France to Mauritania visa requirements

French ordinary passport holders need an e-Visa to enter Mauritania for tourism. Apply online at the official ANRPTS portal at least 72 hours before departure and present the approval before boarding; the 55 EUR fee is paid in cash on arrival. France is not on Mauritania's short visa-exempt list, so French citizens must hold a visa to visit. Since 5 January 2025, Mauritania has operated a mandatory electronic visa (e-Visa) system administered by the National Agency for the Population Register and Secure Titles (ANRPTS), and the previous visa-on-arrival facility has been abolished. As of June 2025, Mauritanian embassies and consulates no longer issue paper visas and instead direct applicants to the online portal. French travellers must apply at anrpts.gov.mr no later than 72 hours before departure, uploading passport data and a compliant colour photo. The tourist e-Visa costs 55 EUR, is valid for a single entry, and authorises a stay of 30 days. A distinctive feature of the Mauritanian system is that, although the application is filed and approved online, the 55 EUR fee is collected in cash (exact amount in euros or US dollars) on arrival at the border - travellers should carry exact change as no change or receipt is given. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond arrival with a blank page, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required. Travellers should also note French foreign-ministry security advisories regarding the Sahel region and a strict prohibition on bringing alcohol into the country.