Drone operational authorisation 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.

• Authorisation requiredConditional
• Trigger statedConditional
• Issuing authorityConditional
• Application modelpermitYes
• Risk assessmentConditional
• Standard scenario routeConditional
• Declaration routeConditional
• Generic or organisational privilegeNot resolved
• ValidityConditional
• Repeat operationsNot resolved
• Digital applicationConditional

What changes the answer

The published rules distinguish the level 3.5 category of operation.

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Agent Authorization Document for Registration

  If the registration application is submitted by an agent, a document proving the agent's authority must be attached to the application.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Alternative Identification Measures via Remote ID

  The measures to identify that an unmanned aircraft has received certification, as an alternative to physical display, shall be equipping the unmanned aircraft with a Remote ID function (リモートＩＤ機能) or other equivalent measures.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application for Aircraft Certification

  Any person who intends to apply for Aircraft Certification (機体認証) under Article 132-13, Paragraph 1 of the Act must submit an application for aircraft certification to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application for Change of Type Certification

  A person who intends to obtain approval for a change to a Type Certification (型式認証) under Article 132-17, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit an application for change of type design/manufacturing process (型式設計・製造過程変更申請書) along with attached documents describing the changes to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application Procedure for Approval of Non-Standard Flight Methods

  A person seeking approval to operate an unmanned aircraft without complying with the prescribed flight methods under Article 132-86, Paragraph 3 or Paragraph 5, Item 2 of the Act must submit an application to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism containing the specified details, including applicant information, registration mark, flight details, reasons for non-compliance, certification/license numbers (or equivalent capabilities), safety management structure, and risk assessment measures (if applicable).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application Procedure for Flight Permission in Prohibited Airspace

  An operator seeking permission to fly an unmanned aircraft in prohibited airspace under Article 132-85, Paragraph 2 or Paragraph 4, Item 2 of the Act must submit an application to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism containing the specified details, including operator contact information, registration mark, flight details, reason for flight, airworthiness certification details, pilot competency details, safety management structure, and risk assessment measures (if applicable).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application Procedure for Restricted Activities Affecting Flight

  Any person seeking permission to perform activities that may affect aircraft flight (such as flying a model aircraft under 100 grams in restricted airspace) must submit an application to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism stating their name, address, purpose, details, date, time, location, and other reference information.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Approval for Changes to Design or Manufacturing Process of Type-Certified Unmanned Aircraft

  A person who has obtained a Type Certification (型式認証) must obtain approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism before making changes to the design or manufacturing process of the certified type of unmanned aircraft, including when changes are made to comply with updated safety or uniformity standards.

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

• 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 Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省)Open
• 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 Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省)Open

Known limitations

• 2 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.
• What is the maximum drone altitude in Japan?Drone flights in Japan are held to a published general height limit of 150 m. The limit is not absolute: the published conditions that change it are cited below.
• 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.
• Is BVLOS drone flight allowed in Japan?BVLOS in Japan runs through a defined authorisation pathway rather than an open permission: the published conditions below set out what that pathway requires.
• 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