Mauritania Visitor Visa
A visa is required. We cannot assist in processing this document, but we provide instructions on how to apply.
All About the Visa for Mauritania
Mauritania is a destination for intrepid travellers with its fascinating Berber culture, vast deserts and spectacular sandstone mosques. If you wish to visit this country, the first thing you should do is get clued-up on the visa requirements for Mauritania.
Only 8 countries worldwide can visit Mauritania without a visa and these are mostly neighbouring African countries such as Algeria, Gambia, and Niger. Citizens of these countries can visit with just a passport for stays of up to 90 days.
If you are not from one of the visa-free countries for Mauritania, you will need to get a visa to visit. There are 3 different types of visas available for this country, which can be divided into the following:
- Visa on Arrival (VoA)
- Biometric visa
- Embassy visa
The type of document you will need will mostly depend on your nationality, and on the purpose of your trip.
Please keep in mind that the conditions stated on this page refer to those travelling to this African country for tourism or to visit friends and family. If you are planning on carrying out other activities in the country such as study, work or business of any kind, different policies will apply. In most cases, you will need to obtain a specific permit for your trip.
Contents
- 1 What Is the Difference Between a Mauritania VoA vs an Embassy Visa?
- 2 Mauritania Visa Application Process
- 3 Mauritania Visa Requirements and Eligibility
- 4 Mauritania Visa Application Form and Documents
- 5 Mauritania Visa Status Check
- 6 How Much Does a Mauritania Visa Cost?
- 7 More Mauritania Visa Questions and Information
What Is the Difference Between a Mauritania VoA vs an Embassy Visa?
As a general rule, all nationalities are eligible to get a VoA from Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport. The VoA is a Single Entry document that is valid for stays of up to 90 days.
The only exception to this rule is Syrian citizens, who must get pre-authorisation before their trip to be granted a VoA.
Nonetheless, some may prefer to obtain their travel permit before arriving in the country from an embassy or consulate. In this case, you will need to apply in person and your permit will be a paper document stamped into your passport.
Mauritania has also introduced a new Biometric visa, which is only available at certain embassies and ports of entry. The Biometric visa registers all the applicant’s information electronically, and the entry permit granted will be linked to your passport. This means that when the authorities scan your passport, they will be able to see whether you have the authorisation to enter the country.
Mauritania Visa Application Process
Now that you know the difference between the 3 travel permits available for tourists, let’s take a look at how to get them.
VoA
The VoA is simple to obtain as it requires very little pre-planning. Once you arrive in the country, all you need to do is follow the directions of the border officials. You will need to fill out a short form and present it to the designated desk where your travel permit will be issued.
Please bear in mind that it may take some time for this process, since there are often queues while everyone waits for their document to be issued.
Biometric Visa
The new Biometric visa can be obtained on arrival from the following ports of entry: Border Post PK55 and the International airport, both in Nouakchott. It can also be issued at the Mauritania embassy in Paris, and it’s soon to be made available from other embassies and consulates as well.
To be granted a biometric passport, this is the process you must follow:
- Go to the embassy or issuing posts
- Pay the enrollment fee
- All your personal data will be registered in the system
- Your fingerprints will be taken along with a headshot
- Your biometric pass sticker will be attached to your passport
Embassy Visa
In some cases it is possible to get your travel permit in person from an embassy or consulate of Mauritania. However, only a few institutions offer this service.
If you would like to have a travel permit issued before travelling, we recommend you contact the nearest diplomatic mission of the country to find out whether they can process the document for you.
Syrian Nationals
Syrian nationals require prior approval from the Direction General of National Security to get a VoA. You can get this online by providing a series of documents and paying a fee.
Mauritania Visa Requirements and Eligibility
In this section, we explore which category each nationality falls under when it comes to the Mauritania visa requirements.
List of Visa-Free Countries for Mauritania:
- Algeria
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Gambia
- Libya
- Mali
- Niger
- Senegal
- Tunisia
In addition, all those with diplomatic passports are visa-exempt, regardless of their nationality, except for Italians. Moreover, those with service passports from the following countries are also exempt:
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- China
- Egypt
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Morocco
- Turkey
List of Countries That Are Eligible for the VoA:
Afghanistan
Albania
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
The Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cape Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor (Timor-Leste)
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar (Burma)
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sudan, South
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Syrian passport-holders are in a category of their own, since they need to get prior approval to get a VoA.
Mauritania Visa Application Form and Documents
Anyone eligible for a visa to Mauritania should ensure they have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months with at least 1 blank page in it.
Moreover, you may also be asked to show a yellow fever vaccination certificate, so you should obtain this before you travel if you don’t already have one.
Meanwhile, other document requirements vary depending on the type of permit you are applying for, as follows:
VoA Documents
In addition to fulfilling the conditions above, you will need to provide a few documents to be granted a VoA. These are:
- A completed and signed application.
- Return flight tickets (or other means of transport leaving the country).
- A letter from your bank confirming you possess sufficient funds to finance your stay.
- Proof of employment or an invitation letter from somebody in the country.
- Euros or US dollars in cash to pay the fee.
Biometric or Embassy Visa Documents
If you would like to be issued a travel permit from an embassy prior to your trip, you will need to provide all the documents required for a VoA, plus the following:
- Confirmation of hotel bookings.
- 2 passport-size photographs.
The Application Form
The application form for Mauritania is a simple document you will need to fill out with your personal details and basic information regarding your trip. In the form, you can expect to be asked for the following:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Address
- Occupation
- Marital status
- Passport number
- Passport expiry date
- Passport issue date
- Date of your last visit to the country (if applicable)
- Date of entry into the country
- Purpose of your trip (e.g. tourism, to visit relatives)
Syrian Nationals
As we mentioned, Syrian nationals must apply for pre-authorisation online to be eligible for a VoA. As part of the application, you will need to provide the following documents:
- A digital copy of your passport page (don’t forget that the passport must be valid for at least 6 months and have 1 blank page).
- A digital passport-style photo.
- Return or onward travel tickets.
- Proof you possess enough funds to cover the cost of the trip.
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate.
- A valid email address (you will receive the confirmation by email).
- A valid debit or credit card to pay the fee.
Mauritania Visa Status Check
Since all countries are either visa-free or eligible for a VoA, you won’t need to check the status of your application, as you will get it from border officials when you arrive.
Syrian citizens, who have applied for pre-authorisation, may contact the Direction General of National Security if you are concerned about receiving approval in time for your trip.
Likewise, if you have opted to get your travel permit in advance from an embassy or consulate, you can contact them directly if you would like an update on the status of your application.
How Much Does a Mauritania Visa Cost?
The fee you will need to pay for your entry permit will depend on the process you choose. The most popular option is a simple VoA, which also happens to be the cheapest option. Meanwhile, if you wish to get your document in advance from an embassy, you will pay a premium for it.
VoA
The cost of a VoA for Mauritania is currently 60 USD for all visitors, and it gives you 90 days in the country.
Biometric Visa
The Biometric system offers 3 types of permits depending on how much time you would like to stay in the country. Of course, the longer you stay, the higher the fee will be.
Fees for African Countries
- Transit (up to 30 days): 35 USD
- Short-term (up to 90 days): 72 USD
- Long-term (up to 360 days): 108 USD
Fees for Other Countries:
- Transit (up to 30 days): 55 USD
- Short-term (up to 90 days): 108 USD
- Long-term (up to 360 days): 143 USD
Embassy Visa
If you decide to get a standard document from an embassy, you can expect to pay around 200 USD. The fee is slightly reduced for Arab and African countries to 145 USD.
More Mauritania Visa Questions and Information
Now that you know every detail of what requirements apply to your nationality and how to obtain your visa to Mauritania, you can start planning the exciting parts of your trip! For quick answers to any questions that may pop up, you can use the section below.
On the other hand, if you are planning on getting your permit in advance, you should allow several weeks for the whole process, from making the appointment to collecting your document.
If your embassy application has been rejected, you may wish to ask the embassy why it was rejected and if you can re-apply.
The embassy in London does not issue travel permits, so in the event you would like the document issued before you travel to the country, you will need to visit the embassy in Paris.
If you prefer, you may get a visa before your trip from the Mauritanian embassy in Washington, D.C.
