Timeline of Japanese drone law

1. 2015-04

   A drone is found on the roof of the Prime Minister's Office

   Drones had spread with no rules. The discovery at the centre of government triggered the legislation that followed.

2. 2015-12-10Civil Aeronautics Act

   Civil Aeronautics Act amendment takes effect — the first drone rules

   "Unmanned aircraft" defined in law. No-fly airspace (airports, above 150 m, Densely Inhabited Districts) and approval-requiring methods (night, beyond line of sight, within 30 m, over events, hazardous cargo, dropping objects) established. Threshold: 200 g.

3. 2016-04-07Key Facilities Act

   Act on Prohibition of Flights over Key Facilities takes effect

   Flight banned around the Diet, the Prime Minister's Office, the Imperial Palace, foreign missions, nuclear sites and similar, regardless of weight. A separate law, enforced by the police.

4. 2019-09-18Civil Aeronautics Act

   Pilot duties added

   No flying under the influence of alcohol, mandatory pre-flight checks, collision avoidance with manned aircraft, and no flying that causes nuisance — duties on every flight.

5. 2021-12-20Civil Aeronautics Act

   Pre-registration of aircraft opens

   Registration on DIPS opens ahead of the mandate. Aircraft registered in this window were exempted from the Remote ID requirement.

6. 2022-06-20Civil Aeronautics Act

   Registration mandatory, Remote ID, threshold lowered to 100 g

   Unregistered aircraft may no longer fly. Registration ID must be displayed; Remote ID required in principle. The Act now covers aircraft of 100 g or more, down from 200 g.

7. 2022-12-05Civil Aeronautics Act

   Level 4 opens — licence, aircraft certification, categories, operating rules

   Beyond-line-of-sight flight over people (Level 4) permitted with a Class 1 licence and Class 1 aircraft certification. The Unmanned Aircraft Pilot Certificate (Class 1 and 2) becomes a national qualification; flights sorted into Categories I, II and III; flight plans, flight logs and accident reports become mandatory for specified flights.

8. 2023-12-26Review guidelines

   Level 3.5 created — review guidelines revised

   Requirements for Level 3 (beyond line of sight in unpopulated areas) relaxed. With a Class 2 or higher licence and third-party liability insurance, on-board camera confirmation that no one is in the area replaces observers and signage. Flight over protected vehicles allowed.

9. 2025-03-24Review guidelines

   Applications simplified — self-declared compliance on DIPS

   Category II review guidelines revised. Aircraft photos, manuals and flight-record attachments no longer required in principle; applicants declare compliance item by item on DIPS 2.0. Reviews became faster.

10. 2025-10-01Review guidelines

    Third-party liability insurance required for aircraft of 25 kg and over

    New permit or approval applications for aircraft with a total weight of 25 kg or more must show third-party liability cover.

11. 2025-12-18Review guidelines

    Private-school certificates no longer shorten applications

    The arrangement under which private training-body certificates let applicants omit some paperwork ended. Only the national licence does so now. Application forms revised.

An amendment to the Key Facilities Act widening the no-fly radius around protected sites from 300 m to 1 km, and a registration system for drone corridors, have been reported for 2026. We have not been able to confirm effective dates from primary sources, so they are not on the timeline yet. They will be added by effective date once confirmed. MLIT’sEnglish portal ↗carries current rules.

• Where and how (2015) — where you may not fly, and how
• Pilot duties (2019) — what the person flying must do
• Identification (2021–2022) — the state knows whose aircraft it is and who is flying, and on that basis opens Level 4
• Lighter procedure, one national licence (2023–2025) — with identification in place, applications get lighter and qualifications converge on the national licence

The direction is not more prohibition. It is identification and responsibility first, then more that is allowed. Today’s procedure is inHow to fly a drone in Japan.