Mauritania Visa
Apply for your Mauritania Visa online — secure eVisa submission with expert guidance and electronic approval delivered by email.
What Is the Mauritania Visa?
The Mauritania Visa is the country's official eVisa for short stays — an electronic travel authorization introduced when Mauritania launched its national eVisa portal to simplify consular processing. Managed through the ANRPTS online system, the eVisa replaced or supplemented some traditional embassy-only procedures and allows many nationalities to apply remotely without a consulate visit.
Applicants use the official portal at anrpts.gov.mr to upload passport data and supporting documents. You can also complete the same application with guided help from DoVisa; upon approval you receive an electronic confirmation by email (PDF or confirmation number) that must be presented at airline check-in and to immigration officers on arrival. Typical supporting items include a passport scan, a passport-style photo, and a supporting document such as an invitation or hotel booking.
The eVisa is an entry permit, not a replacement for passport checks — immigration at the port of entry retains final authority. Recent upgrades to the ANRPTS portal (announced publicly in early 2025) improved online uploads and added clearer instructions on supporting documents; applicants who follow the new upload limits and file-size rules avoid common delays. The eVisa covers travel purpose categories such as tourism and business but does not automatically grant long-term residency or work rights.
For complete country entry guidance see Mauritania visa information and the official ANRPTS portal at anrpts.gov.mr/visa/requestvisa. Ready to begin? Apply now.
Who Needs the Mauritania Visa?
Who Needs It
- Foreign nationals who plan to enter Mauritania for tourism, business, or short visits and do not qualify for visa-free entry
- Applicants of any age — infants and children must have their own passport and supporting documents (parent/guardian applies for minors)
- Travelers transiting who intend to pass through immigration control or leave the international transit area
Who Is Exempt
- Mauritanian nationals
- Diplomatic and official passport holders on government business
- Airline and vessel crew members on active official duty
Mauritania Entry Requirements & Restrictions
Passport Validity
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival and have at least one blank page for entry stamps. See the official portal at anrpts.gov.mr.
Vaccination Requirements
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required when arriving from or transiting through a country with yellow fever risk; some sources also note cholera documentation may be requested. Check the latest guidance at the CDC Mauritania page.
Customs & Prohibited Imports
Mauritania restricts imports consistent with Islamic law — alcohol, pork products, and sexually explicit material are prohibited. Firearms, certain chemicals and undeclared large sums of cash are restricted. See trade and customs guidance at trade.gov.
Supporting Documents
The ANRPTS eVisa application requires a clear passport copy, recent photo, and a supporting document such as an invitation letter, certificate, or hotel booking (files must meet size limits). See ANRPTS request visa for upload rules.
Travel Insurance & Medical Advice
Travel insurance is strongly recommended; medical facilities outside Nouakchott are limited. Review health advice and recommended vaccinations on the CDC and consult travel health clinics before departure.
Travel Tips for Mauritania Visitors
Mauritania sits on the Atlantic coast of northwest Africa; most international travellers arrive in the capital region. The main international airports are Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC) and Nouadhibou International Airport (NDB); regional airports include Atar (ATR), Zouerate (OUZ), Néma (EMN), Kiffa (KFA), Aioun El Atrouss (AEO) and Aleg (LEG).
- Currency: Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU). Carry some local cash — cards are limited outside major hotels.
- Language: Arabic (Hassaniya) is official; French and local languages are widely used. English is limited outside hotels and international services.
- Time zone: GMT (UTC+0) year-round.
- Best time to visit: November–March for cooler, dry weather; expect high daytime heat in summer months.
- Dress respectfully: Conservative clothing is advised in public and when visiting inland communities.
- Transfers: Arrange transfers in advance — road travel can be long between cities and services are limited at smaller airports.
- Safety: Follow local advisories from your embassy and avoid after-dark travel in remote areas.
- Document copies: Keep digital and paper copies of your eVisa confirmation and passport; airlines often check the eVisa at departure.
"Needed the Mauritania Visa for a business trip. Submitted documents online and got the approval PDF by email in two days. Airline checked the approval at departure and Nouakchott immigration accepted it without issues."
"Quick and clear process. Uploaded passport and invitation letter via the portal guidance; the confirmation arrived by email and the staff advised me on file sizes which saved time at check-in."
"Smooth eVisa experience — everything handled online. Printed the PDF approval and showed it to the airline at my departure airport; immigration at NKC processed me quickly."
"The Mauritania Visa approval email arrived within 48 hours. Support answered a question about the supporting document and I had no problems at Nouadhibou (NDB) immigration on arrival."
"Photo upload required a specific size — I had to resize once but support gave exact dimensions. Overall the process was straightforward and the eVisa confirmation was emailed in time."
"Good guidance from DoVisa; they reminded me to carry my yellow fever certificate. The only delay was waiting for the supporting letter to be accepted, then approval came through."
"Application was easy but I missed a field on first submission. Re-submitted the corrected document and received the PDF approval the following day — immigration accepted it fine."
"Minor hiccup with the file-size limit — had to compress my invitation letter. Support helped and the eVisa was approved before travel; arriving at NKC was straightforward afterwards."
"Applied for the Mauritania Visa for a conference. Easy steps, clear checklist, and the email approval came in time for my flight. Immigration in Nouakchott asked for the printed PDF and my passport."
"Family trip went smoothly — each of us had the eVisa PDF emailed and immigration at NDB processed us quickly. Advice to keep copies offline proved helpful in a remote transfer day."
"Needed the Mauritania Visa for a business trip. Submitted documents online and got the approval PDF by email in two days. Airline checked the approval at departure and Nouakchott immigration accepted it without issues."
"Quick and clear process. Uploaded passport and invitation letter via the portal guidance; the confirmation arrived by email and the staff advised me on file sizes which saved time at check-in."
"Smooth eVisa experience — everything handled online. Printed the PDF approval and showed it to the airline at my departure airport; immigration at NKC processed me quickly."
Mauritania Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
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Check Price & Apply NowSources & References
- ANRPTS — Mauritania eVisa / Request Visa
- CDC — Mauritania Travel Health
- U.S. Department of State — Mauritania Travel
- UK Foreign Travel Advice — Mauritania Entry Requirements
- Trade.gov — Mauritania Customs Regulations
- Mauritania Embassy (USA) — Visas
- Australian Smartraveller — Mauritania Travel Advice
- Government of Canada — Travel Advice for Mauritania