Japan
Zambia passportEdit check
Visa, stay set by the visa
Before you travel: you need a visa from an embassy or consulate.
How long you may stay is set by your visa.
Entry and stay only. What this covers
Source & evidence Read the original words
Official wording
本邦に上陸しようとする外国人（乗員を除く。以下この節において同じ。）は、有効な旅券で日本国領事官等の査証を受けたものを所持しなければならない。…ただし、国際約束若しくは日本国政府が外国政府に対して行つた通告により日本国領事官等の査証を必要としないこととされている外国人の旅券、第二十六条第一項の規定により再入国の許可を受けている者（第二十六条の二第一項又は第二十六条の三第一項の規定により再入国の許可を受けたものとみなされる者を含む。以下同じ。）の旅券又は第六十一条の二の十五第一項の規定により難民旅行証明書の交付を受けている者の当該証明書には、日本国領事官等の査証を要しない。
Aevamo’s reading
The Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 6(1), is the provision that imposes the requirement on an alien landing in Japan to hold a valid passport bearing a Japanese consular visa and creates the exemption for passports covered by an international agreement or a notification to foreign governments. The MOFA list (mofa-novisa) records which countries the notification-based exemption currently covers; it reports the exemption rather than creating the obligation.
Article 6(1) requires every alien landing in Japan to hold a valid passport bearing a consular visa, and the proviso exempts only passports covered by an international agreement or notification (and re-entry permit and refugee travel certificate holders). None of the never-listed issuers in this row appears in the MOFA's 74-country visa-exemption list, and each conditional-listed issuer appears only under a condition (passport feature or prior registration); an issuer in either situation that is not actually covered by a live exemption must obtain a visa in advance.
Source details
What this answer covers Limits & assumptions
Work and residence rights are separate from this check. This is the entry rule and the length of stay the instrument grants. It is not a decision about you: the officer at the border decides admission, and we do not evaluate the purpose of your trip, your passport's remaining validity, an onward ticket, funds, insurance or health requirements.
Informational planning, not legal or immigration advice. The source is linked so you can check our reading.