Who generally needs the permit?
According to the Directorate General of Cinema, the foreign-production process covers documentaries, motion pictures, television films and series, TV programmes, short films, music videos and advertisements.
Foreign producers, directors and production companies filming in Türkiye generally apply to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Directorate General of Cinema. The official guidance also requires at least one Turkish citizen host during the shoot.
What the general permit does not replace
A national application does not automatically grant physical access to every location. Municipal areas, museums, archaeological sites, palaces, ports, airports, roads, protected areas and private property can require separate approvals, fees or agreements.
Typical preparation documents
- Production company and responsible-person details
- Synopsis, treatment or relevant script information
- Crew list and passport information
- Shooting dates, cities and location list
- Equipment list and import plan
- Local host or fixer information
Additional production tracks
- Location-specific permits and property releases
- Museum and archaeological-site authorization
- Municipal, traffic or public-space coordination
- ATA Carnet and customs planning for equipment
- Drone registration and flight authorization
- Contributor and appearance releases
A practical permit workflow
01
Scope the production
Confirm production type, editorial or commercial purpose, crew nationality, dates, equipment, locations and any aerial filming.
02
Map every authority
Identify the national application plus every municipality, venue, heritage body, port, landowner or other authority connected to the planned locations.
03
Prepare consistent documents
Keep names, dates, locations, equipment and production descriptions consistent across the general application and local requests.
04
Coordinate access before call sheets
Do not treat an application submission as confirmed access. Build the final schedule around written approvals, operating conditions and location availability.