Before you travel to a foreign country, including Madagascar, the most important thing that you need is a valid visa - unless you are from a country whose citizens enjoy visa exemptions!
The Madagascar government has set different visa policies for different nationality holders. In this article, we have discussed about Madagascar visa for South Africans.
So, without further ado, let's get into it!
Do South Africans Need a Madagascar Visa?
Unfortunately, South African citizens do not enjoy visa-free entry to Madagascar. So, you must obtain a valid travel document prior to visiting the country.
The Madagascar ministry of foreign affairs offers different types of visas to South Africans, depending on the purpose of their visit. Moreover, they have made the visa application process streamlined, allowing South Africans to apply for a visa online!
Currently, South African nationals can apply for the following types of Madagascar visas via VisaHQ:
Tourist Visa - Single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas that allow you to enter Madagascar for tourism and leisure purposes.
Business Visa - A multiple-entry visa that permits holders to stay in the country for 90 consecutive days for professional and commercial purposes.
Family Visa - A single-entry travel document allowing you to stay in the country for 30 days.
Film/Media Visa - Holders of filming permit issued by the Madagascar ministry can apply for this multiple-entry visa, valid for 90 days.
Missionary Visa - A multiple-entry visa that allows holders to stay in the country for 90 days for missionary work.
Work Visa - If a South African citizen wants to work in Madagascar, he/she can get a single-entry visa for 30 consecutive days.
Besides these, applicants can also apply for a transit visa, scientific research visa, investment visa, and student visa for Madagascar!
Madagascar Visa Requirements
As you can see, South African citizens can get different types of Madagascar visas for different purposes. So, the visa requirements for these travel documents vary as well. To start the application, you must have the following 3 items:
Valid Passport - Applicant's passport with at least six months of remaining validity and 2 blank pages for visa stamps.
E-mail Address - A valid email address to receive your approved visa.
Online Payment Methods - As this entire process is online, South African citizens will need online payment options, such as a debit card, credit card, or PayPal account.
Besides these, South African citizens will need some additional documents depending on their purpose of visit, such as:
Tourist Visa:
Passport-type photograph
Proof of status
Itinerary
Business Visa:
Proof of status
Itinerary
Business invitation letter
Family Visa
Itinerary
Yellow fever vaccination certificate
Marriage or birth certificate
Police clearance
Invitation notice
Host's ID
Film/Media Visa
Filming permit
Itinerary
Yellow fever card
Proof of status
Missionary Visa
Missionary letter
Host's ID
Invitation letter
Itinerary
Work Visa
Employment authorization document
Police clearance
Itinerary
Proof of status
Fiscal identification card
Madagascar Visa Application Process
As the Madagascar government has made the visa application process streamlined, applying for it has become a piece of the cake. No need to visit the embassy of Madagascar or the consulate office. All you need to do is visit VisaHQ and follow the following steps:
Select "South Africa" as your citizenship
Fill out the Madagascar visa application form
Pay the visa fee
Submit your application with supporting documents
That's it! Afterward, the Madagascar embassy will process your application. If everything is in order, you'll get your approved visa via email!
Visa Application Form
While completing the Madagascar visa application form, you need to be extra careful. This is because if there are mistakes or misleading information in your online form, your visa will most likely be delayed by the Madagascar embassy.
To fill out the visa application form, you'll need to provide the following information:
Personal Information - Full name, date of birth, place of birth
Contact Information - Phone number, email address
Travel Plans - Intended date of entry
Passport Information - Passport number, issue, and expiry date
You may also need to answer some personal and security questions!
Processing Time
The processing time for a Madagascar visa depends upon your selected visa type. South African citizens can get a tourist or business visa within 3-5 business days, while the estimated timeframe for a work visa is 7 business days.
Keep in mind that if there are errors or mistakes in your application, your visa will most likely be delayed! Plus, the embassy of Madagascar is usually closed every Thursday and Tuesday. So, plan accordingly!
Once you get your visa via email, you can download it on your mobile device or print it out as you'll need to present it at the border crossing. Make sure to fulfil all the entry requirements while traveling to Madagascar. Otherwise, the immigration officer has the power to refuse entry!