Overall Rank: #171 out of 199 countries
Madagascar ranks #171 out of 199 countries and territories in the Globevisa Passport Ranking, placing it in the low-ranking category. Across the five core dimensions — Mobility (#157), Governance (#178), Security (#71), Education (#189), and Quality of Life (#197) — Madagascar performs strongest in security (#71), followed by mobility (#157). Its weakest dimension is quality of life (#197).
Mobility: #157 (score 22/100), Governance: #178 (score 11/100), Security: #71 (score 65/100), Education: #189 (score 6/100), Quality of Life: #197 (score 2/100)
Madagascar ranks #171 globally in the 2026 Globevisa Passport Ranking, which evaluates 199 countries and territories worldwide. Unlike traditional passport indices that focus solely on visa-free destination counts, the Globevisa Passport Ranking provides a comprehensive structural assessment across five core dimensions: Mobility, Governance, Security, Education, and Quality of Life. In terms of strengths, Madagascar excels in Security (#71, score 65). However, Mobility (#157) and Governance (#178) and Education (#189) and Quality of Life (#197) represent structural areas of concern.
Country Overview: Madagascar is a least-developed island nation with a restricted immigration policy and significant economic and infrastructure challenges. / Limited mobility passport with restricted immigration pathways (Not currently recommended).
Identity Attributes: Long-term Residency
Global Taxation: Yes (Worldwide Taxation)
Cost of Living: Low
Culture & Adaptation: Significant language barriers with French and Malagasy dominance; high cultural distance with deep-rooted ancestral traditions; best suited for adventurous professionals or those with experience in developing African markets
Employment & Development: Economy primarily based on subsistence agriculture, mining, and emerging textiles; limited opportunities for foreign professionals concentrated in NGOs and specialized extraction sectors; significant barriers due to infrastructure deficits, political instability, and strict labor market tests.
Holding a Malagasy passport does not provide visa-free access to the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, or the United States, and holders typically must undergo a full visa application process for these regions. Internationally, the passport has limited mobility power and is generally perceived as a low-to-mid-tier travel document, primarily offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry within parts of Africa and some Asian territories. While there is no immediate risk of losing major visa-free agreements because few exist with high-scrutiny regions, any future expansion of travel privileges remains subject to rigorous international security and migration policy reviews. Therefore, travelers should prioritize advanced planning for all major global destinations to navigate complex consular requirements.
Madagascar’s immigration framework is relatively volatile, reflecting the country’s broader history of political transitions and ongoing institutional development. While basic residency laws are in place, the absence of a comprehensive national migration policy means that administrative procedures can be subject to change or inconsistent application during periods of political shift. Recent governance transitions suggest that regulatory requirements may continue to evolve, potentially leading to increased scrutiny or the introduction of new compliance measures for foreign applicants. Future stability could be influenced by international anti-trafficking efforts and internal security priorities, making it advisable for applicants to prepare for potential procedural updates.
Madagascar experiences periodic political instability and a high rate of crime, requiring residents to exercise a high degree of caution. Safety conditions vary significantly by region, with urban centers like Antananarivo seeing high rates of petty and violent crime, while certain southern and western areas face increased risks from armed banditry and cattle-rustling gangs. Institutional safeguards are provided by the National Police and Gendarmerie, though their enforcement capacity is often limited by a lack of resources, leading many international residents to rely on private security services. While the legal system continues to undergo reforms to address corruption and human rights, practical protection for personal and property security remains inconsistent across the country.