Required Certifications for Secure Purchasing in Madagascar

Published on October 4, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Safe Purchasing in Madagascar

Safe purchasing in Madagascar requires not only increased vigilance toward the various available offers but also an essential understanding of mandatory certifications that guarantee transaction reliability and legality.

With an ever-evolving market, consumers must be informed about labels and certifications that serve as guarantees of quality and compliance with international standards, particularly in sectors such as real estate, automotive, and consumer goods.

This guide aims to educate buyers about the critical regulatory aspects to require during their acquisitions, thereby helping them secure their investments and avoid common pitfalls associated with unsecured transactions in the country.

Legal Documents Required for a Secure Purchase

The land certificate serves as official proof of real estate ownership and confirms the absence of disputes or encumbrances that could affect the transaction. This document is essential to secure the purchase and ensure the seller legally holds the property.

The sales deed, validated by competent authorities (often a notary), officially formalizes the property transfer between seller and buyer. It guarantees the legality and legal compliance of the operation while detailing essential conditions such as price, precise property description, and any contingency clauses.

The transferability visa issued by local administrative services certifies that the property is free from any sale prohibitions or restrictions (such as an unreleased mortgage or ongoing legal proceedings). This document protects both buyer and seller against any administrative blocks during transfer.

The compliance certificate confirms that the construction strictly adheres to local urban planning standards and all current housing regulations. Obtaining it is essential to avoid future penalties related to urban planning violations or undisclosed structural defects.

Cadastral records finally allow precise verification of boundaries, exact areas, and geographic coordinates of the concerned land. Consulting them proves fundamental to eliminate any risk of overlap with neighboring properties, thus avoiding boundary disputes or future controversies over actual area.

Summary Table: Essential Documents in Real Estate Transactions

Document	Main Role
Land Certificate	Officially proves ownership and guarantees absence of disputes
Sales Deed	Legally formalizes transfer; legally validates all conditions
Transferability Visa	Certifies no administrative restrictions on sale exist
Compliance Certificate	Guarantees compliance with urban planning and regulatory standards
Cadastral Records	Enable exact verification of physical boundaries and dimensions

Summary List:

• Land Certificate: legal security regarding ownership.
• Authentic Deed: official validation by notary.
• Administrative Visa: removal of potential restrictions.
• Urban Planning Compliance: assurance of regulatory compliance.
• Cadastral Register: precision on area/geographic boundaries.

These documents are imperative to guarantee a risk-free acquisition without future disputes.

All Information About Urban Planning Certificates in Madagascar

The urban planning certificate is an official document with primarily informational value that can be obtained at city hall. It constitutes a fundamental element in any real estate project, informing owners or future owners about the exact status of rights applicable to a plot.

In Madagascar, urban planning is defined by law n° 2015-052 as “the art and technique of building, organizing, and developing cities according to convenience rules.” Within this framework, the urban planning certificate plays a primordial role.

There are two types of urban planning certificates:

• Information Urban Planning Certificate (Type A CU): provides information about urban planning rules applicable to a plot, taxes, and easements, without a specific project being defined.
• Operational Urban Planning Certificate (Type B CU): indicates whether a specific project is feasible on the concerned plot.

The urban planning certificate lists all urban planning rules applicable to a property, indicating usage possibilities, attached public utility easements, existing preemption rights, and related public declarations.

Characteristic	Information CU (Type A)	Operational CU (Type B)
Purpose	General information about urban planning rules	Assessment of specific project feasibility
Utility	To know rules before having a project	To verify if a specific project is feasible
Content	Urban planning rules, taxes, easements	Opinion on feasibility of planned project
Recommended for	Preliminary purchase phase	Project design phase

To obtain an urban planning certificate in Madagascar, the application must be submitted to the concerned city hall. This document is indispensable before any real estate operation and helps avoid heavy litigation.

The urban planning certificate offers a major advantage: it freezes your rights for 18 months, providing legal security to develop your project. This period allows you to finalize your acquisition or develop your real estate project with assurance that urban planning rules won’t change during this timeframe.

For potential buyers, it’s strongly recommended to:

• Request an Information CU before any land purchase
• Request an Operational CU as soon as a specific project is considered
• Carefully verify all constraints mentioned in the certificate
• Ensure the certificate remains valid at purchase time

The Operational CU is particularly useful as it informs you within weeks about your project’s feasibility, allowing you to adjust plans if necessary or abandon a project that proves impossible to realize according to current urban planning rules.

Ultimately, the urban planning certificate constitutes the true centerpiece of a real estate project in Madagascar, offering “surgical” information about your rights and the exact extent of construction possibilities on your plot.

How to Verify Property Title to Avoid Fraud

Verifying property title during real estate purchase in Madagascar is a crucial step to avoid risks of fraud, impersonation, or future disputes. Absence of rigorous control exposes the buyer to situations such as the same property being sold to multiple people or later discovery that the seller isn’t the true owner.

Risks Associated with Lack of Verification

• Acquisition of property without genuine legal title
• Risk of purchasing already sold property or property burdened with hidden mortgages
• Financial loss due to fraudulent transaction

Steps to Verify Property Title Authenticity

1. Request certified copy of land title from seller.
2. Visit Malagasy land service (Land Conservation) with:
   • Notarized deed signed during sale
   • Title copy provided by seller
3. Verify with competent authorities (Land Conservation) that:
   • Property is registered under current seller’s name
   • No mortgage or ongoing dispute exists on this land

Practical Tips to Secure Your Acquisition

– Consult local notary: they draft the deed and ensure signatures but don’t always handle thorough verifications.

– Hire lawyer specialized in Malagasy land law to analyze all documents and ensure no hidden defects.

– Systematically demand authentic and recent copy of land title, ideally issued by Land Conservation itself.

Additional Documents to Request

Document	Role/Utility
Previous Deeds	Trace legal history and verify owner chain
Negative Mortgage Certificate	Ensure no debt burdens the property
Cadastral Attestation	Confirm exact land boundaries

Remember: Document vigilance is essential; always seek advice from local professionals before any final signature.

Guiding each step with meticulous analysis guarantees not only legality but also your peace of mind during real estate acquisition on Malagasy territory.

Mandatory Inspections Required Before Real Estate Purchase

During real estate purchase in Madagascar, several specific technical inspections are required to guarantee property compliance and future occupant safety. These controls, although sometimes inspired by international standards, rely on local regulations aiming to protect buyers against various health, environmental, and structural risks.

Mandatory Inspections During Real Estate Purchase in Madagascar:

• Electrical Installation Compliance Verification
  Any property with electrical installation over 15 years old must undergo electrical inspection attesting to compliance with current standards. This control aims to prevent fire and electrocution risks. The certificate must be issued by licensed expert or recognized organization.
• Plumbing Inspection
  General condition of sanitary installations (plumbing) must also be verified to detect any leaks or non-compliance likely to cause material or health damages. Report established by certified professional is recommended.
• Lead Presence Assessment
  For older buildings (constructed before certain date), lead exposure risk report is required to avoid any health danger related to paints containing this heavy metal.
• Asbestos Inspection
  If building permit was issued before July 1997, asbestos control is mandatory to detect this hazardous material in construction elements.
• Structural and Seismic Resistivity Inspection
  In certain zones classified as seismic risk according to local decrees, specific evaluation must be performed regarding building resistance to earthquakes. This structural inspection must be conducted by specialized engineer or company certified in civil engineering field.
• Termite and Pest Inspection
  Mandatory only if property is located in declared infested zone or exposed to risk according to current municipal/prefectural decree.

Summary Table:

Inspection	Obligation	Period / Condition	Required Certification
Electricity	Yes	>15 years	Licensed Expert
Plumbing	Yes	Any transaction	Certified Professional
Lead	Yes	Older building	Certified Inspector
Asbestos	Yes	Building permit

To guarantee your legal security and acquisition compliant with current Malagasy standards, systematically demand these inspection reports during any significant real estate transaction.