Why Film in Turkey?
Turkey has one of the busiest screen industries outside the US and UK. Parrot Analytics ranks it the world's third-largest exporter of scripted TV series, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported hosting 223 foreign productions in 2022: 16 films, 46 series and 102 documentaries. Episode magazine counted 70 series on Turkish TV in 2023 alone, so Istanbul has working stages, rental houses, post facilities and experienced series crews.
International features keep coming back for specific looks. Skyfall shot its opening motorbike chase through Eminönü and across the Grand Bazaar rooftops, Argo used Istanbul streets to stand in for Tehran, and Guy Ritchie shot two features in Antalya in 2021 and 2023. Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Winter Sleep, which won the Palme d'Or in 2014, was filmed over two winter months in Cappadocia.
One country, several doubles
Istanbul has doubled for Tehran (Argo) and its old Sirkeci station for Belgrade and Zagreb (From Russia with Love). For Skyfall, Fethiye and Osmaniye stood in for Istanbul's own suburbs.
Stages built for period drama
TİMS Hadımköy Film Studios in Arnavutköy runs three studios and standing Old Istanbul sets on a 25,973 m² site. Beykoz Kundura, a former shoe factory, has hosted series such as Diriliş: Ertuğrul since 2005.
Coast, rock and steppe
Antalya's Mediterranean coast, Cappadocia's fairy chimneys in Nevşehir and the Anatolian plateau around Ankara run on different climates: January means of 10.1°C, -0.1°C and 0.4°C respectively.
A local partner is built into the law
Foreign crews must employ a Turkish-citizen fixer, and only a Turkish company can claim the cash rebate. Working with a local team is a legal requirement in Turkey, not an optional extra.
Incentives and Rebates for Filmmakers
Turkey has one national cash incentive for foreign productions, run by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's General Directorate of Cinema, and a separate VAT refund for foreign producers. They are paid to different parties: the rebate to a Turkish co-producer or service company, the VAT refund to the foreign producer. The two can be combined.
Both pay out only after the money is spent and audited by a sworn financial adviser (YMM), so the cash-flow plan matters as much as the percentage.
Foreign Film Production Support
The Foreign Film Production Support rebate (Yabancı Film Yapım Desteği) pays up to 30% of the spend in Turkey that the Ministry accepts, with no bonus tier. It covers feature films, documentaries and TV series. The applicant must be a Turkish co-producer or production-service company under contract with the foreign producer, with at least two features or one full season of a series produced or serviced in the last five years.
Eligibility: points test and minimum spend
Projects must score at least 50 of 100 points on a test covering cultural content, Turkish crew and cast, and Turkish goods and services. Minimum spend in Turkey is set each year by the Ministry and quoted in Turkish lira; the official page, with application documents dated October 2025, lists TL 40 million for a feature, TL 8 million for a documentary and TL 13 million per series episode. Older USD figures on the web are out of date. Spend counts only between the application date and delivery, the work needs a commercial release abroad, and it cannot also take co-production support.
Application, commission and payment
Applications are accepted year-round through e-Devlet, in Turkish, with the points test, the service or co-production contract, script and synopsis in Turkish, a full budget and a Turkey-only budget, the shooting schedule and a distribution plan. The incentive commission meets at least once every three months. Payment is a single lump sum after delivery of invoices, the YMM report and a rough cut of the Turkish material, and no statutory payment deadline exists. Support obtained improperly is recovered with interest under Law 6183.
VAT refund for foreign producers
VAT is 20% in Turkey. A foreign producer with no residence, workplace or tax liability in Turkey can reclaim the VAT on goods and services bought during the Ministry-approved permit period, under VAT Law 3065 Art. 11/1-(b). Each invoice must exceed the Tax Procedure Law invoicing threshold, and the claim goes in after filming with a YMM report to the Ankara Başkent, İstanbul Beyoğlu or İzmir Konak tax office. Purchases made in a Turkish company's name do not qualify, so we set up invoicing before the first purchase.
No regional or city cash schemes
We found no Antalya regional incentive and no Istanbul municipal cash support for foreign productions. What Istanbul does offer is cheaper locations: under its 2026 filming rules, the municipal fee drops to a quarter for Ministry-supported projects and for shoots with three or fewer large vehicles, and handheld shoots that do not occupy public space pay no municipal fee at all.
Film Permits in Turkey
There is no fast-track tier. Every foreign commercial shoot follows the same route under Law 5224 and the Regulation on Filming Permits and Co-Productions (Official Gazette No. 30919, 15 October 2019): a General Filming Permit from the Ministry, then permission from the governorship and from whoever controls each location. The Ministry permit does not replace the local ones, so we run both tracks in parallel.
1. Ministry permit: 10 business days
The foreign producer applies online at filmingpermit.ktb.gov.tr to the General Directorate of Cinema at least 10 business days before filming. The Ministry advises having every document in at least two weeks before the crew enters Turkey, because provincial permissions follow it. Military zones cannot be filmed at all.
2. Your mandatory Turkish fixer
The regulation requires at least one Turkish citizen as mihmandar (fixer), or the service bought from a Turkish company. The fixer uploads proof of eligibility with the application and files an evaluation report in Turkish and English within 15 days of wrap. The producer sends a digital copy of the finished work within 10 days of release.
3. Governorship and location owners
Each location also needs the governorship or district governorship (valilik or kaymakamlık), plus the public body or private owner that controls it. Further permissions go through the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism in each filming province. Map or navigation filming needs governorship approval.
4. Istanbul's 2026 zone rules
Since January 2026, Istanbul shoots notify the district governorship at least 7 days ahead, and the municipality too if roads are closed. Zone 1 allows 7 large vehicles and Zone 2 allows 11, both filming 07:00 to midnight from October to April and to 01:00 from May to September; Zone 3 has no limit. Sets must be 1 km apart, signs go up 24 hours before, and explosions or crashes need police permission.
5. Heritage sites, palaces and mosques
Museums and archaeological sites need extra permission from the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums. Sites answer within 10 business days and the fee is paid, or covered by a DÖSİMM bank guarantee, 10 business days before use. Topkapı, Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi palaces do not allow film, series or advertising shoots. Hagia Sophia has been an active mosque since 2020 and no crew procedure for mosque interiors is published, so we plan exteriors from public space.
6. National parks and Cappadocia
In protected areas, paid filming permits come from the regional directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (DKMP); foreign crews pay double, a part day counts as a full day, and wetland reserves need Ministry approval from March to June. Cappadocia is run by the Cappadocia Area Presidency, whose written approval is needed for any set dressing on the rock.
Crew hours, safety and releases
Labour Law 4857 caps the normal week at 45 hours and any day at 11, with overtime paid at 50% and limited to 270 hours a year; crew working a public holiday earn an extra day's wage. Film production is classed as dangerous work under the 6331 safety law. KVKK Art. 28(1)(c) exempts artistic use of personal data only where privacy is not breached, so we still collect releases for identifiable people.
What the Ministry Application Contains
- Producer and project details, including the executive producer if there is one
- Every location by province, district and street
- Crew list with passport scans (applications with missing passport data are rejected)
- Full equipment list
- Fixer details and eligibility documents
- Turkish translation of the script and synopsis, at application and again after filming
- Separate SHGM drone application through diplomatic channels; the general permit does not cover drones
Best Time to Film in Turkey
There is no national weather window. Antalya, Istanbul and the Anatolian plateau run on different climates, and the clock never changes: Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year, so winter sunrises come late in Istanbul. The figures below are long-term averages from the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM).
Istanbul
- January mean 6.8°C, mean high 9.6°C
- April high 17.4°C, July high 29.7°C
- Wettest in December: 99.2 mm on about 15.5 rainy days
- Driest in July: 22.1 mm on about 3.5 rainy days
- Tulips peak in early to mid April at Emirgan, Gülhane and Sultanahmet
Cappadocia (Nevşehir)
- January mean -0.1°C, mean low -3.6°C
- Snow on the fairy chimneys is regular December to February
- Sunshine from 3.1 h a day in December and January to 11.9 h in July
- May is the wettest month (57.9 mm); July and August the driest
- Winter wind, fog and snow can ground the balloons for days; one run lasted 13 days
Antalya
- January mean 10.1°C, mean high 15.0°C
- July mean high 34.2°C, record 45.0°C
- December rainfall 250.9 mm; July and August about 4-5 mm
- 11.7 h of sunshine a day in July
- Antalya took 32.5% of Turkey's foreign visitors in January-October 2025; beaches and the old town are hardest to control in summer
Ankara
- January mean 0.4°C, mean low -3.1°C
- July mean high 30.4°C
- Wettest in May (52.1 mm), driest in August (12.5 mm)
- Only 2.6 h of sunshine a day in December and January
- Snow is regular December to February
Holidays that move your schedule
- Fixed holidays: 1 Jan, 23 Apr, 1 May, 19 May, 15 Jul, 30 Aug, 29 Oct
- Republic Day starts at 13:00 on 28 October; private workplaces must close on 29 October
- Ramazan Bayramı 2027: 9-11 March (half day 8 March)
- Kurban Bayramı 2027: 16-19 May (half day 15 May)
- The Grand Bazaar shuts on the first days of both bayrams
Festivals and live venues
- Istanbul Film Festival in April (45th edition: 9-19 April 2026)
- Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival in September (12-26 September 2026)
- Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival: 24-31 October 2026
- Sunday is the statutory weekly rest day; the Grand Bazaar is closed
- Bayram dates follow the Diyanet calendar; we confirm them when we schedule
Visa Requirements for Film Crews
The e-Visa is the wrong route for a shoot. Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs limits it to tourism and commerce, and says anyone filming a documentary needs special permission in advance. Crews apply for a filming visa only after the Ministry and the provincial governorate have issued the permit, so the visa sits at the end of the permit timeline.
e-Visa: not for filming
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that the e-Visa is valid only for tourism or commerce; for other purposes, such as work, visas are issued by Turkish embassies and consulates. News crews follow a separate press accreditation route through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Directorate of Communications.
Filming and documentary visa
Apply on visa.gov.tr with the official permission letter, passport, flight and hotel bookings, an employment letter and travel health insurance of at least €30,000. The Los Angeles consulate quotes up to 30 days after the interview; other missions may differ. The visa allows up to 90 days, and longer shoots need a residence permit through e-ikamet before the stay expires.
Work permits (ÇSGB)
Work permits come from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security under Law 6735, not from the Culture Ministry. Foreigners working in scientific, cultural and artistic activities are exempt for up to one month; whether a commercial shoot counts is not spelled out, so we check each case. Beyond that, a full work permit is needed.
Paperwork Our Team Prepares
- Permission letter from the General Directorate of Cinema for each crew member's visa file
- Visa applications timed to the permit, with consulate processing time built into the schedule
- Work-permit exemption or full permit checked with ÇSGB for longer shoots
- ATA Carnet e-ATA pre-declarations on entry and exit
- Residence permit filings for shoots running past 90 days
Equipment & Technical Support
Most of Turkey's rental and post capacity is in Istanbul, so we usually source kit there and truck or fly it to Cappadocia, Antalya or Ankara. Renting locally also avoids carnet paperwork.
If you bring your own kit, the carnet route is straightforward but now involves an online pre-declaration and an in-person first login. Drones changed rules in July 2026 and need their own plan.
Studios and stages
- TİMS Hadımköy Film Studios, Arnavutköy: three studios and Old Istanbul sets
- Beykoz Kundura, Asian side: former factory used for series since 2005
- Antalya EXPO 2016 grounds, Aksu: temporary stages for two Guy Ritchie features
- Istanbul Cinema Office (opened May 2026): a city film hub, not a sound stage
Rental and post-production
- Film Makinesi, Şişli: Sony Venice 2 and Burano, RED Komodo, Zeiss CP2 lenses
- STM Sinema, Kağıthane: ARRI, Aputure, Nanlux and Briese lighting, grip and power
- 1000 Volt, Beşiktaş: VFX, grading and Dolby Atmos mixing
- VSI Istanbul, Ataşehir: dubbing, subtitling and five mixing studios
Drones under the July 2026 SHGM instruction
- New aircraft classes M0-M3 and pilot licences P0-P2; paid filming needs at least P1
- Foreign-registered drones fly only if compatible with SHGM's İHATTYS tracking system
- Until İHATTYS is live, the old procedure applies: foreign operators apply through diplomatic channels at least 20 business days ahead
- Commercial drone applications attach third-party liability insurance
- Full compliance with the new rules is due by 31 July 2027
Turkey has accepted ATA Carnets for professional equipment since 1975, with TOBB (the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges) as guarantor. Holders must file an electronic declaration in the e-ATA system before presenting goods, on entry and on exit, and since 30 April 2026 the first login password has to be collected in person from Turkish Customs. The holder or named representative must hold a foreign passport, and re-export is usually due within six months.
Turkey Filming Hub - Featured Locations
Each region has its own gatekeepers: Istanbul's district governorships, Cappadocia's Area Presidency, the national-park directorates on the Mediterranean coast and military command in parts of Ankara. We scout with those permissions in mind, so a location on the shortlist is one you can actually film.
Istanbul Filming Services
Istanbul's historic peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage area, and the city has served Skyfall, Argo and The International as well as Turkish series such as Gümüş, set in a Bosphorus yalı. The 2026 zone rules set how many trucks and how late you can shoot on each street.
- Grand Bazaar: closed on Sundays, the realistic day for a controlled set
- Süleymaniye Mosque and the Basilica Cistern, both filmed for The International (2009)
- Bosphorus marine work needs port clearance and sea-filming permission from the Provincial Directorate of Environment
- National Palaces sites bar film and series shoots, so period interiors go to TİMS Hadımköy or Beykoz Kundura
- Zone and vehicle limits do not apply on the Princes' Islands (Adalar)
Antalya and the Mediterranean
Guy Ritchie built stages on the EXPO 2016 grounds in Aksu for Operation Fortune in 2021 and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare in 2023, with locations from Kaleiçi to Demre, Kemer and Alanya.
- Kaleiçi old town and Cumhuriyet Square, both used by Operation Fortune
- Aspendos Roman theatre: a Ministry site and a live festival venue each September
- Termessos, inside a national park: needs both DKMP and Ministry permission
- Lower Düden waterfall drops about 40 m straight into the sea
- The Lycian Way runs 760 km from Fethiye to near Antalya
Cappadocia Filming
Pasolini shot Medea here in 1969 and Nuri Bilge Ceylan made Winter Sleep in a rock-cut hotel. Since 2019 the Cappadocia Area Presidency has controlled the protected area, and it enforces hard: a 2022 commercial that applied material to fairy chimneys was stopped and fined about ₺2 million despite holding permit papers.
- UNESCO-listed rock sites and underground cities at Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı
- Göreme Open-Air Museum: Ministry permission letter needed at the gate
- Balloon operators are SHGM-authorised and fly only after the morning weather call
- Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance shot here in the winter of 2010-11
- Uçhisar Castle, at 179 m the area's largest fairy chimney
The capital's Behzat Ç. series was shot on its real streets; Hamamönü's restored Ottoman houses and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations are in the centre, and UNESCO-listed Gordion is in the same province. Anıtkabir is run by a military command and has its own filming rules.
Adana and the Varda Viaduct
Skyfall's train sequence was filmed at the Varda Viaduct near Adana, not in Istanbul.
Fethiye and Saklıkent
Fethiye stood in for Istanbul's suburbs in Skyfall. Nearby Saklıkent Canyon is in Muğla province, inside its own national park, so it needs a DKMP permit rather than an Antalya one.
Pamukkale
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance used the Greco-Roman theatre at Pamukkale alongside its Cappadocia footage.
Combining Istanbul with Cappadocia or the coast? Each province needs its own governorship permission under the one Ministry permit.
Ready to Film in Turkey?
Send us your dates, locations and crew list. We will tell you which permits apply, how long each one takes, and whether your budget clears the rebate threshold.