What is a convertible visa?
Any expatriate wishing to settle in Madagascar must apply for a convertible visa at the Embassy of Madagascar in his country of origin.
This type of visa will be issued, with a validity of 1 (one) month, from the arrival of the person in the country. The convertible visa must be motivated by the reasons for the stay of the applicant, among others:
- Investor
- Worker/Expatriate
- Internship/Mission
- Retired
- Family reunion
How does the convertible visa differ from other visas?
As its name indicates, a convertible visa is only temporary because it is valid for one month, whereas the other residence visas are not valid while remaining valid for the duration during which the holder is allowed to stay in Madagascar.
Any foreigner must leave the Malagasy territory at the expiry of the residence visa granted. The holder of a convertible visa must take the necessary steps to obtain a long-stay visa upon arrival in Madagascar. Otherwise, he has to leave the country and come back to reapply. As for other visas already in progress, it would be prudent to build up the renewal files well before its expiry.
The issuance of a visa, whether it is convertible or a long stay, is conditional on the presentation of original documents (criminal record, marriage certificate, birth certificate, Company file, employment authorization, etc.)
The Embassy and Honorary Consulates of Madagascar may only issue a visa “a month that can be transformed and extended into a long-stay visa” for residents of their respective jurisdictions. Nationals of countries where Madagascar does not have the Representations must apply beforehand, either by post, through a duly authorized third party, a boarding agreement or a 72-hour visa with the Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM) for the purpose of obtaining convertible visas upon their arrival in Madagascar.
On the other hand, the current visa renewals are done on site, in support of the files listed below.
What are the files to be provided and the associated costs for obtaining a convertible visa?
For any application, there are common documents to be provided. The additional documents differentiate the types of visa requested.
The documents to be provided for the 72-hour entry visa for the purpose of obtaining a convertible Visa
| Description | Qty |
| Common documents | |
| Photo ID | 2 |
| Reasoned request addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs | 1 |
| Criminal record extract issued by country of origin <6 months | 1 |
| Copy of passport | 1 |
| Information form | 1 |
| Certificate of accommodation and assumption with legalized signature or lease agreement with legalized signature | 1 |
| Copy of the host’s National Identity Card (CIN) or Resident Card (CR) | 1 |
| Certificat de résidence de l’hébergeant | 1 |
| Certificate of residence of the host | 1 |
| Additional documents for Investor: documents justifying the existence of the company | |
| Extra documents for expatriate worker: employer’s employment permit and documents justifying the existence of the company | |
| Family Class Documents Extra: Supporting Documents |
Fee: 140.000 Ar payable in cash at the Tax Center of the EDBM for Visa of one (01) month convertible and extendable in long stay (immigrant visa).
MDG Services makes it easy to obtain your convertible visa application by ensuring
- Verification of the completeness of the files before filing,
- The monitoring of the progress of the dossiers until the issue of the convertible visa.
For more details, contact us by asking for a quote.