日本在中の外国人ドローンPilotに役立ち情報　Hamish O’Connell

【JDAドローンマガジン　2023年6月14日掲載】

How to register your drone in Japan

In December 2022, Japan made it mandatory for all drones over 100g to be registered with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Land and Tourism. Any unregistered UAV over 100g is prohibited from flying after this date. The registration of UAVs is to ensure safety and security as the number of UAV users continues to grow.

The problem currently occurring with inappropriate flights by drones and other Unmanned Aircraft is that the owner of the aircraft cannot be identified and appropriate measures cannot be taken when necessary safety measures need to be taken against the owner of the aircraft.

In recent years, the use of Unmanned Aircraft has been on the rise due to such factors as the growing shortage of personnel in the logistics and security industries, increasing demand for survey and investigation flights over wide areas, and the creation of business models that utilize drones in remote islands and depopulated mountainous regions, making it extremely important to know who the owner of the Unmanned Aircraft is.                                               

In light of this background, a registration system for Unmanned Aircraft has been established to ensure safety and security in the expanded use of Unmanned Aircraft.                                                        

Step 1: Apply Online

You can either apply online or by mail. When applying online, you will need a copy of your ID and the remote ID* of the drone you wish to register (please note some older drone models do not have a remote ID). The online application process usually takes about 5 working days, and you will be sent an application number once it has been sent. If any information is incorrect, your application will be informed by email to amend the application. Online applications can be made here: https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/drone/en/

Step 2: Payment

After your application has been approved, you will be sent payment information. Payment of the registration can be made either online or by credit card.

Step 3: Issuance of ID

Once you have completed all the procedures, a registration ID will be sent to you. This will need to be displayed on your drone whenever you fly.