BVLOS drone operations in Japan

What the rules say

Each line is resolved from published facts of Japan. "Not resolved" means the corpus does not answer it in a machine-checkable way — never that the law is silent.

• Legally possibleConditional
• Authorisation requiredConditional
• Authorisation typeexemptionYes
• Pilot requirementConditional
• Aircraft requirementConditional
• Standard scenario availableNo
• Populated area pathwayYes
• Digital applicationConditional
• Operational limitationsConditional
• ExceptionsConditional

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Exemption for Tethered Flight

  The restrictions in Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 do not apply when flying an unmanned aircraft while tethered to restrict its flight range, or using other safe methods specified by MLIT.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Obligation to Carry Pilot Competence Certificate

  A person who has received a pilot competence certificate (技能証明) must carry their pilot competence certificate (技能証明書) when performing a Specified Flight (特定飛行) as prescribed in Article 132-87.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Submission of Flight Plan for Specified Flights

  An operator of an unmanned aircraft must submit a flight plan containing the date, time, route, and other matters prescribed by MLIT ordinance to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism prior to conducting a Specified Flight (特定飛行), unless exceptional circumstances prescribed by MLIT ordinance allow for submission after the flight has commenced.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) Requirement

  Unless certified pilots operate certified aircraft (or under specific exemptions/approvals), the operator must constantly monitor the unmanned aircraft and its surroundings with their own eyes.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Written Exam Exemption for Existing License Holders or Limitation Changes

  When a person holding a competency certificate applies for a different qualification or a change in certificate limitations (技能証明の限定の変更), they may be exempted from the written examination upon application if the exam is identical to the one already passed and is recognized by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as equivalent or higher.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• GuidanceNational rule

  Japan: route rules for Category II beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights without observers, including sufficient safety measures where a route over densely populated areas is unavoidable

  Under MLIT's review guideline for Category II flight permissions and approvals (last amended 29 September 2026), section 5-4(3)c)ア, this is a route-setting criterion that MLIT applies to Category II permission/approval applications for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight without assistants (observers). The criteria in 5-4(3)c) do not apply where third-party entry can be restricted by the method shown in section 4-3-2(3)b). The flight route must be set over places where third parties are unlikely to be present (mountains, sea areas, rivers and lakes, forests, agricultural land, golf courses or similar). Only where unavoidable in setting the route may it include (i) flight crossing roads or railways with low traffic, excluding trunk roads, trunk railways and roads or railways in urban areas (this crossing limit does not apply where the road or railway manager operates or cooperates in the flight), and (ii) temporary flight over houses. Where a route over an area where people or houses are concentrated is unavoidably set, sufficient safety measures to prevent harm to third parties and property must be taken. This criterion is not a standalone permission to fly over people; the guideline's other applicable requirements still apply.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• GuidanceNational rule

  Prior Coordination with Manned Aviation Organizations

  JCAB requires operators conducting Level 3.5 BVLOS flights to contact manned aviation organizations via email at least one week before the first flight using the JCAB-provided list, and to publish flight maps and schedules online.

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

• 航空法（昭和二十七年法律第二百三十一号）— Civil Aeronautics Act, Chapter XI Unmanned Aircraft — Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — Civil Aviation BureauOpen
• 航空法施行規則（昭和二十七年運輸省令第五十六号）— Civil Aeronautics Act Enforcement Regulations, Chapter XI — Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — Civil Aviation BureauOpen
• MLIT/JCAB — 無人航空機の飛行に関する許可・承認の審査要領（カテゴリーⅡ飛行） — Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — Civil Aviation BureauOpen
• MLIT/JCAB — 航空局標準マニュアル（レベル3.5飛行：機上カメラ装置により立入管理措置をとる目視外飛行） — Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — Civil Aviation BureauOpen

Known limitations

• Binding law and official guidance disagree on bvlos.exceptions; the binding position is published.
• Binding law and official guidance disagree on bvlos.populated_area_pathway; the binding position is published.
• 4 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Other drone rules in Japan

• Do I need to register my drone in Japan?Registration in Japan depends on the aircraft and the operation: it applies once the published conditions below are met, each cited to the rule that sets it.
• Do I need Remote ID in Japan?Remote identification in Japan is tied to the aircraft and the operating category: the published triggers below decide whether a flight must carry or broadcast an electronic identity.
• Can I fly a drone near an airport in Japan?Drone flights near aerodromes in Japan are governed by airspace and aerodrome restrictions: whether permission is needed depends on the airspace, distance or aerodrome type published below.
• Can I fly a drone at night in Japan?Night flying in Japan is regulated rather than simply allowed or banned: published lighting, category and authorisation conditions below decide whether a given flight may take place after dark.
• When does a drone operation need authorisation in Japan?Whether an operation in Japan needs prior authorisation depends on the operational category, risk class or location: the published triggers below decide it.
• What training do I need to fly a drone in Japan?Remote pilot competency in Japan scales with the operation: which training, examination or proof of competency applies is set by the published conditions below.
• Do I need drone insurance in Japan?Whether drone insurance is required in Japan depends on the aircraft and the operation, as published in the conditions below.

All drone laws in Japan