Madagascar Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Madagascar Business

TL;DR. Madagascar’s official company registry is the Registre du Commerce et des Societes (RCS), administered by EDBM (Economic Development Board of Madagascar) through its guichet unique at edbm.mg. Basic company search is free and does not require registration; the interface is primarily in French. EDBM has invested in digital registry infrastructure, making Madagascar one of the more accessible Francophone Africa registries. Madagascar is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026.

What is the official Madagascar business registry?

Madagascar’s commercial registry is the Registre du Commerce et des Societes (RCS), established under Madagascar’s company law framework (Loi no. 2003-036 sur les societes commerciales and subsequent reforms). The RCS is administered by EDBM (Economic Development Board of Madagascar), Madagascar’s investment promotion and business facilitation agency, which operates the digital one-stop-shop at edbm.mg.

EDBM’s Guichet Unique de Formalites des Entreprises (GUIDE) is Madagascar’s official company registration window, enabling businesses to complete registration formalities in a single process. EDBM issues the Numero d’Identification Entreprise (NIE) at registration, which serves as the primary business identifier.

The digital RCS portal allows public company searches by name or NIE without requiring account creation. This is a meaningfully more accessible system than many OHADA counterparts on the continent: Madagascar is not an OHADA member state and operates its own company law framework under French civil law tradition.

Legal entity types under Madagascar’s company law include: SA (Societe Anonyme), SARL (Societe a Responsabilite Limitee), SNC (Societe en Nom Collectif), SARLU (single-shareholder SARL), EURL (unipersonal limited enterprise), and branches of foreign companies. The SARL is the most common form for private commercial activity.

Madagascar operates with the Malagasy Ariary (MGA) as its currency. The country has a largely agricultural and extractives-based economy, with vanilla, nickel, and titanium among its key export sectors. Antananarivo (Tana) is the administrative and commercial capital where most companies register.

What can you search?

The EDBM online registry supports searches by:

• Company name (full or partial, in French or Malagasy)
• NIE (Numero d’Identification Entreprise)
• Trade name

Results typically include: company name, NIE, legal form, registered address, registration date, status (active, in dissolution, struck off), and principal business activity. Director and shareholder data availability in the public online view may be limited to the founding partners for SARLs; certified extracts provide more complete records.

[VERIFY: current availability of director and shareholder data in the EDBM public portal view, as portal functionality is periodically updated.]

Data freshness is linked to EDBM’s digital filing system. New registrations and amendments filed through GUIDE are typically reflected within a few business days. Historical records for older companies may have variable completeness depending on when their records were digitized.

How much does it cost?

[VERIFY: current EDBM fee schedule at edbm.mg.] MGA/USD: approximately 1 USD = 4,500-5,000 MGA (May 2026; verify at Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara, the Central Bank of Madagascar, at banky-foibe.org). Madagascar’s Ariary has experienced gradual depreciation; verify the rate at point of transaction.

Do you need a local account or ID?

No. The EDBM public registry search is accessible to international users without registration or a Malagasy national ID. Account creation is required for filing services (company formation, amendments) but not for compliance-grade entity searches.

For certified extract requests, the EDBM portal or a local legal representative in Antananarivo can process the request. No Malagasy ID is required from the requesting party for extract orders.

Is the website in English?

Partial. EDBM’s main website (edbm.mg) has English-language sections covering investment promotion services, but the registry search interface and company data are primarily in French. Company names, legal form labels, and status fields appear in French or Malagasy. Compliance buyers should be familiar with French company type terminology (SARL, SA, SNC) and standard French-language status descriptors.

EDBM produces investor-oriented content in English, but official legal documents, including certified extracts, are issued in French. Certified English translations are available through local notaries or translation services.

What’s the turnaround time?

Basic name searches on the EDBM portal are instant. Certified extract requests processed through EDBM’s digital system typically take 5 to 10 business days. Expedited processing for urgent compliance needs should be requested directly from EDBM or via a local legal representative in Antananarivo. For companies not yet fully digitized in the EDBM system, a physical search at the GUIDE office may be required, adding time.

Is there an API?

No public API is available for the Madagascar RCS as of May 2026. [VERIFY: current API availability.] Compliance platforms requiring automated Madagascar entity lookups must rely on manual portal access or a local data partner.

What you legally cannot do

Madagascar’s Loi no. 2014-006 sur la protection des donnees a caractere personnel (data protection law) governs the use of personal data in registry filings. Director names, addresses, and shareholder details found in RCS records may not be used for unsolicited commercial solicitation. Bulk commercial extraction and redistribution of EDBM registry data without authorization is restricted. Document the purpose of any registry access for AML/KYC audit trail requirements.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• NIE is the anchor identifier. The Numero d’Identification Entreprise (NIE) is issued at registration and is the most stable identifier across name changes. Always collect the NIE from any Madagascar counterparty and search by it rather than name alone.
• SARL vs. SA distinction. Most active Madagascar private companies are SARLs with limited public disclosure. SARLs require at least 2 shareholders (or 1 for a SARLU); SAs require a minimum of 2 shareholders and are subject to higher capital requirements (MGA 20 million minimum). Distinguish entity type before assessing appropriate EDD depth.
• Vanilla and extractives sector. Madagascar is the world’s largest vanilla exporter and has material nickel, titanium, cobalt, and graphite extraction. Companies in these sectors may have complex beneficial ownership involving international commodity traders and mining companies. Standard UBO verification remains important regardless of registry accessibility.
• FATF status. Madagascar is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026. [VERIFY: fatf-gafi.org for current status.] Standard CDD applies; EDD is not automatically triggered by jurisdiction alone.
• Coastal and island geography. Madagascar’s multiple ports and remote coastal areas have historically been cited in UNODC reports as vectors for wildlife trafficking and informal trade. Apply standard AML-risk assessment for counterparties in logistics, fishing, and export commodity sectors.
• EDBM as a functional access point. EDBM’s digital investment in the GUIDE platform makes it more accessible than many comparable jurisdictions in Francophone Africa. Invest in navigating the French-language interface before assuming a local agent is essential for a basic company check.

Alternatives if you cannot access EDBM directly

• EDBM portal (edbm.mg): primary and most reliable source. Free for basic searches.
• Aggregator search: OpenCorporates has limited Madagascar coverage. Treat as indicative only.
• Local legal firms in Antananarivo: recommended for certified extracts, older pre-EDBM records, and complex ownership structures.

Local data suppliers

No major international credit bureau operates a standalone Madagascar commercial credit reporting service as of May 2026. [VERIFY: local credit bureau availability.] For risk-rated commercial reports, engagement with an international due-diligence provider with Madagascar or Francophone Africa coverage is recommended.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access the Madagascar registry directly?

Yes. The EDBM public registry search (edbm.mg) is accessible to international users without a Malagasy account or ID. Certified extracts may require local representation or EDBM account registration.

What is the NIE number in Madagascar?

The NIE (Numero d’Identification Entreprise) is Madagascar’s primary business identifier, issued by EDBM at company formation. It is the most reliable search key and the identifier that appears on all official company documents, tax filings, and commercial contracts.

What entity types are registered in Madagascar?

The principal types are SA (Societe Anonyme), SARL (Societe a Responsabilite Limitee), SARLU (single-shareholder SARL), SNC (Societe en Nom Collectif), EURL, individual entrepreneurs, and branches of foreign companies.

Does Madagascar have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Madagascar does not operate a publicly searchable UBO register as of May 2026. Beneficial ownership requirements exist under Madagascar’s AML legislation aligned with FATF standards, but UBO data is held by the Financial Investigation Unit (SAMIFIN) rather than publicly published. Compliance buyers should rely on RCS director and shareholder filings, direct counterparty disclosure, and supplementary verification.

Is Madagascar on the FATF grey list?

No, as of May 2026. [VERIFY: fatf-gafi.org for current status.] Standard CDD applies.

What’s the difference between RCS and tax registration?

The RCS (commercial registry) records legal existence and corporate structure. Tax registration uses the NIF (Numero d’Identification Fiscale) administered by the Direction Generale des Impots (DGI). These systems are increasingly linked through the EDBM guichet unique but remain operationally separate. A complete CDD file should reference both the NIE and the NIF.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: EDBM Madagascar (edbm.mg), FATF (fatf-gafi.org), Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara (banky-foibe.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.