Madagascar visa options for United Kingdom passport holders

Visa types & longer-stay routes for Madagascar

Rules apply to nearly all foreign nationals; visa-on-arrival and eVisa are open to citizens of every country except Burundi and Palestine, with some embassy-only routes for long stays.

• Most nomadsTourist

  Tourist Visa (eVisa / Visa on Arrival)

  Up to 90 days (tiers of 15 / 30 / 60 / 90 days)

  Insurance

  Requiredno insurance is legally required for entry per sources found, but travel/health cover is strongly advised given limited local medical facilities.

  Good for

  Holidaymakers and other short-term visitors not working or studying.

  Requirement

  Passport valid 6+ months with blank pages, onward/return ticket and proof of accommodation; yellow-fever certificate only if arriving from an endemic area. Stays of 15 days or less are exempt from the visa fee but a ~EUR10 tourist tax applies; longer stays cost roughly EUR35-EUR50 (verify).

• Business

  Short-Stay Business Visa (eVisa / VOA)

  Up to 90 days (same 15/30/60/90-day tiers as the tourist visa)

  Insurance

  Recommendednot mandated by entry rules found, but business travel/health cover is advisable.

  Good for

  Travelers attending meetings, conferences or short business visits (no paid local employment).

  Requirement

  Same short-stay eVisa/VOA framework as tourism; does NOT authorize paid work in Madagascar. Carry an invitation or business purpose documentation. Fees mirror the tourist tiers (verify).

• Work

  Work Visa & Work Permit

  Tied to the employment contract / residence card (long-stay, multi-year and renewable)

  Insurance

  Requireda medical exam is required for the permit, but no separate health-insurance mandate was found; employer or private cover advised.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals employed by a Madagascar-based employer.

  Requirement

  Employer-sponsored: requires a long-stay (transformable) visa plus a work permit from the Ministry of Public Service & Labour and a residence card. Employer must justify hiring a foreigner (labour-market test); applicant needs a compliant employment contract, qualifications, home-country police clearance and a medical examination. Processing takes several weeks to months (verify fees).

• Study

  Student Visa (Long-Stay)

  Duration of studies (long-stay / residence basis, renewable)

  Insurance

  Requirednot stated as mandatory in sources found, but student health cover is strongly advised.

  Good for

  Foreign students enrolled at a Malagasy university or institution.

  Requirement

  Arranged via a Malagasy embassy/consulate before travel as a transformable long-stay visa: enrollment/acceptance confirmation, proof of financial support, diploma copy and institutional letter; convert to a residence card after arrival (verify fees).

• Residence

  Transformable / Long-Stay Visa

  Initial 1-month visa, then convertible to a long-stay visa and multi-year residence

  Insurance

  Recommendedno explicit insurance mandate found, but long-term health cover is strongly advised.

  Good for

  Foreigners intending to settle, work, study, invest or retire in Madagascar for more than 3 months.

  Requirement

  Obtain a one-month 'visa transformable' from a Malagasy embassy/consulate BEFORE travel, then convert it within 30 days of arrival via the Ministry of the Interior (Immigration Service) / EDBM one-stop-shop. Category-specific documents (contract, proof of funds, criminal record) apply. Fees vary by category (verify).

• Residence

  Residence Permit (Carte de Résident) - incl. Investor & Retirement

  Multi-year residence card, renewable; exempts holder from entry-visa obligation

  Insurance

  Recommendedno insurance requirement found in sources; comprehensive private health cover is advisable for residents.

  Good for

  Long-term residents: investors/business founders, expatriate workers, students, family-reunification, retirees, researchers and missionaries.

  Requirement

  Separate application from the long-stay visa, processed through the Ministry of the Interior (and EDBM for investors); includes a 'morality'/background investigation, identity verification, proof of funds and criminal-record clearance. Category-specific documents apply (verify fees).

• Transit

  Transit (Airport Transit)

  Around 24 hours, remaining in the international transit area

  Insurance

  OptionalNot required - short airside transit; insurance not relevant to entry, though general travel cover is sensible.

  Good for

  Travelers connecting through Madagascar to a third country.

  Requirement

  Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within ~24 hours and staying airside; does not apply to refugees/stateless persons. Verify current rules with the airline/airport before travel.

Figures are approximate and change frequently; always confirm current fees, durations and documents on the official portal evisamada.gov.mg or a Malagasy embassy. Last checked: 2026-06.

Last verified June 2026

United Kingdom → Madagascar: frequently asked

Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit Madagascar?

Visa on arrival. Get the visa at the border on entry. Always confirm with the official source before booking.

Can a United Kingdom passport holder live or work long-term in Madagascar?

Yes, via a long-stay visa. Madagascar has 7 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.

Do I need travel insurance for Madagascar?

Entry to Madagascar never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Madagascar visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.