Japan’s MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) certification under the Radio Wave Act ensures that all wireless devices comply with strict national standards for radio performance, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and cybersecurity.
In 2025, the MIC tightened its requirements for technical documentation, software-defined devices, and domestic representative obligations — areas where many overseas manufacturers still make critical errors.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to the required documents, new regulatory highlights, and the real meaning behind the MIC certificate’s “validity period.”
Preparing complete, accurate, and compliant documentation is key to a smooth MIC certification.
Below is the latest 2025 document list — categorized by purpose and including newly emphasized requirements.
| Document Category | Core Content & Description | 2025 Special Focus |
|---|---|---|
| ① Technical Core Documents | • Circuit Block Diagram & Schematic: Clearly mark RF-related components. • Technical Specifications: Define frequency bands, modulation, power, antenna gain, etc. • Technical Construction Diagram: Include photos showing internal/external structure and label placement. | • For Software Defined Radio (SDR) devices, provide firmware version control details, clarifying if RF parameters can be modified via software. |
| ② Testing & Proof Documents | • Complete Test Report: Issued by a Japanese RCB, covering RF (conducted/radiated) and EMC testing. • RCB Accreditation Statement: Confirms testing body qualification. | • IoT Devices: Must submit a Cybersecurity Measures Conformity Declaration, describing access control, encryption, and firmware update security. |
| ③ Labeling & Manual Documents | • Japanese User Manual: Includes safety warnings, Ⓡ mark, and prohibition against user modification.• Label Artwork: Shows permanent Ⓡ mark and certification number. | • Manual must declare that unauthorized firmware or software modification affecting RF parameters is illegal under MIC rules. |
| ④ Administrative & Legal Documents | • Application Form & Power of Attorney for Domestic Representative (required for overseas applicants). • Manufacturer’s ISO 9001 Certificate (optional but beneficial). | • MIC now strictly reviews the domestic representative’s qualifications, requiring proof of legal Japanese business registration and responsibility for recalls or surveillance actions. |
Unlike other certification systems (e.g., CE, KC, FCC), Japan’s MIC certification does not have a fixed expiry date such as 3 or 5 years.
Instead, it remains valid indefinitely — provided the product and regulations remain unchanged.
However, this “permanent validity” is conditional and can be revoked or invalidated in several key cases.
Any change to hardware, core firmware, antenna design, or RF circuitry that may alter radio performance requires re-certification or modification filing.
Since 2025, products whose RF behavior can be modified via firmware updates — such as Wi-Fi routers, 5G CPEs, or IoT hubs — are automatically treated as “changed” if the update introduces:
New frequency bands
Increased transmission power
Different modulation methods
Failing to notify the original RCB of these updates renders the MIC certification invalid immediately.
When MIC revises its Radio Equipment Regulations (e.g., new frequency allocations or power limits), manufacturers must ensure their products remain compliant.
A transition period is usually announced, during which older devices must be tested and updated to the new standards.
Failure to comply before the transition deadline = certificate invalidation.
If MIC identifies non-compliance during random inspections — such as emission deviations, labeling errors, or false documentation — it has the authority to:
Suspend or revoke certification
Blacklist the manufacturer or representative
Ban product sales in Japan
Falsified or incomplete records are treated as a regulatory offense.
All overseas manufacturers must designate a local Japanese representative responsible for legal and technical compliance.
If this representative:
Ceases operation,
Stops paying annual maintenance fees,
Or formally withdraws representation,
→ The certificate becomes automatically void until a new representative is registered.
Under the Radio Wave Act, manufacturers and their Domestic Representatives are legally required to retain all technical files and certification documents for at least 5 years after product production ends.
This ensures MIC can perform post-market audits or recalls when necessary.
Blue Asia recommends maintaining both digital and hardcopy archives — including test reports, schematics, and PoA documents.
❌ Submitting English-only manuals without Japanese translations
❌ Missing RF power tuning details for SDR devices
❌ Forgetting cybersecurity conformity declarations for IoT products
❌ Label file inconsistencies (e.g., wrong Ⓡ mark size or location)
❌ Appointing an unqualified or inactive domestic representative
These issues are the top reasons for certification rejection or delay.
At Blue Asia Technology (Shenzhen), we help international manufacturers navigate Japan’s complex MIC certification process efficiently and accurately.
Our capabilities include:
JP Full MIC certification service (Path A & Path B)
RF / EMC / Cybersecurity testing under Japan’s 2025 standards
Preparation of Japanese technical documents & label artwork
Coordination with local Japanese representatives
Compliance review and certification maintenance
king.guo@cblueasia.com
+86 135 3422 5140
If you’re preparing a Wi-Fi 7, 5G, or IoT product for the Japanese market, Blue Asia’s certification team will help you streamline documentation, reduce risk, and ensure full Radio Wave Act compliance.
Request a Free MIC Compliance Checklist →
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