New Scandal: Allegations of Turkish Students Using Fake Foreign Passports to Enter Universities

As Turkey continues to investigate a criminal network accused of producing fake digital signatures, counterfeit diplomas, and altering driver’s license exam results, a new academic scandal has emerged.

Journalist Murat Ağırel, writing for Cumhuriyet, revealed a November 2024 CİMER complaint alleging that hundreds of Turkish students fraudulently enrolled in universities — including medical, dentistry, and law faculties — by using fake foreign passports to register as international students.

Details of the CİMER Complaint

The anonymous report claims that some Turkish students obtained false international student status through counterfeit passports, allowing them to bypass high domestic admission requirements and secure spots in strategic and competitive programs.

It is further alleged that certain university international office directors knowingly ignored or even facilitated these fraudulent applications. The complaint urged authorities to investigate thoroughly, citing legal and national security implications.

Official Responses

The complaint was first forwarded to the Ministry of Interior, then to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Directorate General of Migration Management stated that the alleged “foreign students” had no legal entry, exit, or valid residence permits in the GöçNet system.

The matter was referred to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) for review of the students’ enrollment status. Several foundation universities reportedly confirmed the allegations in their official responses.

Ankara Medipol University, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Doğuş University, Istanbul Nişantaşı University, Istanbul Okan University, and Istanbul Ticaret University stated that students who failed to submit the required documents on time had their registrations canceled and that legal action was initiated in cases of proven fraud.