How to Get Cash on Arrival at Antananarivo Ivato International Airport Madagascar

​July 9, 2023 | Tagged: Madagascar, ATM Fees
​After getting your Madagascar Visa on Arrival at Antananarivo Ivato International Airport, your next priority is to get yourself some cash.

Madagascar is very much a cash country. Don't think you can get by with paying by card. In fact in 6 weeks I couldn't pay by card at all.

The currency in Madagascar is the Malagasy Ariary MGA. There are notes in the following denominations: 20000Ar, 10000Ar, 5000Ar, 2000Ar, 1000Ar, 500Ar, 200Ar and 100Ar. There are no coins in circulation.
So in the arrivals hall, you have 3 options and you have 1 further option just across the road from the parking lot.

1. There is the MCB MADAGASCAR ATM which offers free withdrawals. When you enter the arrivals hall, you'll see it ahead of you, a little to the left:
2. There is the BFV-Societe Generale ATM, which wasn't working when I arrived in Madagascar. The BFV-SG ATM is way down in the right corner of the arrivals hall. I later found out that the withdrawal fee is 9,500Ar:
3. Then there is the B€$T CHANGE Ivato exchange bureau:
​The rates as of June 11, 2023, at the Antananarivo Ivato airport (1€ = 4,400):
4. Then there is the option to get cash at the money changer across from the parking lot. The rate for 50, 100 and 200€ was slightly better at 4,500:
And once you get to town there is a money changer that was offering 4,550 (This was all within 2 days, so you can compare the exchange rates:

ATM Fees in Madagascar:

1. BNI bank: Free withdrawals
2. MCB: Free withdrawals
3. AccèsBanque: Free withdrawals
4. BANK OF AFRICA: 12:200 Ar
5. Societe Generale (BFV-SG): 9,500Ar

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