Japan / Radio Certification
MIC / TELEC — Japan's radio-type certification
The mark a radio-transmitting product needs before it can legally be sold — or even operated — in Japan. Distinct from Japan's electrical-safety mark, PSE, which covers a different set of products and hazards.
Last updated 9 September 2026
What it actually is
MIC is the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the government body with oversight of Japan's radio spectrum. TELEC (the Telecom Engineering Center) is the registered certification body that actually tests equipment against the technical standard and issues the certificate. In practice, "getting MIC/TELEC" means having a radio product tested and certified by TELEC (or another MIC-registered body) against Japan's Radio Law requirements.
The certification is specific to the radio module and its intended frequency bands and power levels — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, and other RF technologies each have their own technical requirements under the same regulatory framework.
What needs it
Any product that intentionally transmits radio-frequency energy and will be sold, imported, or even just operated in Japan. This includes finished consumer products and, in some cases, the radio module itself if it's being certified separately from the end product it ships in.
How it fits with other markets
MIC/TELEC is a standalone requirement — it doesn't automatically follow from FCC or CE radio approval, even though the underlying RF hardware may be identical. Test data and technical documentation can sometimes be reused to shorten the process, but the certification itself has to be obtained separately for the Japanese market.
Questions
What's the difference between MIC/TELEC and PSE?
MIC/TELEC covers radio-transmitting equipment under Japan's Radio Law. PSE (Product Safety Electrical Appliance and Material) is a separate mark covering electrical safety for a defined list of product categories under a different law. A radio-enabled electronic product can need both, as two independent certifications.
Does FCC or CE certification cover Japan too?
No. MIC/TELEC is a separate national certification specific to Japan's Radio Law. Existing FCC or CE radio test data can sometimes support the application, but the certificate itself has to be obtained through a MIC-registered body such as TELEC.
How is this priced and scoped?
It depends on the radio technologies in the product and whether usable test data already exists from another market. Scoped properly on a call once we know the product's radio functions and current certification status.