What is the hygiene certificate?
The hygiene certificate is the training certificate required for staff in workplaces covered by Türkiye's [Hygiene Training Regulation](https://www.alomaliye.com/2013/07/05/hijyen-egitimi-yonetmeligi/). The regulation was published in Official Gazette no. 28698 on 5 July 2013. Under Article 5, staff may not be employed in these workplaces without the certificate.
Who needs a hygiene certificate?
The regulation covers more than restaurants:
| Scope | Examples |
|---|---|
| Food production and retail | Restaurants, cafés, patisseries, markets, food producers |
| Drinking water production | Water and natural mineral water facilities |
| Personal care | Barbers, hairdressers, beauty and massage salons, baths, saunas, spas, tattoo and piercing studios |
| Lodging | Hotels, motels and similar lodging |
Owners are covered too. The owner and operator are primarily responsible for staff training, and owners who work in the business themselves must also take the training.
How do you get one?
- 1Choose an institution: training is given by public education centres, vocational training centres and similar institutions under the Ministry of Education's Lifelong Learning directorate. See a public education centre's course page as an example.
- 2Enrol: ask your local centre about start dates and fees.
- 3Complete the training: under the regulation, it cannot be shorter than eight hours.
- 4Pass the assessment: successful participants receive a course completion certificate through the e-Yaygın system.
Under Article 6, owners may also have their own staff trained in line with the procedures set by the commission.
What does the training cover?
Article 8 lists the general characteristics of disease agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi, along with transmission routes, symptoms and protection. Sector-specific topics can be added. We cover the two most critical topics for kitchens in our tables on the food temperature danger zone and cross-contamination.
Does it expire?
The regulation sets no expiry period. Under Article 6, the certificate stays valid while the person keeps working. It is still worth checking that the certificate was issued for the same line of work when hiring.
How do you check a certificate?
Use the "Yaygın Eğitim Sertifika Belgesi Sorgulama" service on e-Devlet, Türkiye's government portal. It shows the date, course name, certificate number and institution, and it can produce a barcoded printout. If a certificate from an online course does not appear there, ask the provider for a written explanation.
What does it not replace?
| Document or system | Purpose | Does the hygiene certificate replace it? |
|---|---|---|
| HACCP | The business's food safety system | No, it is a separate system |
| Health report, carrier screening | The individual's health status | No, it is a separate process |
| Business and operating licence | Permission for the business to operate | No, that belongs to the business |
Under Article 11, inspection is carried out by the ministries and local authorities that handle permits and licences. Penalty amounts and local practice can change, so confirm with your municipality. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Your kitchen needs more than the certificate
A certificate is obtained once; hygiene discipline happens on every shift. Temperature logs, a cleaning plan and allergen control need to become daily practice. Our allergen matrix template is free. We work with businesses that want to build these standards into operations through operations improvement.
For the other vocational certificates in Türkiye, see the comparison in how to become a chef.
