Yes, if it emits radio waves. Any device with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, NFC, or another wireless protocol needs Technical Conformity Mark certification (技術基準適合証明, called 技適 or "Giteki") or an Experimental Station Licence (実験局免許) before it can be legally operated in Japan. A CE mark or FCC ID has no legal effect here. There is no de minimis threshold: a single uncertified device already violates the Radio Act (電波法) the moment it transmits.
What Is the Radio Act and Who Administers It?#
The Radio Act (電波法) governs the use of radio equipment in Japan, and its purpose is to prevent interference and protect spectrum integrity. The competent authority is the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC / 総務省), a separate regulator from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), which oversees electrical safety.
Every device that emits radio waves must either hold a Technical Conformity Mark (技適) or operate under an Experimental Station Licence (実験局免許) for trial or research use only. Using a non-certified wireless device in Japan is a criminal offense under the Radio Act, and Japan Customs flags wireless-capable devices during inspection. If you are weighing which of the two pathways actually fits your device, see the dedicated pathway comparison.
Which Devices Require 技適 Certification?#
The trigger is radio wave emission itself. The wireless standard, frequency, or power output does not change whether certification is required, only which technical standard applies.
| Wireless Standard | 技適 Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) | Yes | All bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz |
| Bluetooth (Classic and BLE) | Yes | Including BT 5.x |
| Cellular (3G / LTE / 5G / NB-IoT) | Yes | Including embedded SIM modules |
| NFC | Yes | All NFC-Forum compliant devices |
| Zigbee / Z-Wave / Thread | Yes | Sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz IoT protocols |
| LoRa / LoRaWAN | Yes | Sub-GHz LPWAN |
| RFID (active) | Yes | Active RFID is a radio transmitter |
| RFID (passive) | Assess | Verify case by case |
| GPS (receive-only) | No | Receive-only, no transmission |
| Satellite uplink (VSAT, Starlink, LEO) | Yes | Additional approvals required |
| Wired-only devices | No | No RF emission |
Many industrial sensors, gateways, and edge computing devices contain embedded wireless modules that are not listed prominently on the spec sheet. Check the bill of materials for any wireless chipset, including sub-GHz LPWAN modules, before assuming a device is wired-only.
What Are the Two Certification Pathways?#
A wireless device reaches legal use in Japan through one of two routes, and they are not interchangeable: 技適 authorizes commercial sale and ongoing use, while an Experimental Station Licence authorizes a specific research or trial use at a named location only.
Technical Conformity Mark (技適). An MIC-designated testing laboratory such as TELEC or JATE tests the device against the applicable technical standards. Certification is issued once testing passes, and the device is registered in the MIC database. Total timeline runs roughly 6 to 12 weeks: about a week to identify the applicable standards, a week to engage the lab, 4 to 8 weeks of testing, and 1 to 2 weeks to issue the certificate. The mark must appear on the device itself, or, where physical marking is impractical, in the device's software or firmware menu, which is common for smartphones and tablets. A paper certificate alone does not substitute for the mark.
Experimental Station Licence (実験局免許). Issued by an MIC Regional Bureau for research, testing, product evaluation, or demonstration, this licence authorizes use only at the facility named in the licence and does not permit commercial sale. Terms typically run 1 to 3 years and are renewable. Using a licensed device at a trade fair, a client site, or any location not listed on the licence is a Radio Act violation, and Starlink-class terminals are a common trap here: see the Starlink terminal cost breakdown for why a low-value unit can trigger a licence fee several times the hardware cost.
Key points:
(a) 技適 is for commercial sale and ongoing operation; an Experimental Station Licence is for research, testing, or demonstration at one named location and never permits sale. (b) 技適 testing runs roughly 6 to 12 weeks through an MIC-designated lab (TELEC or JATE); the mark must appear on the device or in its firmware menu before commercial use. (c) A CE mark, FCC ID, or any other country's wireless certification has no legal effect in Japan; a fresh Japan-specific certification is always required.
Does a Wireless Device Also Need PSE Certification?#
Often, yes, and the two are separate obligations administered by different ministries. Radio Act 技適 covers radio frequency compliance under MIC. Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act (電気用品安全法) PSE certification covers electrical safety under METI. A device with 技適 but no PSE cannot be legally sold as an electrical appliance, and a device with PSE but no 技適 cannot be legally operated if it has wireless capability.
| Device Type | PSE Required | 技適 Required |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi router (plug-in) | Yes (Circle PSE) | Yes |
| Smart speaker | Yes (Circle PSE) | Yes |
| Wireless keyboard or mouse (battery-only) | No | Yes |
| Tablet with cellular | Yes (Circle PSE) | Yes |
| Industrial IoT gateway (AC power) | Yes (Circle PSE) | Yes |
| Bluetooth wearable (battery-only) | No | Yes |
The rule of thumb: check PSE whenever the device draws mains power or has a DC input, and check 技適 whenever the device transmits, regardless of power source.
Does FEFTA Apply to Controlled Radio Equipment?#
It can, and where it does, the review runs alongside the Radio Act rather than replacing it. Devices with dual-use characteristics, such as military-grade encryption, satellite uplink capability, or high-frequency spectrum capability, may trigger Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (外為法, FEFTA) pre-import clearance from METI in addition to Radio Act certification from MIC. This applies where the device appears on Japan's controlled goods import list, where its technical specifications meet the catch-all criteria METI applies to borderline cases, or where it is a satellite terminal with uplink capability such as a VSAT or LEO unit.
Where both MIC and METI approvals apply, run HS classification and the FEFTA assessment together rather than sequentially, since the filings need to reflect the same HS heading. This article explains the framework only; a specific FEFTA determination on a named device or end-user requires case-by-case review and is not something to conclude from a blog post. See our FEFTA import clearance guide for how the METI pre-approval process itself works.
Do CE, FCC, or Other Foreign Certifications Count in Japan?#
No. None of the major foreign wireless certifications carry legal weight for use in Japan, and 技適 is not a mutual recognition arrangement with any of them.
| Certification | Jurisdiction | Valid in Japan? |
|---|---|---|
| CE mark (RED Directive) | EU | No |
| FCC ID | USA | No |
| IC (Innovation, Science and Economic Development) | Canada | No |
| KC mark | Korea | No |
| SRRC | China | No |
A device that already passed CE or FCC testing still has to go through TELEC or JATE testing against Japan's own technical standards. The prior certification can shorten the engineering review, since the same test data often informs the Japan submission, but it does not substitute for it.
What Is the Import Process for a Wireless Device?#
Six steps carry a wireless device from identification to legal sale in Japan.
- Identify all wireless capabilities. Review the bill of materials, technical specifications, and firmware for every RF-emitting module, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, and sub-GHz chips.
- Check the MIC database for existing 技適 certification. If the device or module is already certified, confirm the mark is present; if not, initiate TELEC or JATE testing, budgeting 6 to 12 weeks.
- Check FEFTA applicability. Dual-use or controlled technology needs METI clearance before import, run in parallel with HS classification.
- Check the PSE requirement. Mains-powered or DC-input devices need Circle or Diamond PSE certification depending on category.
- File the customs declaration. The import declaration runs through NACCS. Goods can be imported while 技適 is pending, but they cannot be operated until certified, and an Experimental Station Licence permits operation only at the licensed location.
- Apply the post-import marking. The 技適 mark must be on the device before sale or commercial demonstration.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Does a device need 技適 if it will only be used at a private demo, not sold?
It still needs certification unless the demo qualifies for an Experimental Station Licence, which is location-specific and does not cover commercial sale. Powering on an uncertified wireless device at a trade fair, a client office, or any site not named in a licence is a Radio Act violation even if no sale occurs.
Can a device be imported into Japan before 技適 certification is complete?
Yes. The import declaration and customs clearance can proceed while 技適 testing is pending, but the device cannot be legally operated, sold, or demonstrated in Japan until the certification and mark are in place.
How long does 技適 certification actually take?
Budget roughly 6 to 12 weeks end to end: about a week to identify the applicable technical standards, a week to engage a TELEC or JATE testing laboratory, 4 to 8 weeks of testing across all applicable frequency bands, and 1 to 2 weeks for the certificate to issue and the device to register in the MIC database.
Conclusion#
Radio Act compliance is a separate track from PSE electrical safety and, for certain devices, from FEFTA export control review, and all three can apply to the same product at once. Map the device's wireless capability, mains power draw, and any dual-use characteristics before committing to an import timeline, since 技適 testing alone can run to three months. For import structuring once certification is mapped, see the IOR and ACP service overview.
This article is informational only and does not constitute legal, tax, or regulatory advice. Consult a certified specialist or licensed attorney (弁護士) for your specific wireless device certification and import compliance requirements. Last updated: September 2026.