India to Mauritania visa requirements

Indian ordinary passport holders need a visa for Mauritania. Since 5 January 2025 the old visa-on-arrival has been replaced by a mandatory e-Visa applied for online before travel through the ANRPTS portal (anrpts.gov.mr). After online approval, the visa fee (about EUR 55 / USD 60) is paid on arrival and biometrics are captured at the airport or land border. India is not on Mauritania's short visa-exempt list (which covers mainly some West African, Maghreb and a few Arab states), so Indian travellers have always required a visa. The key recent change is the rollout of an electronic visa system: as of 5 January 2025, the National Agency for the Population Register and Secure Titles (ANRPTS) requires all visa nationals, including Indians, to complete an online e-Visa application before boarding their flight, replacing the previous straightforward visa-on-arrival. The process is a hybrid: you apply and receive approval online (typically 2-3 business days, though travellers report up to 1-2 weeks), print the approval, then pay the fee of roughly EUR 55 (or USD 60) and provide biometrics on arrival at Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport or a land border. The visa is normally issued for a single entry and a 30-day stay for tourism. Because the system is relatively new and processing can be slower than advertised, Indian travellers should apply at least 2-4 weeks ahead, carry a printed approval, and confirm details with the Mauritanian embassy. Note: a small number of sources still describe a pure visa-on-arrival; the conservative and currently accurate position is that the online e-Visa step is mandatory.