Mauritania
Warnings and insurance
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 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:
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the areas west of a line running between Choum, Ouadane and where the 10th Meridian West meets latitude 18° 40°
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the town of Ouadane
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the Tidjikja-Tichit road
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the Aleg to Tidjikja road via Moudjeria and all areas of Tagant west of that road
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the Bogue to Kaedi road via Bababe
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
UK government support
The British Embassy in Nouakchott cannot provide consular services in person. British nationals in Mauritania should contact the British Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, for support.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Get travel advice updates
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Update history
2025-06-06 10:13
Updated information on visa requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page).
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)