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
• Operator registrationConditional
• Aircraft registrationConditional
• Identifier displayConditional
• Renewal or validity periodConditional
• Digital registrationConditional
• Registration exceptionsConditional

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

  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 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 under Article 236-50(1) for a Test Pass Certificate (試験合格証明書) must submit the application form to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism with: (1) a copy of the physical examination pass certificate under Article 236-50(2); (2) a copy of the academic examination pass certificate under Article 236-50(3) — or, where exempted from the academic examination under Article 132-50 of the Act, a copy of the completion certificate issued by a registered training body and the competency certificate return certificate under Article 236-68(4), or, where the academic examination is omitted under Article 236-51(2), a copy of the competency certificate; and (3) a copy of the practical examination pass certificate under Article 236-50(4) — or, where exempted from the practical examination under Article 132-50 of the Act, a copy of the completion certificate issued by a registered training body, or, where the practical examination is omitted for all subjects under Article 236-52, a copy of the competency certificate.

  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 Registration Renewal

  The application procedures and grounds for refusal of registration under Article 132-4, paragraphs (2) and (3) apply mutatis mutandis to the renewal of unmanned aircraft 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 Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — Civil Aviation BureauOpen
• 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

Known limitations

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