Living in Mauritania as a French National: Visa, Cities, Schooling and Daily Life

Mauritania, an Islamic republic of more than a million square kilometres, offers a singular setting: an Atlantic seaboard, the Sahara desert, a heritage of caravan cities and an economy driven by iron, gold, copper, fishing and, more recently, offshore gas (France Diplomatie, country presentation). The French nationals who settle there are most often seconded or recruited by a company, an international organisation or a cooperation project. The country also attracts self-employed people from the mining, fishing and renewable energy sectors.

Among the advantages are a historic French presence, a French lycée in Nouakchott, long-standing bilateral relations (France is the country’s leading provider of official development aid according to France Diplomatie) and a dry climate, sunny for much of the year. The cost of living varies greatly depending on whether you live in a residential district of the capital or inland.

Among the points of attention, France Diplomatie reports a healthcare system whose equipment is stronger in the private sector of Nouakchott than in the public sector, a very little developed ambulance service, irregular medicine availability, and areas in the north and east classified red or orange. Preparing a stay therefore involves three tasks: papers (visa, residence, consular register), health protection (see the Mauritanian healthcare system) and choosing where to live.

Nouakchott, the capital, concentrates the French embassy and its consular section, most hospitals and clinics, the Théodore Monod French lycée and most foreign companies. France Diplomatie classifies the city in the yellow zone (heightened vigilance) and describes it as having relatively low crime compared with comparable cities, with however an increase in violent theft by people on motorised two-wheelers and property crime in the outskirts. The residential districts of Tevragh-Zeina, where the embassy is located, are where the foreign community is concentrated.

Nouadhibou, the second city and a major fishing and ore port, is linked to Zouérate by the country’s only railway, run by the national mining company. It has passenger carriages, the ore wagons being forbidden to passengers (France Diplomatie, useful information). The border area from Nouadhibou to Zouérate is classified orange, except for the PK55 border post, where you must stay on the track as it crosses a mined area.

Rosso, in the south, is the border town with Senegal on the river of the same name. The other main towns, such as Kaédi or Atar, are chosen more for professional assignments than for a lasting move. Before any trip outside Nouakchott, consult the France Diplomatie zone map and register on Fil d’Ariane (the French foreign ministry’s traveller registration service).

For housing, none of the official sources read publishes a rent scale. Employers and the embassy remain the most reliable contacts; always ask who covers air conditioning, water and electricity, and whether the lease is drawn up in writing. The 90-day checklist helps you organise these steps.

Since 5 January 2025, entry takes place in two steps according to France Diplomatie. The first is to request an electronic visa authorisation on the official website anrpts.gov.mr, a document to be obtained before boarding or before arrival at the international crossing point. The second is the issue of the visa on arrival (international airports, land border posts, ports), with biometric data collection. The visa lasts 30 days, single entry, for 55 euros. The electronic authorisation must also be presented on exit, together with the entry stamp.

For a stay of more than three months, people residing in Mauritania with a valid residence card are exempt from the visa on their round trips, provided their stay outside the country does not exceed six months. No exit tax is levied; in case of overstay, regularisation is necessary, the cost of which corresponds to that of an entry visa, i.e. 55 euros. The French embassy cannot intervene in case of failure to comply with entry or exit obligations.

The precise rules on the residence card, the work permit and registration with the local social security fall under the Mauritanian administrations; your employer generally handles them for you. On the French side, registration on the register of French nationals living abroad is strongly recommended as soon as the stay exceeds six months (French embassy in Nouakchott). Nationals who drive must also take out insurance: France Diplomatie indicates that vehicle insurance is compulsory on entering the country.

On goods and money, the import and export of foreign currency must be declared, and exchange and purchase receipts kept. Bringing in alcohol and pork-based foods is prohibited; possession of the slightest quantity of alcohol, cannabis or another illicit product exposes you to police custody, with a high risk of prison, fines and confiscation (France Diplomatie, entry and stay).

The currency is the ouguiya (MRU), which replaced the old ouguiya in 2018. The CLEISS (the French centre for international social security liaison) publishes an indicative exchange rate; the rate moves, so check the day’s rate before any conversion. Bank cards and cheques are not accepted by shopkeepers; plan cash, some banks having ATMs reputed to be secure.

For affiliated employees, the CLEISS specifies contribution ceilings expressed in ouguiyas (70,000 MRU a month for most branches, as of 1 January 2025): if you are paid locally, these benchmarks help estimate net pay and social deductions. The detail is in the page on working in Mauritania.

Health, schooling and housing costs weigh more than food in an expatriate household’s budget. To anticipate the health bill, the page budgeting for health when living abroad offers a method, and the reimbursement page details who pays what.

The French embassy in Nouakchott lists the Théodore Monod French lycée (website lftm-mr.net), an establishment of the AEFE network (Agency for French Education Abroad). It is the reference solution for French children following the national curriculum. The levels offered, enrolment, fees and admission conditions are published by the school: the simplest is to contact it several months before arrival.

Families with modest resources can apply for a school scholarship for a child of French nationality enrolled in an establishment approved by the AEFE, through the consular service. The embassy also offers a “Family – Schooling” section for procedures (adoption, protection of minors, training).

For children’s health cover, a family contract or affiliation under the parent’s rights is indispensable; see expat family insurance and children’s cover abroad.

France Diplomatie divides the territory into three zones: red (formally advised against) north of Zouérate, along the border strip with Mali and in the north-eastern military zone; orange (advised against except for compelling reasons) in the border area from Nouadhibou to Zouérate and in the wilayas of Assaba, Gorgol and Guidimaka; and yellow (heightened vigilance) for the rest of the territory, Nouakchott included. The risk of kidnapping or attack linked to the situation in the Sahel is mentioned on the page; the embassy recommends avoiding the roads towards Mali.

Practical advice is that of a desert country: avoid travelling at night outside built-up areas, plan water, food and fuel, travel in at least two vehicles in regions without a paved road (the Banc d’Arguin, for example) and tell your relatives your route. At checkpoints, state the identity of travellers precisely and do not change the announced route. Photographing public, military or religious buildings, airports or ports can lead to prosecution.

On climate, the period from April to October is very hot, with temperatures often above 40 °C. Malaria may be reported in Nouakchott during or after the rainy season, from August to November. Health risks and vaccinations are described on the healthcare system page.

Arabic is the official language; Arabic, Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof are the national languages (France Diplomatie, country presentation). Learning a few phrases makes daily life easier, especially outside the capital. In this country where Islam is the official religion, restraint in dress and in public expression is simply good manners; alcohol is prohibited from import.

Before departure, a six-point plan secures the move: visa and electronic authorisation, yellow fever vaccination (compulsory when coming from an endemic zone, strongly recommended otherwise), registration on Fil d’Ariane, an assistance contract covering medical repatriation (assistance and repatriation), choice of health protection (CFE, the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger, the French expatriate social security fund; secondment or international insurance, see expat health insurance) and registration on the consular register. Expavy helps you compare these options according to your status.