Going to à Madagascar: Formalities and administrative steps

Organize your stay à Madagascar

Money Money à Madagascar

Since 2003, the Ariary (MGA, noted Ar in the guide) has been the official currency of Madagascar, replacing the Malagasy Franc (FMG). In May 2025, €1 was worth around 5,080 Ar.

However, in some remote areas, the rural population still thinks in terms of the Malagasy franc, and it's common to be quoted a price in FMG (1,000 Ar = 5,000 FMG). Beware of confusion: if someone tells you "it costs 10,000", they may be talking about 10,000 FMG and therefore 2,000 Ar, not 10,000 Ar (common for cabs, porters, etc.).

Please note that some "old" foreign banknotes are not accepted; banknotes issued before 2013 are refused or, at best, taken at an exchange rate below the current rate. ATMs are only available in major cities - so take precautions before leaving. Exchange is not always easy in banks, but it is often possible to exchange money at a reasonable rate in hotels. Finally, it is sometimes possible to make certain purchases directly in euros

Budget & Tips Budget & Tips à Madagascar

Madagascar may be a country where the cost of living is low, but you often spend a lot of money very quickly. Indeed, while hotels and food are very reasonably priced, you have to add transportation (very expensive planes, expensive car rentals, tours and tips, extras, etc.). National park entrance fees, for example, should be factored into the budget (prices can be high, especially as the services of local guides are often compulsory and extra).

Small budgets: allow between 60,000 and 100,000 Ar (based on two people) for accommodation, and between 10,000 and 20,000 Ar for a meal.

Medium budgets: expect to pay between 100,000 and 250,000 Ar for accommodation (based on two people), and between 15,000 and 30,000 Ar for a meal (drinks not included).

Comfortable budgets: over 250,000 Ar for accommodation, at least 45,000 Ar per meal.

Since its launch in 2010 by operator Telma (now Yas), MVola, Madagascar's first mobile money service, has gone from strength to strength, becoming the most secure means of payment in the daily lives of Malagasy people. Practical and accessible to all (even without a bank account), this service enables you to transfer money from your cell phone, withdraw money, receive money from abroad via Western Union, pay your bills and make purchases, and much more. Registration is simple. It's a practical way to avoid carrying too much cash, and to travel with complete peace of mind, since all transactions are secure.

Passport and visas Passport and visas à Madagascar

A passport valid for 6 months after your stay on the island is required. Foreign nationals are required to apply for a visa.

In 2025, the tourist visa cost €10 for a stay of less than 14 days, €35 for 15 to 30 days and €40 for a stay of 31 to 60 days. It can be issued on arrival at the airport (please bring the cash amount in euros and present your return flight ticket). It is also possible to obtain an electronic visa before arrival, by visiting the following website: www.evisamadagascar.com.

You can also apply for a visa at the Embassy of Madagascar in Paris, where prices vary slightly: from 1 to 30 days, €20; from 31 to 60 days, €25; and from 61 to 90 days, €35.

Driver's license Driver's license à Madagascar

It is possible to rent a vehicle in Mada and travel without a guide or driver. However, given the state of the roads and infrastructure, this is not the option we recommend, especially for a first trip to Madagascar.

Health Health à Madagascar

Madagascar's state of health cannot be compared to that of a developed country. In the event of major or even minor problems, you'll need to think quickly about repatriation. Generally speaking, however, protect yourself from mosquitoes and avoid tap water, and you should be fine.

Mosquitoes can transmit dengue fever and malaria, so don't forget your anti-malarial treatment and mosquito repellent, especially on the east coast. Malagasy tip: drink lemongrass tea four or five times a day to keep mosquitoes away (it works!). Beware, too, of certain lakes and rivers, which are a permanent invitation to swim, but they can be infested with bilharzia, and these parasites are not kind to your intestinal system. As a general rule, take medicines for diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, bandages, compresses and anything you need to disinfect a wound.

As poverty is rampant in Madagascar, any donation of medicines will be welcome: antibiotics and anti-malaria drugs are the most needed. Your kind gesture can give new courage to doctors who are overwhelmed by the lack of resources. So, at the end of your stay, before you leave Antananarivo for France, we suggest you donate any unused medicines to a dispensary, the health department of an orphanage or a local pharmacy (but not to just anyone, as they may be sold on the sly or misused).

Mandatory vaccination Mandatory vaccination à Madagascar

No vaccinations are required except for the DT-polio update. The following are recommended: hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever. Some doctors may offer you the rabies vaccine.

Security Security à Madagascar

Despite all the crises the country is confronted with at regular intervals, Mada is a fairly safe country. Admittedly, the capital has some of the dangers associated with all the world's major cities in general, and those of Third World countries in particular. But Tana isn't a cut-throat either, even if you have to take precautions, such as avoiding walking at night.
In the provinces it's much safer. As everywhere, you have to keep your wits about you and not tempt the devil, but the Malagasy people are very welcoming and hospitable.

Attacks by dahalo, the zebu rustlers, have multiplied in recent years, creating red zones in certain regions, so check the embassy website beforehand. Remain vigilant and respect a few basic rules (at night, avoid walking alone and driving on intercity roads, avoid all outward signs of wealth, remain respectful and open-minded in all circumstances...), and all should go well. A word of friendly advice: make good use of the safe if your hotel room has one, as in-room theft is more common than you might think in this country! It's a good idea to register with Ariane when you travel to Madagascar, and to notify the French embassy in Antananarivo for longer stays. This will enable you to receive live alerts and recommendations in the event of an incident occurring in the country.

Time difference Time difference à Madagascar

The time difference is as follows: plus 1 hour in summer (9am in Paris = 10am in Tana), plus 2 hours in winter (9am in Paris = 11am in Tana).

Spoken languages Spoken languages à Madagascar

The two official languages are Malagasy (mostly Merina) and French (spoken by about 25% of the population). English is not widely spoken in Madagascar, except in tourist areas.

Communication Communication à Madagascar

Thanks to Yas and Orange, the country has one of the best telecoms networks in Africa. Nearly 400 hotels throughout the country are equipped with fiber optics by Yas. You can exchange your French SIM card for a Malagasy SIM card as soon as you arrive at the airport. All you have to do is register your card in a dedicated store and top up your Internet or telephone package.

Electricity and measurements Electricity and measurements à Madagascar

Electricity. Most electricity is 220 volts. A word of warning to travelers: electricity rates provided by Jirama are very high in the country, partly because the costs of maintenance and installation are just as high. In fact, this cost is reflected in the price of rooms, air-conditioning, and so on. This is one of the reasons why some tourists consider the country as a whole to be expensive in relation to the services on offer.

Weights and measures. In Madagascar, we count in grams, liters and meters.

Luggage Luggage à Madagascar

Bring a sweatshirt, a light jacket and even a good sweater (or even a lighter jacket) for some of the cooler weather in the Highlands, or for the thermal shock of returning to Europe in winter. We'd like to stress this point: we've met travellers who were really surprised by the low temperatures in the Hautes Terres and Andasibe; in Antsirabe, for example, it can get really cold in July!

On the coasts, it's hot (even very hot), but a little wool may do the trick in Fort Dauphin or Tuléar in June-July. An umbrella or raincoat is advisable on the east coast! A small flashlight can be very useful, as some hotels often cut off electricity after 10pm. Budget travellers can add a sleeping bag or silk sheet for hotels that are a little too basic.

Daily life à Madagascar

Hello? Hello? à Madagascar

Three operators share the market in Madagascar (Yas, Orange and Airtel), two of which are the main ones: Yas (formerly Telma, code 034 - market leader with 70% of subscribers) and Orange (code 032).

To call from Madagascar to France, dial +33 followed by your correspondent's number without the 0.

To call from France to Madagascar: for landlines, dial +261 + 20 + the area code + your correspondent's 5-digit number; for mobiles: +261 + your correspondent's number without the first 0 of the operator's code.

National calls. From a landline: simply dial the area code (two digits), then the correspondent's number (five digits). From a cell phone: 020 + area code + correspondent's number.

Cell phone: 0 + operator code + 7-digit number (e.g. 032 05 567 65).

Thanks to Yas and Orange, the country has one of the best telecom networks in Africa. Nearly 400 hotels throughout the country are equipped with Yas fiber optics.

To avoid having to change your smartphone's SIM card, the ideal solution is to purchase a Yas eSIM directly at the airport, on sale for €12. To top up your Internet and telephone package, simply visit one of the 70 Yas boutiques throughout the country, or one of the resellers identified by their yellow sunshades.

Accessibility Accessibility à Madagascar

Traveling with children is not a problem in Mada. It is true that the sanitary structures are not very developed and it is advisable to bring with you a first-aid kit and a certain open-mindedness, but Mada is a country of children: everywhere, always, children's smiles. Your children will soon get to know you and have fun. Here, we play with nothing. Note that one sleeps and eats well almost everywhere in Madagascar, except in the middle of the bush.

Madagascar is not a country adapted and recommended for people with reduced mobility, because of the absence of adequate structures to welcome them. Only a few hotels, the most recent ones, are up to date with international standards.

Health Health à Madagascar

Madagascar has a health condition that cannot be compared to that of a developed country. In case of a big or even small problem, you should quickly think about repatriation. Generally speaking, however, protect yourself from mosquitoes and avoid tap water, and everything should be fine. As the poverty in Madagascar is so great, any donation of medicine will be welcome: antibiotics and anti-malaria drugs are the most needed. Your gesture can save a few lives and give courage to doctors who are distraught by the lack of means. Thus, at the end of your stay, before you leave Antananarivo for France, we suggest that you donate unused medicines to a dispensary or a local pharmacy (but not to just anyone, otherwise they may be sold on the sly or misused).

Diseases and vaccines. No vaccinations are mandatory except for the DT-polio update. The following are recommended: hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever. Some doctors can offer you the rabies vaccine.

Mosquitoes can transmit dengue fever and malaria to you, so don't forget your anti-malaria treatment and anti-mosquito lotion, especially on the east coast.

In general, bring medication for diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, bandages, compresses, disinfectant for wounds, sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

Securty Securty à Madagascar

Despite all the crises the country is confronted with at regular intervals, Mada is a fairly safe country. Admittedly, the capital has some of the dangers associated with all the world's major cities in general, and those of Third World countries in particular. But Tana isn't a cut-throat either, even if you do need to take precautions, such as avoiding walking at night.

In the provinces, it's much safer. As everywhere, you have to keep your wits about you and not tempt the devil, but the Malagasy people are very welcoming and hospitable.

Attacks by dahalo, the zebu rustlers, have multiplied in recent years, creating red zones in certain regions. The situation seems to have calmed down in 2025, but remains to be monitored.

Attacks have already occurred, sometimes even against tourists, but don't be paranoid. Remain vigilant and respect a few basic rules (at night, avoid walking alone and driving on intercity roads, avoid all outward signs of wealth, remain respectful and open-minded in all circumstances...), and all should go well.

A word of friendly advice: make good use of the safe if your hotel room has one, as room robberies are more common than you might think in this country!
It is advisable to register on the Ariadne feed when you travel to Madagascar, and to report to the French embassy in Antananarivo for longer stays. This will enable you to receive live alerts and recommendations in the event of an incident occurring in the country.

Single women can travel to Madagascar: the Malagasy are willing flirts, but (almost) always very respectful. Take the usual precautions and, if you use common sense, you'll have no problems.

LGBTQ LGBTQ à Madagascar

Homosexuality is not displayed in Madagascar, except in certain specific places in the capital. It is advisable to remain discreet.

Embassies and consulates Embassies and consulates à Madagascar

Contact the embassy: + 261 20 22 398 98.

Contact the Consulate. 3, rue Jean Jaurès Antananarivo 101, +261 20 22 398 50. Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 pm to 4 pm, and Friday from 7:30 am to 12 pm.

Mail Mail à Madagascar

From France, the mail theoretically takes less than a week to reach Tananarive, two for the more remote corners of the country. Our experience is that in practice it can take about 3 weeks to a month.

Shipments to France can be quite fast when it is by Colissimo or DHL (about three days). On the other hand, mail, even by airmail, can take up to three weeks or a month to reach its recipient. For philatelists, the post office publishes superb collector's stamps. Stamp lovers will be able to browse in the bookshops at the top of the Avenue de l'Indépendance, in Antananarivo.

Local media Local media à Madagascar

According to the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index 2022, Madagascar ranked only 98th out of 180 countries. The Malagasy media are not known for the quality of the information they provide.

Local news sources include Orange Actualités Madagascar (actu.orange.mg) and Madagascar Tribune (www.madagascar-tribune.com).