Mauritania is a scenic land made up of desert and ocean. The main attractions for most tourists are the ocean in Banc d’Arguin and the desert in Adrar and the Tagant areas. The Adrar is what you always would imagine the Sahara Desert to be. It has endless dunes and craggy mountaintops.
There are 12 provinces (wilaya) and one capital district. They are further allocated into 44 departments. The regions are Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott, Tagant, Trisi Zemmour, and Trarza.
Mauritania historically, were the first Saharan people to abandon the nomadic lifestyle were named the Bafours. After the Sahara’s desertification, they moved south. Central Saharans followed soon after.
Moorish Islamic warriors captured the Ghana Empire in 1076. The Arabs dominated the local population and Mauritania over the next 500 years. From 1644-1674, the Mauritanian Thirty Year War was a final and failed attempt to repel the Arab invaders. The offspring of these warriors became the high level of Moorish society.
France colonised the territory of Mauritania in the late 1800s. An imperial mission in 1901 was led by Xavier Coppolani. Through treaties and military actions, he prolonged French rule. The last holdouts in the northern emirate of Adrar were conquered in 1912. The territory became part of French West Africa in 1920.
Tribal warfare and slavery ended under French rule. During this time, the people normally remained nomadic. When independence occurred in 1960, 90 percent of the population was still nomadic and Nouakchott, the capital, was founded at a local village site.
This information piece tells you everything you need to know about visa requirements for visiting Mauritania.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with these legal requirements of entry before your visit, in particular if you are travelling with minors.
Visa requirements are governed by Mauritania and are subject to change without prior notice. Rather check the country’s official website or enquire from a reputable travelling agency or tour operator like MoAfrika Tours what the latest updates or changes to the requirements for a visa application may be.
WHAT IS A VISA?
A visa is issued to international travellers visiting Mauritania for a short stay on a temporary basis for tourism, business, study or medical reasons. Visas are normally issued for a maximum 30 or 90 days, depending on your country of residence.
A valid visa allows you to enter the country through a port of entry and stay in the country for the period specified in your visa. Note that you are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application, for example, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING MAURITANIA
The Mauritania tourist visa is issued for short-term purposes – up to 90 days maximum. Citizens of specific countries are exempt from applying for a Mauritanian tourist visa prior to travel, but they still have to obtain a visa if they want to stay long-term.
Other countries’ citizens can get a Mauritania tourist visa online or upon arrival in Mauritania.
The time it takes to process a Mauritania visa is determined by the method of application. If you apply for a visa on arrival, you will receive it or be rejected at that moment.
If you apply through an embassy or consulate, the processing time also depends on the specific office.
A visa is authorised and issued upon application by a representative of a country’s embassy, mission or consulate after it has been determined that you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.
If you hold a passport from a country that is classified as ‘exempt’, you do not need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in Mauritania. Instead, you are issued with a short-stay visa at the point of entry for a period of time applicable to the status of your country.
COUNTRIES EXEMPTED AND COUNTRIES THAT NEED VISAS
Citizens bearing passports from Algeria, Ivory Coast, the Gambia, Libya, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Syria and Tunisia do not need a visa to enter Mauritania.
Those that hold a diplomatic and service passport issued to citizens of Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Morocco and Turkey do not need a visa for Mauritania.
Nationals of any country with a diplomatic passport except Italy do not need a visa.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF VISAS
Tourist Visa
If you apply for a tourist visa, you need to support the application by submitting proof of transportation such as a flight ticket with a return flight. A letter of financial solvency from your bank, and proof of employment or an invitation letter should accompany it.
Diplomatic and Courtesy Visa
Application for this kind of visa requires a letter of recommendation from the mission, government agencies or NGO operating in Mauritania-Parlementaries-Officials (Inter-Government or International Organization) with order of mission, crew members of vessels or planes in service in accordance with relevant international agreement.
HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR VISAS WHEN VISITING MAURITANIA
Firstly, an applicant needs a valid passport that does not expire for another six months from the date of arrival in Mauritania.
How to apply online (e-Visa)
Mauritania does not have electronic visas available.
How to apply for a Mauritania Visa at an embassy or consulate
The application process depends on which country’s embassy or consulate you use to submit your visa application. However, the following is a guideline:
On arrival Visa
You can get a Visa on arrival in Mauritania, but you can also be declined there, so it is always best to rather apply for one through their embassy before you embark on your trip.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION FOR VISA
When you apply for a Mauritanian visa, you will need the following documents:
COST OF A MAURITANIA VISA
The visa cost for three months – one year for Arab and African countries is USD 135 / USD145; for the rest of the world it is €190 / USD 200.
VACCINES NEEDED WHEN VISITING MAURITANIA
The World Health Organisation recommends the following vaccinations for Mauritania: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is often required for a foreign visitor who is travelling from or transiting through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
A yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered, making it important to get the vaccination in time before leaving for Mauritania. You may be refused entry if you leave it too late and arrive in Mauritania within the 10-day waiting period.
Yellow fever is spread by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms are similar to malaria, ranging from flu-like chills and fever to server hepatitis and jaundice. If left untreated or not diagnosed early, the disease is life-threatening.
Malaria is widespread in Africa. Malaria is a life-threatening disease. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites you, the parasite is released into your bloodstream.
Symptoms can be flu-like or cause shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe. Also, a high fever, profuse sweating, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, muscle pain and bloody stools.
Make sure you start taking anti-malaria medication before your journey and during.
Heat exhaustion is a common problem, especially among tourists that have come from cooler climates. Symptoms include a bad headache, dizziness, vomiting and extreme tiredness. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of bottled water or beverages. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and apply sunscreen lotion to prevent yourself from getting sunburn.
Ways to avoid getting mosquito bites during your visit:
Insect repellent is your best friend when it comes to avoiding mosquito bites, you can buy insect repellents from the local supermarkets and/or pharmacies and apply to any exposed areas of the skin. Those products, which include DEET, claim to be the most effective, but there are alternatives if you are allergic.
Keep air circulating in your room, mosquitoes aren’t strong flyers (that’s why they are more active during the evening and in the mornings when there is little wind). Using fans is a good way to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito, as it makes it difficult for them to fly near you.
A little-known fact is that wearing light coloured clothing can prevent mosquito bites, they are more attracted to darker colours because of the contrasting that dark-coloured clothes provide against the horizon during dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN VISITING MAURITANIA
Islamic practices and beliefs are closely adhered to in the country’s customs, laws and regulations. Dress conservatively, behave discreetly and respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities. It would be wise for women to wear a headscarf and cover their arms and legs.
During the lunar month of Ramadan, abstain from drinking, eating, and smoking in public between sunrise and sunset. In 2020, Ramadan is expected to begin on April 23.
Adultery, extra-marital sexual relations and prostitution are illegal. Offenders may face strict penalties, including imprisonment.
Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Do not offer to carry a package from an unknown of suspicious source in your luggage as you risk being used as a drug mule.
The following items can be brought into Mauritania by travellers of 18 years of age and over duty free: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 450g of tobacco. 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.
It is illegal to import alcoholic beverages, firearms and pork products.
The currency is the ouguiya (MRO), which is non-convertible and cannot be taken out of the country. Mauritania is a cash-based economy. There is no limit on the importation of foreign currency, but it should be declared on arrival.
The exportation of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival. Exchanges will only accept U.S. dollars and Euros. Some hotels in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou accept credit cards.
VISITING MAURITANIA WITH MINORS
If you are travelling to Mauritania with a minor, please take note of the additional documents you will need per child:
WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OVERSTAYS ON A VISA IN MAURITANIA
Foreign visitors who overstay on a visa are normally declared ‘undesirable persons’ and may incur a ban from Mauritania for a period, which prevents them from applying for a visa and re-entering Mauritania for a prescribed period of time.
You may also be charged a fine for each day that you overstay on your visa.
There may even be legal action taken against you, it is highly recommended that you extend your visa well in advance.
Individuals who have been affected by the overstay visa regulations of a country can usually lodge a visa overstay appeal.
ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY IN MAURITANIA WITH A REPUTABLE TOUR OPERATOR
MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator in South Africa that offers an outstanding selection of tours to Mauritania. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Mauritania who make safety a priority.