Türkiye Scholarships Applications

Application Dates: 10 January – 20 February 2023

Türkiye Scholarships applications for 2023 will be received in one period, and applications will be open between 10th January- 20th February 2023 for international students from all countries.

For more information, visit the official announcement on the Türkiye Scholarships website.

28.07.2023 Istanbul Governorate Road Permit Announcement

Syrian nationals under temporary protection who are registered outside the province of Istanbul but currently residing in Istanbul are required to return to their provinces of registration by 24 September 2023.

These Syrian nationals will be given a travel permit to return to their provinces of registration if they apply to the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management until 24 September 2023.

Due to the earthquake that occurred on 6 February 2023, Syrian nationals under temporary protection who came from the provinces affected by the earthquake and for whom a travel permit was previously issued will be allowed to stay until further notice.

Address Verification Procedures

Date: 03.04.2022

As of December 2021, the addresses of individuals registered under Temporary Protection as well as International Protection throughout all of Turkey are being verified by law enforcement officers. Individuals who are found to not be residing at the address they provided during their registration procedures will be sent an SMS message by the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (PDMM) instructing them to update their address information. Individuals who fail to complete these procedures to update their registered address may have their temporary protection status cancelled. You can find more detailed information regarding this announcement under the Registration and Status section of our information portal:

• Click here to access the Registration and Status section for Syrian beneficiaries.
• Click here to access the Registration and Status section for beneficiaries from other countries of origin.

Appointments Postponed by Presidency of Migration Management Due to Earthquake

Announcement date: 06/02/2023

Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) announced that international protection and temporary protection registration procedures have been temporarily suspended and appointments postponed in several provinces, as a result of the earthquake on February 6, 2023. PMM announced that individuals whose appointments have been postponed will be given new appointment dates. Please follow the official website of PMM (https://goc.gov.tr) and relevant Provincial Directorates of Migration Management for further announcements.

Provinces where international protection and temporary protection application appointments are postponed: Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kayseri, Kilis, Konya, Mardin, Mersin, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa

PMM’s announcement: https://www.goc.gov.tr/duyuru2

Education Updates for the Earthquake Zone

Announcement date: 10/02/2023

Last updated: 15/02/2023

• Due to the effects of the earthquake across the country, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) announced that the spring semester of the 2022-2023 university academic year will be completed through distance learning. Details on distance learning, measures to be taken, health programs such as medicine and dentistry, internship and workplace training and similar issues will be evaluated and shared with the public in the coming days.

https://www.yok.gov.tr/en/Sayfalar/news/2023/announcement-term-of-the-2022-2023-academic-year-distance-education.aspx

• On February 10, the Ministry of National Education issued a public announcement that education activities are suspended in schools across the country until February 20. 

https://www.meb.gov.tr/bakan-ozer-tum-turkiyede-egitim-ogretime-verilen-ara-20-subata-kadar-bir-hafta-daha-uzatildi/haber/28998/tr

• Due to the earthquake, it was announced that all exams such as motor vehicle driving, mastership, journeyman, and amateur radio operator exams in vocational and technical secondary education institutions, which were originally to be held in e-Exam centers across the country between 07 - 12 February 2023, are now postponed. (Ministry of National Education)

https://www.meb.gov.tr/07-12-subat-tarihleri-arasindaki-tum-e-sinavlar-ertelendi/haber/28957/tr

• Universities in Kahramanmaraş, Adana, Malatya, Adıyaman, Hatay, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Kilis, and Osmaniye provinces affected by the earthquake have suspended education activities until further notice. In order to make dormitory and campus facilities available in case of need, the spring semester of education period in higher education institutions in Antalya, Bingöl, Elazığ, Erzincan, Karaman, Kayseri, Konya, Mardin, Mersin, Niğde, Sivas, and Tunceli provinces has been postponed until a later date to be announced. (Council of Higher Education)

https://www.yok.gov.tr/HaberBelgeleri/BasinAciklamasi/2023/universite-imkanlarindan-faydalanmasina-iliskin-aciklama.pdf

• International students in the provinces affected by the earthquake can contact Turkey Scholarships for emergencies through the call center 0850 455 0 982, via email at info@turkiyeburslari.gov.tr or social media channels. (Turkey Scholarships)

https://twitter.com/TurkiyeBurslari/status/1622514933689638912?s=20

• Şanlıurfa Harran University has changed its academic calendar, transfer, and formation registration dates due to the earthquake.

http://ogrenci.harran.edu.tr/tr/duyuru/22196/deprem-nedeniyle-akademik-takvim-yatay-gecis-ve-formasyon-kayit-tarihlerinde-degisiklik-yapilmistir/

• Due to the earthquake, Kilis 7 Aralık University has extended the registration renewal process for the spring semester of 2022-2023 education period until February 13, 2023.

https://www.kilis.edu.tr/icerik_duyuru.php?duyuru_ust_id=1675711375

Identification and Burial Services for Those Who Lost their Lives in the Earthquake

Date of Announcement: 13/02/2023

Announcement Link: https://www.afad.gov.tr/kamuoyu-aciklamasi-basin-duyurusu 

On February 8, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (Turkish: Afet ve Acil Durum Yönetimi Bakanlığı, AFAD) issued a public announcement regarding the identification of and burial services for those who have lost their lives in the earthquake.

According to the statement and in order to ensure the fastest identification of those who lost their lives, urgently deliver their bodies to their relatives and ensure uniformity in identification and burial services earthquakes following the earthquake on February 6, 2023 which was felt devastatingly in neighboring provinces:

1.  Examination procedures for the deceased will be carried out at the Provincial or District Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices where the bodies are located; bodies of the deceased will not be sent to neighboring provinces and districts,
   
   
2. To ensure that the bodies of the deceased are delivered to the relevant hospital, recovered bodies are to be brought to hospitals in the presence of a health or police officer alongside a report indicating which building and debris the bodies were recovered from and including information on whether the deceased's relatives or any others who knew the deceased were present,
   
   
3.  In the event that the identity of the deceased cannot be determined through identification by relatives or people who knew them, funeral delivery procedures will only be carried out after identification has been made via forensic-medical examination methods such as DNA, blood samples or fingerprints,
   
   
4. Burial of bodies of the deceased which are unable be identified and delivered to their relatives within 5 days through personal identification or forensic medicine methods are to be buried in accordance with the relevant religious obligations after DNA, fingerprint samples and photographs have been taken and with the joint evaluation of the Chief Prosecutor's Office and the Local Administrative Authority, and the location of the grave will be specified and recorded in a report.

According to the statement, within the joint evaluation of the Chief Prosecutor's Office and the Local Administrative Authority the bodies of the deceased which cannot be identified by relatives/acquaintances through personal identification or forensic medicine methods may be buried after a 24-hour waiting period following the collection of DNA and fingerprint samples and photographs, and in this case the location of the grave is to be recorded in a joint report.

Important Announcement

The telephone number +1 (917) 708 6804 is not affiliated with Refugee Rights Turkey.

Do not pay attention to anyone who contacts you from this number and introduces himself/herself as a Refugee Rights Turkey staff member!

Information for Foreign Students Planning to Study at a Turkish University

Date: 05.12.2022

In order for foreign nationals to continue their education at a Turkish university they must first sit for the Foreign Student Exam (Yabancı Öğrenci Sınavı or YÖS in Turkish) before applying to universities on the basis of the points they receive in this examination. In previous years, this examination was organized and given by each individual university. However, this year the exam will be held just one time as a centrally organized, universal examination. This exam's new name is the "Turkiye International Student Acceptance Examination", in Turkish: Türkiye Yurt Dışından Öğrenci Kabul Sinavı or TR-YÖS. Students planning to begin their studies at a university in September of 2023 must register and sit for the TR-YÖS exam organized by ÖSYM (the Turkish ministry of Student Selection and Placement Centers) on October 29, 2023 and apply to universities based on the points they receive on this exam. Registration for the TR-YÖS exam is open between 24 November 2022 - 05 December 2022.

Examination Date: 29 October 2023 at 11:15

(It's necessary to arrive at the testing center with your identification document at least one hour before testing begins. Those who arrive after 11:00 will not be allowed to enter the testing center.)

Examination Registration: 24 November 2022 - 05 December 2022 until 23:59

Examination Fee: 800 TL

Payments can be made either with a credit or bank card via the ÖSYM e-Services website's "Ödeme" ("Payment") webpage. (Payments must be received by 23:59 on Decmeber 6th at the very latest.)

Late Registration Period: 12 - 15 December 2022

Late Registration Fee: 1,200 TL (Payments must be received by 23:59 on 15 December 2022 at the very latest.)

Who is eligible to register:

• foreign nationals who are high school (lise) students in their final year or those who have already graduated from high school.
• high school (lise) students in their final year or have already graduated and who were foreign nationals but have since gained Turkish citizenship or who have become dual nationals with Turkish citizenship.

Examination Languages: Turkish, German, English, French, Russian, Arabic

About the Exam: The 80-question exam consists of a 40 question Numerical Aptitude test and a 40 question Basic Mathematics Test, which must be answered within 100 minutes.

Length of Validity of Exam Scores: 2 years

Application Procedure: Individuals with Identity Documents which are valid in Turkiye can apply!

For Individuals with an E-Devlet Password:

1. Register with the ÖSYM's "Aday İşlemleri Sistemi" ("Candidate Services System") using the "e-Devlet Kapısı" ("e-Devlet Portal"). You'll need to login using your e-Devlet password.
2. Complete your application via the ÖSYM website: https://tryos.osym.gov.tr
3. Submit your application payment fee by credit or bank card via the ÖSYM website: https://odeme.osym.gov.tr

* In order to be sure that your registration details have been successfully entered into the system, it's important that you see the following announcement on your screen: "Başvuru İşlemi ÖSYM’ye bildirilmiştir." ("ÖSYM has been notified of your registration.") You must also have paid the exam registration fee. It is of particular importance that you take care to print out and carefully keep a record of your candidate registration information, as it may be required at other stages of the registration process.

For individuals who do not have an e-Devlet password nor a photographic identification document:

You may register for the exam at one of ÖSYM's Exam Registration Centers with a photographic identification document. You will need:

•  A fully and correctly filled out Aday Başvuru Formu (Candidate Registration Form)
• A photographic nufüs cüzdanı (national ID card) or a photographic Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Kimlik Kartı (Republic of Turkiye Identity Card) or your original and unexpired photographic passport.
• Payment for the registration service fee

Important Notes about Filling Out the Registration Form:

• For foreign nationals who do not have a Republic of Turkiye Identity Number, enter your 11-digit Foreign National Number (Yabanci Uyruklu Numarası or yabancı kimlik numarası) starting with the number "9" in the field labeled "T.C. Kimlik Numarası".
• Information such as your Name, Surname, Father's Name, Mother's Name, Date of Birth should all be entered in the exact same way as they are written on your Uluslararası Koruma Kimlik Belgesi (International Protection ID) or Geçici Koruma Kimlik Belgesi (Temporary Protection ID).
• Under the Uyruğu (Nationality) field, foreign nationals, stateless individuals and refugees will mark the option "Yabancı Uyruklular" (Foreign Nationals).
  • Indicate your country of nationality in the Yabancı Uyruk Ülke field.
• If you have a passport, write your passport number in the Pasaport Numarası field; otherwise, leave this field blank.
• If you have a national identity number from your country of nationality, write this number in the Vatandaşlık Kimlik Numarası field; otherwise, leave this field blank.
• In the Yazışma Adresi (Contact Address) field, write the residence address which you have registered with the İl Nüfus Müdürlüğü or İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü.
  • In the telephone number and email address sections of the Contact Address section, the most up-to-date and correct information should be entered in order to ensure the candidate can be reached.
• Soru Kitapçığı Yabancı Dil Seçeneği (Question Booklet Foreign Language Selection)
  • Questions in the Question Booklet are provided in Turkish. A translation of these questions is provided in one of the following languages: German, English, French, Russian or Arabic. You may only indicate one language selection. You will only be given a question booklet with translation in the language which you indicated during registration. If you would like to change your language selection, you may do so while the registration period is still open (including late registration days) via the ÖSYM website: https://tryos.osym.gov.tr
• Under the Sınav Merkezi Tercihi (Examination Center Preference) field, you should write the name of the Examination Center where you would like to take the exam. Candidates may not change their indicated Examination Center preference. For this reason, candidates should indicate the examination center which is most convenient for them. A list of Examination Centers can be found on the 9th page of the TR-YÖS Registration Guide linked below.

IMPORTANT! After completing your registration, you must be sure to save and take a printout of your Examination Entrance Document (Sınava Giriş Belgesi). You will need to have this document as well as an ID document which is valid in Turkey in order to enter the Examination Center on the day of your exam.

Inquiry Page for Unaccompanied Minors 

Announcement date: 23/02/2023

The Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Services has launched an inquiry page regarding the unaccompanied minors registered in the earthquake zone. You can make an inquiry by entering minors’ name, surname and ID number via the link below. 

https://www.aile.gov.tr/sayfa/refakatsiz-cocuklar-arama-ekrani/ 

Location Information of Pharmacies in Earthquake Zones

Announcement date: 13/02/2023

You can follow updated location information of pharmacies in earthquake zones at https://afet.teb.org.tr/html/afet-eczaneleri/.

Presidency of Migration Management - Foreigners Communication Center (YİMER) Emergency Hotline

Announcement date: 06/02/2023

On February 6, 2023 an earthquake struck parts of Turkey, Kahramanmaraş its epicenter. If you have been affected by the earthquake and face an emergency situation, you can call 112. If you need interpretation assistance, you may reach the emergency hotline of Presidency of Migration Management (Foreigners Communication Center - YİMER) at 157 or contact the YİMER Whatsapp and Telegram channels, operating 24/7.

Whatsapp: +90 312 422 04 00
Telegram: @Yimer157bot

YİMER services are provided in Turkish, English, Arabic, Farsi, Russian, German and Pashto.

Travel Permit Procedures in Provinces Affected by the Earthquake

Announcement date: 08/02/2023

According to the statement dated 07/02/2023 made by the Presidency of Migration Management;

The obligation to obtain a travel permit for persons under international protection and temporary protection residing in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Malatya, Adıyaman, Adana, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Kilis, Osmaniye, Diyarbakır and wishing to travel outside of these provinces has been temporarily lifted. It has been announced that if they apply to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in the provinces they are traveling to, they will be issued a travel permit for 90 days. This provision does not include travels to Istanbul.

If you are a registered asylum seeker residing in the above-mentioned provinces and had to leave your city without a travel permit due to the earthquake, we recommend that you apply to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in the province you have traveled to with your international protection or temporary protection identity document and obtain your 90-day travel permit to avoid any problems.

Unaccompanied Minors in the Earthquake Zone

Announcement date: 08/02/2023

Unaccompanied minors whose families and relatives cannot be reached in the earthquake zone should not be handed over to anyone other than the competent authorities for their safety and registration.

In order to report unaccompanied minors in the earthquake zone to state institutions, you can use the following channels;

• ALO 183 hotline,
• by reaching out to the Police/Gendarmerie or,
• you can contact the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services.

You can reach the call center established by the Ministry of Family and Social Services for unaccompanied and separated children whose families and relatives cannot be reached in disaster areas at the following telephone numbers:

0 501 730 10 50

0 501 730 10 51

0 501 730 10 52

0 501 730 10 53

0 501 730 10 54

0 501 730 10 55

0 501 730 10 57

0 501 730 10 58

0 501 730 10 59

0 501 730 10 60

If you need translation support to report unaccompanied minors to the competent authorities, you can contact the Directorate of Migration Management - Foreigners Communication Center's hotline 157 or the channels of this institution that provide 24/7 service via Whatsapp and Telegram.

Whatsapp: +90 312 422 04 00

Telegram: @Yimer157bot

This service is provided in Turkish, English, Arabic, Persian, Russian, German and Pashto.

Refugee Rights Turkey's Legal Helpdesk has a New Telephone Number: +90 850 218 48 30

Date: 15 April 2022

As of Monday, April 25th 2022, you can reach Refugee Rights Turkey's Legal Helpdesk at the new telephone number: +90 850 218 48 30.

Starting on April 25th 2022, the telephone numbers +90 549 510 52 02 and +90 549 510 52 03 introduced during RRT's transition to providing services remotely due to the COVID19 pandemic will only be used for sending documents and files.

Beneficiaries who would like to receive legal assistance from our Legal Helpdesk can do so by dialing +90 850 218 48 30 Monday - Friday between 09:30 and 17:30. The Legal Helpdesk offers services in Turkish, English, Arabic, Farsi/Dari and French.

• Syrian beneficiaries may send any documents and files to the following number: +90 549 510 52 02
• Non-Syrian beneficiaries may send any documents and files to the following number: +90 549 510 52 03

To request legal assistance in any other languages, please send an email to: info@mhd.org.tr

RRT's Administrative Detention Hotline (for cases involving administrative detention only) can be reached at the following number: +90 507 218 62 85.

We kindly invite all types of inquiries and requests from non-refugee or asylum-seeking individuals, including other NGOs and bar associations to direct these inquiries to the RRT Refugee Helpdesk at +90 850 218 48 30, or preferably to our e-mail address: info@mhd.org.tr