Madagascar: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
9 harbours
Madagascar: 9 harbours, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Malagasy ariary
Clearing in: Clear in at Nosy Be (Hell-Ville), Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) or Mahajanga with the harbour office of the Agence Portuaire, Maritime et Fluviale (APMF), customs, the police (immigration) and the health office. The APMF issues a permit for cruising along the coast; report in every port with a harbour office.
Ausreise: Before leaving, clear out with the harbour office, customs and the police.
Documents: Passport valid for six months; visa in advance as an e-visa or on arrival (up to 90 days). Ship's papers, crew list, clearance from the last port, yellow fever vaccination when arriving from a yellow fever area.
Fees: APMF fees for clearance and coastal cruising, plus fees at customs, police and the health office; amounts vary, ask for a receipt. Entry to the marine reserves.
Fairway: The charts are old and in places offset by several hundred metres; many reefs, sandbanks and fishing nets without lights: approach only in daylight. Off the northern tip at Cap d'Ambre strong southeast trades (Varatraza) with rough seas from May to October, in the northwest an afternoon sea breeze. Tidal range up to about 4 m off Nosy Be, up to 4.5 m at Mahajanga.
Nature: Marine reserves Nosy Tanikely and Nosy Hara: anchoring on coral and fishing prohibited. Lemurs and forests on Nosy Komba and in the northwest are protected.
Tropical storm season: Cyclone season from 15 November to 30 April; the northwest around Nosy Be lies on the track less often than the east coast, but cyclones also pass through the Mozambique Channel.
Emergency: 117 police, 118 fire brigade; rescue coordination via VHF channel 16.
Sources: Auswärtiges Amt: Madagascar, travel and safety advice, Agence Portuaire, Maritime et Fluviale (APMF), Noonsite: Madagascar (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Madagascar: Ampasindava and the Radama Islands (Russian Bay)
Madagascar: Diego Suarez (Antsiranana)
Madagascar: Mahajanga
Madagascar: Nosy Be, Nosy Komba and Nosy Mitsio
Frequently asked questions
Madagascar: Do I need to clear in?
Clear in at Nosy Be (Hell-Ville), Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) or Mahajanga with the harbour office of the Agence Portuaire, Maritime et Fluviale (APMF), customs, the police (immigration) and the health office. The APMF issues a permit for cruising along the coast; report in every port with a harbour office.
Madagascar: Which documents do I need on board?
Passport valid for six months; visa in advance as an e-visa or on arrival (up to 90 days). Ship's papers, crew list, clearance from the last port, yellow fever vaccination when arriving from a yellow fever area.
Madagascar: What fees apply?
APMF fees for clearance and coastal cruising, plus fees at customs, police and the health office; amounts vary, ask for a receipt. Entry to the marine reserves.
Madagascar: What is the emergency number at sea?
117 police, 118 fire brigade; rescue coordination via VHF channel 16.
Madagascar: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 9 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning.