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Selling wireless products into Japan, three terms cannot be avoided: TELEC, MIC, and GITEKI. Their relationship is straightforward — TELEC is the certification body, MIC is the regulatory authority, and GITEKI refers to the compliance mark. All three terms refer to the same certificate: Japan’s market access permit for radio equipment.

Without this certificate, products cannot be sold or used in Japan. Bluetooth earbuds, WiFi routers, smartwatches all fall under its scope.

01 What Is This Certification Officially Called

Japan’s certification for radio equipment is formally named Radio Equipment Type Approval. It is administered by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, abbreviated MIC. MIC does not issue certificates directly; it authorises designated registered certification bodies to carry out the work. TELEC (Telecommunications Engineering Center) is one of the most wellknown bodies, so the industry commonly calls it TELEC certification.

It is also referred to as GITEKI certification, because products that pass assessment must bear a mark known in Japanese as 技適マーク，romanised as GITEKI. This mark is widely recognised by Japanese consumers as proof of product compliance.

Its legal basis is Japan’s Radio Act. The Act clearly stipulates that designated radio equipment manufactured, sold or used in Japan must pass technical conformity certification. No certification means the product cannot be sold or deployed.

It is somewhat comparable to China’s SRRC certification, both being type approval schemes for wireless products, though their specific standards and test requirements differ.

One major distinction from certifications in many other countries: TELEC certificates have no expiry date. They are not valid for only 3 or 5 years. Provided the product design and relevant standards remain unchanged, the certificate stays valid. However, this permanent validity comes with prerequisites, explained later.

02 Which Products Are Regulated

Rule of thumb: Any product capable of transmitting or receiving wireless signals requires TELEC.

• Bluetooth products: Bluetooth earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth keyboards & mice, Bluetooth bands — one of the highest-volume categories for applications.
• WiFi products: Routers, wireless adapters, smart cameras, smart home gateways — covering both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Starting in 2026, the 6 GHz band (WiFi 6E/7) has been fully brought under regulation with stricter test requirements.
• Cellular communication products: Mobile phones, 4G/5G modules, mobile hotspots — these involve extensive test items and longer lead times.
• Other wireless devices: ZigBee, RFID, UWB, wireless microphones, twoway radios, remote controls — all included.

A common point of confusion: Do pure GPS trackers need TELEC? If the device only receives signals and does not transmit, TELEC is not required. But if the GPS tracker can both receive and transmit (e.g. with data upload function), TELEC becomes mandatory. The deciding factor is whether there is signal transmission, not the product name.

Another important clarification: If your product is a wireless terminal that can connect to public telecom networks, in addition to TELEC certification (under the Radio Act), JATE certification (under the Telecommunications Business Act) may also be required. Ordinary Bluetooth earbuds and WiFi routers that cannot make phone calls only need TELEC. Devices such as mobile phones that both emit radio signals and access telecom networks need both certifications.

03 Two Certification Schemes: How to Choose

TELEC certification has two schemes; choosing incorrectly wastes time and budget.

1. Test Certification: Individual testing for each unit, with a certificate issued per tested device. Suitable for smallbatch and custom products. Flexible yet costly, as every unit needs testing.
2. Type Certification: Samples are tested, and the approval covers all products of the same type. Massproduction manufacturers almost always select this option. Efficient, on condition that product design and manufacturing remain unchanged. Any antenna modification, RF chip replacement or transmit parameter adjustment triggers recertification.

Type Certification is the choice for most enterprises. If you are unsure, share your product details with the certification body for recommendation.

04 What Is Covered in Testing

Testing focuses primarily on RF performance to ensure products do not cause interference and stay within permitted frequency bands and power limits. Test items vary for different wireless technologies; the common tests are listed below:

• Frequency error: Verify transmission frequency accuracy and prevent drift into other frequency bands.
• Occupied bandwidth: Control the spectrum width occupied by the signal to avoid excessive spectrum usage.
• Spurious emissions: Unwanted radiation outside the operating band must be below limit values.
• Antenna power (EIRP): Equivalent isotropically radiated power must not exceed regulatory limits. For antennas with gain above 2.14 dBi, 3 dB beamwidth testing is additionally required.
• Receiver spurious emissions: No unintended radiation is allowed even in receiving mode.
• Duty cycle and occupancy time: Time characteristics of signal transmission; devices must not occupy channels continuously.
• Carrier sense: Required for WiFi products. The device must listen first before transmitting, checking whether a channel is occupied.

Technical standards are defined in Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No.18, while test methods follow MIC Ministry Notice No.88. These are separate documents: one sets technical requirements, the other defines test procedures. Do not mix them up.

Specific products refer to corresponding annex standards. For 2.4 GHz Bluetooth and WiFi, MIC Notice No.88 Annex 43 applies. One detail to note: If your hardware enables 2.4 GHz Channel 14 (2471–2497 MHz), additional testing under Annex 44 is compulsory. If the hardware only supports Channels 1–13 without Channel 14 enabled, this extra test is not needed. This is not a blanket rule and depends on the actual channel configuration of your product.

Another easily overlooked item: SAR/MPE radiation exposure assessment. For devices worn close to the human body — Bluetooth earbuds, smartwatches, wristbands — SAR testing has been mandatory since 2026. Devices placed far from the human body such as routers and gateways generally only need MPE farfield evaluation. Requirements depend on product usage scenarios.

New testing changes from 2026

• The 6 GHz band (WiFi 6E/7) is fully regulated, with tightened tests for conducted power, DFS dynamic frequency selection and antiinterference performance.
• 4 GHz products with hardware support for Channel 14 must complete Annex 44 supplementary testing.
• Starting February 2025, wireless products with USBC ports need additional electrical safety testing. Keep these updates in mind when developing new products.

05 Application Workflow

1. Document preparation: Prepare product manuals (Japanese or English), circuit diagrams, PCB layout drawings, block diagrams, BOM, antenna specification sheets or antenna test reports, manufacturer ISO9001 certificate, and label information (position and content). Incomplete documents lead to rejection and delays.
2. Sample submission: Normally 2 samples are required — one standard unit and one fixedfrequency sample for conducted RF testing. The fixedfrequency sample can lock onto a single frequency and transmit continuously. Singleband products can supply continuous transmission samples.
3. Lab testing and report issuance: Tests are performed at a MICrecognised laboratory. A test report will be issued upon passing.
4. Submission, review and certification: Submit the test report and technical documents to a Registered Certification Body (RCB). A certificate will be granted after successful review. The certificate carries a certification number which must be printed alongside the GITEKI mark on the product.
5. Marking and market launch: The GITEKI mark and certification number must be permanently printed on the product body. Since 2025, QR codes can replace part of the physical marking, but physical marking remains mandatory. Fully digital labels are not accepted. Marks must be durable and resistant to wear. For compact devices, marking may be placed in accessible hidden positions such as inside the battery compartment.

Firmware upgrades or feature optimisations that do not alter RF parameters do not require recertification. However, antenna replacement, RF circuit modification, transmit power or band adjustments require reevaluation or full recertification.

06 Common Misconceptions

If I use a precertified wireless module, does the whole product skip testing?

This is a widespread practical misunderstanding. Module certification alone does not guarantee wholeproduct compliance. Product housing material, internal PCB routing, antenna mounting position and line attenuation can all alter RF parameters. Module certification simplifies part of the documentation process, but wholeproduct RF testing cannot be bypassed.

“Permanent certificate validity” means no further maintenance?

No. Permanent validity is conditional: unchanged hardware, unchanged parameters and unchanged regulatory standards. Replacing RF chips or antennas invalidates the certificate. If Japan updates test standards, older certificates may require reassessment. Market surveillance failures can result in certificate revocation. Certificates need ongoing maintenance and cannot be ignored after issuance.

Is a Japanese local representative unnecessary?

Previously enforcement was looser, but 2026 new regulations explicitly require overseas companies to appoint a legitimate Japanese local entity as the responsible party. This entity receives official inquiries, retains technical files and responds to market inspections. Virtual or rented shell addresses are not permitted. Appointing a Japanese representative is now mandatory.

Can I submit documents in English only?

No. Technical documents are accepted only in English or Japanese. Chinese submissions are rejected directly. Japanese manuals must include Radio Act compliance statements and safety warnings. Machine translation or incomplete content will be sent back for revision. Do not cut corners during document preparation.

Will firmware upgrades invalidate the certification?

Not necessarily. Only changes to core RF parameters (transmit power, operating frequency bands, antenna configuration, hardware circuits) require supplementary filing or retesting. Routine feature improvements, system bug fixes and UI adjustments with no RF impact need no notification.

07 FAQ

How long does certification take?

Depends on product complexity. Simple shortrange wireless devices have shorter lead times. Dualband / triband WiFi and 5G cellular products take longer. Lead time shortens if tests pass on the first attempt; rectifications extend the timeline. Plan ahead for document preparation, testing and review. For a precise timeline, send your product specification sheet to a certification body for assessment.

Does the certificate need renewal?

No. TELEC certificates have no expiry date and require no annual audit or renewal fees. This holds only if the product remains unchanged and standards stay the same. If Japan updates technical standards, existing certificates may need reassessment. Keep track of official MIC announcements.

What is the certification cost?

Cost varies directly with product features. Bluetoothonly products differ from WiFi products; singlemode Bluetooth differs from dualmode Bluetooth, and 2.4 GHz differs from 5 GHz. More functions and frequency bands mean more test items and higher costs. Share your product specification sheet with professional engineers to obtain an accurate quotation.

Is TELEC required for Amazon Japan?

Yes. Amazon Japan explicitly requires wireless products to display the GITEKI certification number; noncompliant listings will be removed. This requirement also applies to other Japanese ecommerce platforms such as Rakuten, and offline channels will not accept uncertified goods.

What happens if I skip TELEC?

Shipments may be detained by customs, product listings will be forcibly removed by platforms, and fines may be imposed. Japan’s Radio Act sets clear penalties for violations, applicable to both individuals and enterprises. It is safer to complete certification before launch.