Mauritania Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. A visa is required for this destination. Most nationalities need a tourist eVisa or business eVisa to visit Mauritania for tourism, business, or other approved purposes. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Mauritania visa at a glance
- Government fee
- Varies by nationality — passed through at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- Varies — confirm with the Embassy of Mauritania
- Validity / stay
- Varies by visa type
- Visa types
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Do you need a visa for Mauritania?
Check the Embassy of Mauritania visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not exempt, you need a visa.
Mauritania visa types
- Tourist eVisa
- Tourism, leisure, sightseeing — Varies by nationality
- Business eVisa
- Business activities, meetings — Varies by nationality
- Cruise Visa
- Cruise passenger transit — Per cruise itinerary
- Student Visa
- Study purposes — Varies by course length
- Work Visa
- Employment in Mauritania — Varies by contract
- Official Visa
- Government-related travel — Varies
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Mauritania depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist eVisa or business eVisa for tourism, business, or other approved purposes.
Other nationalities may enter under different agreements — confirm with the Embassy of Mauritania.
Documents required for a Mauritania visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportTourist eVisa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formTourist eVisa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoTourist eVisa · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itineraryTourist eVisa · Proof of travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodationTourist eVisa · Proof of accommodation.
- Valid passportBusiness eVisa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formBusiness eVisa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoBusiness eVisa · Recent passport photo.
- Business invitation letter from host in MauritaniaBusiness eVisa · Business invitation letter from host in Mauritania.
- Proof of company registration or employmentBusiness eVisa · Proof of company registration or employment.
- Valid passportCruise Visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed cruise itineraryCruise Visa · Confirmed cruise itinerary.
- Proof of accommodation on boardCruise Visa · Proof of accommodation on board.
- Valid passportStudent Visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formStudent Visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoStudent Visa · Recent passport photo.
- Letter of admission from an educational institution in MauritaniaStudent Visa · Letter of admission from an educational institution in Mauritania.
- Proof of financial meansStudent Visa · Proof of financial means.
- Valid passportWork Visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formWork Visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoWork Visa · Recent passport photo.
- Employment contract from a Mauritanian employerWork Visa · Employment contract from a Mauritanian employer.
- Work permit approval from the Ministry of LaborWork Visa · Work permit approval from the Ministry of Labor.
- Valid passportOfficial Visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formOfficial Visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoOfficial Visa · Recent passport photo.
- Official invitation or approval letter from the Mauritanian governmentOfficial Visa · Official invitation or approval letter from the Mauritanian government.
Mauritania visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- Varies by nationality — passed through at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Varies by visa type
- Official processing
- Varies — confirm with the Embassy of Mauritania
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Mauritania visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check whether your nationality is exempt. If you are not exempt, you need a visa.
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of Mauritania for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Mauritania visa above.
Submit your application
online for the eVisa where available, or in person at the embassy. Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
official processing varies. Apply at least 7–10 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Mauritania's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Mauritania is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Mauritania visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Mauritania visa questions, answered.
More for your Mauritania trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.