At a glance
Retirees who can support themselves with accepted retirement income can apply to live in Madagascar. You first need a one-month convertible visa, then a residence application after arrival. The Paris embassy checklist asks for at least €500 a month in arranged pension transfers.
- Who can apply
- Retirees with accepted retirement income
- Transfer evidence
- Madagascar’s Paris embassy asks for a certificate from the foreign bank or pension provider; other offices may differ
- Entry and residence
- One-month convertible visa, then a separate residence application
Summary
Madagascar’s retirement residence allows a stay supported by an accepted foreign pension or transfer arrangement. The process starts with a one-month convertible entry visa, followed by a residence-card application within one month after arrival. The pension provider or foreign bank must supply the accepted transfer evidence, so the income arrangements need to be prepared before travel.
The linked Paris embassy checklist asks for arranged pension transfers of at least €500 a month. That is the cited consular checklist; confirm the requirements of the office handling the application rather than assuming every post uses identical documents. A local job or business would need separate permission.
Eligibility
You need evidence of retirement, financial support, and the required money-transfer arrangement. Under the currently linked Paris checklist, the international-transfer certificate must come from your foreign bank or pension provider, rather than a Malagasy bank.
Other embassies or consulates may ask for different supporting documents, so check the office handling your application. The Paris figure is an application requirement, not a suggested living budget.
Enter with the convertible visa and apply for your residence card within one month.
-
Confirm the pension evidence Check the requirements of your embassy or consulate.
-
Get the convertible visa Prepare to apply for residence after arrival.
-
Apply within one month Submit your residence-card application and follow its conditions.
The €500 transfer requirement described here comes from the Paris embassy checklist.
What This Route Allows
If approved, you can live in Madagascar on a retirement basis for the period granted.
What This Route Is Not
This permission does not establish a right to take a local job or run a business. Buying a home alone does not meet the requirements, and the route does not grant citizenship.
Next Steps
- Confirm the age, income, and activity rules with the embassy or consulate handling your application.
- Prepare the pension, transfer, identity, and residence documents it accepts, and obtain the convertible visa.
- Apply for residence within one month after entry. Check renewal rules and any limits on time spent outside Madagascar.
Stay up to date on this pathway
Get an email when something important changes.
Discussed in these reports
- East Africa and Indian Ocean Residence Options ComparedThe useful starting point is what you would do after moving: take a local job, work remotely for overseas clients, study, join a spouse, run a business, or…
- Retirement Visas Compared by the Income You NeedYou can qualify for several retirement or passive-income routes with recurring income around $1,000/month—Panama, Costa Rica, and Peru publish thresholds at…
Aruba
Aruba Retiree Residence
People aged 55 or older with qualifying retirement income may seek a renewable Aruba residence permit without work rights.
United Arab Emirates
UAE Retirement Visa
This residence pathway is for retirees or pension recipients who want to live in the United Arab Emirates. It generally requires stable pension or retirement income, health…
San Marino
San Marino Pensioner Residence
Qualifying pensioners from eligible countries can seek San Marino residence with substantial annual income and assets maintained in its banking system.