School Registration in Turkey 2026: Documents, Age, Fees
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School registration in Turkey for Iranian children: residence permit and address rules, grade 1 age, denklik, 2026-2027 tuition caps and school types.
School registration in Turkey is possible for the children of Iranian families, provided the child has a valid residence permit card and an address registered in Turkey's address system. In public schools, registration is based on the address of residence and is done through the e-Okul system, and there is no tuition. Private schools, foreign schools and Iranian schools each have their own conditions and costs. In this guide we review all of these routes using official information for the 2026-2027 school year.
Most families who consult ALO TURKEY about buying property and residence ask first about their children's school. Choosing a school and choosing a home in Turkey are tied together, because your child's public school is determined by your home address. So it is best to make these two decisions together.
Turkey's Education System at a Glance
School education in Turkey is known as the 4+4+4 system and has 12 years of compulsory education. Preschool (Okul Öncesi / Anaokulu) comes before these stages.
| Stage | Turkish name | Duration | Approximate age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool | Anaokulu | 1 to 3 years | 3 to 6 years |
| Primary school | İlkokul | 4 years (grades 1 to 4) | 6 to 10 years |
| Middle school | Ortaokul | 4 years (grades 5 to 8) | 10 to 14 years |
| High school | Lise | 4 years (grades 9 to 12) | 14 to 18 years |
The language of instruction in public schools is Turkish. In private and foreign schools the second language (English, German, French or Italian) is more prominent, but the Ministry of National Education (MEB) reminded schools in a 2026 letter that some subjects, including Turkish language and literature, history and social studies, are not taught in a foreign language in any school. That means even in the most expensive foreign school, your child will have to learn Turkish.
School Calendar for 2026-2027
MEB announced the new school year calendar in a circular in June 2026:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Orientation week for preschool and grade 1 | September 7 to 11, 2026 |
| Classes begin for everyone | Monday, September 14, 2026 |
| First mid-term break | November 16 to 20, 2026 |
| End of the first semester | January 22, 2027 |
| Break between the two semesters | January 25 to February 5, 2027 |
| Second mid-term break | March 8 to 12, 2027 |
| End of the school year | June 25, 2027 |
This calendar shows that the Turkish school year starts about a week earlier than in Iran and has a longer summer. If you plan to move in the summer, start the residence and address paperwork in spring.
Requirements for School Registration in Turkey for Foreign Children
1. The child's legal residence
A child under 18 must have a Turkish residence permit card (İkamet İzni). Children usually obtain this card through a family residence permit (Aile İkamet İzni), on the strength of a parent's residence permit. Under Article 34 of Turkey's Law No. 6458 on foreigners, a family residence permit gives the right to attend primary and secondary school up to age 18 without needing a separate student residence permit. We cover the details of this route in the article Turkey Family Residence Permit through Property Purchase.
A foreigner identification number (Yabancı Kimlik No, which starts with 99) is printed on the residence card. This number is what enters the child into the education systems.
2. A registered address
Registration in public schools is based on the address registration system (ADNKS / Ulusal Adres Veri Tabanı). Registration for grade 1 and grade 5 is done automatically in e-Okul based on the residential address, and MEB assigns the school near your home. Therefore:
- The address of the home you have bought or rented must be registered in your name at the Population Registry Office (Nüfus Müdürlüğü).
- In neighborhoods that have been closed to residence permits for foreigners, registering a new address is not possible. See the list of these areas in the article Why Have Some Areas of Istanbul Been Closed to Residence?
- If you have a particular public school in mind, ask before buying a home which school that address belongs to.
A practical tip: foreign parents usually cannot see their child's assigned school on e-Devlet. The simple way is to go to the nearest public school with the child's residence card and ask the school administration.
3. Age for entering grade 1
For the 2026-2027 school year, the child's age is calculated as of September 30, 2026:
| Child's age on September 30, 2026 | Grade 1 registration status |
|---|---|
| 72 months and older (a full 6 years) | Compulsory |
| 69 to 71 months | Automatic; parents can defer by one year with a written request or send the child to preschool |
| 66 to 68 months | Only on the parents' written request |
4. Equivalency of documents (denklik)
If your child attended school in Iran and will enter a Turkish school from grade 2 upwards, the documents must be put through equivalency (Denklik). This is handled by the district education directorate (İlçe Milli Eğitim Müdürlüğü), and the appointment is booked through the official e-Denklik system. Have the Iranian report cards officially translated in advance and get the Iranian Ministry of Education stamp on them.
Documents Required for Public School Registration
The documents that public schools and the education directorate usually ask of foreign students:
- The child's valid residence permit card (and, if requested, the residence permit card of one of the parents)
- Passports of the child and parents
- Proof of address registration (Yerleşim Yeri Belgesi), obtained from e-Devlet or the Population Registry Office
- Report cards and certificates from the previous school with official translation
- Equivalency document (Denklik) for grade 2 and above
- The child's vaccination card and health records (some schools ask for these)
- A few photographs
A school may have a slightly different list; ask the school itself before you go.
Do public schools cost anything?
Registration in Turkish public schools has no compulsory fee. Some schools ask parents for a "donation" (bağış), but under education regulations, paying it cannot be a condition of registration. Your real costs are the uniform, stationery, school bus and meals.
Types of Schools: Public, Private, Foreign and Iranian
| Criterion | Public school | Private Turkish school | Foreign school (Yabancı Lise) | Iranian school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language of instruction | Turkish | Turkish + strong second language | English, German, French or Italian + Turkish lessons | Persian (Iranian curriculum) |
| Tuition | None | Yes; annual increases subject to a government cap | Very high | Lower than private |
| How admission works | Automatic, based on address | Directly from the school, often with an assessment | Entrance exam and limited capacity | Directly from the school |
| Suitable for | Long-term stay and fast integration | Families who want quality and a strong second language | Families considering further study in Europe or America | Families who may return to Iran |
Private Schools and the 2026-2027 Tuition Increase Cap
Private schools in Turkey set their own tuition, but the Ministry of National Education has placed a cap on the annual increase. These caps were announced for the 2026-2027 school year:
| Type of increase | Maximum allowed |
|---|---|
| A student continuing at the same school (middle grades) | 30.74% |
| Registration in the first grade of a stage (preschool, grades 1, 5 and 9) | 43.92% |
| Non-educational services other than meals and school bus (books, supplies, etc.) | 29.28% |
These caps are calculated on the basis of December 2025 inflation (annual producer inflation of 27.67% and consumer inflation of 30.89%). The practical result for you: if you enroll your child in a private school in grade 1, 5 or 9, you will probably pay the highest rate of that year, and from the following year increases are more limited.
Tuition at Well-Known Foreign Schools in Istanbul
Turkey's foreign schools (such as Robert College and the French and German lycées) are the most expensive options. The figures below are the highest total tuition announced for the language preparatory class in 2026-2027, according to the Karekod website's list from September 2026. Cash payment is usually cheaper, and meals, school bus, books, clothing and boarding are separate.
| School | Language | Annual tuition 2026-2027 (TL) |
|---|---|---|
| Robert College (Robert Kolej) | English | 2,619,000 |
| German High School (Alman Lisesi) | German | 2,158,800 |
| Üsküdar American High School (Üsküdar Amerikan Lisesi) | English | 1,694,925 |
| Saint Benoît | French | 1,600,000 |
| Saint-Michel | French | 1,585,000 |
| Notre-Dame de Sion | French | 1,575,000 |
| Austrian High School St. Georg | German | 1,500,000 |
| Italian High School (Özel İtalyan Lisesi) | Italian | 650,000 |
Most of these schools admit high school students through the national LGS exam or their own exam, and their main registration usually closes by late summer. If one of these schools is your target, plan at least a year ahead.
Iranian Schools in Turkey
Two Iranian schools following the Iranian Ministry of Education curriculum operate in Turkey: the Fajr School in Istanbul and the 22 Bahman School in Ankara. A Turkish residence permit card is also required to register at them, and the child's report cards must carry the Iranian Ministry of Education stamp. These schools suit families who take seriously the possibility of returning to Iran or continuing their studies with an Iranian qualification. Tuition and conditions change every year; ask the school directly.
The Turkish Language: Children's Biggest Challenge
Children under 10 usually learn Turkish within a few months in the school environment. For teenagers, especially in grades 8 to 12, adjustment is harder, and subjects such as Turkish literature and history put a lot of pressure on them. Our advisors suggest:
- If your child is of high school age, start Turkish classes several months before moving. We introduce starting resources in Learning Istanbul Turkish.
- For the first year, seriously consider a private school that offers Turkish support classes for foreigners.
- Keep your expectations for first-year grades low; the second year usually makes a big difference.
School Registration Checklist for Newly Arrived Families
- 6 to 9 months before: Choose the type of school and, if it is private or foreign, ask about exam dates and capacity.
- 6 months before: Get the report cards from the Iranian school, have them stamped by the Ministry of Education and officially translated.
- Before buying or renting a home: Ask which public school that address belongs to and whether the neighborhood is open for address registration by foreigners.
- After arrival: Apply for a family residence permit or property-based residence permit and register the address at the registry.
- With the residence card: Book a denklik appointment and go to the district public school or your chosen school.
- After registration: Keep the child's health insurance active and note the residence renewal date.
For family health insurance, read the health insurance guide for Turkey, and for renewing cards, Turkey Residence Permit Renewal 2026.
Choosing a Home with the School in Mind
Because the public school is determined by address, your home in effect also chooses your children's school. Many families prefer new residential complexes with green space, security and metro access to make the children's commute easier. We compare neighborhoods in Best Areas in Istanbul for Families, and you can see an example of ALO's family-oriented projects at Sinpaş Boulevard Sefaköy.
If buying a home is in your plans, also account in advance for additional costs such as the deed (tapu) tax and fees; the free property purchase cost calculator for Turkey makes this easy. Note that residence, tax and school registration rules may change; before making a final decision, check the current conditions with the ALO TURKEY advisors.
University: A Separate Path for Older Children
University admission for a foreign student follows its own path: the TR-YÖS exam administered by Turkey's Measuring, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), universities' own exams, or qualifications such as the SAT. After admission the student must also obtain a student residence permit. An important point for families who settle in Turkey from high school age: students who complete high school in Turkish schools usually do not benefit from the foreign student quota and must sit Turkey's university entrance exam (YKS); this rule has exceptions, so check it with an advisor before choosing a high school. For medical programs, see the article Studying Medicine in Turkey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you register a child in a Turkish school on a tourist visa?
No. To register at a school in Turkey, the child must have a residence permit card and a foreigner identification number. Tourist entry only gives you time to start the residence process.
Does registering a child at school give the parents residence?
No. The usual route is the opposite: the parents obtain residence through routes such as property purchase, work or company registration, and the children join them on a family residence permit.
My child does not know Turkish; will the public school accept them?
Yes, a public school registers pupils based on age and address, and not knowing Turkish is not an obstacle to registration. But academic adjustment is harder, and it is better to start Turkish classes beforehand.
Can you register in the middle of the school year?
Yes. A student who has just arrived in Turkey is referred to the district school after obtaining residence and registering the address and, if needed, first goes through denklik. Private schools decide depending on capacity.
How much does a private school cost in Turkey?
It varies widely. Well-known foreign schools in Istanbul announced between about 650 thousand and over 2.6 million lira a year for 2026-2027. The government has capped annual tuition increases: 30.74% for middle grades and 43.92% for the first grades of a stage.
Free Consultation with ALO TURKEY
If you are planning a family move to Turkey, the ALO TURKEY team helps you choose a home that suits residence and is close to the school you have in mind. We will also go over the residence route and your family's documents with you. Get in touch via WhatsApp or the contact page.
Sources: Ministry of National Education of Turkey (MEB), 2026-2027 school calendar (June 2026) and e-Okul registration guide; private school tuition increase caps for 2026-2027 (January 2026); Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, Article 34; Karekod list of foreign school tuition (September 2026); multeciler.org.tr guide to registering foreign children (2026).