Mauritania
Summary
Warnings and insurance
Download a more detailed map (PDF)
The
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ((FCDO) advice.
Areas where FCDO) advises against travel
Eastern Mauritania
FCDO advises against all travel to:
- to areas east of a line drawn between but excluding the towns of
KankossaKankossa, in Guidimaka, Tichit inand Tagant, Ghallaouia in Tiris Zemmour and then west to the border with Western Sahara border (except for the town of Zouerat in Tiris Zemmour).
-
Mauritania-Western Sahara border
FCDO advises against all travel to areas within 25km of the Western Sahara border (except the section of the NouakchottNouakchott-Nouadhibou - Nouadhibou road that is within 25km of the Western Sahara border and the city of Nouadhibou)
- Nouadhibou).
FCDO advises against all travel to the remainderrest of the Ras Nouadhibou peninsula
peninsula.
TheTiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba and Guidimaka provinces
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:
theto remainderareas of the provinces of Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, AssabAssaba and Guidimaka (i.e. those areas west of thea line drawn between the towns of Ghallaouia, Tichit,Tichit and Kankossa)
- Kankossa.
Nouakchott-Nouadhibou road
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the section of the NouakchottNouakchott-Nouadhibou - Nouadhibou road that is within 25km of the Western Sahara border and the city of Nouadhibou
the town of Nouadhibou.
Zouerat in Tiris Zemmour
Province
BeforeFCDO youadvises travel,against checkall thebut ‘Entryessential requirements’travel sectionto for Mauritania’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latesttown updatesof andZouerat stay in contactTiris withZemmour your travel provider.Province.
IfFind youout planmore toabout passwhy throughFCDO anotheradvises countryagainst to return to the UK, check the travel.
UK advicegovernment for the country you’re transiting.
support
ItThe isBritish moreEmbassy importantin thanNouakchott evercannot toprovide getconsular travelservices insurancein andperson. checkBritish itnationals providesin sufficientMauritania cover.should Seecontact the FCDO’sBritish guidanceEmbassy onin foreignDakar, travel insuranceSenegal., for support.
Terrorist
Before attacksyou intravel
No Mauritaniatravel can’tcan be ruledguaranteed out.safe. YouRead shouldall bethe especiallyadvice vigilant in publicthis placesguide and monitorany localspecific media.travel Attacksadvice couldthat beapplies indiscriminate,to includingyou:
- women
intravellers
- disabled
placestravellers
- LGBT+
visitedtravellers
- solo
byand foreigners.independent Seetravel
- volunteering
Terrorismand adventure travel
Travel insurance
ConsularIf supportyou inchoose Mauritaniato istravel, severelyresearch limitedyour asdestinations theand Britishget Embassyappropriate intravel Nouakchottinsurance. cannotInsurance provideshould consularcover servicesyour initinerary, person.planned Britishactivities nationalsand expenses in Mauritaniaan requiringemergency.
About consularFCDO assistancetravel shouldadvice
FCDO phoneprovides theadvice Britishabout Embassyrisks inof Dakartravel onto +221help 33British 823nationals 73make 92.informed Ifdecisions. youFind cannotout reachmore usabout onFCDO thistravel number,advice.
Follow calland +44contact 1908FCDO 516666travel (ifon abroad)Twitter, orFacebook 020and 7Instagram. 008You 5000can (ifalso insign theup UK).to Consularget officersemail arenotifications availablewhen 24/7this toadvice assistis with your enquiries.updated.
The
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ((FCDO) advice.
Areas where FCDO) advises against travel
Eastern Mauritania
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ((FCDO) advice.
FCDO advises against all travel to:
- to areas east of a line drawn between but excluding the towns of
KankossaKankossa,inGuidimaka,inandTagant,inTirisZemmourborderwith -
Mauritania-Western Sahara border
FCDO advises against all travel to areas within 25km of the Western Sahara border (except the section of the
NouakchottNouakchott-Nouadhibou-NouadhibouthatisNouadhibou) - Nouadhibou).
FCDO advises against all travel to the
remainderrest of the Ras Nouadhiboupeninsula
TheTiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba and Guidimaka provinces
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:
thetoremainderareas of the provinces of Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi,AssabAssaba and Guidimaka(i.e.thoseareasthea line drawn between the towns of Ghallaouia,Tichit,Tichit andKankossa)- Kankossa.
Nouakchott-Nouadhibou road
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the section of the
NouakchottNouakchott-Nouadhibou-NouadhibouthatisNouadhibou thetownofZouerat in Tiris Zemmour
BeforeFCDO youadvises travel,against checkall thebut ‘Entryessential requirements’travel sectionto for Mauritania’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latesttown updatesof andZouerat stay in contactTiris withZemmour your travel provider.Province.
IfFind youout planmore toabout passwhy throughFCDO anotheradvises countryagainst to return to the UK, check the travel.
UK advicegovernment for the country you’re transiting.
ItThe isBritish moreEmbassy importantin thanNouakchott evercannot toprovide getconsular travelservices insurancein andperson. checkBritish itnationals providesin sufficientMauritania cover.should Seecontact the FCDO’sBritish guidanceEmbassy onin foreignDakar, travel insuranceSenegal., for support.
Terrorist
Before attacksyou intravel
No Mauritaniatravel can’tcan be ruledguaranteed out.safe. YouRead shouldall bethe especiallyadvice vigilant in publicthis placesguide and monitorany localspecific media.travel Attacksadvice couldthat beapplies indiscriminate,to includingyou:
- women
intravellers - disabled
placestravellers - LGBT+
visitedtravellers - solo
byandforeigners.independentSeetravel - volunteering
Terrorismand adventure travel
Travel insurance
ConsularIf supportyou inchoose Mauritaniato istravel, severelyresearch limitedyour asdestinations theand Britishget Embassyappropriate intravel Nouakchottinsurance. cannotInsurance provideshould consularcover servicesyour initinerary, person.planned Britishactivities nationalsand expenses in Mauritaniaan requiringemergency.
About consularFCDO assistancetravel shouldadvice
FCDO phoneprovides theadvice Britishabout Embassyrisks inof Dakartravel onto +221help 33British 823nationals 73make 92.informed Ifdecisions. youFind cannotout reachmore usabout onFCDO thistravel number,advice.
Follow calland +44contact 1908FCDO 516666travel (ifon abroad)Twitter, orFacebook 020and 7Instagram. 008You 5000can (ifalso insign theup UK).to Consularget officersemail arenotifications availablewhen 24/7this toadvice assistis with your enquiries.updated.
Update history
2025-01-24 14:57
Additional information about the introduction of e-visas to enter Mauritania (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2025-01-03 11:35
New information about the introduction of e-visas to enter Mauritania from 5 January 2025 (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-12-10 13:27
FCDO now advises against all travel to 25km from the Malian border and all but essential travel to 25km from the Western Sahara border and parts of Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant and Gorgol, and no longer advises against travel to parts of Tagant, Adrar, Gorgol and Dakhlet Nouadhibou (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Regional risks’ pages).
2024-08-02 14:47
Removal of information about the presidential election on 29 June (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-10 10:54
Information about the presidential election on 29 June (see ‘Political situation’ on the ‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-03-11 14:51
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-06-22 11:10
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-04-03 11:19
Travellers arriving into Mauritania are no longer required to present a negative PCR test and/or proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry Requirements’ pages).
2023-03-13 09:41
Removal of information about the 5 March security incident in Nouakchott (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-03-08 12:22
Updated information on security incident in Nouakchott on 5 March 2023 (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-03-06 11:23
Information on security incident in Nouakchott, 5 March 2023 (‘Summary’, ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-10-19 10:26
Updated information on terrorism (‘Terrorism’ page).
2022-04-11 15:19
Updated information on entry requirements to Mauritania in relation to COVID-19 (requirement to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival) (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages)