Madagascar:Visa Requirements

MadagascarLearn the visa requirements for this country. Last check:Last update:

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Madagascar Visa Requirements Map

Madagascar: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • Persons holding a valid Madagascar passport or a valid Madagascar residence card are not required to obtain an entry visa. A foreign traveler entering with a residence card must carry the valid residence card and the travel document associated with the card.
  • The minimum validity period, number of blank pages, machine-readable or biometric passport requirement that a foreign traveler's passport must have for visa-free entry is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • A central checklist covering all visa-free entries for a return ticket, accommodation proof, financial sufficiency, bank statement, travel health insurance, and additional documents for minor travelers has not been published.

E-Visa Application Requirements

  • The electronic visa system can only be used for tourist travel. The e-visa is single-entry. The applicant must create an online account; record their name, personal email address and password, verify their account, and fill out the electronic form containing personal information and travel details. The planned arrival date and requested duration of stay are reported in the application.
  • Before starting the application, a valid passport, a credit card suitable for payment, an accessible email address, and a usable phone number must be prepared. Payment is made online by credit card.
  • The application can be made no earlier than six months and no later than one week before the planned travel date. The electronic travel authorization is issued no later than 72 hours after verification of the online registration. The issued document must be printed or stored on a smartphone and shown to officers at the e-visa checkpoint upon arrival in Madagascar.
  • The official portal's fee page shows 35 USD or 30 EUR for applications of 1–15 days, 41 USD or 35 EUR for 16–30 days, 47 USD or 40 EUR for 31–60 days, and 59 USD or 50 EUR for 61–90 days. Fee exemptions may apply for persons with diplomatic status and employees of certain organizations.
  • The portal's description and frequently asked questions sections define the maximum duration of the tourist e-visa as 60 days. It is indicated that those wishing to stay longer can extend their total stay up to 90 days by applying at the Immigration Office. However, since a fee bracket for 61–90 days is also shown on the same portal, the current availability of a direct e-visa application for longer than 60 days should be verified on the application screen.
  • The visa start date is the date of entry reported for Madagascar. Information can be changed in the system before the application is submitted. Errors noticed after submission must be corrected via the platform's communication channel, specifying the application number.
  • The minimum passport validity period, number of blank pages, passport pages to be uploaded, number of photos, photo size, background color, and file format are not definitively specified on the central official e-visa page.
  • A publicly available universal e-visa checklist for hotel reservation, return ticket, bank statement, minimum financial amount, employment or student certificate, invitation letter, travel itinerary, and health insurance has not been published. The personalized document screen can only be viewed after the application account and travel details are completed.
  • The electronic authorization alone does not constitute an unconditional right of entry at the border. The traveler must present the passport used in the application and the electronic authorization at entry control.

Visa on Arrival Requirements

  • A tourist short-stay visa application can be made at e-visa counters upon arrival in Madagascar. The visa issued on arrival is for tourist purposes and requires the completion of passport control and visa processing at entry.
  • The traveler must present a valid passport, report the requested duration of stay, and pay the applicable visa fee. The online e-visa portal states that visa-on-arrival fees are the same as the fees applied in online applications.
  • It is indicated that for diplomats and missionaries with a mission order, the application can be made upon arrival. Diplomatic status or the purpose of the mission must be evidenced by a mission order or related official document. The scope of the document list may vary according to the traveler's status.
  • An up-to-date central list covering all airports, ports, and land border crossings where visa-on-arrival processing can be done has not been published. The process can only be completed at authorized entry points that have e-visa or immigration counters.
  • The minimum passport validity period, number of blank pages, photo requirement, cash or card payment options, official processing time, accommodation proof, return ticket, financial sufficiency, and health insurance are not definitively specified on the central official visa-on-arrival page.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • Madagascar's foreign missions may issue non-immigrant visas of up to 90 days. These visas do not confer the right to paid employment and cannot be converted into a long-term immigrant visa in Madagascar. The application is made to the competent Madagascar embassy or consulate.
  • For a non-immigrant visa application, two identity photos, a completed application form, a round-trip ticket, a copy of the passport, the original passport, and the visa fee must be submitted. The passport must be valid for more than six months. The size, background color, and date of taking of the photos are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • In the application form, surname, previous surname, given name, date and place of birth, sex, marital status, current and previous nationality, address, email, telephone, occupation, employer, purpose of travel, address in Madagascar, passport number, date of issue and expiry, requested number of entries, and entry and exit dates may be requested. The form must be dated and signed.
  • Acceptable travel documents are shown in the application form as ordinary passport, diplomatic passport, service passport, official passport, special passport, and other travel document. Acceptance of the document and whether additional approval is needed are determined according to the jurisdiction of the mission applied to.
  • A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers who have been in an area with a risk of yellow fever within the six days before travel. No other vaccination or general health certificate requirement applicable to all applicants is specified in the central official source.
  • Persons applying for medical treatment must submit a health report and an acceptance letter from a hospital or health institution. For scientific research, prior authorization from the relevant research, higher education, or environmental authority is required. For film shooting, permission from the information and culture authorities is required.
  • For travel by private vessel, the vessel's place of departure, itinerary, crew, any passengers, and the exact period of entry and stay in Madagascar's maritime area must be reported. If stopping outside the main ports, permission from the nearest maritime authority must be obtained. For cruise applications, a complete list of passengers and crew including their nationality, passport number, and valid passport dates must be submitted by the ship's captain.
  • For commercial purpose applications, a letter from the foreign company and the company file are required. The relevant mission may request a company registry, activity certificate, assignment letter, or additional corporate documents.
  • A 72-hour boarding permit or entry visa may be issued for persons intending to settle in Madagascar. This document is used to obtain a visa that can be converted into a one-month and long-term stay. In countries where a Madagascar mission exists, the application must be made to the relevant mission.
  • For a convertible visa application, two identity photos, a reasoned application petition, a criminal record certificate not older than six months from its date of issue, a copy of a passport valid for more than six months, an information form, and an accommodation document must be submitted. The criminal record certificate must be translated into French or English.
  • Accommodation can be evidenced by a certified signed document of hosting and assuming expenses, or by a lease contract. A copy of the national identity card or residence card of the inviting or accommodation-providing person, along with a certificate of residence, must be submitted.
  • Investors must submit the company's articles of association, certificate of incorporation or activity, statistical card, trade registry registration, tax identification card or professional card, a bank letter from the company, and a tax payment certificate. Company managers must also submit a registered decision or minutes showing their appointment as manager or company representative.
  • From those applying for work purposes, a work contract approved by the competent employment authority, a document showing that a work permit application has been made, an employment certificate confirmed by the employer, the company's trade registry, tax identification, statistical card, and a copy of the company manager's identity or residence card are required.
  • For family reunification, a birth certificate for a child under 21 years of age and a marriage certificate for the spouse must be submitted. Students must submit a diploma, registration certificate, and scholarship certificate or proof of financial resources. Retirees must submit a bank letter confirming regular deposits into their bank accounts, along with a retirement or pension certificate.
  • Religious workers are required to present a document from their affiliated organization, a certificate of accommodation and assumption of expenses issued by a legally established religious organization in Madagascar, and the organization's activity certificate. Scientific researchers are required to present a research permit from the competent ministry.
  • Persons legally residing in a country where Madagascar has no foreign mission and who are to be assigned to Madagascar can submit a boarding permit application online. The processing time for a complete file is 72 hours; for an incomplete file, it is an additional 72 hours. The boarding permit is issued electronically by email and is free of charge. The personalized document list is only displayed during the online application.
  • Applications for special entry, diplomatic, and courtesy visas are submitted online. The indicated processing time for complete files is 72 hours; for incomplete files, it is an additional 72 hours, and these processes are free of charge. The competent authority may request additional documents by email; in certain applications, original documents are submitted to the relevant unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Madagascar.
  • A person arriving with a convertible visa must, within 72 hours of arrival in the country, submit the originals of their documents to the specified acceptance point of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and request an appointment for fingerprinting. Additional documents may be requested by email.
  • For the convertible visa process, 70,000 Madagascar ariary is charged from students and religious missionaries; 140,000 Madagascar ariary is charged from investors, employees, secular missionaries, family reunification applicants, and retirees. Payment is made at the Tax Center of the Antananarivo First Instance Court.
  • The central fee, payment method, and processing time for a short-stay consular visa are not definitively specified in the central official source. Fees and payment methods vary according to the mission applied to. For example, the Paris mission's published tourist short-stay visa list specifies 27 EUR for 0–30 days, 33 EUR for 31–60 days, and 46 EUR for 61–90 days; payment is accepted by check or cash at the mission's accounting office. These amounts are only the local practice of the relevant mission.
  • The Paris mission's tourist application list requires a completed, dated, and signed form, a round-trip reservation showing flight details, a copy of the passport bio page, one recent photo, and a passport valid for more than six months after the return date with at least two blank pages. Since the central Ministry of Foreign Affairs list requires two photos, the number of photos and the blank page requirement should be verified according to the current checklist of the mission applied to.
  • The short-stay application form for minors must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. The form may request the information and national identity number of the person exercising parental authority or the guardian. A single central list applicable to all missions for a birth certificate, parental consent, and custody document has not been published.
  • The period to be covered by the bank statement, the minimum amount that must be in the applicant's account, the mandatory requirement for travel health insurance, and the minimum coverage amount are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The competent mission or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may, during the examination of the file, request additional documents, original documents, explanations, an interview, or a security review. Incomplete files may not be processed.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • In the short-stay and non-convertible visa application form, transit can be selected as a separate travel type. The applicant must mark the transit option on the form; must report the requested number of entries, the dates of entry to and exit from Madagascar, and the transit duration.
  • On the form, ordinary, diplomatic, service, official, or special passport, as well as other travel documents, can be selected. The document number, date of issue, expiration date, and issuing authority must be written.
  • The applicant's name, birth details, marital status, contact information, residential address, occupation, employer, purpose of travel, address in Madagascar, and travel dates must be reported. The form must be dated and signed. The form for minors is signed by a parent or legal guardian.
  • Transit visa is subject to the non-immigrant short-stay visa procedure. Two identity photos, a completed form, a travel ticket, a copy of the passport, the original passport valid for more than six months, and the visa fee must be submitted. If the traveler has been in an area with a risk of yellow fever within the previous six days, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is also required.
  • There is no up-to-date central document list stating that a visa or residence permit for the final destination country, onward flight ticket, transit accommodation document, and detailed itinerary are mandatory for all applicants. The relevant mission may request these documents according to the travel itinerary.
  • The maximum duration of stay, central fee, payment method, and official processing time for a transit visa are not definitively specified in the central official source. The number of entries may be requested as single, double, or multiple; the final decision is made by the competent mission.
Population
33,522,052(2026 est.)
Official language
Malagasy, French
Government type
Semi-presidential republic
Continent
Africa
Capital
Antananarivo
Currency
Malagasy ariary
Area
587,295 km²
Phone code
+261

Madagascar: Key Destinations

Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, is the primary arrival point via Ivato International Airport. The city serves as the main gateway for travelers exploring the island's diverse regions.

Known for its unique biodiversity, Madagascar offers attractions like the baobab alleys of Morondava and the pristine beaches of Nosy Be. The island's distinct culture blends African, Asian, and European influences.

Travelers often begin in Antananarivo and fly or drive to secondary cities such as Antsiranana or Toliara. Domestic flights connect major destinations, while roads provide access to more remote areas.