Madagascar travel guide for Australians

Australians need a visa for Madagascar. Apply online for a 30-day tourist e-visa before you fly; visa-on-arrival is not offered to Australian passport holders. The e-visa costs about AU$70 (2026 estimate) and is usually approved within 3–5 business days. Confirm the current rules on the official e-visa portal before booking, because entry rules change.

If you get the visa, you can stay up to 30 days, extendable once for another 30 days at the immigration office in Antananarivo (fee applies). The decision to go is straightforward: sort the visa first, then book flights and a driver.

Australian passport holders must hold a tourist visa before arrival. The Madagascar e-visa portal accepts applications online; approval usually takes 3–5 business days. Print the approval PDF and carry it with your passport.

The visa allows a stay of up to 30 days, renewable once for an additional 30 days at the immigration office in Antananarivo (fee applies). Visa-on-arrival is not offered to Australians; verify any changes on the official portal before travel.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay and have at least two blank pages. Confirm this with the Madagascar immigration service or your nearest consulate before booking.

Australia does not have a resident embassy in Madagascar. Consular assistance is provided by the Australian High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya. For emergencies, contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra on +61 2 6261 3305, or the High Commission in Nairobi during office hours.

Before you travel, register your trip with Smartraveller so the embassy can contact you in an emergency. The High Commission in Nairobi can issue emergency passports and assist with serious problems, but it cannot help with visa issues or lost luggage.

A two-week trip to Madagascar typically costs between AU$3,500 and AU$5,500 per person, including international flights, accommodation, transport, park fees and meals. Costs vary with comfort level and season.

International flights from Sydney to Antananarivo usually cost AU$1,800–2,300 return (2026 estimate). Domestic flights within Madagascar, such as Tana to Nosy Be, run about AU$250–400 per leg. A car with driver costs AU$90–150 per day, and mid-range hotels run AU$70–120 per night.

The main international gateway is Ivato International Airport (TNR) in Antananarivo. From Sydney, expect about 22 hours of travel with one stop, typically via Johannesburg, Nairobi or Mauritius. Direct flights are rare; plan for a connection.

Domestic flights within Madagascar are operated by Tsaradia / Madagascar Airlines and cost €150–350 one way (≈AU$250–550). Never book a domestic leg on the same day as your international flight, as schedules change at short notice.

Madagascar uses European type C and E plugs, 220 V · 50 Hz. Bring a universal adapter. Power cuts (délestage) are common in Antananarivo, so carry a power bank and a torch.

Voltage is the same as Australia (220–240 V), so most Australian devices will work with just a plug adapter, not a converter. Check your device's label to be sure.

Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. In restaurants, round up the bill or leave 5–10%. For park guides, give 10–20% of the guide fee or €5–10 per walk. For a driver you keep for a week or more, €5–10 per day at the end is standard. Porters get 2,000–5,000 ariary per bag.

Carry small notes in ariary for tips; many places cannot break large bills. In remote areas, tipping in euros or US dollars is also accepted.

In Madagascar, the police emergency number is 117 and the medical emergency number is 151. For consular help, call the Australian High Commission in Nairobi or the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra.

Save these numbers in your phone before you arrive. For medical emergencies, private clinics in Antananarivo are better equipped than public hospitals; your hotel can arrange transport.

Answers to the most common questions about travelling to Madagascar as an Australian citizen.

Official sources for entry requirements and travel advice.