About the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Registration System

Based on the revised Aviation Act, the "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Registration System" will become mandatory from June 20, 2022.
If you plan to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle after June 20, 2022, you must register the aircraft in advance with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's system. *1
This applies to all drones you have at home or use at work, so be sure to check.

*1 This applies to all drones and radio-controlled aircraft weighing 100g or more that are flown outdoors.

Registration Procedure

To register an unmanned aerial vehicle, you must complete the following three steps. Registration applications can be submitted through the Drone Registration System from December 20, 2021.

About fees

There is a fee for registration. The registration fee varies depending on the application and identity verification method. Although you can register by mail, it is more economical to register online.
The lowest registration cost is to register using your My Number Card or gBizID *2.

*2 gBizID : A common authentication system for corporations and sole proprietors

How to apply	First aircraft	Second or more aircraft (if applying at the same time as the first aircraft)
Apply online using your Individual Number Card or gBizID	900 yen	890 yen/machine
Online application using other documents (driver's license, passport, etc.)	1,450 yen	1,050 yen/unit
Paper application	2,400 yen	2,000 yen/unit

*Information is subject to change.

What happens if I fly without registering?

Under the Aviation Act, the offender is subject to imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.

In addition to displaying the registration symbol on the aircraft, it will be mandatory to install a remote ID function.

Remote ID refers to a device that remotely transmits aircraft identification information, including registration information. It is a necessary device for displaying the registration symbol. As of June 20, 2022, all applicable unmanned aircraft will be required to be equipped with it.

However, if you register during the pre-registration period (until June 19, 2022), you will be exempt from having to install a Remote ID for the three-year validity period. Be sure to register during this period.

What is Remote ID?

FAQ

What unmanned aerial vehicles are eligible for registration?

This applies to all drones and radio-controlled aircraft weighing 100g or more that are flown outdoors.

Once the application process is complete, how long will it take for the registration code to be issued?

Depending on the application status, after the procedure is completed,

1 to 5 business days for notification of fee payment

After payment of the fee, it takes 1 to 5 business days for the registration code to be issued.

Please use this as a guideline and carry out the procedure with ample time to spare.

If I repair an aircraft, do I need to submit a change notification?

If the repair is based on instructions from the drone manufacturer and does not involve a change to the drone's serial number, no procedures are required. If the drone's serial number does involve a change, you will need to cancel the registration and then register it again.

Do I need to register an aircraft that I only fly indoors?

If you fly it only indoors, it is not subject to the Aviation Act and does not need to be registered.

Can I register all my aircraft at once?

You can register multiple aircraft at once. However, if you apply online, you can register up to 20 aircraft.

Where can I contact for inquiries?

For inquiries regarding the unmanned aerial vehicle registration system or how to operate the registration system, please contact the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Help Desk listed below.

▼Unmanned Aircraft Registration Help Desk (General information about the aircraft registration system)
050-3181-8378
(Weekdays 9:00-17:00 *Excluding weekends and holidays)

For inquiries about matters other than the registration system and drone registration system, please contact the following office.

▼Unmanned Aircraft Help Desk (Flight rules, DIPS/FISS operation methods, etc.)
050-5445-4451
(Weekdays 9:00-17:00 *Excluding weekends and holidays)

*Depending on the time of day, it may be difficult to get through on the phone. In that case, please try again later by phone.

Check the video for detailed registration instructions

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism information page

You can find more details, including the background of the registration system, on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Unmanned Aircraft Registration Portal Site.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Registration Portal Site