Madagascar Visa for Irish Citizens in 2026: Do You Need One?

Quick answer: Irish citizens travelling on Irish passports need a visa to enter Madagascar. For tourism, the official options are an online tourist eVisa or a tourist visa obtained on arrival at an airport of entry. Madagascar's official portal currently does not display a usable fee figure, so confirm the current cost before paying or travelling. [1][2]

The official Madagascar eVisa portal says an electronic travel authorisation is issued no later than 72 hours after online registration has been validated. The portal describes the tourist eVisa as single-entry, with a maximum duration of 60 days; Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs separately states that a tourism visa obtained on arrival can allow a maximum stay of 90 days. Because these published limits differ by visa route, select the stay period carefully and verify it with the issuing authority. [1][2]

Last checked July 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

Madagascar visa requirements for Irish citizens

Irish passport holders must arrange a visa for Madagascar, even for a short holiday or safari. Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs says Irish citizens can obtain a tourism visa on arrival at the airport of entry. Madagascar's official eVisa service also states that all nationalities are eligible to apply for an eVisa, although the portal should be checked for the exact option available for your dates and itinerary. [1][2]

For a tourism trip, the practical choice is usually between arranging the eVisa before departure and applying at an eligible arrival counter. An eVisa gives you an electronic authorisation to present for travel and entry, while visa on arrival means completing the visa process after reaching Madagascar. [2]

If you are planning wildlife travel, you can first review the Madagascar safari wildlife verdict for 2026, then confirm the visa route that matches your itinerary.

Visa types and who needs one

The eVisa portal currently says that only the tourist visa is supported by its eVisa system. It also describes the online document as a single-entry authorisation. [2] Do not assume that a tourist visa permits employment, paid activity, residence or another non-tourist purpose; obtain route-specific advice before travelling if your plans go beyond a holiday.

Step-by-step Madagascar eVisa application for Irish travellers

1. Use the official Madagascar portal

Madagascar identifies evisamada.gov.mg as its only official online visa application platform. The portal warns travellers about fraudulent or hacker websites, so check the domain carefully before entering passport or payment details. [2]

2. Prepare the information the portal requests

Before starting, have your valid Irish passport, payment card, email address and a trusted phone available. The official portal says applicants create an account and provide identity and travel information. [2]

Irish citizens should use the same passport for the application and the journey. If you renew or replace your passport after applying, contact the relevant authority or airline before travel because an electronic authorisation linked to one passport may not be usable with another. The supplied official sources do not specify the procedure for changing passport details.

3. Complete the online registration

Enter your personal, passport and travel details exactly as they appear in your Irish passport. The official portal describes a three-step process: create an account, provide identity and travel information, and proceed to payment. [2]

The research supplied for this guide does not establish a separate photograph requirement on Madagascar's official portal. Follow the live application form rather than relying on an older checklist or a third-party website.

4. Pay through the portal and save the confirmation

The portal says online visa prices are the same as those paid on arrival and that payment is made by credit card. However, the fee table in the supplied portal information is currently shown with blank placeholders rather than an amount. Confirm the live fee in the official portal before submitting payment, and retain the receipt or confirmation email. [2]

5. Download and carry the authorisation

Madagascar's portal says the electronic travel authorisation is issued no later than 72 hours after validation of the online registration. It can be printed or kept on a smartphone for inspection on arrival. Carrying a printed copy is a sensible backup in case your phone battery, connection or screen causes a problem. [2]

Madagascar visa fees and payment

There is no reliable fee figure in the supplied official research for an Irish citizen's Madagascar tourist visa in July 2026. Madagascar's official portal says the online price is the same as the price paid on arrival, but its displayed fee table currently shows placeholders rather than amounts. Therefore, do not rely on a fee quoted by an unauthorised intermediary or an old travel page. Confirm the current fee on the official portal before travel. [2]

Budget for the visa separately from flights, accommodation, park fees and safari costs. Once your entry route is clear, you can compare safari packages on SafariFind, including itineraries that combine Madagascar's parks, beaches and island wildlife.

Processing time, validity and permitted stay

The official Madagascar portal states that an electronic travel authorisation is issued no later than 72 hours after validation of the online registration. This is not a guarantee that an incomplete application, payment problem or review issue will be resolved within that period, so apply well before departure rather than waiting until the last day. [2]

The portal says travellers can apply between one week and six months before departure. It also states that the tourist eVisa is single entry and has a maximum duration of 60 days. [2]

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs states that Irish citizens can receive a tourism visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 90 days. This differs from the official eVisa portal's 60-day maximum. The safest interpretation is that the permitted stay depends on the route and visa issued: check the duration printed on your approval or visa, and do not assume that the on-arrival limit applies to an eVisa. [1][2]

Madagascar's official portal also says the online visa can be applied for from one week to six months before departure. That application window is separate from the permitted length of stay, so check both the dates and the authorised duration before booking a long itinerary. [2]

Passport and arrival checks

Irish passports must have at least six months of validity from the intended return date and at least three blank pages, according to Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs. Passport cards cannot be used for travel to Madagascar. [1]

For an eVisa journey, keep these items accessible:

• Your Irish passport meeting the validity and blank-page guidance. [1]
• A printed or downloaded copy of the approved electronic travel authorisation. [2]
• The payment receipt or application confirmation, where available. [2]
• Your onward or return travel details and accommodation information as practical travel records. The supplied official sources do not state these as universal visa documents, so confirm if the authority or airline requests them.

At the airport, immigration officials may check your passport and visa or electronic authorisation. The official portal says the authorisation may be shown in printed or smartphone form for police control on arrival. [2] If you choose visa on arrival, allow time to complete the application and payment at the designated visa counters; the official research does not provide a guaranteed queue time or processing duration for that route.

Before flying, check with your airline that your passport and visa evidence meet its boarding checks. Airlines can apply document checks before departure, and a visa approval does not remove the need to meet Madagascar's passport requirements.

Transit, extensions and overstays

The supplied official sources do not publish a general transit-visa exemption for Irish citizens. If you remain airside during a connection, ask the airline and the relevant airport or immigration authority whether a Madagascar visa is needed for your specific routing. If you pass immigration, collect baggage, change airports or stay overnight, do not assume that airside transit rules apply.

The official portal describes the tourist eVisa as single entry. A single-entry visa should not be treated as permission to leave Madagascar and return during the same trip. Confirm the position before planning a side trip to another country. [2]

The supplied official sources do not establish a standard extension process, extension fee or grace period for Irish tourists. If you need to stay longer, contact Malagasy immigration before your visa expires and follow the instructions given by the authority. Do not overstay while waiting for an informal answer, and do not assume that an extension is automatic.

Because the DFA and Madagascar portal publish different maximum stays for the arrival and eVisa routes, check the exact expiry date and authorised duration stamped or issued for your trip. [1][2]

Common Madagascar visa mistakes and possible problems

• Using the wrong website: Madagascar says its official online platform is evisamada.gov.mg and warns about fraudulent sites. [2]
• Leaving the application too late: The portal says authorisation is issued no later than 72 hours after validation, but an incomplete submission may not be validated immediately. [2]
• Relying on a passport card: Ireland's DFA says passport cards cannot be used for Madagascar. [1]
• Insufficient passport validity or blank pages: The DFA advises six months' validity from the intended return date and at least three blank pages. [1]
• Assuming all visa routes have the same stay limit: The official portal states 60 days for the tourist eVisa, while the DFA states 90 days for a tourism visa on arrival. Verify the route and duration issued. [1][2]
• Expecting a published fee to remain current: The portal's supplied fee table is currently blank, so confirm the live amount before payment. [2]
• Applying for a tourist visa for another purpose: The supplied official information covers tourism, not employment, study, residence or other long-term activities. Obtain specific advice for those purposes.
• Failing to save the authorisation: The portal says the document can be printed or stored on a smartphone. Keep an offline copy as well as the email. [2]

Requirements can change, and immigration officers make the final entry decision. This article is informational content, not legal advice. Check Madagascar's official portal, Ireland's travel advice and your airline's document guidance immediately before departure.