Can you fly your drone in Türkiye?
Whether you can fly depends on your drone, your registration and exactly where you fly. Here is what applies: key rules, no-fly zones and the official sources, in one place.
Regulator
Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü (SHGM)
Framework
SHT-İHA — Unmanned Aircraft Systems Instruction (in force 30 Jul 2026; transition period until 31 Jul 2027)
Pilot credential
UAV Pilot License (P0/P1/P2)
BASIC RULES
- Maximum flight altitude is 120 m (400 ft); on P0/P1 flights, the drone must be kept within visual line of sight (VLOS) and must not go more than 3,000 m from the pilot. Flying above 120 m is only possible with a P2 license and in coordination with the relevant authorities.
- You must always keep your drone within your line of sight, in direct visual contact without the aid of optical or electronic devices (SHT-İHA).
- Amateur (P0) flights may only be conducted in daytime; night operations are possible with a P1 or P2 license and suitable equipment (SHT-İHA Art. 15). During the transition period (until 31 July 2027), obtain SHGM permission for night flights.
- Before flying near airports, check the map at iha.shgm.gov.tr (later İHATTYS); flights at all sites outside green zones are subject to SHGM permission. The new SHT-İHA does not specify a fixed distance; the 9 km (5 NM) from the previous directive should be kept as a safe minimum distance.
- Flying over crowds counts as a high-risk operation; it is closed to P0 and P1 pilots and may only be conducted under a P2 license (SHT-İHA Art. 6). The new directive does not specify a fixed distance; staying at least 50 m away from people and structures (the value in the previous directive) is recommended as a safe minimum.
- New SHT-İHA (2026): except for toy-grade Simple UAVs, all drone users — including users of drones under 500 g — must register with İHATTYS; the deadline for existing aircraft is 31 July 2027. Until İHATTYS goes live, drones of 500 g and above are registered at iha.shgm.gov.tr.
- Under the new SHT-İHA, flight authorization is tied to the pilot license: amateur P0 (minimum age 10), commercial P1 (age 18), advanced P2; no license is required for Simple UAVs. During the transition period (until 31 July 2027), existing İHA0/İHA1 certificates and İHA2/İHA3 licenses remain valid and are converted to P0/P1/P2 through adaptation.
- Remote identification (Remote ID) and geofencing are mandatory for drones other than Simple UAVs; you are responsible for loading up-to-date restricted zone data onto your drone (SHT-İHA Art. 12, 23; transition for existing drones until 31 July 2027).
- Before flying in Istanbul's Historic Peninsula (Hagia Sophia, Topkapı, Sultanahmet) and around the Bosphorus, check the map at iha.shgm.gov.tr; flights at all sites outside green zones are subject to SHGM permission, and in red zones permission is granted only with the approval of the institution that closed the area.
- Flying over military zones and government buildings is strictly prohibited; flying over densely populated areas requires prior SHGM permission.
- Foreign pilots using drones weighing 500 grams or more must apply through diplomatic channels at least 20 business days in advance using Form FR.23, "İHA Uçuş İzin Talep Formu" (UAV Flight Permit Request Form).
- For FPV flights, an observer who keeps the drone in continuous visual contact must be present, and continuous communication must be maintained between the pilot and the observer; FPV equipment must operate on BTK-authorized frequencies (SHGM FAQ). The new SHT-İHA defines visual line of sight (VLOS) as direct visual contact without the aid of optical/electronic devices — consult SHGM before flying FPV.
No-fly zones and restrictions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence or certificate to fly a drone in Türkiye?
In Türkiye, the credential to know about is the UAV Pilot License (P0/P1/P2). Whether you need it depends on your drone's weight and how you fly — Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü (SHGM) runs the scheme, and the official sources below spell out exactly when it applies.
Can I fly a drone as a tourist or foreign visitor in Türkiye?
Only with a long lead time for most drones: to fly anything 500 g or heavier, foreign pilots must apply via diplomatic channels to the aviation authority at least 20 business days ahead, using form FR.23, with insurance. Below 500 g those duties do not apply, but no-fly zones still do. Customs may ask for import papers; historic sites need permits. Rules for foreign pilots can change, so always double-check with Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü (SHGM) before you travel, and see the official sources below.
What are the most important drone rules in Türkiye?
The short version: Maximum flight altitude is 120 m (400 ft); on P0/P1 flights, the drone must be kept within visual line of sight (VLOS) and must not go more than 3,000 m from the pilot. Flying above 120 m is only possible with a P2 license and in coordination with the relevant authorities. On top of that: You must always keep your drone within your line of sight, in direct visual contact without the aid of optical or electronic devices (SHT-İHA). Also: Amateur (P0) flights may only be conducted in daytime; night operations are possible with a P1 or P2 license and suitable equipment (SHT-İHA Art. 15). During the transition period (until 31 July 2027), obtain SHGM permission for night flights. These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in Türkiye, so always check the official sources.
Where am I not allowed to fly a drone in Türkiye?
What you need to avoid are the restricted zones — typically around airports, prisons, military areas and protected nature areas. You'll find the official map for Türkiye under Sources below, and the DroneKoll app shows current NOTAMs (temporary airspace restrictions) for Türkiye.
Who regulates drone flying in Türkiye?
Drone flying in Türkiye is regulated by Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü (SHGM). The airspace itself is managed by DHMİ. You will find both organisations' official pages under Sources below — those are the links worth bookmarking.
Good to know
OFFICIAL SOURCES
- SHGM — İHA Takip / İHATTYS (official portal)The General Directorate of Civil Aviation's official UAV portal (İHATTYS). Until SHGM announces that the system has gone live, registration and flight permit procedures are carried out using the existing methods (iha.shgm.gov.tr and SHGM forms).ihatakip.shgm.gov.tr
- UAV Registration System (mandatory above 500 g)Mandatory registration portal for all drones weighing more than 500 grams. Requires a Turkish ID number; Form FR-03 applies to foreign nationalsiha.shgm.gov.tr
- UAV Pilot Registration Application (e-Devlet)Official service via e-Devlet (e-Government) for pilot registration applications for İHA-1 and higher. A pilot license is required for commercial operations.turkiye.gov.tr
- Flight Authorization Request (yellow/red zones)In the yellow and red zones, prior authorization from the SHGM is required before flying. In the green zones, compliance with the basic rules is sufficient.iha.shgm.gov.tr
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- İHA Takip — Official Mobile App (Android)SHGM's official İHA Takip / İHATTYS app. Until SHGM announces that İHATTYS has gone live, registration and flight permit procedures are carried out using the existing methods (iha.shgm.gov.tr and SHGM forms).play.google.com
- İHATTYS — Official Mobile App (iOS)iOS version of SHGM's official İHATTYS app; transactions made in the app are invalid until SHGM makes the necessary announcementapps.apple.com
- SHGM — Corporate HomepageGeneral Directorate of Civil Aviation homepage: all aviation regulations, announcements, and contact informationweb.shgm.gov.tr
- SHT-İHA Directive 2026 (regulation text, PDF)Unmanned Aircraft Systems Directive (SHT-İHA), in force from 30 July 2026: the official directive text that serves as the legal basis for all UAV operationsweb.shgm.gov.tr
Be sure to check the SHGM’s official sources before flying. This page is a guide — not a legal authority. In Türkiye, drone operations are regulated by the new SHT-İHA (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Directive), in force from 30 July 2026; the transition period runs until 31 July 2027. All devices weighing more than 500 g must be registered in the SHGM registration system (iha.shgm.gov.tr).
The app
The whole picture, up to date — in your pocket
DroneKoll shows weather and current NOTAMs on the map — with a flight log and checklists built in.
More in the app:Interactive zone map · Flight log · Planning & measuring · Pre-flight checklists · Flying abroad
