Agricultural drone spraying rules in Turkey
What you need to spray crops with a drone in Turkey: legal status, authorities, permits, requirements and operating limits, with links to the official sources.
Legal status
Restricted or by exception. Drone application of plant protection products is allowed only with a drone spraying system licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, only on the crops and pests the Ministry lists, carried out jointly by a licensed drone pilot and a professional applicator, with SHGM flight permissions and permission from the provincial or district directorate before each application.
Who regulates it
- Agriculture: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (TOB)
- Aviation: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM)
Legal basis
- Bitki Koruma Ürünlerinin Uygulanması ve Denetimine İlişkin Yönetmelik (RG 13.12.2025, 33106), madde 12–13, 15: Drone spraying systems must be licensed; application by a licensed drone pilot together with a professional applicator; only Ministry-listed crops and pests; beekeeper notice; records.
- Zirai Mücadele Alet ve Makineleri Hakkında Yönetmelik (RG 09.06.2021, 31506 mükerrer), madde 19: Licensing of drone spraying units as plant protection equipment; the Ministry sets crops, pests, nozzles, rates, flight speed and height.
- İnsansız Hava Aracı Sistemlerinin Zirai Mücadele Kapsamında Bitki Koruma Ürünü Uygulamalarında Kullanılmasına İlişkin Yönerge: Ministry directive listing the crops and pests for which drone application is permitted, and the permission procedure.
- İnsansız Hava Aracı Sistemleri Talimatı (SHT-İHA): SHGM rules on drone registration, pilot licences and flight permissions.
What you need
- The drone's spraying unit must be licensed (ruhsat) by the Ministry under the 2021 equipment regulation (art. 12(1)). (resmigazete.gov.tr)
- Register the drone in the SHGM system and obtain the flight permissions required by SHGM rules (art. 12(2)). (iha.shgm.gov.tr)
- The application must be carried out jointly by a person with a drone pilot licence and a professional plant protection product applicator (art. 12(3)). (resmigazete.gov.tr)
- Get permission from the provincial or district agriculture directorate before each application. (tarimorman.gov.tr)
- Inform beekeepers and the village or neighbourhood office (muhtarlık) before spraying (art. 13(1)). (resmigazete.gov.tr)
- Professional applicators enter each application in the Ministry's record system (art. 15). (resmigazete.gov.tr)
How to get authorised
- Use a drone whose spraying unit holds a valid Ministry licence. (resmigazete.gov.tr)
- Register the drone and pilot with SHGM and get the required pilot licence. (iha.shgm.gov.tr)
- Check that the crop and pest are on the Ministry's permitted list. (tarimorman.gov.tr)
- Apply to the provincial or district directorate for permission, notify beekeepers and the muhtarlık, then spray with a professional applicator present. (tarimorman.gov.tr)
Operating limits for spraying
- Drones may be used only on the crops and against the pests set by the Ministry (Regulation 2025, art. 12(5)).
- Near water sources, use products not hazardous to water and low-drift equipment and techniques (art. 13(2)).
- Nozzle type, application rate, flight speed and height are set by the Ministry (2021 Regulation, art. 19(5)).
Good to know
- SHGM published a new SHT-İHA effective 30 July 2026, with a transition period for existing licence holders.
Checked against official sources on 2026-09-18. Rules change: confirm with the authorities before operating. This page is a planning summary, not legal advice. The product label and the official rules always prevail.