Madagascar's Lemurs

TRAVEL PLANNING
9. BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Entry Information for Madagascar
All foreign visitors to Madagascar must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond
the dates of travel and must purchase a tourist visa. A three-month tourist visa can be
purchased upon arrival at the Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo. They cost
approximately US$35 and are payable in US dollars or Euros. However, from time to time these
visas are not available and you may feel more comfortable obtaining a visa before departing for
your expedition. Below are instructions for obtaining your visa. For a listing of useful websites
for passport and visa requirements see Section 15 ‘Helpful Resources.’
Obtaining a Visa for Travel to Madagascar
Type of Visa
Where to Get
a Visa
Required
Information
Cost of a
Visa
You must get a TOURIST VISA.
Contact the nearest Madagascar Embassy (see www.embassy.org/madagascar) or
Consulate (see www.madagascar-consulate.org/embassies-world.html) to find out
how to apply for your visa. Visas can be obtained in the US through the Malagasy
Embassy in Washington, DC (tel: +1 202 265-5525) and in the UK through the
Malagasy Consulate in London (tel: +44 (0)20 3008 4550). Volunteers can contact the
embassy directly for an application form or use a visa agency. Visas may take two
weeks or more to process, plus mailing time. If you have less than six weeks or wish
to save yourself trouble, we strongly recommend using a visa agency, which can
both expedite and simplify the process. See below for a list of visa agencies.
You will need to send your passport (valid for at least six months beyond your stay),
a Visa Application and Immigration Form, 2-4 passport-size photos plus payment
to the embassy or visa agency (if applicable). Please be sure that your passport is
valid for at least six months beyond your stay.
Madagascar visas generally cost US$35-100, but vary from country to country. A visa
agency will charge an additional fee (depending on the amount of time it takes to
process the application), which you should inquire about directly.
Reminder: The purpose of your visit is for vacation, holiday or travel. Foreign immigration
officials do not always understand the concept of a “working vacation” or even “volunteering.”
Words such as “working”/”volunteering,” “research” or a “scientific expedition” can raise
questions concerning the country’s foreign labor laws and/or prompt questions about official
scientific research permits and credentials, etc., to which volunteers on their own will not be
equipped to respond. All required research permits for the project are in place and have been
approved by the proper authorities.
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