Madagascar flag

Madagascar — Complete Emigration Guide 2026

31,727,042 people · Capital: Antananarivo · Eastern Africa

Updated H2 2026 · Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis

Safety
64/100 (average)
Cost of Living
€443/mo
Healthcare
8/100 (limited)
Career
46/100 (limited)
English Level
Low
Visa Pathways
9

Overview

Population
31,727,042
Capital
Antananarivo
Currency
MGA Ar
Language
French, Malagasy
Timezone
UTC+03:00
GDP per Capita
$545
Unemployment
3%

Madagascar is located in Eastern Africa, with a population of 31,727,042. Its currency is the Malagasy ariary. Our database tracks 9 visa pathways for Madagascar, each linked to a named source.

See also: Madagascar country profile

Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis. See our methodology and data sources.

Visa Pathways (9)

Sponsored Employment (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Mandataires sociaux ou gérants des sociétés implantées à Madagascar
Travailleur

Investment / Golden Visa (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Investisseurs

Retirement (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Retirement Visa€500/mo1 mo

Research & Academia (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Scientifiques€87

Family Reunification (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Regroupement Familial

Ancestry & Descent (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Natif€871 mo

General Residence (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Affaires (visa permanent)€015d

Religious Workers (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Missionnaire
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Cost of Living

ItemMadagascarW. Europe AvgDiff
Rent (1BR)€285€1,200-76%
Rent (3BR)€580€2,000-71%
Groceries€95€350-73%
Transport€18€80-78%
Utilities€45€150-70%
Dining (meal)€4€15-73%
Baseline monthly cost (1BR rent + groceries + transport + utilities)
€443/mo

Salary & Employment

Average Salary
€128
EUR/month gross
Minimum Wage
€50
EUR/month gross
Unemployment
3%
SectorMedian (gross, €/yr)
Construction€5,000
Education€4,500
Engineering€7,000
Finance€7,000
Healthcare€5,000
Hospitality€3,000
IT€8,500
Retail€3,000

Shortage Occupations

  • Software Developer (IT)
  • Healthcare Technician (Healthcare)
  • Construction Manager (Construction)
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Tax

Tax System
Progressive
Top Income Rate
20%
Effective Rate @€90k
20%
VAT
20%
Net Monthly @€90k
€6,400

Healthcare

Healthcare Index
8/100
System Type
mixed
Spending per Capita
$17
Life Expectancy
63.8 years
Emergency Number
144
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Education

Total Universities
16
UniversityQS RankEnglish ProgsTuition (Intl)
University of Antananarivo12€1,200
University of Fianarantsoa6€1,000
University of Toliara4€900
ISCED Madagascar18€2,500
Institut Supérieur Polytechnique de Madagascar14€2,000

Practical Info

Banking

Wise: No   N26: No
Access difficulty: medium

Driving

Drives on: right

Phone & Internet

Operators: Yas
Internet: 22.6 Mbps

Credentials

Recognition: Case_by_case

Quality of Life

Safety
64
Climate
tropical
25°C summer / 20°C winter
English Proficiency
Low
Score: 28/100
Expat Satisfaction
5.8/10
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Official sources

The visa data on this page is compiled from official government sources — 8 of the 8 pathways link directly to the government page they were verified against, and 3 financial requirements below carry the exact quote from the official source. Values that fail verification are removed, not guessed — see the live verification freshness index.

Verified requirements — exact official citations

Each figure below was verified verbatim against the official page linked, on the date shown.

Retraité · 1 verified requirement

Minimum income: “Attestation bancaire justifiant que le compte est bien alimenté par la caisse de la retraite ou par une banque extérieure avec un montant de 500€ /mois minimum” ambamad-paris.diplomatie.gov.mg, 2026-06-26

Regroupement Familial · 1 verified requirement

Minimum income: “Regroupement Familial — Acte de Naissance (enfant < 21 ans), Acte de mariage (époux / épouse) — only birth/marriage certificates required; no income requirement listed for family reunification.” diplomatie.gov.mg

Investisseurs · 1 verified requirement

Minimum investment: “Official source checked; NOT_PUBLISHED” diplomatie.gov.mg, 2026-07-07

Frequently Asked Questions

How many visa pathways does Madagascar have?

Our database tracks 9 visa pathways for Madagascar across 8 categories, the largest being Sponsored Employment, Investment / Golden Visa, Ancestry & Descent. Each entry links directly to an official government source.

What is the minimum income for the Retirement Visa?

The Retirement Visa lists a minimum income of EUR 500 per month, according to the official source (last checked 2026-06-21).

What is the average salary in Madagascar?

The average gross salary in Madagascar is EUR 128 per month. The statutory minimum wage is EUR 50 per month.

How much does rent cost in Madagascar?

A one-bedroom apartment in Madagascar averages EUR 285 per month, and a three-bedroom apartment averages EUR 580 per month.

What is the top income tax rate in Madagascar?

The top personal income tax rate in Madagascar is 20%. The standard VAT rate is 20%.

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