Extended Internship Visa (Visa de Stage Prolongé)

The Extended Internship Visa (Visa de Stage Prolongé) in Madagascar serves as a critical bridge for international talent seeking to integrate into the Malagasy professional and academic landscape for periods exceeding three months. Established to formalize the status of foreign nationals participating in structured training or professional development programs, this visa is rooted in Madagascar’s broader immigration framework, which seeks to balance national security with the promotion of knowledge transfer and international cooperation. By providing a clear, legal pathway for those pursuing long-term placements, the visa fills a significant regulatory gap that previously left long-term trainees in a precarious status, often reliant on short-term tourist permits that were insufficient for professional engagement. This visa is a testament to the country’s commitment to fostering bilateral educational exchanges and professional capacity building, ensuring that foreign participants are properly documented and authorized to contribute to local organizations, research institutions, and private enterprises under the protection of Malagasy labor and immigration law.

The ideal applicant for this visa is a student or early-career professional who has secured a formal placement with a recognized Malagasy organization, NGO, or academic institution and requires a stable, long-term legal presence to complete their training. While the visa is broad in its application, it is particularly suited for those in specialized fields such as environmental research, international development, public health, and technical vocational training, where hands-on experience within a local context is essential. What distinguishes this visa from standard work permits or tourist visas is its "transformable" nature; it is specifically designed to accommodate the unique timeline of academic and professional internships, offering a streamlined process that prioritizes the applicant’s educational goals over the complexities of traditional employment-based sponsorship. While the visa is highly accessible, with a modest fee of 32 EUR and a straightforward documentation requirement—primarily a valid passport, proof of student status, and a signed internship agreement—it is limited strictly to the duration of the training program. This ensures that the visa remains a tool for legitimate educational advancement rather than a substitute for long-term residency or permanent employment, providing a secure, temporary framework for international participants to gain invaluable experience while adhering to the regulatory standards of the Malagasy state.