Drone filming rules in Turkey: what foreign companies should know

This is a general overview, not legal advice. Rules are updated from time to time and depend on the exact location, so always confirm the current position for your project.

Who regulates drones in Turkey

Unmanned aircraft are regulated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM). The rules cover registering the aircraft, the qualifications of the pilot, where and how high you may fly, and how flights are notified or approved. In recent years the licence classes for pilots have been revised and flight notification has been moving to a central unmanned traffic management system.

What a commercial flight usually needs

• A registered drone that meets the requirements for its weight class.
• A licensed pilot with the right qualification for commercial work.
• A planned flight that respects altitude limits, distance from people and the airspace category of the location.
• Notification or approval through the official system where the location requires it.
• The landowner’s or operator’s consent: an industrial zone, port or plant will have its own rules, regardless of airspace.

Where it gets complicated

Areas around airports, military and security-sensitive sites, and large parts of the Bosphorus in Istanbul are restricted or need additional permission. Ports and some organised industrial zones have their own procedures. Approvals can take time, so drone work should be planned early, not added on the day.

Bringing your own drone and pilot

Foreign teams sometimes want to bring their own drone. Depending on the equipment, importing it may need prior technical approval, and a foreign pilot may not be able to fly commercially without the relevant Turkish qualification. Larger foreign productions may also need a filming permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In practice, most companies find it simpler to commission a local licensed team.

Indoor flights

Flights inside a building are not about airspace but about safety. Small FPV drones can fly through a showroom, warehouse or production hall in one continuous shot, as we did for Bellona Piranlar. They need careful planning with the site: routes, people in the area, machinery and a safety briefing.

Weather and backup days

Wind, rain and poor visibility can ground a drone. Coastal sites and ports are often windy. A good plan includes a backup day or a flexible window for the aerial shots.

Questions to ask before you commission aerial footage

• Is the location inside controlled or restricted airspace? An airport a few kilometres away, a military site or a port can change what is possible. Ask your team to check this before quoting, not after.
• Who holds the pilot qualification and who owns the aircraft? For commercial work in Turkey, the pilot and the drone should both be registered for that purpose. A hobby licence is not enough.
• Is the drone insured? Ask whether third-party liability insurance covers commercial flights, and whether the site requires proof of it before the shoot.
• Who will speak to the site? Industrial zones, ports and large plants often have their own approval steps, separate from airspace. Someone has to request access, agree routes and confirm the safety briefing.
• What happens if the flight cannot go ahead? Agree in advance how a weather day or a refused permission is handled: a backup date, a different angle from the ground, or a partial refund.

People, privacy and what the camera sees

Aerial shots often capture more than intended: neighbouring buildings, car number plates, people who did not expect to be filmed. Plan the framing with this in mind and agree which areas are off limits. On industrial sites, the same confidentiality rules that apply on the ground also apply from the air. Logos of customers on trucks or containers, for example, may need to be avoided or blurred in the edit.

How long to allow

For a simple outdoor flight over your own site, in uncontrolled airspace and with the operator’s consent, preparation can be short. For locations near airports, coastal areas of Istanbul or sensitive facilities, allow more time for applications and coordination. We do not give fixed timelines without knowing the location, because they depend on it. The practical advice is simple: mention aerial shots at the very first conversation, not a week before the shoot.

What you receive

Aerial footage is usually delivered as part of the edited film. If you also want the raw clips, for example to reuse on your website or at trade fairs, say so at the start: they are typically recorded in 4K and, where the shot calls for it, at higher frame rates for smooth slow motion. Agree on file formats, colour treatment and whether a licensed music track is needed for any short social cut.

How we handle it

When we film from the air, we plan the flight, check the location’s airspace status, handle notifications and permissions where needed, and coordinate with the site’s safety team. You tell us what you want to show; we tell you what is possible at that location and what it involves. More on our drone filming page.