Turkey has a licence for treasure hunting, but it is no hobby permit: only Turkish citizens may apply, searching for treasure without one is a crime, and a licence covers a single plot of at most 50 square meters for up to 15 days, under museum and official supervision that the hunter pays for, and never at protected sites or cemeteries. It never covers cultural property, and any other search for it is reserved to the Ministry and permitted research teams, so for a visitor the door to treasure or cultural-property searching is effectively closed. Cultural and natural property belongs to the State, and anyone who finds it must report it within three days.
Can I detect in Turkey?
The short answer for each kind of land. Tap a card for the detail and the rule’s own words.
- Anywhere: national heritage lawPermit requiredChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- Beaches & foreshorePermit requiredno beach-specific rule was found in the sources readChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- Protected monumentsResearch permits onlyChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- National parks & nature reservesPermit requiredChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- State forestsPermit requiredChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
- Private landPermit requiredChecked against the source Oct 8, 2026
Open in many areas without a permitPermit, registration, or designated beaches onlyProhibited or effectively closed
The rules, land by land
Anywhere: national heritage law
Permit requiredTurkey licenses treasure hunting, but narrowly and for Turkish citizens only: searching for treasure without a licence is a crime, the licence covers one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters for up to 15 days at your expense, it is never given at protected sites or cemeteries and never covers cultural property, and searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and the research teams it permits, so for foreign visitors the route to treasure or cultural-property searching is effectively closed.
- the licence is for Turkish citizens only, covers one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters, and never covers cultural property; searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and the research teams it permits, so for foreign visitors this route is effectively closed (Treasure Search Regulation, arts. 5, 8, 11 and 16; Law No. 2863, art. 35)
- the national rule: searching for treasure (define) without a licence carries three months to two years in prison (Law No. 2863, art. 74), and a licence may be given only outside protected immovable cultural and natural property, registered sites (sit alanları) and cemeteries (Law No. 2863, art. 50)
- the licence: Turkish citizens apply to the local civil administrator; one plot of at most 50 square meters and 10 meters deep, never one searched before; a certified map, photos, the landowner's notarized consent where the land is owned, clearances from the relevant authorities and an environmental impact report; the provincial governor signs it, it is valid for the year issued, and the search runs for at most 15 days under the eyes of two museum specialists and a local representative each of the environment and interior ministries, all paid for by the applicant, who also posts a deposit (Treasure Search Regulation, arts. 5-13)
- treasure (define) means buried or hidden movables that are clearly no longer anyone's property, carry no scientific value and are not protected cultural property under arts. 6 and 23 of Law No. 2863 (Treasure Search Regulation, art. 4)
- research, drilling and excavation to uncover cultural property are reserved to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; the Ministry grants research permits to Turkish and foreign teams it judges scientifically and financially qualified, and drilling and excavation permits come by Presidential decision (Law No. 2863, art. 35), and digging or drilling to find cultural property without permission carries two to five years in prison (Law No. 2863, art. 74)
- the Ministry's FAQ page gives different terms (application to the museum directorate, a one-year licence, a search of up to one month), which match the provisions the 21 July 2020 amendment replaced; the rows follow the regulation as amended
- if cultural or natural property turns up during a licensed search, the search stops at once, the Ministry is told, and the searcher can claim no rights over it (Treasure Search Regulation, art. 16)
- Law No. 2863 does not name metal detectors; it lets a court reduce or waive the penalty for an unlicensed searcher who, before prosecution starts, identifies the people who led them into it by supplying the devices needed and enables their capture (art. 74)
- the law is written about treasure and cultural property; no source read addresses hunting for modern lost items
What the rule says
“Define aramak isteyenlere, bu Kanunun 6 ncı maddesinde korunması gerekli taşınmaz kültür ve tabiat varlığı olarak belirtilen yerler ile tespit ve tescil edilen sit alanları ve mezarlıklar dışında, Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığınca define arama ruhsatnamesi verilebilir.”
Keeping finds
ProhibitedProtected cultural and natural property belongs to the State, whether it lies on public or private land. Licensed treasure hunters don't keep their finds either: treasure goes to the Treasury and the hunter gets a share of its value.
- protected movable cultural property includes coins, medals, ornaments, earrings, bracelets, weapons and metal tools that belong to geological, prehistoric and historic periods and have documentary value (Law No. 2863, art. 23)
- finds from a licensed search are examined by a panel of at least three experts; cultural or natural property goes to museums and treasure to the Ministry of Treasury and Finance (Treasure Search Regulation, art. 17)
- the searcher gets 50% of the treasure's value if it was found on Treasury land, or 40% on private land, with 10% to the landowner (Treasure Search Regulation, art. 18)
- cultural property seized for offences under the law is handed to a museum (Law No. 2863, art. 75)
- property of certain foundations with special status (mazbut and mülhak vakıf) is outside the art. 5 rule (Law No. 2863, art. 5)
- ordinary lost property was not researched
What the rule says
“Devlete, kamu kurum ve kuruluşlarına ait taşınmazlar ile özel hukuk hükümlerine tabi gerçek ve tüzelkişilerin mülkiyetinde bulunan taşınmazlarda varlığı bilinen veya ileride meydana çıkacak olan korunması gerekli taşınır ve taşınmaz kültür ve tabiat varlıkları Devlet malı niteliğindedir.”
Reporting finds
Must be reportedFound movable or immovable cultural or natural property? Report it within three days to the nearest museum directorate, the village headman (muhtar), or elsewhere the local civil administrator.
- the duty also falls on owners and occupiers who know, or newly learn, that such property is on land they own or use (art. 4)
- finds in military garrisons or restricted zones are reported to the higher military command (art. 4)
- knowingly breaking the duty to report without excuse carries six months to three years in prison (art. 67)
What the rule says
“Taşınır ve taşınmaz kültür ve tabiat varlıklarını bulanlar, malik oldukları veya kullandıkları arazinin içinde kültür ve tabiat varlığı bulunduğunu bilenler veya yeni haberdar olan malik ve zilyetler, bunu en geç üç gün içinde, en yakın müze müdürlüğüne veya köyde muhtara veya diğer yerlerde mülki idare amirlerine bildirmeye mecburdurlar.”
Beaches & foreshore
Permit requiredBeaches follow the national treasure rule: searching for treasure needs a licence, open only to Turkish citizens, for one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters, never for cultural property, and no licensed treasure search may take place under water. Searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and the research teams it permits.
- the licence is for Turkish citizens only, covers one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters, and never covers cultural property; searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and the research teams it permits, so for foreign visitors this route is effectively closed (Treasure Search Regulation, arts. 5, 8, 11 and 16; Law No. 2863, art. 35)
- the national rule: searching for treasure (define) without a licence carries three months to two years in prison (Law No. 2863, art. 74), and a licence may be given only outside protected immovable cultural and natural property, registered sites (sit alanları) and cemeteries (Law No. 2863, art. 50)
- the licence: Turkish citizens apply to the local civil administrator; one plot of at most 50 square meters and 10 meters deep, never one searched before; a certified map, photos, the landowner's notarized consent where the land is owned, clearances from the relevant authorities and an environmental impact report; the provincial governor signs it, it is valid for the year issued, and the search runs for at most 15 days under the eyes of two museum specialists and a local representative each of the environment and interior ministries, all paid for by the applicant, who also posts a deposit (Treasure Search Regulation, arts. 5-13)
- no beach-specific rule was found in the sources read
- the law is written about treasure and cultural property; no source read addresses hunting for modern lost items
What the rule says
“Su altında define araması yapılamaz.”
Protected monuments
Research permits onlyProtected sites are off limits to treasure hunters: a treasure licence is never given for protected immovable property, registered sites or cemeteries, and searching for cultural property there is reserved to the Ministry and qualified research teams.
- the national rule: searching for treasure (define) without a licence carries three months to two years in prison (Law No. 2863, art. 74), and a licence may be given only outside protected immovable cultural and natural property, registered sites (sit alanları) and cemeteries (Law No. 2863, art. 50)
- research, drilling and excavation to uncover cultural property are reserved to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; the Ministry grants research permits to Turkish and foreign teams it judges scientifically and financially qualified, and drilling and excavation permits come by Presidential decision (Law No. 2863, art. 35), and digging or drilling to find cultural property without permission carries two to five years in prison (Law No. 2863, art. 74)
- the two-to-five-year penalty for digging or drilling to find cultural property is cut by a third only when the place is not a registered site or other place protected under the law (art. 74)
What the rule says
“Kültür varlıkları bulmak amacıyla, izinsiz olarak kazı veya sondaj yapan kişi, iki yıldan beş yıla kadar hapis cezasıyla cezalandırılır.”
National parks & nature reserves
Permit requiredNational parks and nature reserves follow the national treasure rule as far as the sources read go: searching for treasure without a licence is a crime, and the licence, open only to Turkish citizens, covers one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters for up to 15 days and never cultural property. No licence is given for protected natural property or registered sites inside a park. Searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and the research teams it permits.
- the licence is for Turkish citizens only, covers one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters, and never covers cultural property; searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and the research teams it permits, so for foreign visitors this route is effectively closed (Treasure Search Regulation, arts. 5, 8, 11 and 16; Law No. 2863, art. 35)
- the national rule: searching for treasure (define) without a licence carries three months to two years in prison (Law No. 2863, art. 74), and a licence may be given only outside protected immovable cultural and natural property, registered sites (sit alanları) and cemeteries (Law No. 2863, art. 50)
- the licence: Turkish citizens apply to the local civil administrator; one plot of at most 50 square meters and 10 meters deep, never one searched before; a certified map, photos, the landowner's notarized consent where the land is owned, clearances from the relevant authorities and an environmental impact report; the provincial governor signs it, it is valid for the year issued, and the search runs for at most 15 days under the eyes of two museum specialists and a local representative each of the environment and interior ministries, all paid for by the applicant, who also posts a deposit (Treasure Search Regulation, arts. 5-13)
- protected immovable property under art. 6 includes natural property in need of protection, where no licence is given (arts. 6 and 50)
- no park-specific detecting rule was found; the National Parks Law was not read
- the law is written about treasure and cultural property; no source read addresses hunting for modern lost items
What the rule says
“İzinsiz olarak define araştıranlar, üç aydan iki yıla kadar hapis cezası ile cezalandırılır.”
State forests
Permit requiredState forests follow the national treasure rule: searching for treasure without a licence is a crime, and the licence, open only to Turkish citizens, covers one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters for up to 15 days and never cultural property. Searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and the research teams it permits.
- the licence is for Turkish citizens only, covers one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters, and never covers cultural property; searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and the research teams it permits, so for foreign visitors this route is effectively closed (Treasure Search Regulation, arts. 5, 8, 11 and 16; Law No. 2863, art. 35)
- the national rule: searching for treasure (define) without a licence carries three months to two years in prison (Law No. 2863, art. 74), and a licence may be given only outside protected immovable cultural and natural property, registered sites (sit alanları) and cemeteries (Law No. 2863, art. 50)
- the licence: Turkish citizens apply to the local civil administrator; one plot of at most 50 square meters and 10 meters deep, never one searched before; a certified map, photos, the landowner's notarized consent where the land is owned, clearances from the relevant authorities and an environmental impact report; the provincial governor signs it, it is valid for the year issued, and the search runs for at most 15 days under the eyes of two museum specialists and a local representative each of the environment and interior ministries, all paid for by the applicant, who also posts a deposit (Treasure Search Regulation, arts. 5-13)
- no forest-specific detecting rule was found; the Forest Law was not read
- the law is written about treasure and cultural property; no source read addresses hunting for modern lost items
What the rule says
“İzinsiz olarak define araştıranlar, üç aydan iki yıla kadar hapis cezası ile cezalandırılır.”
Private land
Permit requiredPrivate land needs a treasure licence too: it is open only to Turkish citizens, covers one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters, never covers cultural property, and the application must include the owner's notarized consent. If treasure turns up, the hunter gets 40% of its value and the landowner 10%. Searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and the research teams it permits.
- the licence is for Turkish citizens only, covers one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters, and never covers cultural property; searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and the research teams it permits, so for foreign visitors this route is effectively closed (Treasure Search Regulation, arts. 5, 8, 11 and 16; Law No. 2863, art. 35)
- the national rule: searching for treasure (define) without a licence carries three months to two years in prison (Law No. 2863, art. 74), and a licence may be given only outside protected immovable cultural and natural property, registered sites (sit alanları) and cemeteries (Law No. 2863, art. 50)
- the licence: Turkish citizens apply to the local civil administrator; one plot of at most 50 square meters and 10 meters deep, never one searched before; a certified map, photos, the landowner's notarized consent where the land is owned, clearances from the relevant authorities and an environmental impact report; the provincial governor signs it, it is valid for the year issued, and the search runs for at most 15 days under the eyes of two museum specialists and a local representative each of the environment and interior ministries, all paid for by the applicant, who also posts a deposit (Treasure Search Regulation, arts. 5-13)
- on private land the searcher gets 40% of the treasure's value and the landowner 10% (Treasure Search Regulation, art. 18)
- cultural property found on private land is State property like any other (Law No. 2863, art. 5)
- the law is written about treasure and cultural property; no source read addresses hunting for modern lost items
What the rule says
“Define aranacak yer sahipli ise; gerçek kişilerden noterden tasdikli muvafakatname, tüzel kişilerden de yetkili organlarından alınacak muvafakat,”
Even where detecting is allowed, archaeological and historic sites are protected, and you must fill every hole and follow posted rules. Always confirm the current rule with the land manager.
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A treasure licence, not a hobby permit
2863 sayılı Kültür ve Tabiat Varlıklarını Koruma Kanunu (Law No. 2863 on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property), art. 50, lets the Ministry of Culture and Tourism license treasure searches (define arama) anywhere except protected immovable cultural and natural property, registered sites (sit alanları) and cemeteries. Searching for treasure without a licence carries three months to two years in prison. Treasure here means buried or hidden movables that are clearly no longer anyone's, carry no scientific value and are not protected cultural property.
The Define Arama Yönetmeliği (Treasure Search Regulation, as amended in 2020) sets the terms. Only Turkish citizens may apply, to the local civil administrator. One plot, at most 50 square meters and 10 meters deep, never one searched before, and no search under water. The application needs a certified map, photos, the landowner's notarized consent where the land is owned, clearances from the relevant authorities and an environmental impact report. The provincial governor signs the licence, it is valid for the year issued, and the search runs for at most 15 days.
Two museum specialists and a local representative each of the environment and interior ministries supervise the dig, and the applicant pays their travel and daily costs and posts a deposit. The Ministry's own FAQ page still gives older terms (a one-year licence and a one-month search); the regulation as amended in 2020 is what applies.
Cultural property is off limits
Research, drilling and excavation to uncover cultural property belong to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism alone. It grants research permits to Turkish and foreign teams it judges scientifically and financially qualified, and drilling and excavation permits come by Presidential decision. Digging or drilling to find cultural property without permission carries two to five years in prison, cut by a third only where the place isn't a registered site or other protected place.
The penalty for unlicensed treasure searching can be up to doubled when the aim is smuggling cultural property abroad or the offender is someone charged with protecting it. A court may cut the sentence by up to two thirds for someone who hands what they found to the local civil administrator before an investigation starts, and may reduce or waive it for an unlicensed treasure searcher who, before prosecution, identifies the people who supplied the devices and helps catch them. The law itself never names metal detectors. Nothing we read deals with hunting for modern lost items.
Finds and reporting
Protected cultural and natural property belongs to the State, whether it lies on public or private land; only certain foundation property with a special status is outside that rule. Protected movable property includes coins, medals, ornaments, earrings, bracelets, weapons and metal tools from geological, prehistoric and historic periods.
Found cultural or natural property? Report it within three days to the nearest museum directorate, the village headman (muhtar), or elsewhere the local civil administrator; in military garrisons and restricted zones, to the higher military command. Owners and occupiers who know or learn of such property on their land have the same duty. Knowingly failing to report, without an excuse, carries six months to three years in prison.
Licensed treasure hunters don't keep their finds either. A panel of at least three experts examines everything: cultural property goes to museums, treasure to the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, and if cultural property turns up the search stops and the searcher can claim no rights over it. The hunter gets 50% of a treasure's value on Treasury land, or 40% on private land, with 10% to the landowner.
Beaches, forests, parks and private land
We found no land-specific detecting rule, so beaches, state forests, national parks and private land all follow the national treasure rule: no searching without a licence, and a licence only for a Turkish citizen and one supervised plot, never under water and never for cultural property. Inside a park, no licence is given for protected natural property or registered sites. We haven't read the Forest Law or the National Parks Law.
On private land the application must include the owner's notarized consent, and cultural property found there belongs to the State like any other.
Sources
Official and statutory sources this page is based on (source check: October 8, 2026):
- 2863 sayılı Kültür ve Tabiat Varlıklarını Koruma Kanunu (Law No. 2863 on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property), consolidated text
- Define Arama Yönetmeliği (Treasure Search Regulation), RG 27/1/1984 No. 18294, as amended by RG 21/7/2020 No. 31192
- Resmî Gazete 21 July 2020, No. 31192: regulation amending the Define Arama Yönetmeliği
- Define aramak istiyorum. Ne yapmalıyım? (I want to search for treasure. What should I do?)
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Can a tourist metal detect in Turkey?
- Not for treasure or cultural property. The only licence we found is a treasure-search licence for Turkish citizens only, covering one supervised plot of at most 50 square meters, and it never covers cultural property. Searching for cultural property is reserved to the Ministry and permitted research teams, and searching for treasure without a licence carries three months to two years in prison. Nothing we read deals with hunting for modern lost items.
- Can I keep old coins I find in Turkey?
- Usually not. Coins from prehistoric and historic periods are on the law's list of protected movable cultural property, which belongs to the State and must be reported within three days to the nearest museum directorate, the village headman or the local civil administrator. The law does let coins of the late Ottoman sultans, from Abdülmecit to Vahidettin, and coins of the same era be bought and sold within Turkey without registration; we found nothing on whether a finder may keep one.
- Can I metal detect on a Turkish beach?
- Beaches follow the national treasure rule: no treasure searching without a licence, which is for Turkish citizens only and covers one supervised plot. No licensed search may take place under water.
- What happens if I find something old in Turkey?
- Report it within three days to the nearest museum directorate, the village headman (muhtar) or the local civil administrator. Knowingly failing to report, without an excuse, carries six months to three years in prison.
Find more, remember where
Download LuckyFind — free for iPhone and Android — to track your routes, log your finds, and keep your permitted spots organized.
