Drone registration 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.

• Registration requiredConditional
• Weight thresholdNot resolved
• Operator registrationNot resolved
• Aircraft registrationConditional
• Identifier displayConditional
• Renewal or validity periodConditional
• Digital registrationConditional
• Registration exceptionsConditional
• More than one registration regimeNot resolved

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Accompanying Documents and Procedures for Registration Renewal

  The provisions of Article 236-3, paragraphs (2) to (4) (governing identity verification documents and electronic submission procedures) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the application for renewal of registration.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• 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

  Application for Deletion of Aircraft Registration

  An owner who intends to apply for the deletion of an unmanned aircraft registration pursuant to Article 132-11, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit an application to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism containing the registration mark, owner's name/title and address, agent's details (if applicable), date of application, reason for deletion and its occurrence date, and other necessary matters.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application for Deletion of Unmanned Aircraft Registration

  The owner of a registered unmanned aircraft must apply for the deletion of its registration within 15 days from the day on which the aircraft is lost or destroyed, dismantled (excluding dismantling for maintenance, modification, transport, or storage), has been missing for two months, or no longer qualifies as an unmanned aircraft.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application for Registration of Unregistered Unmanned Aircraft

  To register an unregistered unmanned aircraft, the owner must submit an application to record the aircraft's type, model, manufacturer, serial number, owner's name and address, user's name and address, and other matters specified by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) ordinance in the Unmanned Aircraft Register (無人航空機登録原簿).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application for Renewal of Unmanned Aircraft Registration

  A person who intends to renew an unmanned aircraft registration under Article 132-6, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit an application to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism containing the registration mark, owner's name/appellation and address, agent's details (if applicable), user's name/appellation and address, date of application, and other matters deemed necessary by the Minister.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application for Test Pass Certificate

  An applicant applying for a Test Pass Certificate (試験合格証明書) must submit an application form accompanied by copies of their physical exam pass certificate, academic exam pass certificate (or training school completion certificate), and practical exam pass certificate (or training school completion certificate).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application of Identity Verification Procedures to Deletion of Registration

  The provisions of Article 236-3, paragraph (4) regarding identity verification and application procedures shall apply mutatis mutandis to the application for the deletion of registration.

  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

• Binding law and official guidance disagree on registration.display_identifier; the binding position is published.
• Binding law and official guidance disagree on registration.exceptions; the binding position is published.
• 3 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 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.
• 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