Certified Malagasy & French Document Translation

We translate all types of Malagasy official documents including actes de naissance (kopia teraka / birth certificates), actes de mariage (kopia fanambadiana / marriage certificates), actes de décès (death certificates), casiers judiciaires (police clearance), certificats de célibat (single status certificates), diplomas and transcripts from the Université d'Antananarivo and other Malagasy universities, Baccalauréat certificates, livrets de famille, court orders, notarial acts, land registry documents, and business registration documents. We handle documents in both French and Malagasy (Fiteny Malagasy).

Yes. Every DoVisa translation includes a signed certification statement attesting to the accuracy and completeness of the translation. Our certified translations of Malagasy documents are accepted by USCIS (United States), UK Visas and Immigration, IRCC (Canada), the Australian Department of Home Affairs, and credential evaluation agencies including WES. Foreign embassies and high commissions in Antananarivo also accept our certified translations for visa and consular processing.

Standard delivery is 4-6 business days for most Malagasy document types. Express 2-3 day service and rush 24-hour service are available for select document types. If you also need notarization and Ministère des Affaires Étrangères authentication for the consular legalization chain, add 10-20 business days depending on the destination embassy's processing speed.

French is the language of state administration and official document production in Madagascar, reflecting the country's colonial history and continued Francophonie membership. All état civil documents — actes de naissance, actes de mariage, actes de décès — and academic certificates are issued in French. Community-level documents from fokontany offices in rural areas may be in Malagasy. DoVisa translates from both French and Malagasy into over 100 target languages. The most common translation is French-to-English for US, UK, Canadian, and Australian immigration applications.

No. Madagascar is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so Malagasy documents cannot receive an apostille. Instead, documents intended for international use require full consular legalization: (1) notarization by a Malagasy notaire, (2) authentication by the Ministère des Affaires Étrangères in Antananarivo, and (3) legalization at the destination country's embassy. This typically takes 10-20 business days. DoVisa manages the complete chain on your behalf.

For most immigration applications to the US (USCIS), UK, Canada (IRCC), and Australia, a certified translation alone is sufficient. Notarization by a Malagasy notaire is required only when: (a) the destination authority specifically requests it, or (b) you need the full consular legalization chain. DoVisa advises on whether notarization is needed for your specific destination and coordinates it when required through our notaire contacts in Antananarivo.

Madagascar adopted the LMD (Licence-Master-Doctorat) higher education framework, aligned with the European Bologna Process. Under this system: Licence (3 years) is equivalent to a bachelor's degree, Master (2 additional years) is equivalent to a master's degree, and Doctorat (3 additional years) is a research doctorate. Before LMD adoption, Malagasy universities used the old French system: DEUG (2 years), Licence (3 years), Maîtrise (4 years), DEA (5 years), and Doctorat. When translating credentials from either system, our translators provide clear level equivalency explanations that credential evaluation bodies such as WES require for international recognition.

DoVisa's Madagascar translation pricing follows a per-page structure with volume discounts that apply automatically for larger orders. Pricing varies by language pair, document type, and processing speed selected. Express and rush service options are available at additional cost. Notarization and Ministère des Affaires Étrangères authentication fees are quoted separately when required. Upload your documents on our order page for an instant quote — no hidden fees and no obligation before you confirm.

Yes. While most official Malagasy state documents are in French, some community-level records — particularly fokontany certificates, customary land documents, and certain church records — are written in Malagasy (Fiteny Malagasy). Malagasy is an Austronesian language using the Latin alphabet with its own orthographic conventions. DoVisa maintains translators proficient in written Malagasy for documents produced in the national language, ensuring accurate translation of Malagasy personal names, place names, and administrative terminology alongside any French content in the same document.

Yes. Some Malagasy état civil records — particularly from rural fokontany offices and older commune registries — contain handwritten entries. Our translators are experienced with French and Malagasy administrative handwriting styles used in Madagascar's civil registry offices. Any illegible sections are clearly marked [illisible / illegible] in the translation and noted in the certification statement. If a scan is too unclear to translate reliably, we contact you within 2 hours to request a clearer image or discuss alternatives.

All translations are delivered as high-resolution digitally signed PDFs via email, including the complete translation and the translator's signed certification statement. For translations requiring physical hard copies — particularly for the consular legalization chain or court submissions — we dispatch originals with original ink signatures via tracked international courier to your address in Madagascar or abroad.

Yes. Madagascar's strategic position in the Indian Ocean and its extensive coastline make it a significant maritime nation with a substantial fishing industry and a growing merchant fleet. Seafarer certificates of competency, ship registration documents, fishing licences, port authority clearances, and marine survey certificates from Malagasy authorities frequently require certified translation for international shipping companies, port state control authorities, and flag state administrations. Our maritime translation team handles the specialized terminology of Malagasy maritime law, fishing regulation, and port administration, delivering translations accepted by international maritime authorities worldwide.