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Government advisories for Mauritania
US State Department
US L3 · Reconsider travelReconsider Travel
Reconsider travel to Mauritania due to terrorism, crime, and limited health infrastructure . Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. U.S. government employee travel restrictions The U.S. government has limited ability to offer emergency services to American citizens in Mauritania due to safety risks.…
Official notice Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs (travel.state.gov) · updated Aug 18, 2026
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)
UK · regionalAdvises against all travel to parts
Latest change: New information about protests (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
Official notice Source: gov.uk · updated Mar 24, 2026
Local scams and street crime
- Crime: Crime levels are moderate but steadily increasing. There have been burglaries in areas where foreign nationals live and robberies during daylight. There have been thefts and robberies at knifepoint during the day and night on the unlit and isolated beaches in Nouakchott and in the ‘Le Cinquième’, ‘Dar Naim’ and Citè…
Official notice Source: UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence v3.0) · updated Mar 24, 2026
LGBT+ and women travellers: what the UK FCDO says
- LGBT+ travellers: There are no laws in Mauritania to protect LGBT+ people from discrimination. Under Mauritanian law, the maximum penalty for sexual activity between men is death. Penalties for women include a prison sentence ranging from 3 months to 2 years and a fine.
Official notice Source: UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence v3.0) · updated Mar 24, 2026
Women, children and family: what governments say
- Women's safety (Government of Canada): Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of harassment, verbal abuse and physical assault. Women should travel in groups and avoid travelling alone at night. Women have been detained when reporting sexual assault, as they must prove that the sex was not consensual to avoid being charged.
Official notice Source: Government of Canada and UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licences)
Pregnancy and children: CDC health notes for Mauritania
- Malaria: CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Mauritania take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Ask a travel-health provider which medicine suits pregnancy or young children before you go.
- Hepatitis A (children): Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A.
- Measles (children): All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .
- Yellow Fever (children): CDC recommendations: Vaccine is recommended for all travelers ≥9 months old going to areas south of the Sahara Desert.
CDC health page for Mauritania · CDC: pregnant travelers · CDC: traveling with children
Official notice Source: CDC Travelers' Health (US government, public domain). General information, not medical advice: see a doctor or travel clinic before you go.
Government of Canada
CA 3 · Avoid non-essential travelAvoid non-essential travel (some regions differ)
Latest change: Natural disasters and climate section – added information on El Niño
Official notice Source: travel.gc.ca · updated Oct 9, 2026
US State Department: advisories for specific areas
- Do Not Travel to areas marked off-limits by the Mauritanian military. These areas are unsafe due to security risks and terrorist activities.
Read the official advisory for the exact areas
Official notice Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs (travel.state.gov) · updated Aug 18, 2026
Government of Canada: regional advisories
Northern and eastern Mauritania - Avoid all travel
Avoid all travel to the following areas due to the risk of banditry, kidnapping and the presence of prohibited military zones:
- northern and eastern Mauritania, especially (some areas excluded: see the official page)
- east of the Zouerate-Ouadane-Tidjikdja-Kiffa-Sélibali line in the following regions (some areas excluded: see the official page)
- areas within 25 km of the northern borders, west of the Zouerate-Ouadane-Tidjikdja-Kiffa-Sélibali line.
Read the full Canadian advisory
Official notice Source: travel.gc.ca (Government of Canada, Open Government Licence - Canada) · updated Oct 9, 2026
German Foreign Office
DE · partial travel warningPartial travel warning
Official notice Source: Auswärtiges Amt · updated Oct 13, 2026
Read the official travel and safety advice
Dutch Foreign Ministry
NL · yellowYellow: be alert, safety risks (regions differ, up to red)
De kleurcode van het reisadvies is rood voor een groot deel van het (noord)oosten van Mauritanië. Wat uw situatie ook is: reis er niet heen. Het is er te gevaarlijk. Lees meer onder Regionale risico’s. Kleurcode oranje geldt voor de grensstrook tussen Mauritanië en de Westelijke Sahara, het gebied ten noordoosten van d
Official notice Source: Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, Nederland Wereldwijd (open data, CC0) · updated Oct 6, 2026
New Zealand SafeTravel
NZ · level 3Avoid non-essential travel
Official notice Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SafeTravel (CC BY 4.0) · updated 24 July 2025
Japan Foreign Ministry
JP L4 · Evacuate and leaveHighest level: Evacuate and leave
Level 4 in 1 area, level 3 in 1 area, level 2 in 1 area, level 1 in 1 area. Areas can differ; the highest level applies only where the ministry says so.
モーリタニアの危険情報【危険レベル継続】（内容の更新）《継続》
Official notice Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas Safety Homepage · updated Dec 8, 2025
Each government uses its own scale. Read the full advisory before you book or travel; regional differences inside a country can matter more than the headline level.
Where in Mauritania the UK advises against travel
Eastern Mauritania
FCDO advises against all travel to areas east of a line drawn between but excluding the towns of Kankossa, Akhreijit, Ghallaouia, Zouerat, Fderîck and onwards west to the border with Western Sahara.
Mauritania-Mali border
FCDO advises against all travel to areas within 25km of the Malian border in the south, including Khabou.
Mauritania-Western Sahara border
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 25km of the Western Sahara border, excluding the section of the Nouakchott-Nouadhibou road and the city of Nouadhibou.
Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba, Gorgol and Guidimaka provinces
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of the province of Tiris Zemmour, Assaba, Hodh el Gharbi, Gorgol and Guidimaka, and areas of Adrar and Tagant provinces, west of a line drawn between the towns of Ghallaouia, Akhreijit and Kankossa. This excludes:
- the areas west of a line running between Choum, Ouadane and where the 10th Meridian West meets latitude 18° 40°
- the town of Ouadane
- the Tidjikja-Tichit road
- the Aleg to Tidjikja road via Moudjeria and all areas of Tagant west of that road
- the Bogue to Kaedi road via Bababe
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel .
Official notice Source: UK FCDO travel advice, areas where it advises against travel (Open Government Licence v3.0) · updated Mar 24, 2026
Entry requirements for Mauritania
🇬🇧 British passport holders
- Visa: From 5 January 2025, it is no longer possible to obtain a visa on arrival in Mauritania. Before you travel, you must apply for an e-visa online via the website of the Mauritanian National Agency for the Population Register and Secure Titles (Agence Nationale du Registre des Populations et des Titres Sécurisés), who…
- Passport: To enter Mauritania, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Read the full UK entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, who choose to travel despite FCDO advice. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Mauritania’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Mauritania set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Mauritanian Embassy in the UK.
Passport validity requirements
To enter Mauritania, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Dual nationals
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
Visa requirements
From 5 January 2025, it is no longer possible to obtain a visa on arrival in Mauritania. Before you travel, you must apply for an e-visa online via the website of the Mauritanian National Agency for the Population Register and Secure Titles (Agence Nationale du Registre des Populations et des Titres Sécurisés), who can be contacted via email (contact@anrpts.gov.mr) if you face any technical difficulties with your application.
E-visa fees must be paid on arrival in Mauritania in exact cash in Euros or US dollars. Change and receipts are not given. You should also print a copy of the e-visa and be ready to provide a copy on arrival in country. For information on visa lengths and fees, read guidance on the Mauritanian government’s website (in French).
You should apply for an e-visa well in advance of your anticipated travel date to ensure that it is issued on time by the Mauritanian authorities.
The Mauritanian Embassy in London does not issue visas.
Vaccine requirements
To enter Mauritania, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
For more details about health entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, including yellow fever, see TravelHealthPro’s Mauritania guide.
Customs rules
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Mauritania. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Official notice Source: UK Foreign Office · updated Mar 24, 2026
🇨🇦 Canadian passport holders
- Tourist visa: required
Read the full Canadian entry requirements
Some countries have imposed measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak. These can include restrictions on entry and health screening measures for travellers having recently visited an affected country. If you are suspected of having symptoms, you may be subject to isolation, quarantine and/or travel restrictions. Contact the authorities of the country you are travelling to for more details.
The authorities of a country or territory decide who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.
We have obtained the information on this page from local authorities. It can, however, change at any time.
Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.
Passport
Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you're travelling with.
Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.
Regular Canadian passport
Your passport must be valid when you enter Mauritania.
Passport for official travel
Different entry rules may apply.
Passport with “X” gender identifier
While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.
You should also be aware that current systems used by some countries and travel companies may not recognize the “X” gender identifier. You may still be asked to provide your sex/gender information as either male or female when travelling.
Other travel documents
Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.
Useful links
- Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics
- Foreign Representatives in Canada
- Canadian passports and other travel documents
Visas
Canadians must be in possession of a visa or an e-visa before their arrival in Mauritania.
Tourist visa: required
Business visa: required
Student visa: required
Get an e-visa – Mauritania’s official application service
Children and travel
Learn about travelling with children.
Yellow fever
Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).
Official notice Source: Government of Canada · updated Oct 9, 2026
Other passports
Rules depend on your nationality, so we do not guess. Before you book:
- Read your own government's travel advice first (US travellers: State Department page for Mauritania).
- Not sure what your passport needs? Check the visa rules for your nationality (eVisas visa checker) or compare with VisaHQ. These are affiliate links: if you use their application service we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Official government sites are usually cheaper and are linked above where we have them.
- Check your passport: many countries want it valid for 6 months after arrival and with blank pages.
- Check for an e-visa, travel authorisation or digital arrival card, and any vaccine rules (yellow fever is the common one).
- Ask your airline: they can refuse boarding if your documents do not match the rules.
Entry rules are set by each government and change without notice. This summary is for planning only and is not legal or immigration advice. Confirm on the official government website and with your airline before you book or travel. Voyaggora is not a government agency and does not process visas.
Essentials for travelers
Police 117 Ambulance 101 Fire 118
- Plugs: type C, E
- Power: 220 V, 50 Hz
- Traffic drives on the right
- Tap water: not recommended
- Calling code: +222
Compiled by Voyaggora from IEC World Plugs, government and consular sources. Confidence: high. Check with your embassy or hotel before you rely on it in an emergency.
Local language
موريتانيا Arabic
Essential phrases in Arabic
| Hello | مرحبا | Marhaba |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you | شكرا | Shukran |
| Help! | النجدة! | An-najda! |
| Where is the hospital? | أين المستشفى؟ | Ayna al-mustashfa? |
| I need the police | أحتاج إلى الشرطة | Ahtaj ila ash-shurta |
| I need a doctor | أحتاج إلى طبيب | Ahtaj ila tabib |
| How much is it? | بكم هذا؟ | Bikam hadha? |
| Where is the toilet? | أين الحمام؟ | Ayna al-hammam? |
Country names come from the Unicode CLDR. Phrases are short standard translations; show them on your phone to ask for help.
More live hazards and notices
- Globe at Night campaign running 2026-11-01 to 2026-11-10: look for Cygnus, Grus, Pegasus. Join in: globeatnight.org.
Live feed Sources: NOAA / NWS (ash advisories from the ICAO Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres, aurora from the Space Weather Prediction Center), USGS, GeoNet New Zealand (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · checked
Health and vaccines
Vaccines, malaria and yellow-fever certificate rules: TravelHealthPro country pages (UK Health Security Agency), CDC destination pages, UK Foreign Office health advice. Ask a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you go.
Money
1 US dollar ≈ 40.05 MRU · 1 euro ≈ 44.98 MRU
Central-bank reference rate for Oct 18, 2026. Your card or exchange desk will differ.
Live feed Source: Frankfurter · checked
Voyaggora destination guides
Quick answers: is it safe to travel to Mauritania?
- Is it safe to travel to Mauritania right now?
- It depends on where you go. As of Oct 18, 08:28 UTC. The US State Department rates Mauritania Level 3 of 4, "Reconsider travel". Canada says "Avoid non-essential travel", with regional advisories. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Mauritania. Advisory levels change and can vary by region within a country: check the official page before you travel. Sources: US State Department Canada UK FCDO.
- Which parts of Mauritania do governments warn about?
- Governments warn about parts of Mauritania rather than the whole country. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Mauritania. Canada lists regional advisories. The US State Department page lists area-specific levels. Open each official page for the exact areas and routes.
- Are there any active weather or hazard alerts in Mauritania right now?
- As of Oct 18, 08:28 UTC, Travel Live shows these live hazard and alert sections for Mauritania: more live hazards and notices. Each one on this page names its official source and the time it was checked. Worldwide storms, earthquakes and disasters are on the Travel Live hub.
- What do the advisory levels mean?
- US State Department: Level 1 exercise normal precautions, Level 2 exercise increased caution, Level 3 reconsider travel, Level 4 do not travel. Canada: take normal security precautions, exercise a high degree of caution, avoid non-essential travel, avoid all travel. UK FCDO: it advises against all travel, or all but essential travel, to the whole country or to parts of it, or has no warnings. Each government uses its own scale, so the levels are not directly comparable.
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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Voyaggora summarises official sources and is not a government service; always confirm with the official advisory before you travel.