Employ Candidates Compliantly in
Madagascar

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Employer of Record in Madagascar for Work Permits, Visas & Immigration Support

Hiring foreign nationals in Madagascar involves strict compliance with the country’s immigration laws. Work permits and visa approvals are handled through a process that spans multiple ministries and regulatory checkpoints. Many companies underestimate the complexity and risk rejection, delays, or future liability.

Acumen International provides a compliant and efficient pathway to employ foreign nationals in Madagascar through our Global Employer of Record (EOR) solution. We act as the legal employer, sponsor necessary permits, and ensure your expatriate talent is hired lawfully—without requiring you to open a local entity.

Comprehensive Business Immigration Support in Madagascar

As a Global Employer of Record, Acumen International team helps you manage the entire work permit, visa and business immigration process in Madagascar:

  • Work permit sponsorship and application processing

  • Long-stay visa coordination and embassy support

  • Local compliance with Malagasy labour, tax, and social security regulations

  • Payroll and statutory benefits administration

  • Post-arrival residence permit and onboarding support

  • Ongoing immigration compliance and renewals

With AcumenInternational, your international hires in Madagascar are covered from pre-entry authorisation to lawful employment.

Types of Work Visas in Madagascar 

Madagascar offers several types of long-stay visas (Visas de Long Séjour) that must be obtained prior to entry and can be converted into residence permits once the foreign national is in the country.

For employment purposes, the applicable visa type is:

1. Transformable Long-Stay Visa for Employment Purposes

This is the only valid visa for foreign nationals intending to take up employment in Madagascar. It is issued abroad and must be converted into a residence permit within 30 days of entry.

Key facts:

  • Must be obtained at a Malagasy embassy or consulate before travel

  • Valid for 30 days only

  • Allows the holder to apply for a work permit and residence card after arrival

  • Requires prior authorisation from the Ministry of Labour before the visa can be granted

2. Non-Transformable Visas

These are short-term visas issued for tourism or business visits. They cannot be converted into residence or work permits and must not be used to enter Madagascar for employment purposes.

Entering the country on the wrong visa type, even with a job offer in hand, will result in the rejection of work permit and residence applications and may lead to legal complications for both employer and employee.

Understanding Madagascar’s Immigration Process

Foreign nationals entering Madagascar for employment must first obtain approval from the Ministry of Labour. Only then can the consulate in the applicant’s country of residence issue a Transformable Long-Stay Visa.

After entering Madagascar, the employee must complete the following:

  1. Apply for a Work Permit (Permis de Travail) at the Ministry of Labour

  2. Apply for a Residence Permit (Carte de Résident) from the Ministry of Interior

The two processes are interdependent. Employment cannot legally begin until both permits are secured.

Required Documents for Work Permit and Residence Permit Applications

From the Employee

  • Passport valid for at least 6 months

  • Two recent passport-size photographs

  • Updated CV (French or Malagasy)

  • Certified copies of academic and professional qualifications

  • Medical certificate issued locally

  • Police clearance certificate from the country of origin

  • Proof of accommodation in Madagascar

  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate (if applicable)

From the Employer

  • Company registration certificate (Registre de Commerce)

  • Tax Identification Number and Statistics Card

  • Draft employment contract

  • Justification letter for hiring a foreign national

  • Labour market test or statement of unavailability of local talent

  • Confirmation of Ministry of Labour pre-approval.

Processing Times and Permit Validity

  • Transformable Visa: Typically issued in 5–10 working days once pre-approval is secured

  • Work Permit and Residence Card: Processing can take 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the completeness of documents and administrative workflow

  • Validity: One year, renewable, for both work and residence permits.

Common Reasons for Work Permit Rejections

Work permit and residence applications may be denied due to:

  • Incomplete or contradictory documentation

  • Lack of sufficient justification for hiring a foreign national

  • Incorrect visa category upon entry

  • Non-compliance with local labour and tax obligations

Acumen International ensures every application is pre-validated, coordinated with local authorities, and submitted under the correct legal grounds, significantly reducing the risk of denial.

Why Choose Acumen as Your Employer of Record in Madagascar

Immigration-First EOR for Cross-Border Hiring

In Madagascar, employment of international talent is legally dependent on immigration clearance. Acumen incorporates immigration into the core of its hiring process, aligning permit approvals, visa timelines, and residence procedures with the employment start date. This allows companies to onboard foreign talent in sync with operational needs, without gaps in legal status.

One Team, One Process

All stages of immigration and employment are handled by a single, coordinated team. We manage the complete timeline — from permit selection and documentation to government filings and final onboarding — with clear accountability and no reliance on disconnected third-party agents. This reduces friction and gives clients a single point of control.

Built for Real-World Hiring Scenarios

We work with companies relocating specialists, onboarding pre-identified international candidates, and entering new markets where no legal entity exists. We also support recovery cases where immigration was mishandled by previous vendors. Our process is built to absorb complexity and deliver outcomes in regulated or high-risk jurisdictions.

No Gaps Between Immigration and Employment

All compliance actions, including labour ministry approval, visa issuance, residence permit activation, and payroll registration, are synchronised into one process. We prevent delays caused by fragmented handling or overlooked dependencies between immigration and employment law. This ensures foreign employees can begin work legally and on schedule.

A Unified Solution for Global Talent Deployment

Acumen International’s EOR with integrated immigration support enables companies to hire internationally with clarity, control, and full compliance. We manage the risks, timelines, and jurisdiction-specific rules that affect international onboarding. For businesses operating in complex markets like Madagascar, this unified approach eliminates uncertainty and protects business continuity.