How to get a visa for Madagascar

Madagascar is an island located east of Mozambique and in south-east Africa. It is the largest island in Africa and has a unique wildlife ecosystem. An island that mixes Indonesian and African culture and which in recent years has become a reference point for tourists looking for idyllic beaches, unique national parks, and native animals exclusive to the area such as lemurs and the rare Malagasy duck. Madagascar is undoubtedly a country to be discovered.

Here you will find all the important advice on how to get a visa to Madagascar, including all the different visa types available, costs and more.

Do I need a visa to travel to Madagascar?

Yes. All people travelling to Madagascar for tourism or any other reason must learn to get visa to visit Madagascar. Thankfully, you can apply for the Madagascar visa easily and 100% online through Visagov.

Types of visas for Madagascar

Different visas are available for all persons who have obtained a landing permit to enter the country. There are different reasons and visas for this purpose, and how to get a visa for Madagascar will vary according to each type.

Short term visas

The short-stay visa will be granted to foreign nationals who wish to visit Madagascar for a maximum stay of 60 or 90 days, as appropriate.

Tourist visa for less than 60 days

This visa is requested for tourism purposes only, with validity for staying in the country for 15 to 60 days maximum and for a single entry. It is not possible to leave or enter Madagascar during the validity period.

Work visa under 90 days

This visa must be requested by people travelling to the country for commercial purposes. Professional meetings and visits for future business within the island are allowed. This visa does not allow for financial compensation for the work done. It has a maximum validity of 90 days.

Visa for a mission with a duration of fewer than 60 days

This visa must be applied for by those travelling to the country on humanitarian, voluntary or religious missions. The validity of the visa can be of a maximum of 60 days, and a single entry.

Internship visa with a duration of fewer than 90 days

This visa must be applied for by foreigners travelling to the country for work or a study placement. It is necessary to provide a letter of invitation from the company or institution that requests it. It is a single-entry visa.

Filming and recording visa

This visa must be applied for by all foreigners who are members of the media, such as journalists, actors or directors of any kind, from private or public media and who travel to the country to carry out filming or any work dedicated to communication. The validity of the visa will depend on the time needed for the shooting or for the work to be done. It is a single-entry visa.

Courtesy visa

This visa must be requested by people with a diplomatic passport, whether they are officials, administrative staff, technicians from diplomatic missions, civil servants or international representatives. The maximum validity of this visa is for 90 days in the country.

Long-stay visas

Long-term visas are for all foreigners who will travel to Madagascar for a justified reason for more than 90 days. Long-term visas are required to enter the country to fulfil the objectives needed, and once there, a temporary residence permit application can be made.

Work visa

This visa has a duration of 1 month. Before this deadline, the temporary residence must be applied for by attaching an employment contract signed by a Malagasy company or a foreign company that is going to work in the country.

Investor visas

This visa has a duration of 1 month, after which it is necessary to apply for residence in the country. It can be applied for by foreigners who are going to make investments in new companies or companies operating in Madagascar. Convertible visa for family reunification or marriage: this visa has a duration of 1 month, after which it is necessary to apply for residence in the country. The embassy will summon the applicants for a personal interview.

Study visa

This visa has a duration of 1 month, and after the time of validity, it is necessary to apply for a residence in the country, for the period of the studies. If you need more time than stipulated in your visa, you may extend the tourist visa, or process a long-term visa. You will need to go to the Malagasy consulate or the country's immigration offices to proceed with the application.

How do I get a visa for Madagascar?

You can apply for this visa at the embassy, on arrival or online. You can apply for the visa yourself through the government of Madagascar or through a specialised company such as www.visagov.com, which will assist and offer advice on how to get a visa to Madagascar.

To apply for one of the long-term visas, it is necessary to have a short-term visa first. Once you are in the country, you can apply for residence to be granted.

Who needs a visa for Madagascar?

All people with foreign nationality need to know how to get a visa for Madagascar. There is an exception for persons with Mauritanian nationality, provided that the stay is less than 30 days.

What are the requirements to apply for a visa to Madagascar?

The first step to know how to get a visa to Madagascar is to know the current requirements.

The short-term tourism visa online application simply requires you to have a passport with a validity of more than 6 months and a flight receipt showing the dates of entry and exit to Madagascar. For all other visas, or tourist visas processed from an embassy, the requirements are as follows:

Short-stay tourist visas

• Corresponding application form.
• Original passport and photocopy.
• 2 passport size photographs.
• Proof of the flight in and out of the country.
• Proof of payment of government fees.

Short stay visas for internships

• Corresponding application form.
• Original passport and photocopy.
• 2 passport size photographs.
• Internship agreement signed and stamped by the study centre in Spain (or in the country of origin), and the host centre in Madagascar.
• Copy of the flight ticket with the date of departure from the country.
• Proof of payment of government fees.

Short-stay visa for mission

• Signed and sealed letter of the mission to be carried out, issued by a company or institution.
• Signed and sealed certificate from a company in Madagascar.
• Corresponding application form.
• Original passport and photocopy.
• 2 passport size photographs.
• Proof of payment of government fees.

Long-stay visas for paid workers

• Corresponding application form.
• Passport.
• Certificate of a criminal record.
• Certificate of change of residence.
• Employment contract issued by the company that hires you.
• Extract from the register of commerce and companies (RCS) and status of the contracting company.
• Employment authorisation issued by the Ministry of Public Function EDBM.
• Photocopy of the passport of the person in charge of the contracting company.
• Copy of the return ticket.
• Proof of payment of fees.

Long-stay visa for studies

• Corresponding application form.
• Passport.
• 2 recent photographs.
• Letter of invitation from the university or college of Madagascar, inviting the person to study in the country.
• Return ticket.

Visa for filming in Madagascar

• Corresponding application form.
• Copy of passport.
• 2 recent photographs.
• Copy of the entry and exit ticket of the country.
• Authorisation to record in Madagascar issued by OMACI.
• Proof of payment of government fees for the visa.

Long-stay visa for investors

• Corresponding application form.
• Passport.
• Statute of the company.
• Certificate of identification of the company.
• Company's tax identification certificate.
• Declaration of the existence of the company EDBM.
• Copy of the Register of Commerce and Companies (RCS) and the Statute of the contracting company.
• Work permit issued by the Ministry of Public Function before EDBM.
• Commercial and Companies Register of the company.
• Bank certificate of the company issued by a bank in Madagascar.
• Certificate of a criminal record of fewer than 3 months.
• Certificate of change of residence.
• Copy of the return ticket.

Convertible visas for family reunification and marriage

• Passport.
• 2 recent photographs.
• Corresponding application form.
• Certificate of registration of the husband/wife in Madagascar.
• Certificate of marriage
• Family book.
• Certificate of the criminal record for the last 3 months.

Can the Madagascar visa be changed once it has been processed?

No, it is not possible to change the Madagascar visa once it has been processed. If upon arrival in the country, any information is not correct, the immigration authorities will have you fill out a new form and pay the corresponding government fees.

How much does a visa to Madagascar cost?

• The 15-day tourist visa costs 10 euros.
• The 30-day tourist visa costs 37 euros.
• The 45-day tourist visa costs 45 euros.

How far in advance do I need to apply for a Madagascar visa?

Once you know everything about how to get a visa to Madagascar, you're ready to apply. We recommend you to apply for a Madagascar visa 15 days before your trip.

What are the entry borders to Madagascar?

Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean, so you will need to reach the country by sea or air, with the most common route being the Mozambique Channel. The country has 11 airports. The country's largest international airport and most used by tourists is Antananarivo Airport (TNR).

Madagascar has 4 ports for the disembarkation of cruise ships or recreational boats, with the 2 most used for this purpose being the Port of Nosy and the Port of Anakao.