Madagascar is the largest island in the Indian Ocean next to Africa and is famous for many things; nature, rainforest, biodiversity, food, and many more. To visit this amazing small country, you need a Madagascar visa appropriate for the purpose of your visit.
This guideline introduces Madagascar visa requirements, the application process, and different types of Madagascar visas and answers the question of whether you need a visa or not.
Madagascar is the biggest island in the Indian Ocean and is famous for its unique wildlife and biodiversity. With amazing views of nature, white sand beaches, stunning rainforests, and delicious local food, it’s an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. But you need a Madagascar eVisa to visit the country no matter your nationality.
Do you need a Madagascar visa?
When you want to visit a Madagascar visa, you need an appropriate visa for the purpose of your visit. Everyone who wants to visit the country should apply for a visa.
If you want to visit Madagascar for a short time, you need to apply for Madagascar eVisa. The application process is online, and you need to apply to the official website. Under eVisa, you can stay in the country for 30, 60, or 90 days. The validity of the visa is six months, but the duration of stay is up to several factors.
In case your eVisa is not approved, you need to visit the embassy and apply to them to receive a visitor visa.
If you need to stay in Madagascar for the long term, you have to apply for the appropriate visa, which could be to work or study.
Madagascar visa requirements
The list of requirements for a Madagascar visa is different and is up to the visa you apply for. Also, the officials could ask for further requirements that you have to obey and submit.
Also, the list of supporting documents for Madagascar eVisa is different than the others. To know each and every supporting document for a Madagascar visa, look at the related article from the left sidebar, but a common list is as follows:
- Application form
- Passport
- Photo
- Payment of the visa fees
- Cover letter
- Vaccination certificate
- Clean record certificate
- PCR test
- Proof to have enough funds
- Accommodation proof
- Language proficiency certificate
- Insurance certificate
- Acceptance letter (from university)
- Previous study Certificate
- CV/Resume
- A copy of previous visas (if applicable)
Note: the provided list is not complete, and the officials could require further documents. The details and explanations required for each document are provided in the detailed articles for the visa.
Madagascar visa application process
The application process for each Madagascar visa is different, and the applicant needs to go through a different procedure. Also, they might face various stages based on their nationality and official decisions. Remember that the application process for Madagascar eVisa is completely online, and you do not have to visit the embassy or consulate. But a general application process is as follows:
Step 1. Which Madagascar visa are you eligible for?
The first step for you is to find out which Madagascar visa is appropriate for you. The type of visa is up to the duration of stay and the purpose of your visit.
As explained, if you want to visit the country for up to 90 days, you can apply for Madagascar eVisa, which you can apply online and do not have to visit the embassy.
If you should stay longer, you need a distinct type of visa, which could be a student visa or work visa.
Step 2. Receiving the required certificates and requirements
You might have to receive a certificate from the Madagascar officials so that you can apply for the visa. For instance, It could be a work permit or acceptance letter. You have to apply to the university and receive the acceptance letter on your own, but for a work visa, an employer needs to apply inside the country.
When you have the document, you can gather the other requirements and apply for a visa from your home country.
Often you might not need a certificate or document. For instance, you do not need any piece of documents from inside the country to apply for an eVisa. If the officials do not issue the eVisa, you have to visit the embassy and apply to them.
Step 3. Gather supporting documents
There is a list of requirements for each Madagascar visa you need to submit to the officials. You have to gather all of them and be fussy about the details as the officials are strict. As explained in the previous stage, you might have to collect some documents from inside the country, such as a work permit and acceptance letter.
Step 4. Schedule and attend visa meeting
Now you need to schedule a visa meeting with the Madagascar embassy or consulate in your home country. When you collect requirements, visit the embassy and submit the documents. There is a fee for each visa that you have to pay. Bring enough money to the embassy so you pay the fee, and the way the officials receive the pay is up to them.
The visa officer also asks questions about the purpose of your visit and your background. You need to give true and honest answers.
Step 5. Moving to Madagascar and applying for a residence permit
It takes some time for the embassy to work on the visa and decide whether to issue it or not. The processing time is different and is up to several factors:
- The embassy workload
- The time of the year you apply
- Your nationality
- The special case of yours
When you receive the visa, you can move to Madagascar. Getting to the country, you need to apply for a residence permit from the immigration officials.
Note: you might have to go through a different procedure in one or two of the above stages by your case, visa, or nationality.
Madagascar visa types
The types of Madagascar visas are as follows:
eVisa
The Madagascar government introduced the eVisa platform in 2019 to make visiting the country easier for tourists and visitors. The application process is wholly online, and you do not have to visit the embassy, consulate, or a visa center. But you need a valid passport, enough funds, and a reason to visit the country.
The eVisa will be sent to your email address after applying in a few days, and you can stay in the country for 30, 60, or 90 days. The eVisa is valid for six months, and after it expires, you need to apply for a new one.
To find out more about the Madagascar eVisa, go through the related article from the left sidebar.
Tourist visa
If you apply for a Madagascar eVisa and the officials reject your application, you need to apply for a tourist visa. You need to visit the local Madagascar embassy or consulate in your home country and submit the supporting documents, then pay the fees. They will analyze your case and decide whether to grant a visa or not.
Business visa
If you want to develop business ties with a company in Madagascar and need to visit the country, you need a business visa.
You can apply for Madagascar eVisa and provide the purpose of your visit as a business. If you provide proof for your trip, you can receive the eVisa and use it to visit the country for business reasons.
You also have the option of applying for a business visa on arrival. You can move to Madagascar and submit the evidence that you want to visit the country for business to the immigration officials at the airport.
In case your eVisa application has been rejected, you need to apply to the Madagascar embassy or consulate to apply for a business visa.
Work visa
People who want to work in Madagascar need a visa and work permit from the authorities. The applicants need to search for job opportunities and find an employer who is willing to hire them. The offer should lead to a work contract.
Then the employer applies for a work permit from the officials. If they accept it, the employer and employee sign an employment agreement, and the employee can apply for a visa from his/her home country.
Bear in mind that the employer completes half of the way, so he and the employee need to be in constant contact, exchange documents, and help.
To know every detail about the Madagascar work visa, requirements and application process, look at the left sidebar and read the entire article.
Studnet visa
When you want to continue your education in Madagascar, you need a student visa and the duration of your stay does not matter. Anyone who wants to study in Madagascar needs a student visa.
To apply for the visa, you need an acceptance letter from a university or education center in the country. You have to fulfill the requirements and get the letter as applying without the official letter is impossible.
Besides the letter, having enough funds to cover the expenses, a medical certificate indicating the applicant is healthy, and proof of returning to the home country is required to apply for the visa.
The applicant needs to submit all the requirements for a Madagascar student visa to the embassy and pass an interview to apply for the visa.
To learn more details about the Madagascar student visa, look at the prepared article from the left sidebar.
Let’s sum up…
This article provided a general guideline for Madagascar visas, the application process, requirements, and different types of visas.
You can pick the visa that suits the purpose of your visit from this article and find the details by going through its article from the left sidebar.
If you have questions regarding Madagascar visas, write them down in the comment section below.
To know about other countries’ visas, go through the top menu.