Residence Permits and Permanent Residency in Madagascar

Chinese nationals living long-term in Madagascar need a long-stay visa (visa long séjour) stuck in the passport plus a biometric resident card (carte de résident). Both are approved by the Ministry of the Interior and handled at the Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM); employees also need a work permit from the Ministry of Labour first [2][5]. Approved stays range from over 3 months to 10 years, and the fee schedule also has a “définitive” (permanent) tier [2].

Tourist e-visas and other short-stay visas cannot be converted into long-term residence: you must enter on a “visa transformable” from the Madagascar embassy in China and then apply for the long-stay visa in Madagascar [1][6]. This page reflects the position as of October 2026, based mainly on EDBM information sheets (2025 to June 2026) and the 2025 MOFCOM country guide.

How residence works in Madagascar

EDBM’s long-stay visa sheets list three categories: worker (Travailleur), investor (Investisseur) and family reunification (Regroupement familial) [2][3][4]. The legal basis is Immigration Law No. 62-006 of 6 June 1962, Decree 94-652 of 1994 and Interministerial Order 8421/97 [2]. The process [1][2]:

1. obtain a visa transformable (valid 30 days) from the Malagasy embassy or consulate in your country;
2. within 30 days of arrival, apply to EDBM for the long-stay visa in person;
3. give biometrics, receive a receipt, then go through a background check (enquête de moralité);
4. pay the visa and resident card fees and collect the visa (in the passport) and the card.

Non-immigrant visas (tourism, conferences, business and others) cannot be converted; they can only be extended at a police station for up to 3 months in total [6]. EDBM itself issues visas transformables only to nationals of countries with no Malagasy mission [6], so Chinese citizens should apply in China. Entry and work permits are covered in Madagascar visas and work permits.

Residence types at a glance

How the work permit relates to residence

A worker long-stay visa requires an employment contract endorsed by the Ministry of Labour, the work permit and a copy of the tax card; renewals also need proof of payment of IRSA (salary income tax) [2]. In other words, residence depends on holding a work permit and paying tax properly. The employer applies for the work permit through EDBM, with a processing fee of €100 [5]. MOFCOM notes that employers must explain why they need to hire a foreigner when applying for a work or residence visa [1].

EDBM does not publish a separate procedure for changing employer. Because worker residence is tied to a specific contract and work permit, check with EDBM before changing jobs whether a new work permit and visa are needed.

Investor residence

The investor long-stay visa is for shareholders or managers of a company in Madagascar. Besides the common documents, it requires the company statutes, statistics card, an extract from the trade register (RCS) under 3 months old, the tax card, a local bank’s account certificate and an opening balance sheet or certified trading accounts [3]. Company setup is covered in Registering a company in Madagascar.

Renewals: documents, fees and timing

For renewal, all three categories need a Malagasy criminal record extract (Bulletin N°3) under 3 months old, copies of previous long-stay visas and a copy of the current resident card; workers also add proof of IRSA payment [2][3][4]. Originals must be shown for all copies and the applicant must attend in person [2]. Applicants outside Antananarivo need a “Fiche 33” from the local police or gendarmerie [2].

These are EDBM’s June 2026 fees, the same for all three categories, paid in ariary at the central bank’s monthly rate at the EDBM front office, in cash, by bank transfer or banker’s cheque [2][3][4]. EDBM takes applications Monday to Thursday, 8:30–11:30 [2]. No official processing time or renewal lead time is published; MOFCOM advises employers to track expiry dates and act in time for staff who are staying on [1].

Permanent residence

EDBM’s fee schedule includes a “Définitive” tier (visa fee Ar 487,500, card fee €300) [2], so a permanent long-stay visa exists. The published sheets do not state who qualifies (for example, how many years of prior residence); ask EDBM directly before applying.

Citizenship and dual nationality

Under the Malagasy Nationality Code (Ordinance 60-064 of 1960; this page uses the text as amended to 1995), naturalisation requires being at least 18, of good character, habitually resident in Madagascar for the 5 years before applying and still at the time of the decree, and showing assimilation, including sufficient knowledge of Malagasy [7]. Naturalisation is granted by decree, and after a refusal you must wait 2 years to reapply [7]. Naturalised citizens may not acquire real estate for 10 years and may not register as voters or hold public posts for 5 years [7]. The Code also provides that an adult Malagasy who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses Malagasy nationality [7].

China does not recognise dual nationality. Article 9 of the PRC Nationality Law provides that a Chinese national settled abroad who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality [8].

Dependants: spouse and children

Spouses and children apply for the family reunification long-stay visa with a birth or marriage certificate and a copy of the family member’s visa in Madagascar; if that person is an employee, a copy of their work permit is also needed [4]. First applications add an original criminal record certificate from the home country under 6 months old and a copy of the visa transformable [4]. EDBM’s visa transformable sheet limits children to under 21 and requires birth and marriage certificates issued within 6 months [6]. For notarising Chinese documents see Notarization, apostille and consular legalization.

Expired visas, checks and refused entry

• MOFCOM warns never to remain in Madagascar on an expired visa [1]. Neither EDBM nor MOFCOM publishes overstay fine amounts; check the consequences with EDBM or a lawyer.
• Police, gendarmerie, tax, customs and labour inspectors may check foreigners’ papers. MOFCOM advises carrying ID or proof of temporary residence and keeping business licences and tax certificates valid [1].
• In September 2026 the Chinese Embassy warned that travellers who cannot explain their purpose, lack supporting documents, have irregular travel records or are suspected of illegal work may be refused entry [11].

For handling checks see Madagascar safety guide; for embassy help see Consular protection.

Common pitfalls

• Entering on a short-stay visa and hoping to convert: non-immigrant visas cannot be converted [6]; you have to leave and come back on a visa transformable.
• Agents: MOFCOM recommends using experienced local lawyers or professional agents [1]. EDBM requires the applicant in person and all originals [2], so be wary of agents who promise you never need to appear.
• Passport validity: the long-stay visa sits in your passport, so renew a passport close to expiry first; see Renewing a Chinese passport in Africa.

Huaqiao (overseas Chinese) status

Under the 2009 rules of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, huaqiao are Chinese citizens settled abroad; “settled” means holding long-term or permanent residence rights in the host country and having lived there for two consecutive years, with at least 18 months of actual presence in those two years [9]. The Office’s explanation adds that a citizen without long-term or permanent residence rights who has held lawful residence for 5 or more consecutive years and spent at least 30 months there within those 5 years is also treated as huaqiao [10]. Workers posted abroad on labour contracts are not huaqiao while working abroad [9].

A Chinese citizen with a Malagasy long-stay visa and resident card who meets these presence tests can generally be assessed on this basis; the final word lies with the overseas Chinese affairs office where your hukou is registered. For the community in Madagascar, see Chinese community in Madagascar.

References

1. Country Guide for Foreign Investment and Cooperation: Madagascar (2025) (PRC Ministry of Commerce, 2025)
2. Visa long séjour – Travailleur, version 15 (Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM) / Ministry of the Interior, 2026)
3. Visa long séjour – Investisseur, version 14 (EDBM / Ministry of the Interior, 2026)
4. Visa long séjour – Regroupement familial, version 14 (EDBM / Ministry of the Interior, 2026)
5. Permis de travail, version 8 (EDBM / Ministry of Labour, 2025)
6. Visa transformable, version 1 (EDBM / Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025)
7. Ordonnance n° 60-064 portant Code de la nationalité malgache (texte modifié jusqu’en 1995) (Government of Madagascar, via ecoi.net, 1995)
8. PRC Nationality Law (China Consular Affairs (MFA), 1980)
9. Provisions on Defining Huaqiao, Foreign Nationals of Chinese Origin, Returned Overseas Chinese and Their Relatives (Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, reposted by the PRC Embassy in Cyprus, 2009)
10. What does ‘settled’ mean in the definition of huaqiao? (Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, 2016)
11. Embassy travel safety reminder for the National Day and Mid-Autumn holidays (PRC Embassy in Madagascar, 2026)