Madagascar

Retiree Long-Stay Visa

Madagascar's Retiree Long-Stay Visa (Visa Transformable en Long Séjour pour Retraité Expatrié) allows foreign retirees to reside in Madagascar on the basis of pension or retirement income received from abroad. The program is open to foreign nationals of any nationality who have permanently retired from the workforce -- there is no age restriction. It is administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for initial visa issuance and by the Ministry of Interior for the long-stay extension and biometric resident card.

• Must be legally retired and able to document permanent departure from the workforce
• Minimum EUR 500 per month in pension or retirement income
• Pension must be transferred via international standing order to a bank account in Madagascar
• First transfer must be completed before submitting the visa application
• Proof of health insurance covering the duration of stay
• No age restrictions -- applicants must simply prove retired status
• Criminal record extract from country of origin (less than 3 months old)

• Completed and signed application form
• Two recent passport-size identity photos
• Original passport valid for at least 6 months with minimum 2 blank pages
• Passport photocopy
• Round-trip airline ticket or modifiable ticket (minimum 1-month duration)
• Retirement notification, pensioner card, or attestation from pension provider
• Bank attestation from a Madagascar bank confirming account funded by retirement pension (minimum EUR 500/month, with first transfer completed)
• Criminal record extract (Bulletin no. 3, original, less than 3 months old)
• Certificate of change of residence from municipality in country of origin
• Proof of opening a bank account in Madagascar
• Housing attestation with legalized signature or lease agreement
• Visa payment receipt

The initial transformable visa is valid for 1 month upon entry. After conversion to long-stay status, the resident card is issued for 3 months to 1 year initially. Renewals follow a progressive schedule: 1-2 years, 2-3 years, 3-5 years, 5-10 years, and eventually permanent residence. Renewal applications must be submitted at least 3 months before expiration.

Family members cannot be included directly on the retiree visa. Spouse and children must apply separately through the family reunification (regroupement familial) visa category with their own documentation, including proof of the family relationship. The family reunification visa follows the same process: transformable visa obtained abroad, then conversion to long-stay status within one month of arrival.

Madagascar operates a residence-based tax system. Individuals who maintain a dwelling or have their main place of stay in Madagascar are considered tax residents and are liable on worldwide income. Progressive income tax rates apply up to 20%. Madagascar has a limited number of double taxation treaties. No specific pension income exemption was identified in official sources.

Retiree visa holders may not engage in any paid employment or professional activities in Madagascar. The visa is exclusively for retired persons living on passive income from abroad.

The process begins abroad at a Malagasy embassy or consulate, or via the e-visa portal for applicants in countries without diplomatic representation. The applicant requests a transformable long-stay visa for expatriate retirees -- a one-month immigrant visa that can be converted upon arrival. Tourist visas cannot be converted to long-stay status.

Upon arrival in Madagascar, the holder has one month to submit a long-stay visa application with the Ministry of Interior's Immigration and Emigration Service. The applicant must remain in Madagascar for at least 2 months while the dossier is processed. Processing of the long-stay visa and biometric resident card typically takes 3-6 months. Personal attendance is required for document submission.

Processing time: 5 business days for in-person embassy applications; 10+ business days for postal applications; 3-6 months for in-country conversion.

Fees: Transformable visa approximately EUR 30-49 at embassy. Resident card fees: MGA 150,000-250,000 for visa rights plus EUR 300-838 for biometric card delivery, depending on duration.

• The transformable visa must be obtained before travel -- it cannot be obtained upon arrival at the airport
• The applicant must open a bank account in Madagascar so pension transfers can be received domestically
• Foreign currency or traveller's cheques valued at EUR 7,500 or more must be declared upon entry
• Overstaying is subject to fines, detention, and potential deportation

Links

• https://ambamad-paris.diplomatie.gov.mg/index.php/visa/visas-d-entree-et-de-sejour-a-madagascar
• https://www.diplomatie.gov.mg/index.php/le-ministere/passeport-et-visa/visa/29-visas-immigrant
• https://ambamad-bruxelles.diplomatie.gov.mg/index.php/visa/transformable

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