Madagascar operates a structured customs framework administered through the Douanes Malagasy (Malagasy Customs Administration) under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, with declarations filed through SydoniaWorld (the local ASYCUDA implementation). The Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons (BSC), issued by the Agence Portuaire Maritime et Fluviale (APMF) before shipment, is mandatory for sea freight.
Telecom and wireless equipment require ARTEC (Autorité de Régulation des Technologies de Communication) approval. Imports require a Madagascar-registered party with active customs registration and the correct sector approvals.
IOR Service operates as your registered Importer of Record (IOR) and Exporter of Record (EOR) in Madagascar. We hold the local registration, manage BSC issuance and ARTEC workflows, file declarations through SydoniaWorld, and pay duties and the 20% VAT as the legal party of record.
Malagasy customs rules combine pre-shipment BSC requirements, French-language documentation, restricted-goods controls, and infrastructure constraints at the major ports. Foreign companies shipping into Madagascar without an in-country compliance partner face BSC rejection, document holds at Toamasina (Tamatave) or Antananarivo, restricted-item refusal, or extended demurrage exposure.
Local entity requirement: Only a Madagascar-registered party with active customs registration may file declarations. Foreign companies cannot self-clear. A registered local IOR provides the legal importer structure.
BSC pre-shipment requirement: The Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons must be issued by APMF before vessel loading at origin for sea freight. Shipments arriving without a valid BSC face customs hold, penalty, and clearance refusal. BSC cannot be obtained after departure.
ARTEC approval for telecom and wireless: Telecom, radio, wireless, and broadcasting equipment require ARTEC type approval before lawful import and use.
French-language documentation: Commercial invoices and customs documents commonly require French. Documentation in English only triggers queries.
Restricted and permit-heavy categories: Selected items including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, dangerous goods, and certain tech categories require sector permits before import.
HS classification and valuation discipline: Malagasy Customs scrutinizes HS codes and CIF valuations. Misclassification triggers reassessment and inspection escalation.
Infrastructure and lead-time risk: Port congestion at Toamasina, limited air cargo capacity at Antananarivo (Ivato), and challenging inland delivery conditions extend operational timelines. Pre-shipment planning is essential.
As your registered IOR in Madagascar, IOR Service manages the full compliance stack from pre-shipment review through delivery, under a single engagement.
Pre-shipment compliance review: HS classification, restricted-item check, ARTEC scope confirmation, BSC requirement determination, French translation readiness, and dual-use screening before goods leave origin.
BSC and documentation coordination: APMF Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons issuance before vessel loading, commercial invoice review with French translation, certificate of origin verification, packing list alignment, ARTEC document compilation, and MSDS preparation for dangerous goods.
Customs declarations and duty handling: SydoniaWorld declaration filing, customs duty payment (Malagasy MFN tariffs generally range 0 to 20 percent for most IT and tech), 20% VAT on CIF plus duty, statistical fee, and customs fees from our account as the registered importer. Costs billed transparently.
Regulatory approvals coordination: Liaison with ARTEC for telecom approvals, Agence du Médicament for pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Public Health for medical devices, and other sector regulators as required.
Customs coordination and release: Douanes Malagasy interface, query response, inspection coordination, and post-clearance audit management at Toamasina (Tamatave), Antananarivo (Ivato), Mahajanga, and Tolagnaro.
Recordkeeping and shipment updates: SydoniaWorld declarations, BSC certificates, ARTEC approvals, and supporting documentation retained per Malagasy customs retention requirements. Status updates per shipment milestone.
For re-exports, multi-destination projects, and equipment returns leaving Madagascar, IOR Service operates as your registered Exporter of Record under a single engagement.
Pre-export compliance review: HS classification, restricted-item screening, destination market assessment, and export license pathway determination before goods leave Malagasy territory.
Export documentation: Commercial invoice review, certificate of origin preparation (SADC and COMESA preference where applicable), packing list alignment, and SydoniaWorld export declaration filing.
Tax handling: VAT zero-rating documentation under Malagasy export rules, export duty assessment where applicable, and customs fee settlement from our account as the registered exporter. Costs billed transparently.
Carrier and broker coordination: Interface with carrier, customs broker, and Douanes Malagasy for departure clearance. Query response and post-departure documentation. Status updates per shipment milestone.
The Malagasy Customs Administration, under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, administers all import and export declarations through SydoniaWorld (ASYCUDA). Customs entries are filed electronically, with risk-based inspection assignment.
The BSC is a pre-shipment cargo tracking certificate issued by the Agence Portuaire Maritime et Fluviale (APMF) for sea freight bound for Madagascar. The BSC must be issued at origin before vessel loading. Shipments without a valid BSC are subject to penalty and clearance refusal at Toamasina or other ports.
The Autorité de Régulation des Technologies de Communication administers type approval for telecom, radio, wireless, and broadcasting equipment. Routers, RF modules, base stations, modems, and IoT devices require ARTEC approval before lawful import and use.
Madagascar applies its tariff schedule based on the Harmonized System and the SADC tariff framework. Customs duty is calculated on the CIF value; VAT applies to the CIF plus duty, plus excise where applicable.
VAT is 20% on the CIF value plus customs duty. Customs duty rates under the Malagasy tariff schedule generally range from 0% to 20% for most IT and tech categories. Statistical fee and customs handling fees apply.
Commercial invoice (with HS codes, CIF breakdown, and French translation where required)
Packing list
Bill of lading or airway bill
Certificate of origin (SADC or COMESA preference documentation where applicable)
BSC (Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons) for sea freight
ARTEC type approval certificate (for telecom and wireless equipment)
MSDS (for dangerous goods, batteries, and chemicals)
Technical datasheets and product specifications
Sector-specific permits (other regulators as applicable)
Insurance certificate (where applicable)
Classify equipment under Madagascar's tariff schedule, identify regulated categories, and confirm ARTEC scope and BSC requirement.
Commercial invoice review with French translation, certificate of origin verification, sector documentation compilation.
APMF Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons issuance at origin prior to vessel loading; MSDS preparation for dangerous goods.
SydoniaWorld submission, query response, inspection coordination, release.
Paid by IOR Service as the registered importer, then billed transparently.
Delivery to consignee in Antananarivo or other destinations; documentation retained for Malagasy customs audit.
Missing or incorrect BSC: Shipments arriving without a valid Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons issued at origin face customs hold, penalty, and clearance refusal. BSC cannot be obtained after vessel departure.
Incomplete invoice or packing list mismatch: Document inconsistencies among the commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading trigger Douanes Malagasy queries and clearance delays.
Missing ARTEC approval on wireless equipment: Telecom and wireless devices are held pending ARTEC clearance. Type approval cannot be expedited at the port.
Restricted or permit-heavy goods: Pharmaceuticals, chemicals, dangerous goods, and selected tech categories without prior permits face additional review and clearance delays.
Documentation in English only without French translation: Commercial invoices and key documents commonly require French; missing translations trigger Douanes queries.
Inland infrastructure constraints: Port congestion at Toamasina and challenging inland delivery to remote destinations extend timelines. Pre-shipment planning eliminates surprises.
Tell us the origin, destination (Antananarivo, Toamasina, or other), equipment scope (including any wireless, dangerous goods, or restricted capability), value, Incoterm, and project timeline. Our compliance team returns an HS, BSC, ARTEC, and document-readiness assessment, customs documentation framework, and quote.
Available on request
Shared after initial assessment.25+ Years of International Trade & Compliance Leadership
Backed by decades of experience in global trade, IOR Service delivers the compliance frameworks, regulatory oversight, and market-entry expertise required for successful international operations. From highly regulated industries to complex cross-border projects, we help organizations move forward with certainty.No, not if you work through a registered IOR. Only a Madagascar-registered party with active customs registration may file declarations. IOR Service holds the local registration on your behalf, so you ship into Madagascar without establishing a local subsidiary.
At minimum: a commercial invoice with French translation, a packing list, a bill of lading or airway bill, a certificate of origin, BSC (for sea freight), ARTEC type approval for telecom equipment, MSDS for dangerous goods, and any sector-specific permits. Douanes Malagasy reviews all documents at clearance through SydoniaWorld.
The Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons is a mandatory pre-shipment cargo tracking certificate issued by the Agence Portuaire Maritime et Fluviale (APMF) for sea freight to Madagascar. The BSC must be issued at origin before vessel loading. Shipments without a valid BSC face penalty and clearance refusal at Malagasy ports.
Yes. Pharmaceuticals, chemicals, dangerous goods, used IT equipment, and selected categories require sector permits or are subject to import restrictions. Pre-shipment scope confirmation is part of the compliance review.
Yes. IT, telecom, networking, and wireless equipment are within scope. Wireless and telecom devices require ARTEC type approval, which we coordinate as part of the import workflow.
Yes. IOR Service operates as registered Exporter of Record for outbound shipments, managing classification, export documentation, VAT zero-rating, SADC and COMESA preference origin certification where applicable, and SydoniaWorld export filings.
The most common delay drivers are missing or incorrect BSCs, documentation language gaps (English-only), HS misclassification, missing ARTEC approval on wireless equipment, restricted-goods permit gaps, and port congestion at Toamasina. Pre-shipment compliance review and BSC issuance at origin eliminate most operational delays.
