Steps and requirements to fly in Japan
2025/12/07
For license conversions, the overall process is generally the same as long as your license was issued by an ICAO member state. However, some countries—such as the Philippines and Australia—may require you to submit additional documentation during the conversion process.
STEP
01
Check flight time requirements
First, we strongly recommend verifying that your flight hours meet JCAB requirements. The minimum required time varies depending on the license you're converting. You can find the exact standards on the official JCAB website. If you're unsure whether your current flight time qualifies, it's best to contact JCAB directly for confirmation.
Minimum Age
17 years or older
Total Flight Time
40 hours or more
Solo Flight Time
10 hours or more of solo flight
Cross Country Flight Time
5 hours or more of solo cross-country flight with at least one cross-country flight of 270 km (145 NM) or more with intermediate landings at 2 or more airports
Night Flight Time
3 hours or more of night flight with 5 or more takeoffs and landings
STEP
02
Pass the JCAB aviation medical exam
The JCAB aviation medical exam are generally stricter than FAA medicals. While the Class 3 medical isn't extremely restrictive, it's still best to complete it before starting any other part of the conversion process. This ensures you're medically eligible from the outset. You can check which institutions provide the medical exams on theJapan Aeromedical Research Center's official website. For instructions on how to book your medical exam, please refer to the guide below.
STEP
03
Apply and take the airmen's academic exam
Now that you've confirmed you're eligible to fly legally, the next step is to apply for and take the airmen's academic exam. This exam verifies that you meet JCAB's airman knowledge requirements and are qualified to operate an aircraft under Japanese regulations. You must formally apply for the academic portion of this certification, and the detailed steps can be found on the official JCAB website.
You must also purchase Form 19 and submit it to the JCAB along with the necessary documents.
STEP
04
Apply for your pilot competency certificate
After passing your academic exam, you will receive a confirmation letter stating that you passed. Do not throw this document away—you will need it for the licensing process.
Next, purchase Form 19-2 from Houbun Books using this link.This is the actual application for your $pilot competency certificate. Be careful not to confuse it with $Form 19, which looks similar but serves a completely different purpose
Just like Form No. 19, the Form 19-2 package includes detailed instructions on how to complete and submit the application. If you're unsure at any step, contact the Aviation Bureau—they can guide you through the process and help ensure everything is filled out correctly.
STEP
05
Apply and take the Aeronautical Service (or Special) Radio Operator Exam
Refer to the guide below for a detailed explanation of the application process, required documents, and how to prepare for the exam.
STEP
06
Join a Flight Club
Once you've passed all the required exams and confirmed that your medical certificate is valid, the next step is to join a flight club. Japan doesn't operate like many other countries where general aviation is centered around flight schools or FBOs. Instead, the system relies heavily on flight clubs—similar to the aeroclubs found in Europe. However, finding these clubs can be challenging. Information is often limited, and transparency is not always great, which makes it difficult for newcomers to know where to start. You can browse our list of flight clubs here. A more detailed, step-by-step guide on how to join a flight club is available here..
More detailed guide on how to join flight clubs can be found in our guide below.
STEP
07
Go out and fly!
Once you've completed all the exams and joined a flight club, you're finally ready to go out and fly. Happy flying! 🛫