THE Mauritanian government has just announced a radical simplification administrative procedures for travellers. No more waiting in long queues at embassies and consulates. Mauritania enters the digital era for visa applications.
From January 5, 2025, the electronic visaor e-Visawill be mandatory for all foreign travelers requiring a visa to enter Mauritania.
A visa application made easy
In concrete terms, what does this new system change? Everything is now done online. Travelers must connect to the Agence Nationale du Registre des Populations et des Titres Sรฉcurisรฉs (ANRPTS - National Agency for Population Registration and Secure Titles)available on the anrpts.gov.mr.
Here they will find a form to be filled in with their personal details, dates of travel, and the reason for their stay. Several durations are available: 30 days, 90 days, 1 year or 2 years with single, double or multiple inputs.
No more visa stickers
Once the form has been completed, simply submit it online, together with a digital passport photo and a copy of passportwhich must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry into Mauritania.
Once the application has been approved, the sesame, in the form of a e-Visa with QR codearrives directly in the traveler's mailbox. All that remains is to print it out and present it to the authorities on arrival in Mauritania. Payment of the visa fee, which ranges from โฌ55 to โฌ270 (Mauritania grants discounts to African and Arab nationalities), is made on arrival. Bring EUR or USD currency.
The switch to all-digital technology means no more visa stickers affixed to passports. The ANRPTS has clearly announced that sticker visas would no longer be issued. Instead, on arrival in Mauritania, travellers will pass through a quick stage of biometric data capture to finalize their entry into the country.
A measure that concerns all travellers
It is important to note that this new procedure applies to all travelers subject to visa requirements, including members of diplomatic and consular staffas well as representatives of international organizations accredited in Mauritania.
Exceptions for certain nationalities
However, some travellers will not need to apply for an e-Visa. Citizens of the following countries benefit from a visa exemption to enter Mauritania:
- Algeria
- Burkina Faso
- Ivory Coast
- Gambia
- Guinea-Bissau
- Libya
- Mali
- Niger
- Senegal
- Chad
- Tunisia
Mauritania on the road to modernization
The adoption of e-Visa is a major a strong sign of Mauritania's commitment to modernization and of simplify administrative procedures. This initiative is part of a global trend to the digitization of traveller services, observed in many countries such as France, Germany and Italy. Kuwait or the Chad. In addition to making life easier for travellers, the e-Visa makes it possible to enhance safety border crossings thanks to cutting-edge technologies.
Regional tensions and tourism in the making
This modernization comes at a crucial time for Mauritania. The country, which shares a long border with Mali, is confronted with security challenges linked to the presence of armed groups in the Sahel region. Instability in Mali has had repercussions on Mauritaniaincluding waves of Tuareg refugees fleeing insecurity.
Despite its undeniable tourist potential, with its vast stretches of desert, Atlantic coastline and historic sites, tourism in Mauritania remains modest. Visit security tensions in the region have hampered the sector's development.
The introduction of e-Visa could help boost tourism by facilitating the arrival of visitors. If the security situation improves, Mauritania could take advantage of this new measure to attract more travelers in search of adventure and discovery.
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