Embassy
Embassy of South Africa in Mauritania
Lot 135 / 137, Tevragh Zeina
Mauritania visa requirements for South African citizens
South African citizens need an eVisa for Mauritania. Apply on the official website.
Passport
ZAF
South Africa
Going to
MRT
Mauritania
eVisa
Tourists who need a visa must get online approval before boarding.
- Visa
- eVisa
- Max stay
- 30 days
- Fee
- See online visa package fees
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Apply on Mauritania's official eVisa portal with a scan of your passport and a photo.
Leave time for processing before you travel, and print the approval.
Enter on the dates and through the ports the eVisa allows.
Get your Mauritania visa sorted
A visa expert checks the rules and helps you apply. No payment now.
Ways into Mauritania
Apply online, or check if you can enter without a visa.
eVisaTourist online visaTourists who need a visa must get online approval before boarding.
- Fee
- See online visa package fees
How to apply
- Fill in the official online form.
- Send the requested documents.
- Get approval before boarding.
- Bring your approval for border checks.
Documents required
- Fingerprints
- Choose a 30-, 90- or 360-day package; stay limits per entry are unclear.
- There is no promised processing time.
eVisa30-day online visaA 30-day visa package for travellers who need a visa.
- Stay
- 30 days
- Valid for
- 30 days
- Fee
- Pay on arrival; rates below
How to apply
- Choose 30 days in the official online form.
- Fill in your details and upload documents.
- Get approval before boarding and print it.
- Pay on arrival and complete fingerprint and photo checks.
Documents required
- Passport scan
- Colour photo: 480 × 640 pixels
- Photo file: maximum 400 KB
- Printed visa approval
- Yellow fever proof: risk-country arrivals
- Fingerprints
- Arab world/Africa: 40 EUR or 45 USD; elsewhere: 55 EUR or 60 USD.
- Start date, entry count, stay per entry and full document list are unclear.
eVisa90-day online visaA 90-day visa package for travellers who need a visa.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Valid for
- 90 days
- Fee
- Pay on arrival
How to apply
- Choose 90 days in the official online form.
- Fill in your details and upload documents.
- Get approval before boarding and print it.
- Pay on arrival and complete fingerprint and photo checks.
Documents required
- Passport scan
- Colour photo
- Printed visa approval
- Fingerprints
- Use the general documents listed for the 30-day package.
- Start date, entry count and stay limit per entry are unclear.
eVisa360-day online visaA 360-day visa package with no clear limit for each stay.
- Valid for
- 360 days
- Fee
- Rates use a broader duration band
How to apply
- Choose 360 days in the official online form.
- Fill in your details and upload documents.
- Get approval before boarding and print it.
- Complete border checks on arrival.
Documents required
- Passport scan
- Colour photo
- Printed visa approval
- Fingerprints
- Arab world/Africa: 135 EUR or 145 USD; elsewhere: 190 EUR or 200 USD.
- Start date is unclear; 360 days does not confirm continuous stays or repeat entries.
Sources (9)Last updated 11 November 2026
- National Agency for the Population Register and Secure Titles — Electronic visa application
- National Agency for the Population Register and Secure Titles — Visa tracking
- Mauritania Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Visa procedure, fees and exemptions
- Embassy of Mauritania in India — Apply for Visa
- Embassy of Mauritania in France — Visas
- Embassy of Mauritania in Brussels — Consular service
- Embassy of Mauritania in Brussels — Arabic visa procedure and fee table
- UK government — Mauritania entry requirements; guidance scoped to British citizen passports
- Russian foreign ministry — Mauritania consular information
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from South Africa
- Plugs C E FAdapter for some
- MoneyMRU UM
- Time−2h
- DrivingOn the rightLook left first
- LanguageArabic
- Emergency117 police101 ambulance
Planning your Mauritania trip
- AdrarSee dunes, rocky landscapes, narrow canyons and hidden oases. The area also has rock paintings and the remains of the Almoravid capital, Azoughui.
- ChinguettiThis former trading and Islamic learning centre has architecture largely unchanged for nearly a thousand years. It is part of a World Heritage Site.
- OuadaneThis historic desert town is part of a World Heritage Site.
- Banc d'Arguin National ParkCoastal dunes meet the sea in this protected area. Millions of migrating birds visit each year.
Scams to watch for in Mauritania
- Inflated opening pricesA seller starts with a price far above what they may accept. Opening prices can be three times the eventual price. Bargaining is expected, so a high first quote alone does not prove fraud.
- Friendship used to push a saleSomeone approaches as a new friend, then tries to sell you something at an inflated price. Persistent sellers may use your politeness to keep you talking or draw you into a shop.
- A gift used to create pressure to buyA seller presents an item as a gift as part of an attempt to make you buy something. The gesture can make you feel that you owe them a purchase.
About Mauritania
Mauritania is a West African republic on the Atlantic, mostly covered by the Sahara desert.
- Capital
- Nouakchott
- Money
- Mauritanian ouguiya (UM)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Time zone
- UTC
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +222
Other Africa passports
Going to Mauritania
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Mauritania with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do south african citizens need a visa for Mauritania?
South African citizens need an eVisa for Mauritania. Apply on the official website.
How long can south african citizens stay in Mauritania?
Up to 30 days each visit with the evisa rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Where do I apply online for Mauritania?
Only on Mauritania's official government website. Avoid agents and look-alike sites that add fees. Apply before you book anything you can't cancel.
Does a US, UK or Schengen visa help south african citizens enter Mauritania?
We have no record of Mauritania relaxing its rules for south african citizens who hold another country's visa. Check with the embassy before you rely on one.
Do mauritanian citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Mauritanian citizens need a visa for South Africa, from its embassy or consulate.
Do other Africa passports get easier entry to Mauritania?
Algeria, Chad, Gambia, Ivory Coast Libya, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Mauritania are easier for south african citizens?
Benin, Gambia, Ghana, Cape Verde Guinea-Bissau, and 3 more let south african citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Mauritania?
Apply on Mauritania's official eVisa portal with a scan of your passport and a photo. Leave time for processing before you travel, and print the approval.
What money is used in Mauritania?
Mauritanian ouguiya (UM). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Mauritania?
Arabic.
Reviewed by @snuck