Republic of Madagascar vs Portuguese Republic
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Republic of Madagascar
Madagascar publishes official tourist eVisa guidance through the eVisa Madagascar platform and National Police, long-stay investor, worker, family, work-permit and company-creation checklists through EDBM, and consular short-stay, transformable, study and special-visa category guidance through Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission pages. The current Visa Atlas packet covers tourist eVisa, visa on arrival, consular short stay, tourist extension, transformable visa, long-stay investor, worker, family and study routes, work permit, special official visas and company creation for foreign investors. Embassy payment and appointment mechanics can be locally specific, so applicants should use the competent Madagascar mission for consular filing details.
- Official portal
- eVisa Madagascar / Border Police of Madagascar
- Languages
- Malagasy, French
- Currency
- Malagasy ariary
Portuguese Republic
Portugal runs residence visas (D-series) administered by consulates and AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, which replaced SEF in late 2023). Popular routes include the D7 passive-income visa, D8 digital-nomad visa, and residence for highly qualified activity.
- Official portal
- AIMA (Portugal)
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Currency
- Euro
How Republic of Madagascar and Portuguese Republic differ
| Dimension | Republic of Madagascar | Portuguese Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 12 | 7 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 6 | 5 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 4 | 6 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship eligibility (10 years of residence, or 7 for EU/CPLP nationals). |
| Dominant skilled visa | Work Permit | D3 visa (highly qualified activity) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | 2–4 months consular. |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | Malagasy, French | Portuguese |
| Currency | Malagasy ariary | Euro |
| Primary regulator | EVISA | OA |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Routes unique to Republic of Madagascar
Routes unique to Portuguese Republic
Visa routes side by side
Republic of Madagascar (12)
Tourist eVisa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Single entry; maximum tourist eVisa duration of 60 days.
Tourist Visa on Arrival
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Tourist route; the official eVisa tourist route states a single-entry maximum of 60 days.
Consular Short-Stay Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 30, 60 or 90 days; the page states the visa is non-transformable into long stay.
Tourist Visa Extension
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Extension up to a total of 90 days according to the reviewed eVisa FAQ.
Transformable Visa
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · One-month transformable visa, used as a bridge to long-stay status.
Long-Stay Investor Visa
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · EDBM fee bands cover stay periods from more than 3 months to 1 year through 5-10 years, definitive and duplicate categories.
Long-Stay Worker Visa
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · EDBM fee bands cover stay periods from more than 3 months to 1 year through 5-10 years, definitive and duplicate categories.
Work Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · A work authorisation route tied to the employment file; check the permit validity issued in the decision.
Long-Stay Family Reunification Visa
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · EDBM fee bands cover stay periods from more than 3 months to 1 year through 5-10 years, definitive and duplicate categories.
Long-Stay Study Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry visa is described as an immigrant 30-day visa transformable into long stay of more than 90 days.
Diplomatic and Courtesy Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Mission- or status-linked special visa; validity depends on the approved official purpose.
Company Creation for Foreign Investors
No sponsor · Non-settlement · EDBM states documents are delivered 2 days after payment if the file is complete.
Portuguese Republic (7)
D7 visa (passive income / retirement)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Initial 4-month entry visa; 2-year residence card renewable for 3 years; leads to permanent residence or citizenship after 5 years.
D8 visa (digital nomad / remote work)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Residence track: same 2+3 year pattern as D7, leading to permanent residence or citizenship.
D2 visa (entrepreneur / self-employment)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Same 2+3 year residence permit pattern; leads to permanent residence or citizenship after 5 years.
Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Initial 2-year residence renewable; very low physical-presence requirement (7 days in year 1, 14 in years 2 and 3).
D3 visa (highly qualified activity)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · 2+3 year pattern leading to permanent residence or citizenship.
Portuguese Student visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Programme length; annual renewal.
Family reunification (residence)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Matches sponsor's residence; leads to settlement.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Republic of Madagascar or Portuguese Republic?+
Republic of Madagascar’s Work Permit is the dominant skilled route; Portuguese Republic’s D3 visa (highly qualified activity) is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Republic of Madagascar or Portuguese Republic have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Republic of Madagascar has more: 6 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 5 for Portuguese Republic. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.