Franco-Malagasy wedding in France or Madagascar?

Hello!!!!!🙂

Congrats on this new Franco-Malagasy wedding—it’s always lovely to hear about these things!!!!😉

I haven’t been through this myself yet, so I can’t give you an answer, but others will definitely chime in!!!!🙂

Best,

Hey, what you're saying is correct, except that if things are done by the book in Madagascar after the wedding there and registration at the consulate, it takes between 2 to 6 months depending on each person's situation.

If she's in France and you get married during her stay, the fact that she has the right to stay in France isn't automatic—you're taking a risk that the residency paperwork might take longer than her tourist visa expires. To avoid complications, she’d have to return to Madagascar, and you’d need to go there too for the consulate paperwork.

Hope I explained myself clearly!

Hi there, We got married abroad (neither in Madagascar nor in France), so I won’t have answers based on personal experience. However, to get married in Madagascar, you’ll need to go through the consulate (certificate of capacity to marry) first, then have the wedding at a Malagasy town hall, and finally return to the consulate to finalize the file. It’s quite a long process, and be careful—you’ll often face a few hurdles to prove it’s not a sham marriage. Attendance isn’t mandatory throughout, though.

For France, I think I’ve heard that even if the marriage takes place abroad and follows all the rules, there’s now a mandatory return to Madagascar for the Malagasy spouse before coming back to France. To be confirmed, as immigration laws change rapidly and always in the direction of greater strictness and difficulty. But given the current situation, it doesn’t seem impossible. Good luck!

Hello, We got married abroad (neither in Madagascar nor in France), so I won’t have answers based on personal experience. However, to get married in Madagascar, you have to go through the consulate (certificate of capacity to marry) first, then get married at a Malagasy town hall, and finally return to the consulate to finalize the file. It’s quite a long process, and be careful—you often have to deal with a few traps to prove it’s not a sham marriage. However, your presence isn’t required the whole time.

For France, I think I’ve heard that even if the marriage takes place abroad and follows all the rules, there would still be a mandatory return to Madagascar for the Malagasy spouse before coming back to France. To be confirmed, as immigration laws change rapidly and always in the direction of greater strictness and difficulty. But given the current situation, it doesn’t seem impossible. Good luck!

Hey!!!

About a Franco-Malagasy marriage, I have the experience of my Malagasy girlfriend’s sister who got married in just a month. Her boyfriend from France came to Toamasina (Tamatave), and of course, they stayed for 4 weeks on-site. He came back married, and now he’s just waiting for his wife to get her visa—shouldn’t be a problem anymore!!!!!😉

Later!

Thanks for your reply and to everyone else. Yes, indeed, the marriage was done by the book and everything was respected, including the commitment to return to Madagascar. So, the best solution left for us is to get married in Madagascar and also wait a few months for the final approval so she can come back here. Thanks to all!

Hey Yvon, I just read your message and I can help you out since I got married in Madagascar in 2006 to a Malagasy woman, and we just moved back to France in Annecy.

To get married in Madagascar, you need to go to the French embassy and publish the banns (40 days before the wedding), then get married at a town hall, and finally go back to the embassy for the marriage transcription (which is basically the legalization into a French civil marriage). This transcription process can take several months (around 3 to 6 months).

Also, my Malagasy mother-in-law just got married to a French guy. If you want more details, send me an email.

Plus, my wife knows a Malagasy woman who got married to a French guy in France last year on a tourist visa, and she didn’t have to go back to Madagascar for paperwork, so check with the town hall or prefecture for info.

See you soon,

Antoine

thanks for your message, I’ll send you my email: yvon.brunet@orange.fr. Yeah, I do need some info because I’m thinking of going to Madagascar for 15 days, and if my girlfriend can get the paperwork done before that, it’d be a big plus. My number is 0611418371

Good evening, what’s the issue for a French person who wants to marry a Malagasy woman and then live in Madagascar after the marriage is done at the French consulate in Tana? We often hear about bringing the wife to France, but never the other way around—about the husband staying there—even though we could easily live in this beautiful country. I’d really appreciate an answer, thanks in advance. Also, I have a lot to do on the humanitarian front, which is another reason I want to stay in Madagascar when I come.

several options if you're retired, no problem—you need to apply for a long-stay visa at the interior security office with a certificate of permanent bank transfer for part of your pension to an account in Madagascar then after that, apply for residency and finally registration (if you want it at the consulate) if you're not retired, it's a bit more complicated—you need to be an investor (the amount isn’t huge but it’s changed, I don’t remember the exact figure), then set up a business, meaning you need an income there, and after that apply for residency but marrying a Malagasy person isn’t enough to get permanent residency (in principle)

Thanks for the reply about the matter—no problem making it happen since it’s in the works and the venue is already ready. For the retirement, it’ll be in December, but I won’t be twiddling my thumbs because I’ve also got my humanitarian association to run, so I have no intention of returning to France once I’m settled in Madagascar.

Given your thoughtful tone, I can tell you’re full of good advice, and I hope we’ll have the chance to meet when I arrive.

Just a heads-up: the avatar (the photo under my username) isn’t me—it’s Sankara, the former president of Burkina Faso (also called the African "Che"). He’s highly respected in Africa, and he actually finished his studies at the military school in Antsirabe, Madagascar.

These two countries mean a lot to me personally, especially since this president is one of the rare African leaders who didn’t get rich off the people before being assassinated after just four years in office.

As for me, I’m from the southwest of France, but my paternal family lived a lot in Africa.

See you around!

I traveled to Burkina and loved it. I’m aware of the assassination, and I have family in the southwest. We have some things in common—what a coincidence! I actually made a small site with photos I brought back from Burkina. It’s about my association, but I’m not sure if we can discuss it here.

hi You can add your website to your profile and also include it in your signature. For my part, I spent my childhood in Bobo-Dioulasso. DM me for the rest

Okay, I'll do that if I can, and we'll see how it turns out. There's a huge need for these people, especially the children.

Hi, I’m chiming in but can’t offer a very precise answer. I got married there in 08/2003, and my wife had a lot of administrative hassles (visa/consulate) to join me, especially because of our two kids—one of whom wasn’t recognized (she’d had him with another *vazaha*). I had to handle a lot of paperwork on the ground to move the file forward—luckily, I stayed a whole month in August. We even had to get the Malagasy court and various influential people involved (backshish...) and put pressure on both sides—me in France and her at the consulate—so she could finally join me after two months...

Another friend in Savoie got married in France (2003) while his partner’s tourist visa was still valid. He had a terrible time afterward (hiring a well-known lawyer, among other things, and thanks to the fact they already had two kids born in Tana and registered as French) to avoid her having to go back and return one or two months later once the situation was sorted. But that was before Sarkozy’s new laws!!!

In 2006, I helped a friend with all the formalities when he was introduced to a cousin of my wife to marry in Tana. This was because he had a very basic education level, no internet, and no clue about administrative hassles. Just to give you an idea: he’d neglected to account for the time needed to publish the banns, leaving less than 15 days before the wedding—which is totally insufficient. Still, I managed to plead his case (putting myself in his shoes) with the civil status officer at the Tana consulate and got an exemption for him regarding the legal deadline. I handled all the steps for him via email (not official mail) and made sure he could get married on the planned date. (Though I didn’t think it’d be possible to get such an exemption, as anti-immigration laws were starting to tighten.) His wife joined him about two months later, partly because they had a Malagasy child.

Sorry I don’t have more recent info—just older experiences from when the laws were less strict. Velouma

Thanks for your messages. For us, my future Malagasy wife doesn’t have any children in Madagascar or elsewhere, which might help with our paperwork. However, regarding the *banns*, I contacted the Malagasy consulate in Lyon, and they told me that banns in Madagascar’s town halls aren’t required. So, it’s true there are lots of rumors and conflicting info, but I’m ready to hear more to move forward in the best conditions. Thanks again, and if you have any info, don’t hesitate!

Good evening, Regarding the banns, it's mainly the French authorities/Consulate that require publication in the French town hall (of the groom!) well in advance, as well as in the Malagasy town hall (this seems to be less important). At the time, we found all the useful information on the various French Government and French Consulate websites, under the info on mixed marriages. You should still be able to find all the useful details there. Don’t try to "twist the arm" of the French authorities regarding all these legal obligations—make sure you get well informed beforehand. I managed to plead my friend’s case (by pretending to be him...) and obtained an exemption for him regarding the legal deadline for these banns, but I think his marriage wouldn’t have been "validated" by the consulate without a refusal of exemption for this legal deadline. The French government can’t stop you from marrying a foreigner in her country, but they’re not obliged to grant her a visa afterward so she can join you!!! In the neighboring town, we know some people who married their partner in Africa in a local town hall, and they still haven’t managed to regularize the situation almost 2 years later—she’s still over there. The current rules seem even stricter than for my marriage (2003). So make sure to get exact information from the competent authorities and RESPECT THE PROCEDURES! Velouma

Hi there, I don’t know how things work in Madagascar, but in France, the banns are mainly published at the town hall of your place of residence. If you get married in Madagascar, you’ll do it at your future spouse’s town hall. Before that, you’ll definitely need all the necessary documents. If you go to the consulate, just so you know, a consul is basically the same as a mayor of a small town of 2,000 people in France—so don’t be intimidated by the title "consul." Just make sure you’re in order, and everything else will go smoothly.

It's better to follow the procedures because in the end, it works out for the best. Avoid people who say they know someone who can save you time: that’s a sure way to lose money for absolutely nothing.

hi

I got married in 2006 and didn’t publish the banns in Madagascar at the embassy in Tana because it wasn’t required back then, but since June 2006, you have to publish the banns at the embassy 40 days before the wedding. I know this because my Malagasy mother-in-law married a Frenchman in March 2008 in Tana. Here’s my email: islandtwin82@hotmail.com

Yeah, I know you're right, but in recent years the regulations change really often. So my recommendation: make sure to check with the consulate in Tana and also with the Malagasy administration, and above all, do things by the book—especially avoid any "shortcuts" that are just ways to take your money. If you gather all the paperwork, it takes about 6 months on average. But it’s worth it, and it has the advantage of getting to know your wife, her family, and Madagascar better. I’ll always be shocked to see guys who want to get married after meeting their future wife online and spending only 3 weeks in Madagascar—it’s mind-blowing! You don’t get married like you’re buying a TV, come on!

I just got a reply from the Malagasy embassy in Paris saying that benches in Madagascar aren’t required.

If all those seeking "happiness" could follow your advice, it would avoid seeing all these unions that fall apart just long enough to get a long-term visa or, the cherry on top, French nationality—some kind of merit-based promotion...

I’m simply observing, since everyone is free to make their own choices and judgments, how many of these unions are rushed into, as if the suitor were afraid someone might steal their spot (in Madagascar, you’re never cheated on, but you can lose your place...). The *mora mora* ("take it easy") approach is replaced in this context by *faingana* ("hurry up").

How many mismatched couples do we see here and there, making you wonder how long these partnerships will last?

You can’t help but think of those girls from Diego who are glued to the internet, searching for a potential husband, since back home, that’s the only future they can be offered! And since some of them struggle with French, it’s often a one-eyed Malagasy guy who acts as the public scribe, sending fiery love letters to suitors mesmerized by the beauty on their screen...

And really, you don’t get married like you do your weekend grocery shopping—it all requires more thought and life experience. But as they say, the paths of love are mysterious, after all!

Hey, You're totally right—I answer calls or messages in my association here in Bordeaux and I always say the same thing. But you know how people only hear what they *want* to hear—it’s the same with travel! I talk about security issues, cyclone season, settling in Madagascar, or getting married there, but sometimes you just can’t make people happy against their will. That’s life. For my part, knowing the country, I know what I’m talking about—I’ve seen so many problems...

But on the other hand, since the failure rate for Franco-French marriages is already 50%, and these guys have often already tasted marital failure, they’re not afraid anymore. And I have to admit, on that front—being married to my Breton wife for almost 40 years—I might be a bit of an outlier compared to all those guys.

But I think I owe them the truth, after all... It’s up to them to decide—they’re often more than three times legal age 😉

Good evening, I’m coming back to this forum because I don’t think you took my warnings seriously: you don’t ask Malagasy consulates or embassies what to do to be in order (especially regarding bans!...) but the French Consulate! I think that, just like in my wedding days (2003) or when I handled all the paperwork and steps for my friend in early 2006, you’ll find all the useful (AND TRUE!) information on the French Government’s websites. It’s only by following the French procedure that your file has a chance of succeeding!!! and your loved one’s visa has a chance of being issued. I’ve seen in my case and my friend’s that Malagasy authorities (even at the highest level: minister, MP, customs chief...) aren’t always good advisors..... Good luck and *velouma*

I confirm and I’ll even emphasize what you’re saying— don’t even try to listen to "hearsay" or people who know someone who knows someone. Get the paperwork done at the French consulate and get married at a *gasy* town hall, then register it at the French consulate in Tana!

You know, people think we're exaggerating or off-base, but like you said so well, we've met so many people who’ve been disillusioned or broken by bad experiences where they lost both their dreams and money, leading to failures that don’t help anyone—neither others nor themselves—since often, they just repeat the same mistakes! Sometimes you wonder if some people’s brains are actually in their heads... Of course, there are success stories too, but they’re often downplayed. My point isn’t to be defeatist or take sides, but just to say, like you did, "guys, be careful—this stuff requires thought and a little patience, use some common sense!" But it’s true that the truth isn’t always easy to hear...

In response to Mesrob... I wanted to give only practical advice, not more PHILOSOPHICAL advice, or let's say more 'DOWN-to-earth' stuff, but it's true that many rush headlong into disaster... getting carried away and diving in without thinking. I made my marriage work (at least for the past 6 years!) by not rushing, by marrying my Malagasy wife after several trips there over 1.5 years, and by being aware that apart from the age difference (I didn’t fall into the excesses of some I know where 30/40 years or MORE separate them...), a cultural gap divides us (my wife is, for example, very Catholic but believes in lots of things close to Voodoo, or that would make any *Vazaha* laugh, not to mention the taboos/fady...) On the other hand, the friend I helped get married in 2006 (against my better judgment, since I told him to wait and get to know his future wife better) is getting divorced this month... the writing was on the wall. I didn’t warn him for nothing... but they were in a hurry, especially her, who believed in the French mirage! I wanted to avoid talking about it so as not to discourage future grooms... Velouma

It's always really interesting when people like you share their experiences to show readers of this section that my posts aren't biased in any way...

It's just bad timing for our friend who's asking for information on this topic, but he quickly understood that my posts weren't meant for him at all, and I truly wish him all the best for his success and happiness with his future wife.

But how many people talk about marriage after just two or three days of knowing each other? It's inexplicable... and as you pointed out, there's the cultural gap, sometimes the social one too, not to mention the generational differences... it's tough to handle. Then there's life in France or elsewhere, which is so different from the warm Malagasy way of life, where daily life is more outward-focused, while here we live in our homes without even knowing our neighbors...

There's also that contagious euphoria that takes hold of every visitor upon arrival, making it hard to stay clear-headed. All of this can cloud judgment, which should, more than in other situations, remain a little reserved before making such a commitment. But that's just how Madagascar is, and there's nothing we can do about it!

Thanks for this info. So, my friend actually went to ask at the French consulate in Madagascar, and I called the French consulate in Lyon. We’ll still look into it again and get it all explained to be sure. Thanks in the meantime!

Who said love makes you stupid? Unfortunately, it's true. I get it with no problem when it comes to young people under 25 who have no experience, but when it comes to men (or women—same issue, like those going to Senegal, for example) over 45 or 55, most of whom aren’t on their first rodeo and have already had failures, you see the same pattern in guys who’ve just broken up and are convinced that moving to Madagascar is "awesome" and "easy." They open a hotel or restaurant without even having ever done their own grocery shopping in France. It’s pathetic, and then they charge prices that are just ridiculous. Hospitality is a profession like any other where at least a minimum of competence is necessary. If I’ve done a success-to-failure ratio over 20 years, even a borderline one, it’s about 1 in 40. But of course, they’re all convinced they’re *the* one. Too often, they act on impulse and without a viable business plan. The best way for a *vazaha* to live in Madagascar is to be retired and live there while doing something where the financial return isn’t important—and if you’re alone, maybe take your time to find a partner. But this is a reasoned reflection, and men who go to Madagascar are rarely driven by reason—or at least not the kind that’s in their head ;)

Hello, Glad to see you're listening to reason... just one thing: in my opinion, in Lyon you contacted the Malagasy Consulate, not the French one, right!? Another tip: town halls, even in small towns like my friend's (Crest in the Drôme), can provide tons of useful information and help as much as possible with paperwork, as long as you run into the right person in the civil registry (i.e., someone who isn’t reluctant about mixed marriages!). In my friend’s case, a young man was reluctant and didn’t help much (quite the opposite!), but an older woman, working different hours, bent over backwards to help with the file, including getting a waiver for the banns not being published on time. We gave the lady in charge of the civil registry at the Tana consulate her contact details and work hours so they could finalize the steps by phone and email between them, rather than through official mail, which is much slower... Good luck with your plans, and I hope you’ve thought it through carefully. Apparently, your future wife has already visited you in France, so she knows the reality of things here. Too many Malagasy women believe France is paradise—most people in Madagascar think *Vazaha* find money under their pillows every morning!!!! As for mine, I had thoroughly informed her about the reality of things: the difficulties of life (without forgetting to mention the climate, which is a huge shock—she left Tana at +29°C in late October while pregnant and had a baptism by fire with a rare -6°C at Roissy when she arrived!), unemployment... (she’s right in the thick of it now!!!) and a harder life because back home she had a little maid at home, housed, fed, and very poorly paid, who slept in the kids’ room and took care of the two *zazas*. Here in France, of course, we have to manage alone with three *zazas* going to three different schools at different times! Once again, good luck with your paperwork, and all the best to you both! Velouma

Good luck with your plans—I hope you’ve thought it through carefully. It seems your future wife has already visited you in France, so she knows what things are really like here. Too many Malagasy women believe France is paradise, with most people in Madagascar thinking *Vazaha* find money under their pillows every morning!!!!

With mine, I made sure to explain the reality: the difficulties of life (not to mention the climate shock—she left Tana at +29°C in late October while pregnant and got a rude awakening with a rare -6°C at Roissy on arrival!), unemployment... (she’s dealing with that now!!!), and the harder daily life. Back home, she had a young maid at home—housed, fed, and paid very little—who slept in the kids’ room and took care of the two *zazas*. Here in France, of course, you’re on your own managing three *zazas* in three different schools with different schedules!

Again, good luck with your paperwork, and all the best to you both! Velouma

Hey Patounet!!!

Everything you said is spot-on. Like you mentioned, it’s absolutely essential to prepare them for what they’ll face in France—especially the climate, the fact that money doesn’t just appear (we have to work for it!), and how expensive life is here. I’ve had these conversations with mine, who’s still in Madagascar, over the internet, of course. She’s not naive—far from it. I don’t sugarcoat things, but she understands. Warning them upfront is a sign of respect. And when you talk about how easy it is back home to have a young girl handle all the housework, you’re totally right. In Madagascar, you just feed them, and you’ve got someone taking care of everything. But be careful—sometimes in Tana, maids can even become accomplices to thieves!!!!!

So, you’ve got to explain everything clearly. After that, if you’re sure (though you can never be *completely* sure), you can get married and handle the paperwork so she can join you in France!

One more thing—sometimes I read about *Vazaha* who’ve never even been to Madagascar or lived with their future wives, rushing into marriages. That really surprises me. A good Malagasy woman can wait—she’s capable of that!!!! But watch out: some lead double lives. They’ve got a *Vazaha* in France waiting for them, while back home, they’re flirting with a Malagasy guy. Infidelity exists here too, though! So, you’ve got to have a good instinct—and a bit of luck to find the right one!!!

Cheers,

Hello and happy Easter weekend, I'm glad to see you agree and that you're doing the same as I did by making sure your future wife is well aware of the reality of things here. A good part of failures is undoubtedly due to this lack of information for the "bride-to-be" about these matters; they believe too much in paradise... and fall from a great height!!!!! Not to mention what you mentioned, i.e., those who get married without even knowing each other, or knowing each other so little (like my friend who's getting divorced!!!). On the other hand, a positive point I hadn’t considered when bringing my wife and the kids to France: I had told her, "You know, I live in a small countryside village, and while in the city (especially Paris...) you have every chance of seeing people/women from your country, it’ll be different where we live...." Well, it’s not true! Just in my small town, there are 2 mixed couples, and we regularly come across Malagasy people of both genders (more women, it’s true...) even in remote areas, which helped her integrate. Plus, in our region, there’s a museum run by a Malagasy woman about Madagascar/art & traditions, which organizes a few dance evenings/meals per year where Malagasy and mixed couples meet (we haven’t been yet due to incompatible schedules...). Right now, like every year, there’s a big Malagasy gathering in Vichy. It’s true that they’re also surprised by the coldness and lack of contact, even between neighbors.... In my case, it’s her who’s very outgoing and easy to get along with, and in a short time, she’s met more people than I have and introduced me to neighbors I only knew by sight (I’d only arrived in this town a few months before her). It’s true that having kids in school helps with making contacts... Bravo to everyone for this forum, which I’ve only recently discovered. Actually, I’m pretty swamped at the moment, but I’m getting into the swing of wanting to (try to) help out, even though I originally signed up to ask for tips for my future trip to Madagascar, because things must have changed a lot since mid-2003. Velouma

The funny side of this story is that it’s always the same types of people who speak in unison (those with experience or knowledge). How many times have you seen those little disapproving side-smiles when you bring something up...

It’s also worth noting that Malagasy women often seem docile and attentive to their partners at first, but after those unforgettable nights, their personalities assert themselves, and things change—often, the one ‘wearing the pants’ isn’t who you’d expect!

But there’s also the irresistible allure of the natural charm these women exude, leaving our fellow countrymen defenseless and willing to do anything to hold onto the little gem of their dreams and fantasies...

Paradoxically, you have people like me and others who travel alone, and Malagasy locals openly ask why we don’t bring women up to our rooms... The idea is deeply ingrained in Malagasy culture that a lonely *vahaza* (foreigner) is on the lookout for women—the current image of tourism in Madagascar is shaped by this, and it’s good to be aware of it!

To wrap up this post, I’d like to recommend two books for those passionate about this recurring topic: 1. *Chronique d’une passion malgache* by Jean-Maurice Comte (L’Harmattan) 2. *Le Vahaza* by Ferdinand Deleris (same publisher)

Hello again, Another point to discuss... even if it's a bit "crassly" material, I myself was burned by the financial consequences of my French divorce under community property (and yes, when you're self-employed, you "take a hit"!), which are still being felt 7 years later. I took precautions by signing a prenuptial agreement (separation of assets) in front of a notary in Tana (basic prudence!!!). So far, so good, but "once burned, twice shy"—you never know. A friend of mine, married in 2006 and now divorcing without this precaution, is in for a rough time, as his wife is demanding a hefty alimony, claiming she's unemployed with a child (a Malagasy one, not his!) after having "taken" and shipped off to Tana everything of value in their apartment, plus the car she had put in her name!!!

She may not win her case, especially since she doesn't yet have citizenship, with the new rules.

This contract should be planned in advance, with both parties present for the signing in front of a Malagasy notary (with her, and that was a bit tricky with mine—had to be very diplomatic...). If needed, I still have the contact info for mine—nice guy and not expensive (100,000 FMG in 2006!). His email is available (ask via PM). The contract should be mentioned during the Malagasy civil marriage ceremony in Tana (you specify that a contract exists without detailing it), then validated at the consulate.

Another interesting point, though according to my latest info, it's no longer possible: having your future wife take her driver’s license in Tana (I say *take*, not *buy*—which was a common practice!!) and then getting it validated in France. I had my wife do this, and her cousin in 2006 also got her Malagasy license validated as a French one—at the prefecture and free of charge, if I remember correctly. I’m talking about validating an ordinary Malagasy license, whereas many Malagasy people claim you need an international license to do so and charge money to obtain it. Many Malagasy women later struggle to get a license in France due to the cost and difficulty! Check with the prefecture, as it seems this is no longer possible...

In any case, be aware that in this scenario, they’re often far from being at the required level! In my wife’s case, she managed to total a car in "accompanied driving" mode with me beside her, and I had to resign myself to booking about ten hours of driving school!

Velouma

The funny side of this story is that it's always the same profiles of people who speak with one voice (those who have experience or knowledge). How many times do you see those little disapproving side smiles at what you're saying... It's also worth noting that Malagasy women often seem docile and attentive to their partners at first, but after those unforgettable nights, their personalities assert themselves, and things often change—sometimes the one wearing the pants isn’t who you’d expect! But there’s also the irresistible charm these women naturally exude, leaving our fellow countrymen defenseless and willing to do anything to keep the little gem of their dreams and fantasies... Paradoxically, you have people like me and others who travel alone, and Malagasy people openly ask why we don’t bring women up to our rooms... The idea is ingrained in Malagasy culture that a lonely *vahaza* (foreigner) is on the lookout for women. That’s the current image of tourism in Madagascar, and it’s important to know! To wrap up this post, I’d like to recommend two books for those passionate about this recurring topic: 1. *Chronique d'une passion malgache* by Jean-Maurice Comte (L’Harmattan) 2. *Le Vahaza* by Ferdinand Deleris (same publisher)

Hey Mesrob !!! Thanks for this fascinating discussion! However, having had a similar experience in New Caledonia, how can we ignore the fact that many women are also on the lookout for single (or even accompanied) men from the mainland, hoping to improve their daily lives—or even leave with them...???

I have three friends in Madagascar who’ve been living there for several years with Malagasy partners, and all three had traditional weddings with their families but didn’t go through the civil ceremony at the town hall.

You should know that in Madagascar, over 50% of Malagasy couples aren’t legally married at the town hall—they only have traditional ceremonies, or church/temple weddings.

Good evening Jipi, Of course, this is the case for many mixed couples there—like my sister-in-law’s *vazaha* partner in Antsirabe. I was also surprised to discover in France, in my town and among acquaintances, how many people live together "*à la colle*" while everyone assumes they’re married, sometimes for 20 years or more, often with 2 or 3 kids... with no civil union or anything. But I think this post was mainly about how to get married properly (and where?) to ensure a smooth mixed marriage and for the wife to get her visa without too much hassle to join the love of her life in the French paradise!!! ... Velouma

Of course I agree, but we should also give those who want to live in Madagascar and are new to the country some insights into the reality of living there. Of course, to live in France, marriage is mandatory, but above all, waiting at least a year or more before taking the step is a wise piece of advice.

Of course some women are on the lookout, though I don’t really like using that word for this situation! But still, if you show you didn’t come to this country to find a woman, I can tell you you’ll have no trouble finding your peace... On the other hand, if they sense you’re hesitant and "fragile," I guarantee you’ll struggle to resist their approach and charm—except over there, women do it to secure their future, so whether you’re good-looking or not won’t matter in the short term... After that, another story may begin....

Following the information you all shared with me, I’d like to let everyone who needs details about Franco-Malagasy weddings in Madagascar know they can check out the website www://ambafrance-mada.org. Everything about civil status is clearly outlined there for putting together the paperwork that needs to be exchanged between the French and Malagasy authorities.

Hello, I’d like to know what the requirements are for getting a passport for my Malagasy friend. Where do we apply for the paperwork, and what documents are needed? Someone mentioned the Military Status—my friend doesn’t have one. What should we do? I’m eagerly waiting for all your answers. Thanks! Veloma

Hi Daniel, I just signed up on this site and read your message to Yvon. That’s why I’d love it if you could help me out a bit, if you don’t mind. I’m about to get married to a French guy, and we’re not sure what steps to take yet. If it’s not a problem, here’s my email address: potchinana22@hotmail.fr Thanks in advance! AGNES

Hello, I’m so happy to find people who don’t judge Franco-Malagasy couples. It’s awful seeing all the things said on this topic—girls who just want to leave Madagascar or French guys coming to look for a wife in Madagascar, etc. It’s depressing and discouraging! I met my girlfriend through a Malagasy couple who live in France, and I’m lost about how to bring her to France! She’s a student—could that help? How can I arrange for her to spend some time in France so we can consider living together permanently, probably through marriage? Thanks in advance for your answers because I’m really at a loss. Best regards,

You’ve got two options: - Either you manage to get a student visa - Or the wedding

Thanks nemo1001 for your reply, what’s the best solution and the one most likely to work out, because I got the impression it’s not straightforward! Thanks

By the way, are there any associations that help Franco-Malagasy couples with support and advice? Thanks

The wedding is certain, but for the student visa it’ll depend on his application and whether a school/university accepts him.

What kind of help are you looking for from an association?