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)

For the transformable visa (at embassy):

• Completed, dated and signed transformable long-stay visa application form
• One recent identity photo glued to the form
• Original passport valid for more than 6 months beyond the return date, with at least 2 blank pages
• Retirement attestation / retirement notification from the pension provider
• Proof of opening a bank account in Madagascar
• Bank attestation confirming the account is funded by the pension (minimum EUR 500/month, first transfer already made), signed and stamped
• Criminal record extract (Bulletin n° 3, original, less than 3 months old)
• Certificate of change of residence from the municipality of origin (a sworn statement is not accepted)
• Copy of a round-trip or modifiable airline ticket (1-month duration)
• Proof of payment of the visa fee

For the resident card (in Madagascar):

• Letter addressed to the Minister of the Interior stating the reason for stay
• Two completed and signed forms with 2 recent photos each
• Housing attestation with legalized signature
• Passport/ID copy
• Certificate of registration in the foreigners' register
• Residence certificate from the Fokontany
• Criminal record extract less than 6 months old
• Originals of the documents submitted abroad

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: The transformable visa takes about 3 business days at the Embassy in Paris and 5 business days at the Embassy in Brussels; postal applicants should allow at least 10 days before departure. In-country conversion to the long-stay visa and biometric resident card typically takes 3-6 months.

Fees: The transformable visa costs €49 at the Embassy in Paris and €30 at the Embassy in Brussels (non-refundable, varies slightly by post). On conversion in Madagascar, visa rights are MGA 150,000 for stays up to 3 years, MGA 200,000 for 3-5 years, and MGA 250,000 for 5-10 years and permanent. The biometric card delivery fee is tiered by duration: €300 (3 months-1 year), €400 (1-2 years), €533.57 (2-3 years), €609.80 (3-5 years), €838.47 (5-10 years), and €300 for permanent.

• 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