Arrival in Mauritania

A passport should remain valid for at least six months after entry. Travelers who need a visa apply for an eVisa through ANRPTS, the Agence Nationale du Registre des Populations et des Titres Sécurisés, before departure. Available eVisa packages cover 30, 90 or 360 days. The fee depends on nationality and passport validity; examples published for a 30-day visa are €40 for some Arab and African countries and €55 for other countries. Payment on arrival may require exact euros or US dollars, and travelers should not assume that change or a receipt will be available. Print the eVisa and keep a copy with the passport. A yellow-fever certificate may be required when arriving from a risk country. Arrange a health check and vaccinations at least eight weeks before travel, obtain insurance covering treatment and medical evacuation, and carry sufficient prescribed medication because some medicines can be difficult to find or may be counterfeit. Mauritania has no nationwide welcome or registration center documented in the available official information, so secure a hotel, host or other accommodation before departure. A host may provide an attestation d’hébergement, meaning a formal statement confirming accommodation. A commune can also issue an attestation de prise en charge or accommodation certificate. The host may need a lease or ownership document, proof of address, identification and, for a resident foreign host, a residence card. Municipal processing takes about one day; the fee depends on the relevant council decision. This document proves accommodation or support and does not provide housing advice. Entry takes place through international ports and includes biometric data collection at the border. Keep the passport and eVisa copy accessible. Customs checks can be strict. Importing or consuming alcohol and pork products is prohibited. Declare large amounts of cash. The ouguiya cannot be imported or exported. In border areas, use only official fees and request receipts for official payments. Outside Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, carry copies of photo identification because checkpoints are common. For overland travel, a four-wheel-drive vehicle, daytime travel, enough water and fuel, and sometimes a convoy or experienced guide are appropriate; public transport may be poorly maintained and night travel creates additional risk. For a planned stay, apply for a biometric residence card, called a Carte de résident biométrique, at least 15 days before the visa or entry permission expires. ANRPTS is responsible for the process. The application is normally made in person at a Centre d’accueil des Résidents, a resident reception center, or alternatively at a Centre d’accueil des Citoyens in the place of residence. Remote access through Houwiyeti may be available, with biometric information updated as required. The card can be valid for one to five years, but the official procedure does not specify a single nationwide processing fee or deadline. Supporting documents depend on the reason for stay: a private-sector worker may need a certified employment contract or work certificate and a passport valid for more than six months; a business owner may need a registre de commerce and continuous proof of tax payments; public-service staff or mission members need proof of employment; students need valid enrollment confirmation; NGO workers need recognized affiliation and a récépissé; local business activity may require notarized sponsorship by a Mauritanian citizen; spouses need a biometric marriage certificate or recognized foreign marriage document; and minors need proof of their relationship to a resident parent. Medical capacity is concentrated in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and is very limited in many other areas. Clinics charge for treatment, may require payment in euros or US dollars, and may not accept foreign insurance cards. Keep accessible emergency funds and insurance details. Emergency numbers are ambulance 101, police 117 and fire service 118, but availability is not guaranteed. Malaria occurs throughout the year in southern provinces and reaches higher levels in northern areas from July to October. Cash remains the main payment method. Cards work mainly at some hotels and selected ATMs, while banks, hotels and official exchange offices may exchange euros or US dollars. Local currency cannot be taken out of the country. Avoid protests, follow instructions from local authorities, dress modestly, and do not photograph military or government facilities without permission. Respect local religious rules. Check current risk areas and access restrictions before traveling outside the main cities. These checks are especially relevant when the journey includes remote roads, border areas, medical needs or a stay longer than the initial visa period.