Moving to Madagascar: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

Demographics & population in Madagascar for people weighing a move, not a tourist recap. The notes below use the country profile dataset plus Madagascar-specific planning fields. Where a figure is missing, that gap is left open instead of filled with a guess.

Population overview figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, population is listed as 26,955,737. For Madagascar, population growth rate is listed as 2.65%. For Madagascar, urban population is listed as 32.600000. For Madagascar, population in major urban areas is listed as ANTANANARIVO (capital) 1.987 million.

Age & family figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, age structure is listed as 40.170000. For Madagascar, median age is listed as 19.000000. For Madagascar, birth rate - births/1,000 population is listed as 34. For Madagascar, death rate - deaths/1,000 population is listed as 7.1. For Madagascar, total fertility rate - children born/woman is listed as 4.36. For Madagascar, contraceptive prevalance rate - female 12-49 is listed as 39.9%. For Madagascar, contraceptive prevalence rate - female 12-49 is listed as 39.9%. For Madagascar, mean age for mother's first birth (age 25-49) is listed as 19.5. For Madagascar, mother's mean age at first birth is listed as 19.5. For Madagascar, sex ratio at birth - male/female is listed as 1.030000.

Ethnicity & language figures for Madagascar: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran For Madagascar, nationality noun is listed as Malagasy (singular and plural).

Education figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, literacy - total population is listed as 68.9%. For Madagascar, literacy - male is listed as 75.5%. For Madagascar, literacy - female is listed as 62.5%. For Madagascar, literacy definition is listed as age 15 and over can read and write. For Madagascar, education expenditures - percent of gdp is listed as 2.7%. For Madagascar, total school life expectancy - (primary to tertiary) is listed as 10.000000.

Health & living conditions figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, life expectancy at birth is listed as 64.850000. For Madagascar, infant mortality rate is listed as 46.130000. For Madagascar, infant mortality rate - total deaths/1,000 live births is listed as 46.130000. For Madagascar, maternal mortality rate - deaths/100,000 live births is listed as 240. For Madagascar, physicians density - physicians/1,000 population is listed as.16. For Madagascar, hospital bed density - beds/1,000 population is listed as.2. For Madagascar, health expenditures - percent of gdp is listed as 4.1%. For Madagascar, major infectious diseases - degree of risk is listed as very high. For Madagascar, obesity - adult prevalence rate is listed as 1.6%. For Madagascar, drinking water source - percent of urban population improved is listed as 78.200000. For Madagascar, sanitation facility access - percent of urban population improved is listed as 19.200000. For Madagascar, underweight - percent of children under five years is listed as 36.8%.

Madagascar sits in Eastern Africa, Africa, with Antananarivo as the capital. Common working and school languages in the dataset include French (official) and Malagasy (official). English proficiency is listed as medium. Population and age figures on this page are planning signals, not a substitute for census releases or visa eligibility rules.

Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo, is situated in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa. Covering 226,658 square mile

Early practical steps people actually use in Madagascar include: Confirm visa status and entry conditions before booking travel; Prepare temporary housing and proof of address where required; Set up local phone, banking, tax, and health coverage steps; Save emergency numbers, official portals, and scam-reporting channels. Treat the list as a reminder, not a filing checklist.

When a number on this page could change a visa or tax outcome, open https://www.evisamada.gov.mg/ (Ministère de l'Intérieur Madagascar) and match the current instruction. MigrantIQ is a planning aid, not a government filing system.

Economy in Madagascar for people weighing a move, not a tourist recap. The notes below use the country profile dataset plus Madagascar-specific planning fields. Where a figure is missing, that gap is left open instead of filled with a guess.

Economic overview in Madagascar. Madagascar is a mostly unregulated economy with many untapped natural resources, but no capital markets, a weak judicial system, poorly enforced contracts, and rampant government corruption.

The country faces challenges to improve education, healthcare, and the environment to boost long-term economic growth.

Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing roughly 80% of the population.

Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by bushfires, slash-and-burn clearing techniques, and the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns to the agriculture dependent economy.

After discarding socialist economic policies in the mid-1990s, Madagascar followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization until a 2009 coup d'état led many nations, including the United States, to suspend non-humanitarian aid until a democratically-elected president was inaugurated in 2014.

The pre-coup strategy had placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low starting point.

Exports of apparel boomed after gaining duty-free access to the US market in 2000 under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA); however, Madagascar's failure to comply with the requirements of the AGOA led to the termination of the country's duty-free access in January 2010, a sharp fall in textile production, a loss of more than 100,000 jobs, and a GDP drop of nearly 11%.

Madagascar regained AGOA access in January 2015 and ensuing growth has been slow and fragile.

Madagascar produces around 80% of the world's vanilla and its reliance on this commodity for most of its foreign exchange is a significant source of vulnerability.

Economic reforms have been modest and the country's financial sector remains weak, limiting the use of monetary policy to control inflation.

An ongoing IMF program aims to strengthen financial and investment management capacity.

Economic overview figures for Madagascar: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism For Madagascar, gdp - per capita (ppp) is listed as $1,500.00 (USD). For Madagascar, gdp - real growth rate is listed as 3.4%.

GDP & growth figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, gdp - gross domestic product (ppp) is listed as $41,820,000,000 (USD). For Madagascar, gdp per capita is listed as $1,500.00 (USD). For Madagascar, gdp - real growth rate is listed as 3.4%. For Madagascar, gdp - official exchange rate is listed as $9,514,000,000 (USD). household consumption: 83.2% government consumption: 15.3% investment in fixed capital: 15.8% investment in inventories: -0.1% exports of goods and services: 32% imports of goods and services: -46.2% For Madagascar, gdp by sector- agriculture is listed as 26.5%. For Madagascar, gdp by sector- industry is listed as 16.9%. For Madagascar, gdp by sector- services is listed as 56.6%. For Madagascar, industrial growth rate is listed as 2%.

Prices & money figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, inflation rate is listed as 8.1%. For Madagascar, exchange rate per us dollar is listed as Malagasy franc (MGF). For Madagascar, currency name and code is listed as Malagasy Franc (MGF). For Madagascar, fiscal year is listed as calendar year. For Madagascar, commercial bank prime lending rate is listed as 44%.

Employment & labor figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, labor force is listed as 9,504,000. meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products For Madagascar, population below poverty line is listed as 50%. For Madagascar, child labor - # of children ages 5-14 is listed as 1,827,423. For Madagascar, child labor - % of children ages 5-14 is listed as 28%. For Madagascar, child labor - note is listed as note: data represents children ages 5-17.

Public finance figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, annual budget is listed as $896,900,000 (USD). For Madagascar, budget surplus or deficit - percent of gdp is listed as -2.3%. For Madagascar, taxes and other revenues - percent of gdp is listed as 20.1%.

People comparing Madagascar with other destinations usually start with wages, rent, and tax, not headline GDP. GDP per capita in the planning dataset is about 1,500. Recent growth is listed at 3.4 percent. Unemployment is listed at 3 percent. A typical net monthly salary signal is 795. The cost-of-living index is 23. The rent index is 7. A city-centre 1-bed rent signal is 237. A monthly groceries signal is 119. Purchasing-power index: 14. Local currency code: MGF. City prices vary, and these indexes do not replace a job offer or a proof-of-funds check.

Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo, is situated in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa. Covering 226,658 square mile

When a number on this page could change a visa or tax outcome, open https://www.evisamada.gov.mg/ (Ministère de l'Intérieur Madagascar) and match the current instruction. MigrantIQ is a planning aid, not a government filing system.

Government & politics in Madagascar for people weighing a move, not a tourist recap. The notes below use the country profile dataset plus Madagascar-specific planning fields. Where a figure is missing, that gap is left open instead of filled with a guess.

Identity & names figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, full country name is listed as Republic of Madagascar. For Madagascar, country name is listed as Madagascar. For Madagascar, local - long is listed as Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara. For Madagascar, local - short is listed as Madagascar/Madagasikara. For Madagascar, former name is listed as Malagasy Republic. the name "Madageiscar" was first used by the 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO, as a corrupted transliteration of Mogadishu, the Somali port with which POLO confused the island For Madagascar, independence is listed as 26 June 1960 (from France). For Madagascar, national holiday is listed as Independence Day, 26 June (1960).

Political system in Madagascar. - **history:** previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010 - **amendments:** proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership; passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles, including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar's collectivities, cannot be amended

- **chief of state:** President Andry RAJOELINA (since 16 December 2023) - **head of government:** Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018) - **cabinet:** Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister - **elections/appointments:** president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 November 2023 (next to be held in November 2028); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president - **election results:** 2023: Andry RAJOELINA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 59.0%, Siteny Thierry RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO 14.4%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 12.1%, other 14.5% 2018: Andry RAJOELINA elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 39.2%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 35.4%, other 25.4%; percent of vote in second round - Andry RAJOELINA 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3%

- **description:** bicameral Parliament consists - **elections:** Senate - last held on 11 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2025) National Assembly - last held on 27 May 2019 (next to be held in 29 May 2024) - **election results:** Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; elected seats by party - Irmar 10, Malagasy Miara Miainga 2; composition - men 16, women 2, percent of women 11.1% National Assembly - percent of vote by coalition/party - IRD coalition 55.6%, TIM 10.6% independents 30.5%, other 3.3%; seats by coalition/party - IRD coalition 84, TIM 16, independents 46, other 5; composition - men 124, women 27, percent of women 17.9%

- **office:** Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve 3-year, single renewable terms; High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 7-year terms; High Court of Justice members - **include:** first president of the Supreme Court; 2 presidents from the Court of Cassation; 2 presidents from the Court of Appeal; 2 deputies from the National Assembly; 2 senators from the Senate; 2 members from the High Council for the Defense of Democracy and the State of law subordinate - **courts:** Courts of Appeal; Court of Cassation; Courts of First Instance; military courts; traditional (dina) courts; Trade Court

Group of Young Malagasy Patriots (Groupe des Jeunes Malgaches Patriotes) or GJMP [Jean Nicolas RANDRIANASOLO] I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA] Isika Rehetra Miaraka amin'i Andry Rajoelina coalition or IRD (electoral coalition includes TGV and other parties) Malagasy Aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS [Roland RATSIRAKA] Malagasy Tia Tanindrazana or MATITA or ANGADY [Hyacinthe Befeno TODIMANANA] Movement for Democracy in Madagascar (Mouvement pour la Démocratie à Madagascar) or MDM [Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO] Rally for Democratic Socialism (Rassemblement pour Socialisme Démocratique - Nouveau) or RPSD Vaovao [Siteny RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO] Young Malagasies Determined (Tanora Malagasy Vonona) or TGV [Andry RAJOELINA] Note: Only coalitions/parties with seats in the National Assembly included

- **birth:** no citizenship by descent - **only:** the father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship - **recognized:** no residency requirement for - **naturalization:** unknown

Political system figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, government type is listed as semi-presidential republic. civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara For Madagascar, suffrage: is listed as 18 years of age; universal.

Capital & time figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, capital name is listed as Antananarivo. For Madagascar, capital - geographic coordinate is listed as 18 55 S, 47 31 E. For Madagascar, capital time difference is listed as UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time).

International role in Madagascar. ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

- **mission:** Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022) - **embassy:** Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo - Madagascar mailing - **address:** 2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040 - **telephone:** [261] 33-44-320-00 - **FAX:** [261] 33-44-320-35 email address and - **website:** antanACS@state.gov https://mg.usembassy.gov/

- **mission:** Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Amielle Pelenne NIRINIAVISOA MARCEDA (since 31 October 2019) - **chancery:** 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 - **telephone:** [1] (202) 265-5525 - **FAX:** [1] (202) 265-3034 email address and - **website:** contact@us-madagascar-embassy.org https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/ consulate(s) - **general:** New York

International role figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, international law organization participation: is listed as accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction.

Madagascar's government and legal structure matters for visas, ID, tax residence, and later naturalization. The immigration authority in our records is Ministère de l'Intérieur Madagascar. Confirm current forms and fees on https://www.evisamada.gov.mg/. In the planning dataset, permanent residence is listed at 1 years of qualifying stay; dual citizenship is listed as restricted.

Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo, is situated in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa. Covering 226,658 square mile

Early practical steps people actually use in Madagascar include: Confirm visa status and entry conditions before booking travel; Prepare temporary housing and proof of address where required; Set up local phone, banking, tax, and health coverage steps; Save emergency numbers, official portals, and scam-reporting channels. Treat the list as a reminder, not a filing checklist.

When a number on this page could change a visa or tax outcome, open https://www.evisamada.gov.mg/ (Ministère de l'Intérieur Madagascar) and match the current instruction. MigrantIQ is a planning aid, not a government filing system.

Geography & environment in Madagascar for people weighing a move, not a tourist recap. The notes below use the country profile dataset plus Madagascar-specific planning fields. Where a figure is missing, that gap is left open instead of filled with a guess.

Location & size figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, geographic location is listed as Africa. For Madagascar, geographic coordinates is listed as 20 00 S, 47 00 E. For Madagascar, total area is listed as 226,657 Square Miles 587,041 Square Kilometers. For Madagascar, land area is listed as 224,533 Square Miles 581,540 Square Kilometers. For Madagascar, water area is listed as 2,124 Square Miles 5,501 Square Kilometers. For Madagascar, coastline is listed as 3,000 Miles 4,828 Kilometers.

Physical geography figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, terrain is listed as narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center. For Madagascar, highest point is listed as 2,876 Meters. For Madagascar, highest point location is listed as Maromokotro 2,876 m. For Madagascar, lowest point location is listed as Indian Ocean 0 m. graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower For Madagascar, irrigated land is listed as 4,193 Square Miles 10,860 Square Kilometers.

Climate & time figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, time zone is listed as UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time).

Climate in Madagascar. Madagascar's geography creates many climatic subdivisions.

The coastal climate is hot and tropical, with the east coast receiving the most rainfall (more than 160 inches of rain in Maroantsetra.).

This is due to the effect of moisture-laden trade winds off the Indian Ocean as they encounter the steep escarpment of the Madagascar coastline.

The east coast is also most affected by the cyclones which periodically hit the island, often causing extensive damage.

East coast temperatures reach an average high of 85° in the summer and 72° in the winter.

On the west coast, precipitation levels drop off from north to south.

There are desert areas of the deep south which receive only 2 inches of rain per year.

West coast temperatures are generally several degrees warmer than the east coast temperatures.

The central highlands, where the capital Antananarivo is located, have a more temperate climate.

There are two primary seasons; the rainy summer season, which lasts from approximately November through mid-March; and the dry season, from mid-March through October.

In (southern) summer, there are periods of rain almost every day, often in the late afternoon.

Cyclones, which can affect the coastal areas, do not reach the highlands, but their influence can cause extended periods of rain.

The average daily high temperature in summer is in the mid 80's, with a hot mid-day sun alternating with the periods of rain.

The shoulder months of April, May and September, October are very pleasant, with little rain, blue skies, and daytime highs in the 70's.

In the (southern) winter months of June-August, the skies are often sunny and daytime highs can reach the mid-to-high 60s.

However, there are also chilly days which are overcast and windy with daytime highs in the 50's.

Nighttime lows in winter can drop into the 40's in Antananarivo.

Climate figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, terrain is listed as narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center. For Madagascar, location is listed as Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique. For Madagascar, total area is listed as 226,657 Square Miles 587,041 Square Kilometers.

Environment in Madagascar. party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Environment figures for Madagascar: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered

Madagascar's capital is Antananarivo in Eastern Africa, Africa. Traffic keeps to the right. Geography here is for settlement planning: climate, distance to work, and which city you can actually afford, not a travel brochure.

Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo, is situated in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa. Covering 226,658 square mile

When a number on this page could change a visa or tax outcome, open https://www.evisamada.gov.mg/ (Ministère de l'Intérieur Madagascar) and match the current instruction. MigrantIQ is a planning aid, not a government filing system.

Trade in Madagascar for people weighing a move, not a tourist recap. The notes below use the country profile dataset plus Madagascar-specific planning fields. Where a figure is missing, that gap is left open instead of filled with a guess.

Trade overview figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, exports is listed as $1,412,000,000 (USD). For Madagascar, imports is listed as $1,958,000,000 (USD). For Madagascar, major exports is listed as coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products. For Madagascar, major imports is listed as capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food.

Trading partners figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, top export partners is listed as France 39.2%, US 19.8%, Germany 5.5%, Japan 4.8%, Singapore 4.2%. For Madagascar, top import partners is listed as France 37.9%, US 19.1%, Germany 5.3%, Japan 4.7%, Singapore 4.1%.

Partners (summary) figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, export partners is listed as France 39.2%, US 19.8%, Germany 5.5%, Japan 4.8%, Singapore 4.2%. For Madagascar, import partners is listed as France 37.9%, US 19.1%, Germany 5.3%, Japan 4.7%, Singapore 4.1%.

Trade figures for Madagascar help explain which industries hire, which ports matter, and how imported goods show up in grocery prices. Settlements and contracts usually run in MGF. They are not a visa pathway. Work permission still depends on the destination's immigration rules.

Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo, is situated in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa. Covering 226,658 square mile

When a number on this page could change a visa or tax outcome, open https://www.evisamada.gov.mg/ (Ministère de l'Intérieur Madagascar) and match the current instruction. MigrantIQ is a planning aid, not a government filing system.

Travel & safety in Madagascar for people weighing a move, not a tourist recap. The notes below use the country profile dataset plus Madagascar-specific planning fields. Where a figure is missing, that gap is left open instead of filled with a guess.

Before you travel in Madagascar. Madagascar is a developing island nation off the east coast of Africa.

The primary languages are French and Malagasy.

French is less spoken outside of major cities.

Facilities for tourism are available, but vary in quality and are in general limited.

Travelers seeking high-end accommodations should make reservations in advance.

In March 2009, the democratically elected government of Madagascar resigned in actions that the U.S. government has termed a coup d'état.

Internationally observed presidential and parliamentary elections are currently scheduled for October 25 and December 20, 2013, but spontaneous protests remain possible, particularly in Antananarivo.

Travelers should maintain security awareness at all times and avoid political gatherings and street demonstrations.

Certain large gatherings, such as concerts or scenes of accidents, also may pose a threat to foreigners.

Embassy prohibited U.S. government personnel from visiting or transiting l'Avenue de l'Independence in downtown Antananarivo, after multiple explosive devices were either found or detonated in central Antananarivo.

Travel in the provincial areas is generally safe but caution should be exercised at all times.

At the start of the political crisis in January 2009, a number of provincial capitals experienced political demonstrations that had, on occasion, become violent and resulted in clashes with security forces and looting.

A number of national highways connecting provincial cities and the capital experienced temporary road blocks by political demonstrators resulting in travel delays.

There are random police vehicle checkpoints throughout Madagascar, so all visitors should carry photo identification (residency card, U.S. passport) in the event of police questioning.

These checkpoints are routine in nature, and should not result in vehicle and/or person searches as long as valid identification is shown.

Crime & law in Madagascar. Madagascar has experienced a dramatic spike not only in the number of crimes, but also in their severity and type.

To put this into perspective, Madagascar remains, by and large, safer than many other African countries and even certain U.S. cities.

Over the last three years, there has been a surge in armed attacks.

The number of reported incidents has increased steadily since 2009, and by mid-2013, the U.S.

Embassy noted reports of more home invasions.

The majority of reported crimes targeted Malagasies and did not involve foreigners.

Carjackings, though infrequent in cities, are known to occur.

There have been many reports of thieves reaching into stopped vehicles, opening unlocked doors, or sometimes breaking the windows to steal cell phones, purses, and even jewelry from their victims.

Keeping windows rolled up and doors locked will minimize these types of situations.

In addition, armed bandit attacks on vehicles carrying goods and people,specifically taxi-bes (which operate within urban centers) and taxi-brousses (which travel to outlying regions),have increased drastically since 2009 and now occur regularly.

Groups of armed bandits often position themselves on the national routes after dark to ambush vehicles.

Others have involved armed criminals who stage a "breakdown" that blocks the roadway, forcing the victimized driver to slow down, and hence become more vulnerable.

sometimes local villagers design a "trap" of sand, a tree log, or some other substance or condition that makes the only viable road impassible.

Local villagers then "assist" the stranded vehicle and expect monetary compensation.

Although the interim government has taken steps to increase checkpoints to deter banditry, the U.S.

Embassy prohibits personnel from traveling at night outside of Antananarivo or the other major cities, due to these attacks and the lack of security force coverage outside of city limits.

All U.S. citizens are advised to avoid unknown taxis, especially if alone or at night.

Another major concerns for visitors, especially those in Antananarivo, are crimes of opportunity, such as pick-pocketing, purse snatching, and residential and vehicular theft.

Although some of these crimes are non-confrontational, incidents involving violence by assailants do occur and are rising, particularly when the victim resists and when several persons confront the victim.

Embassy has received reports of physical attacks against foreigners, including U.S. citizens, particularly in coastal tourist areas.

A number of these attacks resulted in serious injuries and, in rare cases, fatalities.

Criminal elements in Antananarivo and throughout Madagascar are becoming bolder when selecting their victims, and are also committing more crimes in areas that are considered to be "safe:" those that are generally well-lit and well-traveled by pedestrians and vehicles.

Criminal gangs comprised of felons, ex-military, and police are known to commit home invasions and kidnappings, sometimes targeting foreigners.

In April 2013, a Western businessman working in Antananarivo was kidnapped at gunpoint and held for four days before being released for ransom.

Organized gangs of bandits are known to patrol areas where foreigners, who are perceived to be wealthy, tend to congregate.

Crimes such as burglary and robbery also occur in areas outside the capital, and the threat of confrontational and violent crime in rural and isolated areas continues to rise.

Coastal cities like Toamasina and Mahajunga have experienced a particularly significant rise in crime over the last year, and violent assaults on foreign travelers in high-traffic tourist areas, like Nosy Be, the Ankerana and Montagne d'Ambre National Parks adjacent to Diego, and the area surrounding Tolagnaro (Ft.

To reduce the risk of being victimized, travel in groups and avoid wearing expensive jewelry or carrying costly electronic items (iPods, digital cameras, or high

While you are traveling in another country, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don't have your passport with you.

In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in your host country, your U.S. passport won't help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It's very important to know what's legal and what's not where you are going.

Persons violating Malagasy laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs, as well as child prostitution, are severe.

Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines in Madagascar.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the U.S.

Health & roads in Madagascar. Standards of healthcare throughout Madagascar are well below U.S. standards.

There are small hospitals and clinics in Antananarivo that provide basic but acceptable care for emergencies.

Outside of Antananarivo, the quality of care is very questionable and should only be used when other options are not available.

Caution and good judgment should be exercised when seeking hospital and medical services.

Embassy maintains a list of hospitals and specialists, which can be provided on demand.

Most medications, generally of French or South African origin, are available in Antananarivo.

If you need to refill a prescription from outside of Madagascar, you should carry a prescription from your health care provider listing the medicine's generic name, but it is best not to rely on re-filling medications in Madagascar as the availability varies.

Travelers are advised to carry a supply of anti-malarial medication if traveling outside Antananarivo.

U.S. citizens who will be carrying medications with them to Madagascar may wish to contact the Malagasy Embassy in Washington, D.C., regarding any restrictions on imports.

Ambulance services are available in Antananarivo with Assistance Plus at 032 07 801 10 or 22 487 47; Polyclinique d'Ilafy at 22 425 73 or 033 11 458 48; Espace Medical at 22 625 66 or 22 481 73 or 034 05 625 66; and CDU (Centre de Diagnostic Medical d'Urgences) at 22 329 56.

However, due to traffic jams, response times are often dangerously slow.

Assistance Plus has air ambulance capacity for remote and less accessible regions of the country.

Malaria is prevalent, particularly in the coastal regions.

Using preventive measures and malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended.

Rabies is endemic, and there are many street dogs.

It is recommended that travelers have the pre-exposure vaccination series prior to arrival in Madagascar.

If bitten by an animal, wash the affected area immediately with soap and running water for ten minutes.

Seek medical care immediately at the Institute Pasteur in Antananarivo.

Plague is also endemic to Madagascar, but casual tourists are unlikely to be infected.

While the reported HIV prevalence rate is low, particularly by African standards, Madagascar suffers from a very high reported incidence of sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis.

The East African Indian Ocean islands have seen a rise in cases of chikungunya, a viral dengue-like ailment, and dengue itself.

As with malaria, chikungunya and dengue are transmitted by mosquitoes.

Every effort should be made to use bed nets, repellants, proper clothing, and barriers that discourage/prevent mosquito bites.

The CDC has further information on chikungunya and dengue on their website.

Travelers should drink bottled water or carbonated beverages.

Water purification tablets may be used as necessary.

While in Madagascar, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

In Madagascar, you drive on the right side of the road, generally yielding the right of way to vehicles coming in from the left.

Some major intersections and traffic circles have police directing traffic.

If a policeman has his back to you at an intersection, you are required to stop.

Laws make seatbelt use mandatory and prohibit cell phone use while driving, even with a hands-free attachment.

Child safety seats are not mandatory, but motorcycle helmets are required in Madagascar.

If you are caught driving under the influence of alcohol, your car will be impounded for a few days, and you will have to pay a fine.

If you are involved in an accident involving injuries and/or deaths, there is a mandatory court case.

The losing party of the court case must then pay all costs.

Except for Antananarivo's main streets and a few well-maintained routes to outlying cities, many roads are in various states of disrepair.

Some may be impassable during the November-March rainy season.

Night travel by private or public transportation outside Antananarivo is strongly discouraged, due to poor lighting and road conditions.

Roads tend to be narrow and winding with many one-lane bridges and blind curves, and most roads outside of main routes and city centers are cobblestone, gravel, or packed dirt.

Most vehicles tend to drive in the center of the road unless another vehicle is present.

It is common to find livestock or human-drawn carts in the middle of the road, even at night.

Local practice is to blow the horn before going around a curve, to let others know of one's presence.

There are few pedestrian crosswalks and no working traffic signals.

Travel within Antananarivo can be difficult with poor road signage, streets congested with pedestrians, bicycles, animal carts, vehicular traffic, and an abundance of one-way streets.

Taxis are plentiful and are generally reasonably priced.

Bargain for the fare prior to getting into a vehicle.

Most accidents are pedestrian-related, due to narrow roads and lack of sidewalks on many streets.

When traveling between cities, travelers must have clear directions as there are rarely signs indicating where one must turn to reach a destination.

Conditions of rural roads can degrade significantly and with little notice during the rainy season.

Rental cars generally come with a driver who is responsible for maintaining the vehicle and sometimes acts as a tour guide.

Public transportation is unreliable and vehicles are poorly maintained.

Rail services are extremely limited and unreliable.

The Ministry of Public Works, telephone (20) 22-318-02, is Madagascar's authority responsible for road safety.

During an emergency, visitors to Antananarivo can contact local police by dialing 117, 22-227-35, or 22-357-09/10.

Safety in Madagascar is local. Neighbourhood, night transport, and documentation checks matter more than a single country score. Tap water is listed as generally safe in the planning dataset. Healthcare system type: Mixed. Immigrant health access note: Limited. Health coverage waiting period in the dataset: 180 days. Read current travel advice from your origin government before you book.

Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo, is situated in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa. Covering 226,658 square mile

Early practical steps people actually use in Madagascar include: Confirm visa status and entry conditions before booking travel; Prepare temporary housing and proof of address where required; Set up local phone, banking, tax, and health coverage steps; Save emergency numbers, official portals, and scam-reporting channels. Treat the list as a reminder, not a filing checklist.

When a number on this page could change a visa or tax outcome, open https://www.evisamada.gov.mg/ (Ministère de l'Intérieur Madagascar) and match the current instruction. MigrantIQ is a planning aid, not a government filing system.

Infrastructure in Madagascar for people weighing a move, not a tourist recap. The notes below use the country profile dataset plus Madagascar-specific planning fields. Where a figure is missing, that gap is left open instead of filled with a guess.

Transportation figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, airports - total is listed as 83. For Madagascar, airports with paved runways is listed as 26. For Madagascar, railways is listed as 531 Miles 854 Kilometers. For Madagascar, roadways- total is listed as 21,422 Miles 34,476 Kilometers. For Madagascar, roadways- paved is listed as 3,488 Miles 5,613 Kilometers. For Madagascar, waterways is listed as 373 Miles 600 Kilometers. For Madagascar, ports and terminals is listed as Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara.

Communications in Madagascar. - state-owned Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) and Television Malagasy (TVM) have an extensive national network reach - privately owned radio and TV broadcasters in cities and major towns - state-run radio dominates in rural areas - relays of 2 international broadcasters are available in Antananarivo

- **assessment:** system is above average for the region; Antananarivo's main telephone exchange modernized in the late 1990s, but the rest of the analogue-based telephone system is poorly developed - **domestic:** combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 40 per 100 persons - **international:** country code - 261; landing point for the EASSy, SEACOM, and LION fiber-optic submarine cable systems; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region)

Communications figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, telephones is listed as 181,200. For Madagascar, cell phones is listed as 2,218,000. For Madagascar, internet users is listed as 110,000. For Madagascar, internet country code is listed as.mg. For Madagascar, internet hosts is listed as 27,606.

Energy figures for Madagascar: For Madagascar, electricity consumption- kilowatt hours (kwh) is listed as 971,400,000. For Madagascar, electricity production- kilowatt hours (kwh) is listed as 1,045,000,000. For Madagascar, natural gas reserves- cubic meters (cu m) is listed as 2,010,000,000. For Madagascar, oil consumption- barrels per day (bbl/day) is listed as 17,480. For Madagascar, oil production- barrels per day (bbl/day) is listed as 89.

Infrastructure in Madagascar affects commute time, remote work, and whether a city is livable in the first 90 days. Typical internet speed in the dataset is 5 Mbps. Airports, rail, and roads on this page are inventory, not a promise that your neighbourhood is well served.

Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo, is situated in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa. Covering 226,658 square mile

When a number on this page could change a visa or tax outcome, open https://www.evisamada.gov.mg/ (Ministère de l'Intérieur Madagascar) and match the current instruction. MigrantIQ is a planning aid, not a government filing system.

National symbols in Madagascar for people weighing a move, not a tourist recap. The notes below use the country profile dataset plus Madagascar-specific planning fields. Where a figure is missing, that gap is left open instead of filled with a guess.

National anthem in Madagascar. I Ry Tanindrazanay malala Ry Madagasikara soa Ny fitiavanay anao tsy miala, Fa ho anao doria tokoa Fiverenana Tahionao, ry Zanahary Ity Nosin-dRazanay ity Hiadana sy ho finaritra He!

II Ry Tanindrazanay malala Irinay mba hanompoana anao Ny tena sy fo fanahy anananay, 'Zay sarobidy sy mendrika tokoa.

III Ry Tanindrazanay malala Irinay mba hitahiana anao, Ka ilay Nahary izao tontolo izao No fototra ijoroan'ny satanao.

National symbols for Madagascar are background for civic life and ceremonies. They do not change visa rules. Use the government and visa pages for status, work, and stay conditions.

Madagascar, the world's fourth-largest island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo, is situated in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa. Covering 226,658 square mile

When a number on this page could change a visa or tax outcome, open https://www.evisamada.gov.mg/ (Ministère de l'Intérieur Madagascar) and match the current instruction. MigrantIQ is a planning aid, not a government filing system.