Turkey: School registrations for 2026-2027 academic year to begin July 1

The Turkish Ministry of National Education is set to commence the registration process for the 2026-2027 academic year on the first working day of July 2026.

Enrollment for first-grade primary school students, fifth graders, and kindergarten applicants will be managed through the e-Okul system. This system utilizes the residential address information from the national address database, ensuring students are assigned to schools closest to their homes. While the system automates placement, parents may be asked to provide utility bills (water, electricity, or natural gas) as proof of address if necessary. Parents can easily check their child's assigned school via the e-Okul portal or the e-Devlet gateway.

For kindergarten and first-grade admissions, no manual application is required as the MEB (Ministry of National Education) automatically assigns children to nearby schools based on their residency. After the age calculation, which is based on the child's birth date, parents must finalize the registration by visiting the assigned school and submitting the required documents to the school administration.

The age criteria for first grade are based on a September 30, 2026 cutoff. Children born on or before September 30, 2020 (78 months and older) must enroll in first grade. Those born between April 2020 and September 2020 (72-77 months) are also required to attend first grade, though children with special educational needs identified by a Guidance Research Center (RAM) report may enroll in kindergarten as integration students. Children born between October 2020 and December 2020 (69-71 months) will be registered for first grade but can attend kindergarten upon parental request. Those born between January 2021 and March 2021 (66-68 months) will be registered for kindergarten but can also enroll in first grade with a parental petition.

Kindergarten admissions also follow the September 30, 2026 date. Children born between April 2021 and September 2021 (60-65 months) are eligible for the 5-year-old kindergarten class. Those born between October 2021 and September 2022 (48-59 months) are eligible for the 4-year-old class, with enrollment dependent on available capacity after 5-year-olds are placed.