APPLICATION PROCEDURES
FOR FOREIGN AMATEUR RADIO LICENSEES
TO ESTABLISH A STATION IN JAPAN

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATIONS
Please submit the following documents with your application.
  1. Completed station information form JARL-96-04.
  2. Signed Letter of Authorization (JARL-04-09A) allowing JARL to submit the application on your behalf.
  3. A photocopy of your current amateur radio operator certificate.
  4. A photocopy of your passport (photograph page and Japanese Visa page
    (if you have)) or a photocopy of your Residence Card (both sides).
    * Depending on each Visa exempted country, the conditions for Visa exemption may be prescribed. The applicant should visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan (https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html) and verify if any condition is prescribed. If any condition is need to be met, the applicant should provide a copy of supporting document showing that the applicant meets the prescribed condition.
    If you are not a resident in Japan, a copy of transportation reservation document showing arrival date in Japan is additionally required.
    The valid period of license is limited by the valid period of Residence Card and amateur certificate whichever comes earlier. The valid period of license for non-resident visitor is the period of stay specified by Visa or specified Visa-exempted stay period (For example; 90 days).
    If you require a valid period of license longer than above, the applicant shall provide a document reasonably assuring your stay in Japan after the initial period of stay (For example; repeated visit and stay).
  5. A photocopy of bank transfer or PayPal confirming that the appropriate funds have been transferred to JARL.
SUBMISSION
The application must be submitted at least 60 days prior to date you wish to start operation in Japan. Submit your application to:

Japan Amateur Radio League
International Section
Otsuka HT Bldg, 43-1 Minamiotsuka 3-chome,
Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-8073, JAPAN
TEL: +81-3-3988-8753
FAX: +81-3-3988-8772
mailto:intl@jarl.org

LICENSING INFORMATION
  1. Those who have valid amateur qualification mentioned in Annex 1 are eligible to establish and operate an amateur station in Japan, regardless of their nationality.

  2. It is recommended to apply for a portable/mobile 50W station license for the operation anywhere in Japan.

  3. If you wish to operate a radio with more than 50W output power, you need a fixed station license. If you need both portable/mobile and fixed station license, the application fee is charged for each license.

  4. When your Japanese amateur radio license is granted, it will be forwarded to your Japanese mailing address stated in item 6 of station information (JARL-96-04).

  5. You may use JARL's address for item 7of station information (JARL-96-04), if you choose mobile/portable station, and you can receive your license at JARL's office in Tokyo by presenting your passport or any other kind of ID. In this case, please state 'HOLD MY LICENSE AT JARL' in item 6, and add 300 Yen annual spectrum utilization fee to your payment.

  6. Fees payable for station license are: 50W or less, Yen 4,300 (mobile/portable station); more than 50W but not more than 200W, Yen 8,100 (fixed station only) as of July 1, 2009.

  7. Station licenses will be granted for a period of your authorized stay in Japan up to five years, and not beyond the expiration date of your certificate. The license is renewable at 3,050 Yen per application. Five-year licenses are available for those who hold 'PERMISSION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE' (visa category 4-1-14) from Minister of Justice, Japan, but proof of this visa status must be provided with your application.

  8. Different application procedure is necessary if you plan to run more than 200W output. Applications using the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) specified form, all filled out in Japanese, must be submitted directly to the regional Bureau of Telecommunications (BT) in the call district where you will set-up your station in Japan. After provisional approval by BT, you must go through on-site inspection of your station by BT before being granted your license. This procedure may take more than three months. Please contact JARL (see item 2) beforehand for more details.

  9. If your radio has 'Technical Standard Certification Number*', please mention the number along with the model and manufacturer names in your application form.

  10. If your radio does not have 'Technical Standard Certification Number*', your radio needs to be assured by the authorized assurer called "JARD ". The assurance fee is Yen 5,500 for a single radio and Yen 1,100 each for additional radios.
    For the assurance, you should provide a transmitter schematic diagram with the final stage amplifier device information (device name, quantity and applied voltage).

  11. Payment can be made either by;

  - bank transfer to JARL's account
      (Please kindly pay the bank charge at the recipient bank too.), or
Our Bank Account Information

SWIFT Code:   BOTKJPJT

Bank Name:   MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Branch Name:   Komagome Branch (#061)
Address:   2-3-1 Komagome, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0003

Account Name:   JAPAN AMATEUR RADIO LEAGUE
Account Number:   9003391

Reason for remittance:   Reciprocal license ( your call sign )


  - Paypal

Category of application
Application Fee
Mobile/Transportable or Fixed station license for up to 50W output power, with radio(s) having 'Technical Standard Certification Number*'
4,300 JPY
Fixed station license for an output power beyond 50W and up to
200W, with radio(s) having 'Technical Standard Certification Number*'
8,100 JPY
Renewal of any type of station license

3,050 JPY
Assurance of a radio without 'Technical Standard Certification
Number*', for a license application / modification

5,500 JPY
Assurance each additional radio without
'Technical Standard Certification Number*',
for a license application / modification

1,100 JPY
Annual Spectrum Utilization Fee
(Only applicable to those wish to set the license address at JARL.)

300 JPY


* Technical Standard Certification Number
The Japan Amateur Radio Development Association (JARD) is an organization authorized by the MIC to testify amateur radio equipment. To avoid radio interference and illegal operation caused by out-of-standard radio equipment, JARD makes technical inspection on the basis of 'Regulation for Technical Standard Certification on Specified Radio Equipment' and issues the certificate (Technical Standard Certification Number) on each equipment that it has successfully passed the inspection to prove that the equipment, thus inspected and passed, complies with the said technical standard.




You will receive a bill from the Ministry

As from April, 1993, a Radio User Fee System, effecting all radio stations, was introduced and henceforth a fee per license was imposed. Radio operators including radio amateurs receive their bills every year from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) after the date of the issuing of licenses.
(Currently 300 yen per year per license.)

We, JARL, hope you will understand the circumstances, and would you please pay the fee at any post office in Japan.


F A Q

❉Does JARL accept credit card?
Sorry, we do not have the credit card facility as a payment option, but we can accept your payment through Paypal.

❉Is there a way to operate without establishing my own station?
Yes, according to the Japanese guest operation rules, if you have valid amateur qualification mentioned in Annex 1, you are eligible to operate local amateur radio stations. For your information, major points of the system are:

(1) Guest operators must have valid amateur licenses.
(2) Guest operators must operate according to his/her own licensed qualification, as well as hosts' stations' scope of operation e.g. output power, bands and modes etc.
(3) Host (licensee) must be present during the guests' operation.
(4) Guest operators identify themselves with hosts' callsign followed by his/her own callsign or name.

❉Today I received my Japanese reciprocal license.
Q: On the lower part of the License it says type of emission, frequency, and power, but it only shows 3 letter code. What does it mean?

A:It consists of one number followed by two alphabets. The number shows the licensee's class of amateur operator certificate, the second alphabet letter shows Amateur service and the last alphabet letter shows the type of license where
F represents Fixed location license and M represents Mobile license.
Next table shows the maximum privilege for each code although the actual privilege of each license is bound by the registered radio(s). In other words, you can operate registered radio(s) only.

Frequency Band Privilege Code
Indicative Lower Upper 1AF 1AM 2AF 2AM 3AF 3AM 4AF 4AM
Frequency edge edge Maximum allowed power
136.75 kHz 135.7 137.8 200W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W 10W 10W
475.5 kHz 472 479 200W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W 10W 10W
1,910 kHz 1800 1875 1,000W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W 10W 10W
1907.5 1912.5
3,537.5 kHz 3500 3580 1,000W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W 10W 10W
3599 3612
3662 3687
3,798 kHz 3702 3716 1,000W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W 10W 10W
3745 3770
3791 3805
7,100 kHz 7000 7200 1,000W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W 10W 10W
10,125 kHz 10100 10150 1,000W 50W 200W 50W none none none none
14,175 kHz 14000 14350 1,000W 50W 200W 50W none none none none
18,118 kHz 18068 18168 1,000W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W none none
21,225 kHz 21000 21450 1,000W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W 10W 10W
24,940 kHz 24890 24990 1,000W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W 10W 10W
28.85 MHz 28 29.7 1,000W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W 10W 10W
52 MHz 50 54 500W 50W 200W 50W 50W 50W 20W 20W
145 MHz 144 146 50W 50W 50W 50W 50W 50W 20W 20W
435 MHz 430 440 50W 50W 50W 50W 50W 50W 20W 20W
1,280 MHz 1260 1300 10W 1W 10W 1W 10W 1W 10W 1W
2,425 MHz 2400 2450 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W
5,750 MHz 5650 5850 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W
10.125 GHz 10 10.25 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W
10.475 GHz 10.45 10.5 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W
24.025 GHz 24 24.05 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W 2W
47.1 GHz 47 47.2 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W
77.75 GHz 77.5 78 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W
135 GHz 134 136 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W 0.2W
249 GHz 248 250 0.1W 0.1W 0.1W 0.1W 0.1W 0.1W 0.1W 0.1W
Emission type allowed: All emission types All but Morse CW


Please note that JARL performs these services as a courtesy
to foreign amateurs and keeps none of the fees.

We certainly hope you will enjoy QSOs in Japan!!

HOMEHOME   MenuEnglish Menu   Sub MenuInstructions  
Copyright © 1997-2024 by
The Japan Amateur Radio League, Inc.