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 Turkey generally apply through the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Directorate General of Cinema. The official guidance also describes the Turkish host requirement for foreign productions.
Filming permits in Turkey — at a glance
- Authority
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism / Directorate General of Cinema.
- Foreign-production application
- Under Article 10 of the applicable regulation, foreign producers within its scope submit the application at least 10 working days before filming begins.
- Local coordination
- Article 12 requires foreign film shoots to employ at least one Turkish-citizen mihmandar (host) or obtain services from a company established under the Turkish Commercial Code.
- Location permissions
- The general filming permit does not remove the obligation to obtain permissions required by the relevant local administrative authority or by the public body responsible for a location requiring special permission.
- Requirements
- Requirements may vary with the production type, location and filming activity. Museums, archaeological or historical sites, municipalities, governorships, ports, private properties and other controlled locations may involve additional permissions from the competent authority.
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.