In the Japanese market, radio equipment access is commonly referred to as TELEC, MIC, or Giteki – all referring to the same approval system. Regulated by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) under the Radio Law, wireless equipment must obtain type approval before it can bear the Giteki mark. Without this certification, wireless products cannot clear customs and are prohibited from being sold or distributed in Japan.
1.1 Two core legal frameworks
The entire access system is built on two laws: the Radio Law and the Telecommunications Business Law. The Radio Law governs RF performance compliance; the Telecommunications Business Law covers requirements for connecting to local telecom networks. Products with cellular communication modules must satisfy both.
1.2 MIC and TELEC – the relationship
MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) sets technical standards and regulatory policy. TELEC is the designated certification body No. 001 – handling testing and certification. The industry colloquially calls it "TELEC certification" – certificates are issued by MIC‑authorised bodies. TELEC was the first established and holds a significant market share, but other accredited bodies also exist.
2. Two Certification Types
2.1 Construction Design Certification (工事設計認証)
For mass‑production products – reviewing whether the overall design meets Radio Law technical standards. Once certified, products can be mass‑produced and sold commercially long‑term. This is the path most manufacturers choose – certification covers the entire RF design.
2.2 Technical Standards Conformity Certification (技術基準適合証明)
A unit‑by‑unit verification model – mainly used for small‑volume sample imports and R&D prototypes – not suitable for ongoing commercial mass production. Each unit is independently certified – not recommended for volume projects.
3. Technical Standards and Appendix System
3.1 Notice No.88 – the master regulation
The unified technical standard for wireless equipment under Japan's Radio Law is MIC Notice No.88 – with different appendices covering frequency bands and equipment categories. Before starting certification, the first step is to confirm which appendix matches your product's RF specifications.
3.2 Main appendix applicability
For 2.4 GHz Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi devices, Appendix 43 applies, referencing ARIB STD‑T66. The requirement of at least 75 hopping channels applies only to Bluetooth – Wi‑Fi does not have this requirement. For 5 GHz Wi‑Fi, Appendix 45 applies, referencing ARIB STD‑T71, with DFS radar avoidance as a mandatory test item. Low‑power SRD remote controls fall under Appendix 49, while in‑vehicle wireless equipment is covered by Appendix 50. For the 6 GHz band, a separate technical notice was issued in 2026.
3.3 2.4 GHz Channel 14 – special note
Channel 14 (2471–2497 MHz) is a Japan‑only channel – supported only in 802.11b mode. If hardware can enable Ch14, Appendix 44 testing is required. Software‑only disabling carries risk – some labs check underlying hardware capability. Products using only Ch1–13 can skip this test.
4. 2026 Key Policy Changes
4.1 6 GHz Wi‑Fi – mandatory access
For the 5925–6425 MHz band, Giteki certification is required. In LPI mode, the EIRP limit is 23 dBm, and operation is restricted to indoor use only. In VLP mode, the EIRP limit is 14 dBm, and no AFC is required. Bands above 6425 MHz are not yet open for commercial use – Japan's AFC database is not yet operational.
4.2 USB‑C – clarification
The rumour that USB‑C devices require additional Giteki safety testing is false. Giteki only covers RF performance – electrical safety falls under PSE (Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law). The two are independent – no extra test items are required.
4.3 E‑commerce platform enforcement
Amazon Japan, Rakuten, and other platforms now require Giteki marks and certification numbers on product pages – missing information results in delisting.
Note: the Radio Law's maximum penalty of JPY 100 million is an administrative upper limit – not equivalent to platform violation penalties. Distinguish platform rules from legal penalties.
4.4 Old standard phase‑out
From April 2026, new applications against several old appendices are no longer accepted – all new projects must use the latest standard versions. Certificates issued during the transition remain valid – no proactive retesting is required. New submissions with old‑version reports after the cut‑off will be rejected.
5. Certificate Validity and Local Agent
5.1 Validity rules
The claim that "TELEC certificates expire after three years" is not accurate. As long as the product hardware, RF firmware, and applicable standards remain unchanged – the certificate remains valid long‑term. If the product changes or the appendix standard is updated – re‑assessment is required. Technical documents must be retained by the responsible party for at least 5 years.
5.2 Japan‑based responsible party
Overseas manufacturers cannot submit applications independently – they must appoint a Japan‑based legal entity as the responsible party – handling official inquiries, document retention, and market‑surveillance responses. Verify the agent's legal status and capacity to assume responsibility – avoid shell entities.
5.3 Document language requirements
Test reports may be in English – product manuals and nameplates must be in Japanese. Nameplates must display the Giteki mark, certification number, and manufacturer information. Many companies overlook Japanese nameplate requirements – causing customs clearance problems.
6. Testing and Sample Requirements
6.1 Standard test items
Testing covers frequency error, transmit power, occupied bandwidth, spurious emissions, and receiver spurious. For wearable devices used close to the body, SAR testing is required. For 5 GHz devices, DFS is mandatory – the device must detect radar signals and switch channels within 60 seconds. In‑vehicle products require additional temperature shock and vibration tests.
6.2 Sample preparation reference
Typically, 2 finished product samples and 1 fixed‑frequency sample are required. Fixed‑frequency samples are used for conducted and radiated tests – RF test ports must be accessible. Some products lack RF ports by default – confirm with R&D early and customise samples if needed – avoid test‑stage delays.
7. Common Misconceptions
7.1 CE reports cannot be directly reused
CE‑RED test data can serve as technical reference – but Japanese band limits, antenna requirements, and DFS rules differ from European standards. Relying solely on CE reports to skip testing will likely result in supplementary requests – extending timelines.
7.2 No mandatory annual self‑testing
Annual self‑testing is a recommended internal control – not a MIC statutory requirement. If the product and standards are unchanged – the certificate remains valid. However, retaining production‑consistency records helps with market‑surveillance responses.
7.3 Module certification reuse – conditions apply
If you use a Giteki‑certified module with a fixed non‑replaceable antenna and do not modify the RF peripheral circuit – the finished product can use difference testing – not full retesting. Modules with replaceable antennas cannot be reused.
8. Timeline and Cost Reference
8.1 Test timeline reference
For Bluetooth plus 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi products, testing and certification typically take 2–3 weeks. Adding 5 GHz Wi‑Fi with DFS extends the timeline to 3–4 weeks. Cellular devices require additional operator approval, taking 6–8 weeks overall. In‑vehicle products with environmental testing take 4–5 weeks. Document revisions will extend all timelines.
8.2 Cost breakdown
Costs include test fees, certification body service fees, and Japan local agent fees. Multi‑band devices cost more – in‑vehicle environmental testing is separately charged. Local agents typically use annual‑fee models – choose one familiar with Japan's Radio Law to reduce communication overhead.
8.3 What a certification body provides
A good certification body assists with appendix classification – avoiding test omissions. It liaises with Japan‑based responsible parties – handling filing and document retention. It also provides engineer guidance on antenna and circuit remediation when RF parameters fail.
For Japan Giteki/TELEC certification, contact BlueAsia at 13534225140 (King) or email king.guo@cblueasia.com.
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