Residence & citizenship
Malagasy Citizenship by Naturalisation
The route to acquiring Malagasy nationality after a qualifying period of legal residence, or through marriage or descent, granting the full rights of citizenship.
Expert reviewed Official guidance referenced
Under review — check current rules
Residence-period thresholds (e.g. 5 years, or 2 years if born in Madagascar), marriage/descent provisions, gender distinctions and the dual-nationality rule must be verified against the current Malagasy nationality code; these are drawn from secondary sources, not an official government page, and no direct official statute URL was confirmed.
Important information
Immigration rules and fees can change. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the latest requirements on the official Madagascar government website before you apply.
On this page
- Official name
- Malagasy naturalisation (nationality code)
- Route type
- Citizenship / naturalisation
- Residence requirement
- Typically several years of legal residence (commonly cited as 5 years)
- Verify the current threshold in the nationality code
- Dual nationality
- Historically restricted; renunciation may be required
- Confirm current law
Who it is for
- Long-term legal residents seeking Malagasy nationality
- Spouses of Malagasy citizens and people with Malagasy descent, under the relevant provisions
Requirements
- A qualifying period of legal residence in Madagascar
- Good character and no disqualifying criminal record
- Good physical and mental health and evidence of self-sufficiency
- Understanding of the Malagasy language, customs and traditions
- Compliance with any renunciation-of-previous-nationality requirement
How to apply
- Maintain qualifying legal residence on a residence permit
- Submit a naturalisation application to the competent Malagasy authorities with supporting documents
- Await assessment against the nationality-code conditions
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.