INSTITUTION PROFILE / DRONES AND ROBOTICS
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)
The Japanese ministry that holds the “registration, certification and permission” keys for drones and air taxis
MLIT is the Japanese ministry in charge of aviation administration. It builds neither drones nor air taxis. Under the Aviation Act, its job is to register aircraft, certify aircraft and pilots, and grant permission and approval for where and how they fly. When drone articles mention Level 4, airframe certification, pilot licences or DIPS, they are naming systems run by this ministry. This profile looks at one question: what MLIT can decide about drones and air taxis, and what it cannot.
What this article covers
- MLIT in 30 seconds
- What kind of body it is: the four types of influence
- What it does for drones and robotics
- How far its influence reaches (powers and geography)
- Who it works with
- Outlook
- Glossary, references and claim-to-source audit
1. MLIT in 30 seconds
FULL NAMEMinistry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
MLITDrones are handled by the Civil Aviation Bureau, an internal bureau
MLITDrones are handled by the Civil Aviation Bureau, an internal bureau
COUNTRYJapanBased in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, with internal bureaus and regional bodies under a Minister
TYPE OF BODYCentral ministry (regulator)Covers land, transport, weather and coast guard matters; the Civil Aviation Bureau covers aviation
ESTABLISHED6 January 2001Formed from four earlier bodies: the Hokkaido Development Agency, the National Land Agency, and the Ministries of Transport and of Construction
STAFF60,443 (authorised)Per the Cabinet Order on staff numbers, as amended with effect from 31 July 2026. Not the number actually in post
BUDGET¥6,074.9 billionFY2026 (year to March 2027) general account, national funds. Whole ministry, not drones alone
ROLE IN DRONES AND ROBOTICSRegistration, certification, permissionUnmanned aircraft under the Aviation Act, and safety review of air taxis
REACHJapanese airspaceForeign-made aircraft are covered; a type certificate has been issued to DJI JAPAN
The one thing to grasp first
MLIT decides the procedures under the Aviation Act. MLIT’s own page asks flyers to follow not only the Aviation Act but also the National Police Agency’s no-fly law for small unmanned aircraft, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ radio equipment rules, and local ordinances Sourced. So “drone regulation” is not settled by a single authority, and MLIT covers the air-safety part.
One more point. Drone systems change often. MLIT has posted its interpretation notice on the rules for unmanned aircraft dated 1 April 2026, and on 29 September 2026 it revised the review guidelines for permission and approval. This article describes the position on 25 October 2026 Sourced.
2. What kind of body it is: the four types of influence
The institutions that appear in drone and robotics articles do not build aircraft or robots themselves. What differs is the route by which they influence the industry, and that gives four types. MLIT is a regulator, setting the rules for flight and certification by law.
MLIT has two tools. (1) Writing the rules by law: the Aviation Act and its enforcement regulations, public notices and review guidelines. (2) Issuing registrations, certificates and permissions: aircraft registration, airframe certification, type certification, pilot licences, and permission and approval for flights. The practical work is done by the ministry’s Civil Aviation Bureau. Its organisation chart says the Unmanned Aircraft Safety Division in the Safety Department plans and drafts policy on the safety of unmanned aircraft, air taxis and other next-generation aviation mobility Sourced.
3. What it does for drones and robotics
Japan’s drone procedures split into three paths, depending on where and how the aircraft is flown.
| Area | System or basis | What it covers | Status (checked 25 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight rules | Chapter 11 of the Aviation Act 2015 amendment, in force 10 December 2015 | Flight rules for unmanned aircraft. From 20 June 2022 the coverage extends to aircraft of 100 g or more. Regional bureau directors review airspace permissions and flight-method approvals | In force Sourced |
| Aircraft registration | Registration system (promulgated June 2020, in force 20 June 2022) | Owners and users of aircraft of 100 g or more must register, display a registration mark and carry Remote ID (broadcast of identification). Registration lasts three years | In force. More than 370,000 aircraft registered at the end of May 2026 Sourced |
| Airframe and type certification | Airframe certification (applications opened 5 December 2022) Type certification (Type 1 and Type 2) | Inspects strength, structure and performance to confirm safety. An aircraft without type certification also needs inspection of its design and manufacturing process, which takes time. As of 19 June 2026 the list shows one Type 1 certificate (ACSL) and Type 2 certificates up to No. 13, with holders including Sony Group, Century, Yamaha Motor and DJI JAPAN | In operation Sourced |
| Pilot licences | Unmanned aircraft pilot licence (Class 1 and Class 2) | A qualification certifying the knowledge and ability to fly. Examinations are run by a designated body (ClassNK, the Japanese classification society), and the licence lasts three years. From 14 July 2026 the written test follows the fifth edition of the textbook | In operation Sourced |
| Review of permissions and approvals | Review guidelines (Category II flights); guidelines for simultaneous multi-aircraft operations | The review guidelines were revised on 29 September 2026 (clarifying how to treat routes over densely populated areas for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights without observers). The second edition of the multi-aircraft guidelines is dated 2 June 2026 | Revised and published Sourced |
| No-fly zones around airports | Designation of airports under the no-fly law for small unmanned aircraft (MLIT Notice No. 813) | At eight airports designated by the Minister, the no-fly area around the airport widens from roughly 300 m to 1,000 m. Notification procedures are explained on the National Police Agency’s pages and are separate from the Aviation Act | Applies from 14 July 2026 Sourced |
| Traffic management (UTM) and certified providers | USP system; UTM studies | The FY2026 budget funds studies on introducing, step by step, the traffic management systems that dense drone operations will need | At the study stage Not yet confirmed |
| Air taxis | Safety review under the Aviation Act Roadmap of the Public-Private Council (revised 27 March 2026) | Plans to set safety standards for aircraft, licensing standards for pilots and standards for operations. The FY2026 staffing measures include “stronger structure for the commercial operation of air taxis”. The roadmap shows commercial operations starting from “2027/2028” | Standards being prepared. We could not find, in MLIT sources, a record that a type certificate has been issued Not yet confirmed |
A materials engineer’s view: type certification reduces the user’s paperwork
MLIT’s page says that if a licensed person flies an airframe-certified aircraft and takes access control measures, night flight, flight beyond visual line of sight and flight close to people can be made exempt from permission and approval Sourced. The page also says an aircraft without type certification needs inspection of its design and manufacturing process, which takes considerable time. For a maker, type certification could be a way to differentiate by reducing users’ paperwork. That is our reading of how the system is built, and we have not checked any individual deal. The air-taxi roadmap also lists applying next-generation batteries (such as all-solid-state batteries) as a technology development item Sourced. Inference
4. How far its influence reaches (powers and geography)
| Aspect | What MLIT has | What it does not have |
|---|---|---|
| Powers | Aircraft registration, airframe and type certification, pilot licences, airspace permissions and flight-method approvals under the Aviation Act. Public notices on no-fly airspace. Safety review of air taxis | Notification procedures under the no-fly law for small unmanned aircraft (explained by the National Police Agency). Radio equipment rules (MIC). Flight limits by ordinance (local governments) |
| Geography | Japanese airspace. Foreign-made aircraft are covered if flown in Japan. The type certification list includes DJI JAPAN, a Japanese-registered company | Other countries’ rules. We have not checked whether any mutual recognition with foreign authorities exists |
| Binding force | The Aviation Act and its regulations are legally binding, and breaches carry penalties. Review guidelines and other guidance set out procedures and safety expectations | Enacting the law itself (the National Diet). Guidance is presented as a safety guide |
| Scale | 60,443 authorised staff for the whole ministry. FY2026 national funds of ¥6,074.9 billion. The Civil Aviation Bureau’s FY2026 staffing measure is 78 posts (including separate allocations and the stronger structure for air-taxi commercial operation) | No total staff or budget is published for drones alone. The FY2026 non-public-works budget for “environment for expanding air taxi and drone operations” is ¥210 million |
How to read the numbers
The 60,443 is an authorised number of posts, not the number in post. It covers the whole ministry including external agencies such as the Japan Coast Guard and the Japan Meteorological Agency, not just drone staff. The ¥6,074.9 billion is national funds for the whole ministry, most of it for roads, rivers and similar works. The non-public-works budget for the item covering air taxis and drones is ¥210 million for FY2026 (¥200 million the year before) Sourced. The FY2027 budget request for a similar item shows a requested ¥630 million, but that is a request, not an enacted amount Not yet confirmed. Japan’s fiscal year starts in April, so FY2026 runs from April 2026 to March 2027.
5. Who it works with
We list only relationships stated in MLIT’s official materials.
| Organisation | Relationship to MLIT | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| National Police Agency | Explains notification procedures under the no-fly law for small unmanned aircraft. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism designates the covered airports | Civil Aviation Bureau flight rules page |
| Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications | Covers radio equipment for drones and the handling of filmed images; MLIT’s page points readers to MIC’s pages | Civil Aviation Bureau flight rules page |
| ClassNK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai) | Acts as the designated examination body for pilot licences, running written and practical tests | Civil Aviation Bureau licence page |
| Registered training bodies and registered inspection bodies | Bodies registered with the state give the licence courses and inspect airframes for certification (lists are published) | Civil Aviation Bureau licence and certification pages |
| Type certificate holders | Companies on MLIT’s list: Type 1 is ACSL; Type 2 includes Sony Group, Century, Yamaha Motor and DJI JAPAN. See also our DJI profile | List of type-certified unmanned aircraft (as of 19 June 2026) |
| Public-Private Council for the Air Mobility Revolution | Revised the air-taxi roadmap on 27 March 2026; MLIT’s budget materials reproduce it | FY2027 Civil Aviation Bureau budget request summary |
* We do not list individual drone makers’ deals or subsidies, because we did not check MLIT sources for them. Holding a type certificate does not mean the state endorses a product.
6. Outlook
| What can be read from the evidence | Primary information it rests on | Category |
|---|---|---|
| The Council’s roadmap puts the start of commercial air-taxi operations at “2027/2028 onward”. The dates are a guide, not a decision | Roadmap for the Air Mobility Revolution (27 March 2026) | Not yet confirmed |
| The FY2027 budget request includes studies on setting air routes for air taxis (AAM corridors), expanding simultaneous multi-aircraft operation with AI, and introducing UTM step by step | FY2027 Civil Aviation Bureau budget request summary (August 2026). A request, not an enacted amount | Not yet confirmed |
| The FY2026 budget funds adding DIPS (the drone information system) functions to reflect a review of the pilot-licence system | FY2026 Civil Aviation Bureau budget decision summary | Not yet confirmed |
| As more models gain type certification, the paperwork for users seeking permission and approval will probably shrink | The system lets a certified aircraft plus a licensed pilot avoid permission and approval. As of 19 June 2026, Type 2 certificates run to No. 13 | Inference |
| Even when air-taxi standards are in place, commercial operation is unlikely to start before a type certificate is issued | The roadmap lists aircraft safety, licensing and business standards. We found no record of a type certificate being issued | Inference |
7. Glossary
- Chapter 11 of the Aviation Act
- The chapter setting flight rules for unmanned aircraft such as drones. Introduced on 10 December 2015.
- Airframe certification and type certification
- Inspection of an aircraft’s strength, structure and performance to confirm safety, and a certification of a whole model. Both come in Type 1 and Type 2.
- Pilot licence (Class 1 and Class 2)
- A state qualification showing the knowledge and ability to fly an unmanned aircraft. It lasts three years.
- Access control measures
- Steps that keep third parties from entering the area under the flight path. Flights without them require a Class 1 licence and Type 1 airframe certification.
- Level 4
- A common name for a category of flight that rests on airframe certification and a pilot licence. MLIT runs a “Level 4 flight portal” for unmanned aircraft.
- Remote ID
- A system by which a flying aircraft broadcasts its registration mark and other data by radio. Registered aircraft must carry it.
- DIPS
- The Drone Information Platform System. Registration, permission and approval applications, and flight-plan notifications are made through it online.
- UTM / USP
- Unmanned traffic management for drones / providers of such management services.
- Air taxi (sora tobu kuruma)
- Japan’s name for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (AAM, eVTOL). They are subject to safety review under the Aviation Act.
- Public-Private Council
- The council for the air mobility revolution, which compiles the roadmap for air taxis.
8. References
- MLIT About MLIT (in Japanese): mission and establishment on 6 January 2001. https://www.mlit.go.jp/about/index.html
- e-Gov Law Search Cabinet Order on the Number of Staff of Administrative Bodies (in Japanese): MLIT’s authorised staff, as amended with effect from 31 July 2026. https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/344CO0000000121
- MLIT FY2026 budget overview (in Japanese, February 2026): total national funds in the general account. https://www.mlit.go.jp/page/content/001982013.pdf
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau FY2026 budget decision summary for the Bureau (in Japanese, December 2025): the budget for the air taxi and drone item and the staffing measures. https://www.mlit.go.jp/page/content/001975407.pdf
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau FY2027 budget request summary for the Bureau (in Japanese, August 2026): the requested amount, AAM corridor studies and the roadmap. https://www.mlit.go.jp/page/content/002018613.pdf
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau Organisation chart (in Japanese, as of 1 April 2025): remit of the Unmanned Aircraft Safety Division. https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/001982759.pdf
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau Flight rules for unmanned aircraft (in Japanese): latest notices on the review guidelines, the multi-aircraft guidelines and the airport designation notice. https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_tk10_000003.html
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau Aircraft covered by the flight rules, Chapter 11 of the Aviation Act (in Japanese): introduction on 10 December 2015 and the change to 100 g or more on 20 June 2022. https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_fr10_000040.html
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau No-fly airspace and flight methods for unmanned aircraft (in Japanese): airspace needing permission, flight methods needing approval, related laws and ordinances. https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_fr10_000041.html
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau Outline of the unmanned aircraft registration system (in Japanese): start on 20 June 2022, the number registered, the validity period. https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/001443264.pdf
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau Airframe certification (in Japanese): outline and the opening of applications on 5 December 2022. https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/certification.html
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau List of type-certified unmanned aircraft (in Japanese, as of 19 June 2026). https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/002008366.pdf
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau Unmanned aircraft pilot licences (in Japanese): validity period, designated examination body and the textbook edition. https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/license.html
- MLIT Civil Aviation Bureau FAQ and materials on unmanned aircraft (in Japanese): history of amendments to laws and ordinances. https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_fr10_000043.html
9. Claim-to-source audit
| Claim in the article | Category | Source |
|---|---|---|
| MLIT’s role and its establishment on 6 January 2001 | Sourced | Reference 1 https://www.mlit.go.jp/about/index.html |
| Authorised staff of 60,443 | Sourced | Reference 2 https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/344CO0000000121 |
| FY2026 general-account national funds of ¥6,074.9 billion | Sourced | Reference 3 https://www.mlit.go.jp/page/content/001982013.pdf |
| The FY2026 non-public-works budget of ¥210 million (¥200 million the year before) for the air taxi and drone item; the Bureau’s 78-post staffing measure and the stronger structure for air taxi commercial operation; the DIPS addition for the licence review | Sourced | Reference 4 https://www.mlit.go.jp/page/content/001975407.pdf |
| The FY2027 request of ¥630 million, the AAM corridor studies, the Council’s roadmap (27 March 2026; commercial operation from 2027/2028; all-solid-state batteries and other next-generation batteries) | Sourced | Reference 5 https://www.mlit.go.jp/page/content/002018613.pdf |
| The Unmanned Aircraft Safety Division plans safety policy for unmanned aircraft, air taxis and other next-generation mobility | Sourced | Reference 6 https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/001982759.pdf |
| The revision of the review guidelines (29 September 2026), the second-edition multi-aircraft guidelines (2 June 2026), the widened airport no-fly areas (applying from 14 July 2026) and the interpretation notice dated 1 April 2026 | Sourced | Reference 7 https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_tk10_000003.html |
| Introduction on 10 December 2015, the change to 100 g or more on 20 June 2022, and the separate rule for aircraft under 100 g | Sourced | Reference 8 https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_fr10_000040.html |
| Airspace needing permission, flight methods needing approval, exemption through certification and licence, and the related laws (police, MIC, ordinances) | Sourced | Reference 9 https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_fr10_000041.html |
| Start of registration (20 June 2022), the registration duty, more than 370,000 registered at the end of May 2026, three-year validity | Sourced | Reference 10 https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/001443264.pdf |
| Outline of airframe certification and the opening of applications on 5 December 2022; the extra inspection for uncertified types | Sourced | Reference 11 https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/certification.html |
| Type certificate holders (one Type 1, Type 2 up to No. 13, holder names; as of 19 June 2026) | Sourced | Reference 12 https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/002008366.pdf |
| Licence validity of three years, the designated examination body (ClassNK), the fifth-edition textbook | Sourced | Reference 13 https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/license.html |
| History of amendments to laws and ordinances | Sourced | Reference 14 https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_fr10_000043.html |
| When commercial air-taxi operation will start, whether an air-taxi type certificate has been issued, and when UTM will be introduced | Not yet confirmed | No fixed date or issuance is stated in References 5 or 7; the roadmap is a guide. This article does not estimate them |
| Staff and budget for drone work alone | Not yet confirmed | No such totals in References 2, 3 or 4. This article does not estimate them |
| The grouping into four types of institution, the three-path simplification, and the can-decide and cannot-decide split | Our calculation | Our own arrangement of the sources |
| The readings in sections 3 and 6 (meaning of type certification, air-taxi type certificates and commercial operation) | Inference | This article’s reading of the structure of the systems in References 5, 9, 11 and 12 |
Last updated 25 October 2026 / Troy Technical
Figures come from official MLIT materials, e-Gov Law Search and the Public-Private Council’s roadmap. This field moves quickly, and the status of each system is as of the date checked. Items marked “Inference” are this article’s reading of the primary information.