Customs
Africa
Madagascar Customs Regulations
Import & export rules, duty-free allowances, prohibited items, and traveler health advisory
500 cigs
Tobacco allowance
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Import Regulations
- 500 cigarettes or
- 25 cigars or
- 500 grammes of tobacco
- 1 bottle of alcoholic beverages
- Visitors and residents can import up to MGA 400,000 and an unlimited amount of foreign currency. Sums of money greater than EUR 7.500 will need to be declared at the customs department.
- Visitors and residents can also export up to MGA 400,000 in local currency and an unlimited amount of foreign cash providing a written declaration is made at the customs department.
- Illegal drugs
- Weapons, explosives and ammunition
- Knives and deadly weapons
- Plant and plant products – unless permission has been obtained
- Meat and meat products
- Pets and animal products – unless permission has been obtained
- Electronic equipment
- Counterfeit money and goods
- Pornographic materials
- All passengers planning on re-exporting guns and ammunition will be required to apply for an export permit from their local “Chef de Province”.
- All perfume is subject to duty regulations and cannot enter the country for free.
- Fruit and vegetables will need to be declared and an entry permit obtained before being granted entry into the country.
- Protected plant and plant materials are prohibited from entering the country.
- All animals entering the country will be forced to undergo a sanitary inspection upon arrival. The creatures will require a veterinarian health certificate from the country of origin specifying the creature’s condition and lack of any contagious diseases. Dogs over three months and cats over six months old will need to be specifically vaccinated against rabies less than one month and over three months respectively prior to their entry into the country.
Export Regulations
- 100g of vanilla
- 250 grammes of jewellery – only applicable to residents
- 1kg of jewellery - subject to presentation of currency exchange receipts and only applicable to non residents
- Illegal drugs
- Weapons, explosives and ammunition
- Knives and deadly weapons
- Plant and plant products – unless permission has been obtained
- Meat and meat products
- Pets and animal products – unless permission has been obtained
- Electronic equipment
- Counterfeit money and goods
- Pornographic materials
- No information available
Health & Security
Basic health information for travelers to Madagascar
Basic security information for travelers to Madagascar
🩺 Basic Health Information for Travelers to Madagascar
- A yellow fever vaccination is required by all travellers entering the country from an infected region. Travellers from other countries are advised to consider obtaining the necessary vaccination against the disease prior to beginning their journey.
- All local water sources should be seen has being potentially contaminated and should be thoroughly boiled before being drunk. Sealed bottles of water are recommended whenever possible. Milk is likely to be unpasteurised and all dairy products are best avoided. Fish, meat and vegetables should be thoroughly boiled to remove any sign of contamination and served boiling hot. Fruit should also be peeled for protection. Food and drink served from vendors is best avoided for safety reasons.
- Amongst the diseases present throughout this country include Hepatitis A, E, Typhoid and Diphtheria and all travellers to the region are strongly advised to obtain vaccination against these and other diseases prior to entry. Cholera is present during the rainy season –December to April- but is seen has a comparatively remote danger to humans. Schistosomiasis is also present and all travellers are strongly advised to avoid swimming in any local streams, lakes or other natural sources of water which might contain the disease.
- Malaria is a year round threat in this country with the highest number of confirmed cases found near the coastal regions. The disease is spread by mosquito bites and all travellers infected are strongly advised to immediately seek out medical assistance before serious symptoms develop. Effective countermeasures include wearing plenty of tight fitting clothing that exposes little in the way of open skin and large sums of insect repellent for defence. Treatments of Mefloquine may also help prevent succumbing to the diseases effects.
- Other largely mosquito related diseases evident throughout Madagascar include Dengue, Rift Valley and Chikungunya Fevers. There have been minor reports of Dengue Fever in the Toamasina region of the country and all travellers should follow standard procedures to prevent any possible risks of infection. Rift Valley fever is primarily found in more rural areas and in contaminated animals and milk. All travellers inside the country should make certain that any local sources of milk or butter are safe for consumption. Chikungunya fever has been reported throughout the South-eastern sections of the country and is contracted via the Aedes mosquitoes.
- Hepatitis B is endemic to the region and all travellers are advised to observe extreme caution when dealing with bloody needles or if engaging in sexual activity throughout the course of their visit.
- Any traveller visiting more rural or remote sections of the country should keep their distance from wild dogs or bats whose bites might contain Rabies. If bitten, travellers should waste no time in thoroughly cleaning the wound and seeking out medical assistance to check for any signs of infection before symptom start to develop.
- Travellers visiting during the summer months are urged to buy plenty of sunscreen and bottled water for protection whilst visitors suffering from respiratory or other health issues should bring an emergency kit containing whatever additional medicine they require.
- Medical facilities are very limited throughout the entire country and are practically non- existent outside of the major cities. Public health facilities are not recommended for anything beyond basic assistance and may be short of key specialists and supplies. Doctors are likely to demand upfront payment for any services rendered and full health and travel insurance is recommended. Amongst the more capable facilities throughout the country include the Clinique des Soeurs Ankadifotsy, a privately-owned mission hospital and the government-owned Hopital Universitaire in Antananarivo. An emergency airlift to a nearby country may be required in the event of a serious accident or illness.
🛡 Basic Security Information for Travelers to Madagascar
- Due to the ongoing political uncertainty throughout the country, all travel to this country is not currently recommended. All potential visitors are advised to stay informed regarding the current political situation throughout the region and should take maximum care when inside the country.
- Owing to the recent political upheaval, incidents of mass crime and violence have dramatically increased throughout the entire country and travellers to the region are particularly vulnerable. All visitors to the country are strongly advised to keep a close eye on their belongings when visiting public locations and to keep their passport and other valuables in a safe and secure location for the duration of their visit. Travel after dark is not recommended and obvious displays of affluence should be avoided. Visitors to the capital Antananarivo in particular should be wary of any sudden politically motivated outbreaks of violence which could pose a threat to their safety.
- Madagascar has been the site of considerable political instability and violence since a series of violent demonstrations forced the former president out of office in 2009. Amongst the various incidents that have occurred include widespread looting and violence throughout the capital and other sections of the country with many resulting deaths and injuries. Recent attempts at governing the country have resulted in more violence and instability inside the country and despite attempts at mediation, the political situation is liable to change at any time. All travellers to the region are strongly advised to avoid any demonstrations or protests which could quickly turn violent and should keep informed regarding the current state of affairs not only prior to beginning any visit but once inside the country also. Local airports and roads may become affected by any violence that occurs and travellers should plan their visit accordingly.
- All visitors planning on driving throughout Madagascar will require an international driving licence to do so. Driving after dark is not recommended owing to the recent increase in armed robberies on the main highways and animals often roaming down often poorly lit roads after dark. Driving standards may vary greatly from what most foreign drivers are used to and accidents are common. All drivers are urged to stay calm in the event of an incident occurring on the roads and should keep a copy of their passport with them in the event of an emergency.
- Many roads may become impassable throughout the rainy season which lasts roughly between the months of December to April. Bridges may become washed away and mudslides are entirely possible. All foreign drivers visiting the country during this period should check with the local authorities before starting any potentially unsafe journeys. Piracy is a significant danger throughout the entire region and all travellers should avoid any form of sea based transportation to or from the country.
- Madagascar is subject to heavy rains and cyclones which usually hit near coastal areas and can lead to much damage and loss of life. All potential travellers to the country are recommended to stay informed regarding the predicted weather conditions throughout their visit and should plan the rest of their holiday accordingly.
- Aspects of daily life in some rural parts of Madagascar are controlled by strict taboos or fady. All travellers visiting remote sections of the country should check with the local tour guides in order to avoid inadvertently causing offense. There are strict punishments regarding any buying, selling or distribution of drugs and travellers should avoid committing any activity which could serve to draw the attention of the police or the security services.
- Photographs of important military or government installations are prohibited and could be removed without warning by the security services. Travellers wanting to take pictures of the local inhabitants should ask permission first to avoid any potential scenes of confusion.
- Homosexuality is illegal in this country and all same sex visitors to this country should avoid any open displays of affection which could lead to trouble.
Contact Information
For further assistance please contact the Madagasy Customs authorities directly. They will provide the latest information about customs regulations and export-import procedures.
Telephone
+2612222916
Official Website