Japan Aviation Permits
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Civil Aviation Authority
- Name: Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB)
- Website: https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_fr10_000001.html
- Contact: JCAB, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) | Tel: +81 3 5253 8111 | Permit coordination through Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Estimated Processing Time
Requirements by Operation Type
Private flights require JCAB notification. Generally accommodated at GA-friendly airports.
Non-scheduled flights require JCAB permit, 5 business days. Slots at NRT/HND very limited.
Bilateral agreements via JCAB. Slots required at NRT, HND.
Overflight Permit
- Required: Conditional
- Authority: JCAB
- Lead Time: N/A for ICAO IFR flights; VFR requires permit
- Validity: N/A for IFR; per schedule for VFR
- Fees: Navigation charges apply
Not required for IFR flights by ICAO-member-state registered aircraft. VFR flights DO require overflight permits. Non-ICAO registries (e.g., Taiwan) and experimental certificates require overflight permits.
1. IFR flights by ICAO-member aircraft: NO overflight permit needed, file ICAO flight plan 2. VFR flights or non-ICAO registries: submit overflight request to JCAB 3. Provide: aircraft details, flight schedule, crew information 4. Navigation charges apply
Landing Permit
- Required: Conditional
- Authority: JCAB / MOFA
- Lead Time: Private non-revenue: not required. Charter: 3-7 working days. Business urgency: 24 hours possible.
- Validity: Per approved schedule
- Fees: Landing fees; navigation charges; parking fees
Private non-revenue: NO landing permit required. Charter (non-scheduled commercial): ALWAYS requires landing permit. SLOT COORDINATION CRITICAL: Haneda (RJTT), Narita (RJAA), Kansai (RJBB), Fukuoka (RJFF), Shin-Chitose (RJCC) are congested airports under IATA rules. GA slot requests submitted around 10th of each month for following month; allocation announced around 20th. Haneda: 16 GA slots/day (0600-2259 local), unlimited 2300-0559 local. Narita: 16 GA slots/day. Parking availability evaluated alongside slots.
1. Private non-revenue: no landing permit required; file flight plan 2. Charter operations: submit landing permit to JCAB/MOFA 3-7 working days before (24 hours for business urgency) 3. CRITICAL: Apply for airport slot FIRST, especially at congested airports 4. For congested airports (RJTT, RJAA, RJBB, RJFF, RJCC): submit slot request around 10th of month for following month 5. Provide: AOC, aircraft documentation, insurance, crew details 6. Slot drives everything: ground handling, CIQ scheduling, flight planning 7. Parking assessed alongside slot -- may be denied on parking alone 8. JCAB checks slot availability before processing landing permit
Cabotage
No (strictly controlled)
General Remarks
Slot coordination is the PRIMARY constraint for Japan operations. Haneda increased GA slots to 16/day; Narita also expanded to 16/day. Private non-revenue flights have the simplest requirements (no permit needed). Charter operations require both permit and slots. Japan has strict cabotage controls for charter aircraft.