High School Equivalence Certificate, what should I do?

Necessary examinations will be carried out if you apply to the CoHE with an official document signed by your university or a competent authority of the relevant country to certify that the educational system of the country of higher education permits this situation, official translation of this document approved by the notary public or the Foreign Representatives of the Republic of Turkey, and a petition explaining your situation.

9. Can I apply with the photocopies of the official documents?

Application with the photocopies of the official documents is not accepted.

10. I want to start higher education abroad. Do I have to take the OSYS exams?

You can start your education at an HEI recognized by the CoHE. However, your equivalence application will be examined within the framework of the Regulations on Recognition and Equivalence of the Foreign Higher Education Diplomas and the provisions of the current legislation. The relevant decisions regulating the start of education abroad have been withdrawn.

11. Can someone else do the application for me?

Applications can be received by the representatives on behalf of the applicant only with an official notarized letter of attorney.

12. What are the steps of the equivalence process?

Submission of the application documents in person to the Equivalence Office,

Receipt of the application documents in accordance with the requirements of the equivalence application office,

Registration of the application to the system,

Preliminary examination of the application documents,

Completion of the application documents in case of insufficiency and/or missing documents,

Making correspondence about the application and carrying out the processes if necessary, (confirmation, international correspondence, university view and examination by the related sub-committee etc.).

Requesting additional documents if necessary,

Evaluation of the application by the Equivalence Commission,

Taking Executive Board Decision about the application,

Preparation of the Certificates of Recognition/Equivalence/Interim Graduation, and submission for signature,

Notifying the applicant about the Executive Board Decision on the application.

13. I want to know at what step my equivalence application is, what should I do?

We are still working on sending informational messages to the applicants’ e-mail addresses about the application. Information will be available on the webpage when the work is completed. You can also get information from the Call Centre “0850 470 0965 (YÖK)” during working hours.

14. I want to withdraw my application, what should I do?

To withdraw your application, you must send by mail to the CoHE a petition containing your signature and a receipt showing that the transaction fee of 50 TL has been paid. If you withdraw your application, your official documents (except notarized translations) are returned.

Important Note: In the case of waiting for the reply of diploma confirmation letters from the Foreign Representatives of the Republic of Turkey, requests for withdrawal of the applications are evaluated after receiving the reply of the diploma confirmation letters.

15. How long can the equivalence application be finalized; can you give a definite date?

A definite date cannot be given as finalizing the applications varies by the situations including the country of the HEI, required correspondence, and the graduated program.

17. What is “Diploma Confirmation”?

Diploma confirmation is the correspondence made through the foreign representatives to receive information on issues such as whether the applicant received education at the relevant HEI, the type of education if he/she received the education, diploma information, and etc.

16. I need to postpone the military service, and I was asked for a letter saying that my transactions are going on, how can I get it?

The document will be prepared and delivered in person/by mail after the application in person or by mail with a petition including the T.R. ID number of the applicant and indicating your request, and receipt of the transaction fee of 50 TL should be attached.

17. What can I do to take my diploma and official transcript temporarily?

You can receive your documents for a temporary period of time with a signed petition stating your reason of demanding the documents and a receipt indicating that the relevant fee has been paid.

18. In what conditions do I have to be successful in the YDS exam (Foreign Language Proficiency Exam) in order to be able to get the equivalence?

Except for the graduates of the universities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, in the equivalence procedures of the diplomas received from the foreign language and literature programs of foreign HEIs, teaching programs of these languages, programs of philology, and translating and interpreting, if the language of the program graduated is not the same as the official language of the country, the applicants are required to take at least 80 out of 100 at Foreign Language Proficiency Exam (YDS) in the language of the program graduated, or equivalent points at the exams with international validity accepted by the CoHE.

Important Note: The provisions of the Regulations at the date of the application are considered for the equivalence applications made to the CoHE before the Regulation is published.

19. What is the “Level and Proficiency Identification System (SYBS)”?

Level and Proficiency Identification System is the whole process towards assessing, evaluating and determining the level of achievements of one, several or all of the applications such as completion of the courses, completion of the internship, preparing a project or to be subjected to an exam, in case of uncertainty and/or lack of basic achievements related to the program graduated, language of education, legibility of the program, theoretical and applied courses, internships and projects.

20. How do I know which stage of the Placement Exam (STS) I will take?

The applicants are notified on the decision of the CoHE regarding which stage(s) of the Placement Exam they will attend.

21. What are the dates of the Placement Exams?

Detailed information including the dates can be obtained from www.osym.gov.tr for the Placement Exams by ÖSYM (Student Selection and Placement Centre), and from www.yok.gov.tr for the Placement Exams made by the CoHE.

22. Where will I take the Placement Exam?

Information on the place of the exams can be accessed at the Applicant Information System of ÖSYM. Place and time information of the Placement Examinations conducted by the CoHE is included in the Placement Exam Guide.

23. What is the scope and distribution of the subjects in the Placement Exam?

The scope and distributions of the subjects in the Placement Exams are listed in the Placement Exam Guide according to their areas.

24. How will I learn the results of the Placement Exam?

The results of exams conducted by ÖSYM in the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, and Teaching are published in the website of ÖSYM, and the results of exams made by the CoHE in other fields (Engineering, Turkish Language, Law, etc.) are published on our website.

25. What score should I take to be successful in the Placement Exam?

In order to be considered successful, the minimum score must be at least 50 points out of 100 in the Placement Examinations made before 16.06.2016, and at least 40 points out of 100 in the Placement Examinations to be made after this date.

26. I was exempted/successful at the first stage of the Placement Exam, and I failed at the second stage. At what stage will I take the exam the next year?

It is required to re-take the failed exam.

27. What score do I need to take in order to be successful in the Placement Exam in the field of Teaching?

In order to be considered successful, the minimum score must be at least 50 points out of 100 in the Placement Examinations made before 16.06.2016 and at least 40 points out of 100 in the Placement Examinations to be made after this date.

28. How is the equivalence process of diplomas in the field of pharmacy done?

As a result of examining equivalence applications of the diplomas in the field of pharmacy, if there is no deficiency in the level of education, the duration, and the compulsory courses and the internship of the graduated program compared to the equivalent programs in Turkey, the equivalence process is carried out after the determination the scientific identity and being successful in front of a jury to be formed in the faculty of pharmacy which will be determined by the CoHE.

In case of deficiency in the level of education, the duration and the compulsory courses and the internship of the program graduated compared to the equivalent programs in Turkey, the equivalence process is carried out only after the completion of the compulsory undergraduate courses, incomplete period, internship, and then determination of the scientific identity and being successful in front of a jury to be formed in the faculty of pharmacy which will be determined by the CoHE.

29. I am a TRNC graduate, do I need to get a Diploma Equivalence Certificate?

If the back face of the diplomas of the applicants who graduated in February 2012 and later is stamped by the institution graduated that they were enrolled with the ÖSS, it is not necessary to apply to the CoHE for equivalence.

Graduates who are required to do an application:

• who were enrolled to the university with special talent exam,
• TRNC citizens,
• graduates of a master’s degree,
• graduates of Turkish Language and Literature Teaching from the Girne American University,
• graduates of History Teaching from the Near East University,
• those who graduated before February 2012.

30. Is it necessary for those who have studied under the protocol between the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to apply for diploma equivalence?

There is no need for those who have been enrolled by ÖSYM within the scope of the protocol between the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to apply for diploma equivalence. A protocol letter is given by the CoHE to the students studying under this context.

31. I received formal education in Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University. Do I need to apply for diploma equivalence?

The students receiving formal education in Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University do not need to apply for equivalence. It is sufficient to obtain a certificate that the diploma is valid by applying to the Equivalence Office. The corresponding document will be delivered in person/by mail after applying to the CoHE with a formal letter, a photocopy of the diploma and official transcript, and the receipt showing that the transaction fee of 50TL has been paid.

32. I received formal education in Kazakhstan Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Turkish-Kazakh University. Do I need to apply for a diploma equivalence?

The students receiving formal education in Kazakhstan Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Turk-Kazakh University do not need to apply for equivalence. It is sufficient to obtain a certificate that the diploma is valid by applying to the Equivalence Office. The corresponding document will be delivered in person/by mail after applying to the CoHE with a formal letter, a photocopy of the diploma and official transcript and the receipt showing that the transaction fee of 50TL has been paid.

33. I received formal education in Kazakhstan Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Turkish-Kazakh University. Do I need to apply for diploma equivalence?

The students receiving formal education in Kazakhstan Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Turk-Kazakh University do not need to apply for equivalence. It is sufficient to obtain a certificate that the diploma is valid by applying to the Equivalence Office. The corresponding document will be delivered in person/by mail after applying to the CoHE with a formal letter, a photocopy of the diploma and o

34. I received distance education in Kazakhstan Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Turkish-Kazakh University. Do I need to apply for a diploma equivalence?

The students receiving distance education in Kazakhstan Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Turk-Kazakh University do not need to apply for equivalence. It is sufficient to obtain a certificate that the diploma is valid by applying in person/by mail to the Equivalence Office. The corresponding document will be delivered in person/by mail after applying to the CoHE with a formal letter, a photocopy of the diploma and official transcript and the receipt showing that the transaction fee of 50TL has been paid.

Kazakhstan Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Turkish-Kazakh University distance education associate degree and master’s degree diplomas are recognized if started after 2007-2008 academic year. Associate degree and master’s degree diplomas taken before the 2007-2008 academic year are not recognized. Distance education undergraduate programs are recognized if enrolled by the ÖSYM after the 2009 academic year. Regarding the undergraduate diplomas obtained before 2009, If applied to the CoHE with the photocopies of diploma and official transcript, ÖSS or DGS exam results for the year in which the education was started, receipt of the transaction fee of 50 TL and a petition, a recognition/non-recognition letter for your diplomas will be delivered in person/by mail.

An official transcript and the receipt showing that the transaction fee of 50TL has been paid.

35. Will the originals of the official documents be delivered to me when the equivalence procedures are concluded?

In the case of positive result of the application, the Recognition or Equivalence Certificates together with a cover letter and originals of the official documents shall be submitted in person to the applicant or his/her legal representative holding an official notarized letter of attorney. Certified copies and certified translation documents issued to the CoHE at the time of application shall not be returned to the applicant and shall be kept in the file as a basis for the examination.

36. Is it possible my Equivalence Certificate be sent to my address by mail?

In accordance with the Regulation, in the case of positive result of the application, the Recognition or Equivalence Certificates together with a cover letter and originals of the official documents shall be submitted in person to the applicant or his/her legal representative holding an official notarized letter of attorney. Equivalence Certificate cannot be sent by mail.

37. Can a relative of mine get the Recognition/Equivalence Certificate for me?

Recognition/Equivalence Certificates shall solely be submitted in person by signature to the applicant or his/her legal representative holding an official notarized letter of attorney.

38. Document originals have been sent but translations approved by the notary/Turkish Foreign Representatives have not been sent, what is the reason?

In accordance with the provisions of the Regulations on Recognition and Equivalence of Foreign Higher Diplomas, certified copies and certified translation documents issued to the CoHE at the time of application shall not be returned to the applicant and shall be kept in the file as a basis for the examination.

39. I have an objection to the area of equivalence, what should I do?

With respect to objections to the field, necessary examinations will be made if you submit your petition including your objection and the references, and the receipt of payment of the relevant fee to the CoHE.

40. I have acquired Turkish citizenship, and my name has changed, but my previous name is on the Equivalence Certificate, what should I do?

As the diploma equivalence procedures are based on the names on the official diploma, the name and the surname in the diploma are placed on the front page of the Equivalence Certificate, and the updated identity information at the time of application is placed on the backside of the Equivalence Certificate. There is no transaction carried out by the CoHE regarding the name changes that occurred after the equivalence was granted.

41. I have lost my Equivalence Certificate. Is it possible to re-prepare the Equivalence Certificate?

A letter addressed to the “the Relevant Authority” is issued in case you apply to the CoHE with a loss notice given to one of the national newspapers, a signed petition containing your claim, and a receipt showing that the transaction fee of 50TL has been deposited. If the Equivalence Certificate is lost, it is not re-issued.

42. My application is refused because my school is not recognized, what does that mean?

In order to obtain the equivalence, it is required that the HEI giving the diploma and the education program are primarily recognized as an institution authorized to issue diplomas by the competent authorities of the country in which it operates, accredited by accreditation or quality assurance institutions, and recognized by the CoHE. Diploma equivalence applications received from HEIs that do not provide these qualifications are rejected.

43. How can I get a formal letter on whether the foreign HEI that I want to study or continue studying is recognized?

A formal letter about whether the HEI is recognized or not will be delivered in person/by mail if applied to the CoHE with a formal petition stating the country, name, and department of the relevant institution, and the receipt of the payment of the transaction fee of 50TL.

44. My university is newly established. We want the university to be recognized by CoHE, what should we do?

You need to send your request letter for recognition to the CoHE through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with a letter of acceptance of the accreditation of your university by the education authorities of the relevant country, and the catalogs of your university.

45. I have received the Master’s Degree Equivalence Certificate but I do not have the GPA (Grade Point Average) on the document. Do I want to get information on what I should do for the conversion of the GPA abroad to the GPA in Turkey (grade conversion)?

The GPA is not used at any stage of the equivalence process and any grade equivalence is not done by the Equivalence Office.

46. I will apply for a master’s/ Ph.D. degree in Turkey. Do I need the Equivalence Certificate?

Citizens of the Republic of Turkey are required to obtain an Equivalence Certificate in order to be able to apply for a master’s/ Ph.D. degree. However, foreign nationals (excluding healthcare areas) can apply for post-graduate education by receiving HEI recognition letters.

47. What are the necessary documents for Ph.D. equivalence?

Ph.D. equivalence procedures are carried out by the Inter-Universities Council and necessary information can be obtained from the internet address.

48. There is not a Placement Exam/YDS (Foreign Language Proficiency Exam) decision taken about me, can I still take the exam?

Although an examination decision has not been taken for you, if you enter the related test and get enough points, the score you have taken will be used in your equivalence process in case you need it afterward.

49. Are the Recognition Certificate and Equivalence Certificate the same?

No. Recognition Certificate is a document showing the level of graduation of the applicant with the request of recognition from a recognized foreign HEI and program, but not bearing the qualifications of an Equivalence Certificate. Equivalence Certificate is an official document showing the equivalence of the requested diploma to the level and field in the Turkish higher education system.

50. What am I supposed to do with the decision of Bachelor’s degree completion taken about me?

You will be required to report to the CoHE by choosing three state universities for consideration in the placement process. Those who declare their preferences can register to the universities where they are enrolled with the notification of enrolment by the CoHE to their addresses.

51. Can I get the wrong/overcharge payment back?

Refunding of the fees is not made by the CoHE.

52. There is a Placement Exam decision in the fields of Medicine/Dentistry taken about me. Are there any other equivalents to this exam?

The applicants for whom STS-clinical sciences decision has been taken can also take structured clinical examinations to be done by the universities which will be selected by Higher Education Executive Board, to be applied on the dates determined by the respective university.

 Also, the successful results of the below-mentioned examinations of applicants are also valid for STS.

* USMLE-Step 3

* PLAB-Part 2

* AMC-Clinical examinations

* MCCQE-Part2

* Arztliche Prüfungen (3 AP, Staats examen)

Health Service

 Turkey;an Emerging Health Destination

At the crossing point between East and West, Turkey’s healthcare market has been going through a comprehensive restructuring. Together with continuous quality improvements, liberation, enhancement, and extension are the keys to this expeditious transition. State led health system reforms assisted by an influx of private investment backed with Turkey’s unique cultural and geographical parameters, the local healthcare services landscape is on its way to is the next “center of attraction” for the global healthcare travel market.

The forerunners of this transformation are Turkey’s private healthcare investors. The Turkish private health care industry has fostered Turkey’s healthcare services standards by investing for state-of-art medical technology. Today, not only forlocal patients but also for global healthcare seekers, Turkish entrepreneurs have created a unique proposal.

In Turkey, there are more than 2000 healthcare institutions among these state-of-art hospitals. 61 of them are accredited by JCI “Joint Commission International”. This constitutes over 21% of the total accredited hospitals by JCI in 58 countries across the world.

Turkish JCI accredited hospitals offer a full range of treatments through a network of locations, employing approximately 150.000 healthcare professionals, where over 15.000 of them are physicians having US Diploma.

Due to its quality of healthcare services, geographical advantages, and affordable prices, Turkish healthcare groups expeditiously become healthcare providers for international patients.

In 2017, we hosted over 765.000 international patients from 144 countries and we contributed to a direct income of 7.2 billion USD to the Turkish economy.

Why you should prefer Turkey?

It is among the top 3 destinations in the world for healthcare travel

It is the 1st preferred destination for Europeans for healthcare travel

Turkish hospitals successfully treated more than 765,000 patients from 144 countries in 2017

In the last 15 years, turkey has invested more than USD 50 billion in new hospitals and technology

It has more than 15,000 doctors who graduated from American medical universities

It is the 6th preferred destination in the world as a tourism destination

Turkish Airlines connects you to Istanbul with direct flights from more than 300 airports

It has the most successful star doctors in organ transplantations

It has the most successful star doctors in stem cell technology

It has the most successful star doctors in cancer treatment

It is the most hospitable country for its guests and visitors

It is the most affordable country for high-quality treatment

You are most welcome as a tourist or healthcare travelers

How to benefit from health services in Turkey?

Who can benefit from health services in Turkey?

Who benefits from general and private health insurance?

Which documents are required to benefit from general health insurance?

Where should foreigners apply to benefit from general health insurance? How does this process work?

Who can benefit from these services by foreigners who qualify for general health insurance?

What documents are required to benefit from private health insurance?

What services does private health insurance cover?

Please contact us for more information

Insurance Transactions

Insurance System and Requirements in Turkey

It does exist an obligation to get a health insurance for foreigners if you are going to stay in Turkey more than your visa period. In other words, foreigners who will have a residence permit have to have a valid health insurance in Turkey.

All your insurance transactions, such as private health insurance, land vehicles insurance, all risk insurance, etc. in Turkey is fulfilled at a low cost and quick by our expert team. Please do not decide without taking our suggestion. We believe that we can please you.

How to benefit from health services in Turkey?

Who can benefit from health services in Turkey?

Who benefits from general and private health insurance?

Which documents are required to benefit from general health insurance?

Where should foreigners apply to benefit from general health insurance? How does this process work?

Who can benefit from these services by foreigners who qualify for general health insurance?

What documents are required to benefit from private health insurance?

What services does private health insurance cover?

Please contact us to find out the solutions to your issues and more about Turkish insurance system and practices.

Germany Employment Program

The German economy, which has long lacked qualified professionals, will begin to feel this shortage more as the population ages. Germany, which currently has a deficit of around 1.2 million experts, has introduced a new regulation to address employment needs with migration from third countries to close this gap.

With this arrangement, Germany opened its doors to skilled labor from countries outside the European Union. With the new legal regulations, those who are now part of the skilled labor class in third countries will be able to apply for a visa for Germany to work. However, those who have no qualifications or have low qualifications will not be able to benefit from this legal regulation.

The definition of the skilled workforce who can find employment and benefit from the possibility of working in Germany is defined as follows in the law which entered into force:

• The person has completed a qualified vocational training
• Have a higher education
• Acquisition of equivalences recognized by the German authorities
• They must provide the requirement to know the German language.

Before applying for a visa, people who have received qualified vocational training; They must obtain equivalence documents which prove that the vocational training they have completed is equivalent to vocational training in Germany.

If there are gaps in vocational education and therefore equivalence cannot be achieved, the opportunity to participate in qualification programs in Germany is given for the recognition of vocational education. If the level of German grammar is not sufficient, people have the option of participating in these programs on an 18-month study visa, provided they have the necessary financial resources.
Graduates of higher education must also document their diplomas with the equivalence certificate that they will receive from the German authorities.

Special exceptions are granted to those in the field of information technology. According to this; The obligation to present a diploma proving that they have completed their studies has been abolished for those who have professional experience and will have a minimum annual salary of 49 thousand 60 euros. If only knowledge of English is sufficient for the post, German grammar at level B1 is not compulsory.

The conditions of “skilled labor” according to the definition made in the law are fulfilled and if the necessary equivalences are obtained, they have the possibility of coming to Germany to find a job and look for a job for 6 months.

In order to take advantage of this opportunity, people;

• Have at least a B1 level of knowledge of the German language,
• Have the necessary financing to earn a living for six months
• They must be able to present their educational or professional qualification documents.

Those who wish to undergo vocational training in Germany have the opportunity to come to Germany and undergo appropriate vocational training for 6 months. Those who wish to take advantage of the six-month visa option must meet the following conditions:

• Be under 25, have completed your studies,
• Have a knowledge of German at level B2
• Guarantee the availability of financial resources to meet their needs during their professional training.

Although there is a serious shortage of manpower in fields such as information technology, engineering, healthcare, there is no occupational restriction in the scope of application of the law, and any person fulfilling the aforementioned conditions has been authorized to benefit from the applicable regulations.

People who qualify through family reunification can bring their spouse and minor children with them to Germany. As a prerequisite for the family reunification visa, the person must declare through income documents that they will cover their family's expenses without any social assistance.

Contact us for detailed information.