LilBuster
American expat in Madagascar
Forum posts
59
Contacts
4
About me
American
Lives in Maroantsetra
Speaks English, French, Spanish, Betsimsaraka (Malagasy), and learning Dari
Registration: 13 May 2010
Has living abroad helped you become a better person? by Diksha
Hello everyone, As a member of the Expat.com community, you most probably haved lived and settled in one or more countries. Be it for your career, retirement or moving with your partner, leaving behind your comfort zone must have been a challenge. ...
I would have to say "yes" because it's been over 30 years now. I was inspired by the exchange students I met during high school, became one myself, joined the Peace Corps, then... I guess I'm not qualified to respond objectively ... Read More
Legal issues about an expat's body once deceased
What if you've expected to "live forever" and have not made any arrangements for your corpse after death? Do the Gasy just bury you somewhere? Or are you used for pig feed? Read More
What are the dos and don'ts of finding a job in Madagascar?
Greetings, First of all, depending on what you intend to do, a specific visa is needed. An Internet-based operation is not affected by local taxes. And the services here are good enough to be successful. Also, if this is the case, you only need to ... Read More
Citizenship and Land ownership
You don't want to be a citizen here. As mentioned, you cannot own property as a foreigner. Best advice: Look elsewhere. Read More
Stealing Bones by TropicAlex
On the news is another tomb-breaking story and once again the news reports from news reporters or anyone else is unable to give accurate information has to what these bones are used for and why they are taken. Do these bones travel outside the ...
Come on, does the ideas of of stealing and selling bones sound "rational" to nonChristian (albit they have done some rather honorific thins themselves)? Read More
Fast Food Malagasy by TropicAlex
For one thing there is no McDonalds, Burgerking, Pizza Hut, Chilly's or KFC though there was talk of KFC opening on Independence Ave some 5 years ago but I have not seen them. What is considered Fast food in Madagascar? And I am using the ...
There's a special this week on raton à la poison... Read More
Naturalisation and citizenship in Madagascar by Bhavna
Hello everyone, What are the requirements for acquiring citizenship in Madagascar? For example, length of residence, language requirements, employment etc.. What formalities are involved in the process? What is the policy on ...
Update on the visa renewal process: BEWARE!! When I left with my "Réponse Favorable" letter for my visa, a price was quoted in Euros. What exchange rate Euro-Ariary should be used? The banks use about 1EU=3300AR. On the street, ... Read More
Criminal background check
Oh-so-many years ago, when applying for a visa here, I recall that I got a background check off the Internet and it was acceptable. But don't ask me to remember the web site. You'll just have to do a search. Read More
Naturalisation and citizenship in Madagascar by Bhavna
Hello everyone, What are the requirements for acquiring citizenship in Madagascar? For example, length of residence, language requirements, employment etc.. What formalities are involved in the process? What is the policy on ...
Hi TropicAlex, One of the first times I visited my contact there, I went in armed with info fresh off the web site, and she told me directly not to trust it. This last time, she sent me down the hall to see a "latest" posting on the door ... Read More
Doing business in Madagascar by Julien
Hi, are foreign investors welcome in Madagascar? Is it complicated to register a company in Madagascar? What is the procedure? What is the corporate tax rate in Madagascar? Is it easy to recruit? Any advice you would share with ...
About ten years ago, I went through the process of setting up a small business (which unfortunately never took off), and I must say the EBDM was very helpful. But in retrospect, they never took into consideration that my visa was for ... Read More
Naturalisation and citizenship in Madagascar by Bhavna
Hello everyone, What are the requirements for acquiring citizenship in Madagascar? For example, length of residence, language requirements, employment etc.. What formalities are involved in the process? What is the policy on ...
I would like to think so, but as I was recently trying to renew my visa for the ten-year period, I was told that citizenship is handled by the Ministère de Justice. Worse yet, after I had deposited my dossier at the end of March, I was told ... Read More
Naturalisation and citizenship in Madagascar by Bhavna
Hello everyone, What are the requirements for acquiring citizenship in Madagascar? For example, length of residence, language requirements, employment etc.. What formalities are involved in the process? What is the policy on ...
I'm looking forward to this discussion because I didn't think a foreigner could obtain citizenship here. Read More
Having fun
Oh, Alex, I hope you keep waking up for years to come so you'll be ecstatic when you're 80! Fewaz, as TropicAlex mentioned, your definition of "fun" is key. There are plenty of bars in Tana, but you'll need some French, at ... Read More
Dealing with local merchants
I have found that local (small-scale) vendors really appreciate payment in small bills because they don't have the capacity to make change all day long. So, when I go to Tana and frequent Score or other large establishments, I only take 10.000Ar ... Read More
Marrying a Malagasy man
If you're not planning on being gainfully employed (i.e., salaried) in Madagascar (you can always get contracts in other countries), then you should look at the Malagasy embassy web site for the different types of visas, particularly ... Read More
Jack of all traits, Madagascar has none by TropicAlex
Under the post of is Madagascar a good place to retire. Well, that made me think of how we in the western world are encouraged to have several talents and areas of knowledge or the idea of being a Renaissance Man. If you plan on living in ...
I realize this is a bit late but, first of all, it's "jack of all trades", just FYI. Also, I have found that as an island, there is an "island" mentality here, that is to say, "I don't need anyone to tell me" ... Read More
NGOs ( ONGs ) and Missionaries in Madagascar by TropicAlex
What are their roles here in Madagascar, and how do they help make a better life for people of Madagascar.
FYI, I came across a site that talks about funding for projects in Madagascar, though more focused on environmental projects: http://mg.chm-cbd.net/ Read More
Climate Change by TropicAlex
I am interested in learning if other residents have seen a change of climate over the years. My 15 years in Mahajanga has shown me that the rains are later over the years, the cool weather lasts longer and into Nov and the winds continue into Nov ...
A little update concerning Maroantsetra and JIRAMA (JIro, RAno, MAdagascar, or Electricity, Water Madagascar): I used to call them just MA, because there were frequent electricity outages and there is no water system here (everybody gets water from ... Read More
emigrating to Madagascar from USA by WTroyC67
hello all! I am considering emigrating to Madagascar from USA in a year & would appreciate any assistance (things to expect, what to avoid) during this process. Thanks!
To add some details to TropicAlex's response: If you show up with no forethought, you can get a tourist visa that's only valid for 30 days. Then you have to leave as you cannot renew it here. But it may be enough for you to scout around to ... Read More
Money-Ariary, FMG, $$$ - Euros- GBP....etc by TropicAlex
Money Matters is certainly its own subject so will list this subject as a separate help group. How to use the local currency. Ex pats have a real challenge in figuring out the math when it comes to their currency and the Malagasy currency. First ...
Hi Alex, I have an account at the BOA in Maroantsetra, but I don't use ATMs in Madagascar. I just have to plan ahead to get the money from the US to my account here. The only place I use a credit card is in Tana (I'm not sure they'd ... Read More
Daily Lifestyle- Strategies- Hints- Secrets..... by TropicAlex
When Expats come to live in a new community they cling onto their own culture and customs as a safety net. I think we could discuss here how to explain to Expats who are here for work or on a pension or some who wish to seek a different lifestyle ...
Hi Alex, I really enjoy your posts, and have yet to find any that I disagree with. Happy New Year to you! Read More
Franco - phony
Hi Alex, As usual, I understand and agree with your point. I was in Tana at the start of Nov, and had a rendez-vous to pick up my driver's license yesterday (25 Nov), but I wanted to be as far away from Tana as possible during the ... Read More
weather news
I use mtotec.com, which covers the southern Indian Ocean. You can get satellite imagery of the region, or, if there is a looming storm, you can focus on that. Read More
Why choose an Ex-pat lifestyle by TropicAlex
Hello to all I am interested in why others have choose to live an ex-pat lifestyle. How did an ex-pat lifestyle begin for you? Why do you continue to live an ex-pat Lifestyle? Did some of you ex-pats return to your home country to find that ...
Hi Alex, I just came across this thread, and I'll try to keep it brief. When in high school, I used to hang around the exchange students (who were A LOT of fun) and, in fact, we hosted a Japanese guy with whom I am still in contact. Then, I was ... Read More
Internet service by TropicAlex
What internet service works best for you where you are located?
Hi Alex, No, I haven't heard of a WiFi for Orange, only Telma and Blueline. Read More
Internet service by TropicAlex
What internet service works best for you where you are located?
I use Orange via a USB drive purchased from them, and it does a good job, but only for my computer. If I want a connection on my phone, I have to pay for data service. Read More
NGOs ( ONGs ) and Missionaries in Madagascar by TropicAlex
What are their roles here in Madagascar, and how do they help make a better life for people of Madagascar.
Being secular, I'll avoid my vehement comments on missionaries and churches. However, I first came here with an international NGO, and depending on their programming, strategy and systems, they can make significant improvements to a weak system. ... Read More
Pets in Madagascar by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Many of us in Madagascar have four-legged friends. What about you? Do you have one or more pets? Share your experience with us! What are the formalities to import pets in Madagascar? What about pet adoption procedures in the ...
While growing up in the US, we always had dogs. I can't stand to see another one die, so we probably won't get another. Read More
Pets in Madagascar by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Many of us in Madagascar have four-legged friends. What about you? Do you have one or more pets? Share your experience with us! What are the formalities to import pets in Madagascar? What about pet adoption procedures in the ...
In this part of the island, the Malagasy seem to be very contra-vazaha. We used to have a super friendly cat that, as I have been told, became a meal for some family. We also had a dog that someone killed by feeding it a tainted sponge that got ... Read More
Biometric resident card by TropicAlex
Just return to Madagascar after three months and come to learn that I will need to go to Tana to get my Biometric resident card. I was able to go through the Tana airport with my resident visa in my passport, as my old resident plastic card has ...
Good info, Alex. I'll have to forward the link to the person in Tana who helped me and said that I should not believe what I see on the Internet, as it is probably outdated. In particular, I had pointed out that one about a free visa because of ... Read More
Biometric resident card by TropicAlex
Just return to Madagascar after three months and come to learn that I will need to go to Tana to get my Biometric resident card. I was able to go through the Tana airport with my resident visa in my passport, as my old resident plastic card has ...
Alex, Thanks very much for the reply. Yes, with the Ar. 200.000 "acceleration fee", I got my card within a week. I was really impressed with the IT setup that some foreign donor arranged for them. I've never seen a scanner as fast as ... Read More
Biometric resident card by TropicAlex
Just return to Madagascar after three months and come to learn that I will need to go to Tana to get my Biometric resident card. I was able to go through the Tana airport with my resident visa in my passport, as my old resident plastic card has ...
Wow! I felt really good about the help I was given in getting my bio card, but there was no mention of the 10+ years of marriage, even though a copy of the marriage act was imperative. Alex, can you be more specific, maybe even cite the code, that ... Read More
Your best business development ideas in Madagascar by Priscilla
Hi everyone, As a foreign entrepreneur, launching a business in Madagascar is a fantastic project and an exciting challenge. Some ideas are likely to succeed. Some others are promising but may not work as well as intended. In your opinion, ...
Unfortunately, my visa does not permit me to work here. However, several years ago, during a period of unemployment, I noticed that there were very few cyber cafés, and none that printed digital photos. My house is located near a few tourist ... Read More
Biometric resident card by TropicAlex
Just return to Madagascar after three months and come to learn that I will need to go to Tana to get my Biometric resident card. I was able to go through the Tana airport with my resident visa in my passport, as my old resident plastic card has ...
Alex, Excuse me for expressing costs in Ariary, but (I've not yet obtained the carte in my hands) the cost of the CR is AR 1.200.000, and the frais d'accélération was Ar. 200.000. There remains the "remerciement" to the ... Read More
Customer care in Madagascar by Priscilla
Hello everyone, The way customer services are handled can greatly affect your views on certain brands, products, companies or stores. As a consumer, it is important to get familiar with local practices regarding client assistance in Madagascar ...
I would agree with many of the points that Tropic Alex makes and that I forgot. Top among them is Air Madagascar, which has many nicknames because of their poor service. Unfortunately, there is only one other airline but it does not serve many ... Read More
Biometric resident card by TropicAlex
Just return to Madagascar after three months and come to learn that I will need to go to Tana to get my Biometric resident card. I was able to go through the Tana airport with my resident visa in my passport, as my old resident plastic card has ...
Alex, Through a French colleague in Maroantsetra, I found a person in the Ministry who has helped me tremendously in the process. You should be aware that the list of necessary documents on the Internet is not complete. For example, my visa is for ... Read More
Climate Change by TropicAlex
I am interested in learning if other residents have seen a change of climate over the years. My 15 years in Mahajanga has shown me that the rains are later over the years, the cool weather lasts longer and into Nov and the winds continue into Nov ...
I tend to agree with TropicAlex. I've noticed a change. I have lived in Maroantsetra (NE coast, in the armpit of MDG), for some ten years there. It used to be that, while it is consistently overcast and rainy, there used to be two weeks of ... Read More
Customer care in Madagascar by Priscilla
Hello everyone, The way customer services are handled can greatly affect your views on certain brands, products, companies or stores. As a consumer, it is important to get familiar with local practices regarding client assistance in Madagascar ...
Hello Priscilla, >I live in a small town in NE Madagascar,and they actually seem to do a decent job of customer service. The problem is the lack of products. If you are in the capital, there is quite an array from which to choose (though they ... Read More
Is that good idea to stay in Medagascar after retirement ? by sanju1972
i live in france, age 43 yrs old, at present Europe living financial conditions is very stressfull. I think to spend my remain life in Medagascar because there people speak english and french. and low cost living. can anybody guide in this matter ? ...
Greetings, It's interesting you have not received a response in six months. There are not many people that speak English here, but you can get by with French. There are also a lot of hassles in living here, unless you are going to toss money ... Read More
Biometric drivers license by TropicAlex
Who has applied for this license? What documents did you need, how much you paid and how long was the line? How long from application till license in hand? What was your experience and what did you learn from this process? Did you smile for your ...
Hi TropicAlex, Where exactly is the office you used to get the new license? When I received my first one, I was based in Antalaha, but the organization I worked for had the main office in Tana, so the licensed was issued from Tana. My US license ... Read More
Biometric drivers license by TropicAlex
Who has applied for this license? What documents did you need, how much you paid and how long was the line? How long from application till license in hand? What was your experience and what did you learn from this process? Did you smile for your ...
A question for you, TropicAlex: Is the license for a limited time and you are required to renew it, like a visa? I hold a license that has no expiration date. Thanks Read More
Sushi in Madagascar by LilBuster
Does anyone know of a restaurant that serves up decent (i.e., non-life-threatening) sushi in Madagascar? You would think that being an island with a large population of Asian descent that this might be easily found. Thanks!
I totally appreciate your response, Tropic Alex; you point out a couple of things I had not thought of. Best to you! Read More
Sushi in Madagascar by LilBuster
Does anyone know of a restaurant that serves up decent (i.e., non-life-threatening) sushi in Madagascar? You would think that being an island with a large population of Asian descent that this might be easily found. Thanks!
Hi mishcom, Thank you for the idea. I've had really good pesto there but haven't seen sushi. Maybe I haven't looked in the right places. I'll try next time thru Tana. Best, Read More
Sushi in Madagascar
Does anyone know of a restaurant that serves up decent (i.e., non-life-threatening) sushi in Madagascar? You would think that being an island with a large population of Asian descent that this might be easily found. Thanks! Read More
Which hotels have fast internet in tana?
Greetings, I would echo what mishcom said, though I would add that the room you get in relation to the location of the main router / server can make a huge difference. There may be trade-offs, such as being near the reception area or whether you ... Read More
Best cities to live in Madagascar by Julien
Hi, Its not always easy to decide in which area to settle in when moving to Madagascar. According to you, what are the best cites to live in? Which regions offer most of the job opportunities, a good quality of life, an affordable cost of ...
Hi, First of all, if you are thinking of coming to Madagascar for an extended stay, you should look at their embassy web site to figure out for which long-term visa you may be eligible. You can just get off the plane and pay for a 30-day, ... Read More
cost of daily expenses/food
I would like to comment on the statement by kutha that "you can just arrive" should be clarified. There are different types of visas that will determine how long you can stay. If you "just arrive" as a tourist, your stay will ... Read More
Working as a freelancer in Madagascar by Kenjee
Hi, A lot of expats dream of becoming self-employed: we would like to help you to make that dream come true. Can foreigners work as self-employed in Madagascar? What are the formalities to work as a freelancer? What are the pros and cons ...
Greetings, I don't know what you plan on doing ("freelance" what?), but you might want to scope out the demand for whatever it is. This may also affect the type of visa you apply for. They are a bit lax on follow-up, but it may catch ... Read More
Making phone calls in Madagascar
Greetings, I wouldn't even think of getting a landline here. The major mobile operators are Orange, Airtel and Telma. I connect to the Internet via the cell network and a USB modem. Coverage is pretty good and quite widespread, though there ... Read More
Safety in Madagascar by Christine
Hi, We would like to talk about a sensitive but important topic: do you feel safe in Madagascar? How would you define the level of safety in the country? Can you walk safely during the day and at night without any fear? Do you think ...
Greetings, I live in a small-ish town in NE Madagascar (Maroantsetra). I don't particularly feel in danger here, though our house was broken into, and I'm still in awe how the thieves got away with it while we, and our dog, slept. I have ... Read More
Selling household items by LilBuster
Greetings, It's getting time to move on. Aside from the selling price, you would have to pay shipping from Maroantsetra. I have for sale: -Set of golf clubs ($100 but negotiable) -Wonderful matching set of dining table + 4 chairs, side table ...
My bad! Sorry! For some reason, I think I tried "Classifieds" and did not find the right heading. Looking at it now, it's quite obvious! Again, apologies. Mark Read More
Selling household items
Greetings, It's getting time to move on. Aside from the selling price, you would have to pay shipping from Maroantsetra. I have for sale: -Set of golf clubs ($100 but negotiable) -Wonderful matching set of dining table + 4 chairs, side table ... Read More
marriage visa by Orfeas
The woman who will marry are from Antananarivo (we will stay about two years there, and then we will go to Greece) .. the air ticket will be simple, since I will not be returning to Germany .. I want to know if the marriage visa can be issued after ...
Hi Orfeas, If you use Google, you can find the different types of visas available to foreigners. In your case, it may be "Regroupement Familial" but you are not married yet, so that may complicate it. If you want a visa that will allow you to stay ... Read More