Bu proje/başvuru T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı sistemleri üzerinden yürütülmektedir.
This project/application is carried out through the systems of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye.
COLLECTOR'S GUIDE
Put your collection on a secure legal footing
A fine prayer bead set may count as cultural property. With a collector's permit, your pieces are entered in the museum records, so you can keep, buy and sell them with peace of mind. This page explains every step of the process.
Do you trade in antiques? Trade permit →Why a collector's permit?
The permit secures your collection, both for you and for the future of the pieces.
Legal security
Your pieces are entered in the inventory under museum supervision. The lawfulness of the collection you hold is documented.
Open buying and selling
Permitted collectors can sell or exchange pieces with one another after notifying the museum 15 days in advance.
Smooth transfer to heirs
The collection passes to the heirs. The heirs notify the museum within 4 months; the collection is kept undivided.
Documented provenance
The inventory record documents the piece's history. The buyer knows what they are buying, and you can prove your piece's story.
Is my piece cultural property?
Not every old prayer bead set counts as cultural property. The law protects pieces of documentary value.
Protected pieces
- Pieces from a historical period that have documentary value
- Pieces that complement museum collections
- These are reported to the museum and recorded
Law No. 2863, Art. 23
Usually unrestricted
- Ethnographic pieces without documentary value
- These can be bought and sold within Türkiye
- Taking them abroad requires a museum check
Law 2863, Art. 24 · Regulation on Ethnographic Objects, Art. 3
If you are unsure, ask the nearest museum directorate. If you see a Cultural property sign on your Tesbihkâr record, follow this guide.
Bu proje/başvuru T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı sistemleri üzerinden yürütülmektedir.
This project/application is carried out through the systems of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye.
Tesbihkâr does not issue the collector's permit; you apply to the nearest museum directorate.
Collector's permit in 5 steps
The application starts and ends in one place: the museum directorate nearest to where your collection will be kept.
Submit a petition
Apply in writing to the museum directorate nearest to where the collection will be kept.
Attach the documents
Identity number, declaration of residence and criminal record, 3 passport photos, collection address, list of pieces if any.
The committee reviews
The museum committee inspects whether the place where the pieces will be kept is suitable and secure.
Receive your permit
If approved, you pay the fee, collect your permit from the museum and display it somewhere visible at the collection address.
Register the pieces
Your pieces are entered in the two inventory registers issued by the museum, under the supervision of a museum specialist.
If you are applying as a company, association or foundation, also attach the identity document and letter of authority of the person responsible for the collection.
After the permit: 6 rules
- Have a newly acquired piece entered in the register within 30 days.
- Notify the museum in writing 15 days before a sale or exchange.
- Obtain written permission from the museum before moving the collection to another address.
- Report loss, theft or damage immediately.
- Be ready for the inspection held at least once a year.
- Protected pieces cannot be taken abroad.
ANTIQUE DEALERS AND SHOPS
Do you trade in antiques? Cultural Property Trade Permit
If you buy and sell cultural property as a profession, a collector's permit is not enough; you need the trade permit (licence) issued by the Ministry. A person who trades cannot obtain a collector's permit.
Premises and chamber registration
Open a shop separate from your home address and register with the chamber of commerce. A home address cannot be shown as a shop or storage space.
Apply to the museum
Petition to the nearest museum directorate: shop and storage address, chamber registration, criminal record, identity number, 3 photos, fee receipt.
Inspection and licence
The museum examines the documents and the premises. If suitable, the licence is issued; it is displayed somewhere visible at the shop.
Renewal every 3 years
The licence is valid for 3 years. Apply for renewal at least 1 month before it expires.
You can sell
- Pieces the museum left out of registration and issued a document for
- Registered pieces with documents that the museum did not acquire (the change of hands is recorded at the museum)
- Ethnographic pieces without documentary value
You cannot sell
- Pieces never shown to a museum, without documents
- Archaeological pieces and State property
- Protected pieces abroad
Ask the seller for the museum document with every purchase; do not buy a piece without documents, and refer the seller to the museum. Unlicensed trade in cultural property carries 6 months to 3 years in prison (Law 2863, Art. 67).
Basis: Law No. 2863, Arts. 27–29 · Regulation on the Trade of Movable Cultural Property · Competent unit: General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums
Selling without documents is a crime
Offering for sale, selling or buying cultural property not reported to a museum carries 2 to 5 years in prison and a judicial fine (Law 2863, Art. 67).
If you find cultural property, report it within 3 days to the nearest museum directorate or to the governor's or district governor's office (Art. 4).
The rule at Tesbihkâr
In Make an offer, cultural property without a museum document cannot be offered. Suspicious listings are removed and may be reported to the authorities.
Make an offer terms of use
Frequently asked questions
How much is the fee?
The fee is set by the Ministry's tariff and updated every year. Ask the museum directorate for the current amount before you apply.
Can I apply as a company?
Yes. Companies, associations and foundations can also apply; the details of the person responsible for the collection are requested.
I trade in antiques; can I get a permit?
People who trade in cultural property cannot be collectors; they need a Cultural Property Trade Permit (Law 2863, Art. 27). See the “Do you trade in antiques?” section above for details.
How long does the permit take?
The regulation does not set a time limit. The museum directorate will inform you about your application.
Official sources
Competent unit: General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. Applications are made to the Museum Directorates in provinces and districts. Links open in a new tab.
Ministry logoMinistry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of TürkiyeGoes to the ktb.gov.tr home pageThis page is general information, not advice from a lawyer. Ask the museum directorate for current rules and fees. Last updated: 9 November 2026.