Madagascar Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most nationalities need a Tourist ETA or tourist visa to visit Madagascar for tourism, business, or family visits. All travelers should present an ETA at the eVisa counters upon arrival. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Madagascar visa at a glance
- Government fee
- Shown at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- Typically a few days — confirm with the Embassy of Madagascar
- Validity / stay
- Varies by visa type
- Visa types
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Do you need a visa for Madagascar?
Some nationalities can enter Madagascar visa-free for short stays under a bilateral agreement. Confirm the current visa-exemption list for your nationality with the Embassy of Madagascar before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you need a visa.
Madagascar visa types
- Tourist ETA
- Tourism, leisure, sightseeing — Varies
- Tourist visa
- Tourism, leisure, family visits — Varies
- Business visa
- Meetings, business opportunities — Varies
- Transit E-visa
- Passing through Madagascar to a third country — Per the transit rules
- Student visa
- Study purposes — Varies
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Madagascar depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-required nationalities need a Tourist ETA or tourist visa for Madagascar.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Madagascar visa-free under bilateral agreements — confirm with the Embassy of Madagascar.
Documents required for a Madagascar visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportTourist ETA / Tourist visa · 6+ months validity beyond intended departure, 2+ blank visa pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formTourist ETA / Tourist visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photo (white background, taken within 6 months)Tourist ETA / Tourist visa · Recent passport photo (white background, taken within 6 months).
- ItineraryTourist ETA / Tourist visa · copy of round-trip tickets with applicant's name clearly stated.
- Proof of accommodation for the duration of the tripTourist ETA / Tourist visa · Proof of accommodation for the duration of the trip.
- Valid passportBusiness visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formBusiness visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoBusiness visa · Recent passport photo.
- Invitation letter from host in MadagascarBusiness visa · Invitation letter from host in Madagascar.
- Business registration certificate or certificate of incorporation in MadagascarBusiness visa · Business registration certificate or certificate of incorporation in Madagascar.
- Valid passportStudent visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formStudent visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoStudent visa · Recent passport photo.
- Enrollment letter from university/college/school in MadagascarStudent visa · Enrollment letter from university/college/school in Madagascar.
- Covering letter from the host in MadagascarStudent visa · Covering letter from the host in Madagascar.
Madagascar visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- Shown at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Varies by visa type
- Official processing
- Typically a few days — confirm with the Embassy of Madagascar
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Madagascar visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check with the Embassy of Madagascar for your nationality. If exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of Madagascar or its official online portal. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Madagascar visa above.
Submit your application
online where available, or in person at the embassy or authorized visa center. Pay the government visa fee. Note that applications must be submitted at the latest 7 days before departure.
Wait for processing
official processing is typically a few days. Apply at least 7–10 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Present your ETA at the eVisa counters upon arrival in Madagascar
Present your ETA at the eVisa counters upon arrival in Madagascar.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Madagascar's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Madagascar is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or ETA.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Madagascar visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Madagascar visa questions, answered.
More for your Madagascar trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.