Moving to Turkey with Children: Schools, Kindergartens, Housing and Documents
How schools work in Turkey, whether a foreign child can attend a state school, what private and international schools cost and which home to choose for a family with kids.
When a family with children moves to Turkey, the question "where do we live?" almost immediately turns into "where will the kids go to school?". The school determines the neighborhood, and the neighborhood determines the apartment. That is why it is worth choosing the school at the very beginning, not at the last minute before September.
Here is how education works in Turkey, what you need for a foreign child to be admitted, what private schooling costs and what to look for when choosing a home for a family.
How schools work in Turkey
Compulsory education lasts 12 years and is split into three four-year stages:
ilkokul: primary school, grades 1–4;
ortaokul: middle school, grades 5–8;
lise: high school, grades 9–12.
Children start first grade at around six. Before school there are nurseries (kreş) and preschool groups (anaokulu).
The 2026/27 school year starts on 14 September 2026. The winter break runs from 25 January to 5 February 2027, and the last day of school is 25 June 2027.
State schools for foreign children
Children of foreigners with a residence permit can attend state schools. Tuition is free, although parents need to buy a uniform and supplies, and the school may ask for a voluntary contribution.
What you need to know:
You need a foreigner ID number, which comes with the residence permit. Without it the child cannot be entered into the e-Okul electronic system. In some cases a child is accepted as a guest student (misafir öğrenci) before the permit is issued, but that is up to the school and the district education office.
The school depends on your address. State primary and middle schools allocate places by registered address. So you choose the school first, then an apartment near it, and then register the address.
Recognition of grades (denklik). For a child to continue their studies rather than start in first grade, previous education has to be recognized by the provincial education directorate (İl Milli Eğitim Müdürlüğü). You will need report cards or certificates from the previous school with an apostille and translation.
Teaching is in Turkish. Young children usually start to understand the language within a few months. Older students without Turkish will find it noticeably harder, so many families hire a tutor from the first weeks.
The main rule for families: school first, apartment second. Otherwise you may rent a lovely home and then drive your child across half the city every day.
Private and international schools
If a Turkish state school is not the right fit, there are private schools with the Turkish curriculum and international schools teaching in English or other languages. Large resort cities also have schools and centers teaching in Russian.
Price guide for the 2026/27 school year in Antalya, per year:
kindergarten: roughly 200,000–350,000 lira;
primary school: 250,000–400,000 lira;
middle school: 300,000–500,000 lira;
high school: 400,000–700,000 lira.
International schools in Istanbul cost more: on average from $8,000 to $35,000 a year and above. On top of that comes a registration fee (usually $500 to $2,000) and several thousand dollars a year for uniforms, transport, meals and clubs.
Prices change quickly with inflation, so check them directly with the school and ask what is included and what is extra.
Documents to bring
children's birth certificates with an apostille;
report cards, certificates and diplomas from the previous school with an apostille;
vaccination records;
medical documents if your child has any health needs;
certified translations into Turkish: these can be done in Turkey by a sworn translator with notarization.
Getting documents from abroad later can be slow and difficult, so it is better to bring everything at once.
Residence permits for children
If a parent has a residence permit, children usually get a family residence permit (aile ikamet izni) tied to the parent's status. A child's permit generally cannot run longer than the parent's. We describe the residence permit process and documents in our article on first steps after moving to Turkey.
Health
Once the address is registered, your child is assigned a family doctor (aile hekimi). Routine vaccinations under the Turkish schedule are usually given at the family health center. For everything else, families tend to use private clinics and private insurance: big cities have plenty of pediatricians and children's clinics.
Choosing a home for a family
Distance to school. This is the main criterion. Check which school the address belongs to and how long the morning journey takes.
A complex with grounds. A playground, a pool and a closed courtyard are what families value most. Check whether the pool is fenced.
Safety inside. Balcony railing height, window guards or restrictors, no dangerous steps.
Warmth in winter. Many coastal buildings have no central heating. This matters with small children.
A quiet area. Near nightclubs and bars, children will struggle to sleep in high season.
Parks and a promenade. Being able to go out on foot changes daily life a lot.
In Antalya families often choose Konyaaltı and Lara, in Alanya Oba and Cikcilli, which have schools and a hospital nearby. We cover neighborhoods and prices in detail in our article on long-term rentals in Antalya and Alanya, and other cities in our overview of the best cities to live in Turkey.
FAQ
Are state schools free for foreigners?
Yes, tuition is free. You will pay for the uniform, supplies and possibly transport and meals.
Which grade will my child go into?
That depends on age and recognized previous education. The education directorate decides after reviewing the documents.
Can my child study online at a school from our home country?
Many families combine a local school with online learning in their home country's curriculum. Check in advance how this fits the rules of the country issuing the diploma.
When is the best time to move?
Spring or early summer is most convenient: you will have time to choose a school, find an apartment nearby and sort out the residence permit and address before 14 September.
Family homes on Homeviona
The Long-term rent section lists apartments and houses in Turkey. View properties on the map to see what is nearby, and ask owners about schools and playgrounds.
Renting out an apartment in a family area? Post a listing on Homeviona and mention the nearby schools and kindergartens, whether there is a playground and whether the pool is fenced. For families with children these are the deciding details.
In short
The 2026/27 school year starts on 14 September 2026.
Foreign children with a residence permit attend state schools for free, but in Turkish.
The state school is determined by the registered address: school first, apartment second.
Private school in Antalya costs 200,000 to 700,000 lira a year.
Bring your children's documents with an apostille: birth certificates, report cards, vaccination records.
