Drone regulations in Turkey

Written by Francis Markert | Last update on 30. September 2026 | 35 comments

Turkey combines a rich cultural history with diverse landscapes, from the beaches of the Aegean to the lunar landscapes of Cappadocia and metropolises like Istanbul. For travelers with a drone, however, it is a difficult destination. A new drone directive has been in force since July 30, 2026, and the previous exemption for drones under 500 grams no longer applies. Here is what this means for your trip.

These are the key points:

1. To import a drone, you need a letter of conformity from the civil aviation authority SHGM. Otherwise, your drone may be confiscated at the airport.
2. Every drone must be registered, including those under 500 grams. Only toy drones are exempt.
3. As a foreigner, every flight must be approved and supervised.

All this makes it extremely cumbersome to use a drone in Turkey. Without Turkish citizenship, a legal drone flight is hardly possible.

Overview: Drone rules in Turkey

New drone directive SHT-İHA since July 2026

On July 30, 2026, the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) published and put into force the new directive on unmanned aircraft systems (SHT-İHA). It replaces the previous directive from 2019. The most important changes:

• No more 500-gram exemption: Only “simple” drones (toys) that technically cannot leave a radius of ten meters and a height of 20 meters are exempt from registration, pilot licensing and the import letter of conformity. All other drones under 500 grams fall under the rules for class M0. This includes mini drones under 250 grams.
• License instead of weight: What you are allowed to fly now depends on your pilot license (P0 for hobby, P1 for commercial flights, P2 for complex operations), no longer on the weight of the drone.
• Foreign drones: Drones registered abroad may only be operated if they are compatible with İHATTYS, the Turkish drone traffic management system. Otherwise, every flight counts as unauthorized.
• Foreign licenses are only recognized by the SHGM on a case-by-case basis after an adaptation training.

A transition period until July 31, 2027 applies for full implementation. Until then, the SHGM may continue to apply the previous rules. As long as the new İHATTYS system has not officially launched, registration and permits follow the old procedures. How the SHGM will handle applications from tourists under the new directive is still open.

High hurdles for foreign nationals

If you want to fly a drone on Turkish territory as a foreign national, there are many requirements to meet.

Under the previous procedure, you must submit through diplomatic channels (embassy, consulate) a flight permit application to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM or DGCA) 20 days before the planned drone flight. Your request must include the application form for flight permits in English, proof of insurance, and a justification for the planned operation. Documents usually have to be submitted in certified form.

If your application is approved, a qualified Turkish remote pilot must supervise your drone flight.

You may also need to obtain approval from local stakeholders to get permission from the Directorate General. Try to find out the regulations for your planned flight area and, if necessary, engage with local authorities.

Due to the enormous effort, it’s hardly worth bringing a drone on a trip to Turkey unless you have Turkish citizenship. If the process doesn’t deter you, you can look into the import and registration requirements.

Registration requirement

Since July 30, 2026, registration is also required for drones under 500 grams. Only toy drones are exempt. A DJI Mini 5 Pro or any other mini drone must therefore be registered as well.

Registration is handled by the SHGM. During registration, a Turkish identity number is requested. This makes it nearly impossible for most foreign drone pilots to register in Turkey.

During registration, a photo of yourself and possibly a certificate of good conduct must be submitted. Based on previous experience, processing takes one to two weeks.

Once your registration is approved, you must also register your drone (including photos from three angles) so that it can be clearly assigned to you. Required information includes: weight, manufacturer, model name, year of release, number of motors, motor model, color of the aircraft, battery capacity, and camera specifications. After three to five days, you will receive a confirmation with an identification number. You must print this confirmation and take it with you on your trip.

The SHGM penalizes violations under Turkish Civil Aviation Law No. 2920 and the related regulation on administrative fines. According to reports, flying without registration can result in fines in the four-digit euro range. We do not have official confirmation of the amount.

After registering, you can access an interactive map in the login area. This map shows areas in green or red. This gives you a chance to identify no-fly zones and determine whether additional permits are needed.

Import permit

At the airport, your drone may be confiscated and stored at your expense until your departure. To avoid this, you need a letter of technical conformity. Under the new directive, this applies to all drones except toys, including those under 500 grams. The application asks for brand, model, serial number, takeoff weight and class of the drone. The corresponding FR-03 application form is now available in English.

The SHGM describes the exact procedure on its website. Questions about the letter of conformity are answered at [email protected].

Summary of Turkish drone rules

For a better overview of Turkish drone laws, we have summarized the most important regulations regarding registration, import permits, and flight approvals in a table.

Classification of unmanned aerial vehicles

The new directive divides drones into four classes by takeoff weight, which differ from the European system:

• M0: up to 4 kilograms (including drones under 500 grams that are not toys)
• M1: 4 to under 25 kilograms
• M2: 25 to under 150 kilograms
• M3: 150 kilograms and more

The class determines the technical requirements for the drone. Which flights are allowed depends on the pilot license. With the P0 hobby license, you may fly in daylight within line of sight, up to 120 meters in height and up to 3,000 meters away.

Insurance requirement in Turkey

For personal injury and property damage caused to third parties by your drone in Turkey, you do not need special drone insurance for private maneuvers as long as the takeoff weight does not exceed 25 kilograms. However, we always recommend getting appropriate insurance!

Insurance is mandatory if you plan commercial drone flights or your drone weighs 25 kilograms or more.

To find out what you need to consider when choosing a good policy, visit our drone insurance guide.

Conclusion on Turkey

It is hardly possible for foreigners to legally fly a drone in Turkey. Since the new directive of July 2026, this also applies to lightweight drones under 500 grams, which used to be the only viable option.

The most stress-free option is to leave your drone at home. However, if you hold Turkish citizenship, you can try your luck. In this case, please refer to the SHGM website.

Have you traveled to Turkey with a drone since July 2026 or applied for a letter of conformity? Leave us a comment below and tell us how it went. You will help everyone planning a trip to Turkey.

We have researched the drone rules for Turkey to the best of our knowledge. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. If you want to be sure, contact the Turkish aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also contact the Turkish embassy in your home country for more information about the regulations. Please leave a comment if you learn any updates or have your own experience with flying a drone in Turkey!