Except in some cases* where a person who has obtained Unmanned Aircraft Remote Pilot Certification flies an unmanned aircraft that has obtained Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Certification,
you must apply for flight permission/approval if you fly your unmanned aircraft in specified airspace and in specified ways to fly.
If you would like to fly your unmanned aircraft in airspace and ways to fly regulated by the Civil Aeronautics Act of Japan, you must apply for and obtain flight permission/approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in advance.
Please follow the appropriate application procedures and fly your unmanned aircraft safely.
If you fly your unmanned aircraft without obtaining appropriate permission/approval, you will be subject to imprisonment or a fine.You cannot fly unmanned aircraft over a third-party land with the exception of Category III flights.
Information
- 04.28.2025
- The contents of JCAB web site have been updated. English document on UAS law and regulations is released.
- 04.11.2025
- An English-language version of this web portal has been launched.
- 03.17.2025
- This web portal has been launched.
What is a “specified flight”
that requires a flight application?
“Specified flight” refers to the following flights in which unmanned aircraft are flown in airspace and ways to fly
that are subject to the regulations of the Civil Aeronautics Act of Japan.
If you conduct this specified flight, you will need to apply for flight permission/approval, with some exceptions.
Airspace that falls under the category of specified flight
If you fly unmanned aircraft in the following airspace, it falls under the category of specified flight.
Ways to fly that fall under the category of specified flight
If you fly unmanned aircraft in the following ways to fly, it falls under the category of specified flight.
-
Night flight?
-
Beyond visual?
line of sight -
In the proximity of
persons/properties (<30m) -
Over event sites?
-
Carrying hazardous materials?
-
Dropping or spraying?
Categories that are considered to be specified flights
Flight forms of unmanned aircraft are classified into three categories according to their risk.
There are Categories III, II and I in decreasing order of risk, and the necessity of procedures
for flight permission/approval differs depending on the category.
|
Specified flight
Flight permission
/approval procedures |
Category I | No special flight permission/approval procedures are required under the Civil Aeronautics Act. |
|
Specified flight
Flight permission
/approval procedures |
Category II | Of the specified flights, it is a flight that is conducted after taking access control measures on the ground under the flight path of an unmanned aircraft so that it does not fly over a third-party land. With the exception of some cases, flight permission/approval procedures under the Civil Aeronautics Act are required.* |
| Category III | Of the specified flights, it is a flight that is conducted without taking access control measures such as those taken for the Category II, i.e., a level 4 flight that involves flying over a third-party land. As for the level 4 flight, please check here. |
You can use the following flow chart to determine which category
the flight you want to conduct falls into.
Flight permission/approval application procedures
This website explains the application procedures for Category II flights,
which account for the majority of flight permission/approval applications.
All procedures for applying for unmanned aircraft flight permission/approval can be completed through the Drone/UAS Information Platform System (DIPS2.0).
aircraft information
Enter the information about your unmanned aircraft.
If you have registered your unmanned aircraft, it will be displayed, so please add information required for your flight application.
information
Register the pilot information.
Please enter the information about the person who will conduct a specified flight.
permission/approval
Apply for flight permission/approval based on the information entered in STEPs 2 and 3.
The following video explains the application procedures using an example of application in the case where a flight beyond visual line of sight that cannot maintain distance between unmanned aircraft and persons or properties is conducted in airspace above a densely inhabited district without specifying a route.
permission/approval
When the examination of the application is completed, a permission slip/approval slip will be issued.
If you have requested that the permission/approval slip be issued in an electronic format, you can check it through DIPS2.0.
Do I have to obtain permission/approval when I fly an unmanned aircraft?
If it falls under the category of specified flight, you are generally required to obtain permission/approval. In other cases, you are not required to apply for permission/approval under the Civil Aeronautics Act of Japan.
Even in the case of specified flight, some permission/approval procedures may not be required if the aircraft has obtained Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Certification and the pilot has obtained Unmanned Aircraft Remote Pilot Certification.
How many days before the flight date should I apply?
Please apply at least 10 working days before the scheduled start date of the flight.
Where should I submit my application for flight permission/approval?
For applications for flight permission/approval in airspace around airports or in airspace at the height of 150 m or more above the ground, please submit your application to the Tokyo Airport Office or the Kansai Airport Office.
For applications for flight permission/approval other than the above, please submit your application to the East Japan Civil Aviation Bureau or the West Japan Civil Aviation Bureau.
*If the flight locations are all around Japan, please submit your application to the Regional Civil Aviation Bureau or Airport Office that has jurisdiction over the applicant’s address.
Please also check here for details.
When flying an unmanned aircraft around an airport, which relevant organization should I coordinate with before flying?
Even around an airport, the organization you need to coordinate with differs depending on the location of your flight.
- When the location is an approach surface, etc.: Coordination with the relevant airport installation manager is required.
- When the location is within the airspace of a control zone, etc.: Coordination with the relevant control organization (e.g., airport office) is required.
Please also check here for details.
*Please see [Confirmation of Airspace Requiring Coordination and the Coordination Destination > Confirmation of Whether Location Is Within Airspace of Control Zone > Contact Information for Administrator, etc.] in the above link.
If I want to fly an unmanned aircraft over the same location many times, do I need to apply each time?
If the same applicant repeatedly flies an unmanned aircraft within a certain period of time, or continuously flies it, the applicant can apply (make a blanket application) for up to one year. Please also check here for details.
What time zone is meant by “daytime” in the “flight during the daytime”?
A time zone between sunrise and sunset.
Is permission/approval required for search and rescue flights?
No permission/approval is required for flights for search and rescue conducted by the national government, local governments and those requested by them.
Would it be okay if constant visual monitoring is carried out by using binoculars or by an assistant?
The constant visual monitoring does not include monitoring using binoculars or by an assistant.
The person who flies an unmanned aircraft must monitor it with his/her own eyes.
How should I write the flight altitude on the application form?
For the altitude above the ground surface, etc., please write the actual flight altitude from the ground, and for the altitude above sea level, please write the altitude including the altitude above sea level (the altitude above the ground surface, etc. + the ground height at the location where the flight takes place).
What is the difference between the altitude above the ground surface, etc. and the altitude above sea level?
The term “altitude above the ground surface, etc.” refers to the height above the ground or water surface. The term “altitude above sea level” refers to the altitude above sea level for the flight, which is a value obtained by adding the elevation to the height above the ground or water surface.
You can check elevations on maps of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan.
How should I fill in the name of an organization with which I made coordination, such as an airport installation manager or a relevant organization that has jurisdiction over the airspace?
Please write the official name of the organization with which you made coordination in advance.
You can check the coordinating organizations from here.
*Please see [Confirmation of Airspace Requiring Coordination and the Coordination Destination > Confirmation of Whether Location Is Within Airspace of Control Zone > Contact Information for Administrator, etc.] in the above link.
How should I submit an application that covers areas under the jurisdiction of both the Kansai Airport Office and the Tokyo Airport Office?
Please submit the application to both the Tokyo Airport Office and the Kansai Airport Office.
When writing the flight location, please only write the name of the prefecture, city, town or village within the jurisdiction area.
Make sure that all necessary preparations for the flight of unmanned aircraft have been completed.
Check that there are no problems with the aircraft, such as damage or loose screws, that there is sufficient fuel or battery power, that there are no problems with weather conditions, that the flight path is safe for flight, and that the remote ID function is working properly.
Are you taking measures to prevent collisions with manned aircrafts or other unmanned aircrafts?
In addition to checking the conditions of the flight path before flying your unmanned aircraft, if you see a manned aircraft or other unmanned aircraft during your flight, you must take measures such as maintaining a safe distance and landing your aircraft if necessary. You can use the flight plan report function of the Drone/UAS Information Platform System to check flight plans of other unmanned aircrafts and no-fly zones.
It is prohibited to fly unmanned aircraft in a way that causes trouble to other people.
It is prohibited to fly unmanned aircraft in a way that causes trouble to other people, such as making noise, nose-diving, and making unnecessary noise.
There are rules regarding alcohol and other substances when flying unmanned aircraft.
Flying under the influence of alcohol or drugs (including prescription and over-the-counter drugs) is prohibited.
For inquiriesHelp Desk for Unmanned Aircraft
Business Hours: 9:00a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (JST)on weekdays, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays,
and year-end/new-year holidays (Dec 29 - Jan 3)