Public servants in our country who are subject to certain laws receive a Foreign Language Allowance based on their foreign language proficiency. This allowance is calculated according to the scores they obtain on specified exams. For many civil servants, the foreign language allowance is an important matter. First, it is useful to clarify which categories of public employees are eligible for this allowance. Then we will explain how language proficiency is measured and how the Foreign Language Allowance is calculated.
According to Article 2 of Decree Law No. 375, the Foreign Language Allowance is paid to the following categories of state personnel:
- Civil Servants
- Turkish Armed Forces Personnel
- Specialized Non-Commissioned Officers (Uzman Erbaş)
- Specialized Gendarmerie (Uzman Jandarma)
- Judges and Prosecutors
- Higher Education Personnel
Before paying the Foreign Language Allowance, the foreign language proficiency of the relevant public employee must be measured. This measurement is done through the Foreign Language Knowledge Level Determination Exam (YDS), administered by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM). YDS is held at least twice a year for German, Arabic, French, English and Russian, and at least once a year for other languages. Based on YDS results, scores are converted into proficiency levels. These letter grades indicate the language level of the public servant and determine the allowance amount.
YDS scoring corresponds to levels as follows: scores between 90 and 100 are classified as level A; scores from 80 to 89 as level B; scores from 70 to 79 as level C; scores from 60 to 69 as level D; and scores from 50 to 59 as level F.
It is also important to know which languages qualify for the Foreign Language Allowance. The languages for which the state pays the allowance include:
- German
- Arabic
- Bulgarian
- Chinese
- Danish
- Armenian
- Persian (Farsi)
- French
- Georgian
- Dutch
- English
- Spanish
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Polish
- Hungarian
- Portuguese
- Romanian
- Russian
- Serbian
- Ukrainian
- Greek
The allowance amounts vary according to proficiency levels. The principles for determining Foreign Language Allowance amounts set specific monthly payments for each language known by state personnel based on their measured language level.
The amount paid as a Foreign Language Allowance is calculated by multiplying the current monthly coefficient by the relevant foreign language indicator value for the period. Only stamp tax is deducted from the calculated amount.
For level A holders, payment differs by the specific score range and whether the employee uses the language in their duties. A-level employees scoring 90–95 who use the foreign language in their work receive a monthly allowance of 78.66 TL. If they do not use the language in their duties, they receive 65.55 TL. A-level employees scoring 96–100 and using the language in their job receive 104.88 TL per month. If they do not use the language in their duties, their allowance is set at 65.55 TL.
Employees at level B who use a foreign language in their work receive 52.44 TL, while those who do not use the language in their duties receive 43.70 TL.
At level C, employees who use their foreign language skills on the job receive 26.22 TL; if they do not use the language in their duties, the amount is 21.85 TL.