VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor
EN
☰

Mauritania

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
3,519
Top destination, 2023
Spain
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
1,098
UK visas issued, 2025
258
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
31.5%
NationalityMRISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<MRMAURITANIA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
MR5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Mauritania need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 14 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Mauritania move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Spain1,538
  2. France952
  3. United States350
  4. Belgium168
  5. Türkiye135
  6. Germany127
  7. Canada125
  8. Japan42
  9. Italy38
  10. Switzerland15
  11. Luxembourg6
  12. Austria6
  13. Netherlands5
  14. South Korea4
  15. Finland3

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

1,9703,939200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,9703,9392000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,626
20011,417
20022,041
20032,393
20043,146
20052,856
20063,052
20072,821
20083,740
20092,781
20102,648
20112,426
20122,379
20132,275
20142,010
20152,226
20162,226
20171,918
20182,181
20192,553
20201,802
20213,939
20223,389
20233,519
Share going to the top destination
43.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Mauritania who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Senegal47,547
  2. Mali27,160
  3. Gambia3,992
  4. Republic of the Congo3,111
  5. Belgium3,018
  6. Morocco1,863
  7. Guinea1,070
  8. Italy846
  9. Tunisia588
  10. Western Sahara587
  11. Libya402
  12. Guinea-Bissau342

Living abroad by year

64k127k19901995200020052010201520202024
64k127k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990111,270
1995127,054
200081,064
200569,192
201073,350
201573,527
202086,409
202491,705
Living abroad, 2024
91,705
Change since 2000
+13.1%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
51.8%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Mauritania by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B2752
  2. A272
  3. G269
  4. A143
  5. G141
  6. G438
  7. J130
  8. B211
  9. F19
  10. I6

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

9661,931201720182019202020212022202320242025
9661,93120172019202120232025
Data table
2017569
2018769
20191,931
2020676
2021318
2022689
20231,094
2024935
20251,098
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV71
  2. IR259
  3. IR153
  4. IR519
  5. FX10
  6. F2A10
  7. F110
  8. GV36
Immigrant visas, FY2025
248
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
3
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Mauritania who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Mauritania with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

1953902015201620172018201920202021202220232024
195390201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015300
2016320
2017290
2018210
2019230
2020130
2021140
2022330
2023390
2024250
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens100
  2. Refugees and asylees90
  3. Diversity visa lottery50
  4. Family-sponsored preferences10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Mauritania)
250
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Mauritania)
230
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
1,080
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Mauritania (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Mauritania (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor191
  2. Study45
  3. Other17
  4. Work4
  5. Family1

Visas issued by year

214428201020122014201620182020202220242025
214428201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010151
2011197
2012216
2013261
2014225
2015218
2016213
2017253
2018255
2019265
2020172
2021235
2022324
2023330
2024428
2025258
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
15
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Mauritania, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202501010014040
202404510012520
202302015512030
202202060805
202102065700
202001030200
20190550650
20180060550
20170045500
20160020300
201500251000
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Mauritania, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

242005–062007–082015–162017–18
242005–062007–082015–162017–18
Data table
2005–064
2006–071
2007–082
2008–091
2015–161
2017–181
Granted, 2025–26
0
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Mauritania living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

15302012201420162018202220242025
15302012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201214
201312
20146
201511
201618
201719
201817
201922
202223
202327
202428
202530
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student12
  2. Designated Activities4
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National3
  4. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services3
  5. Permanent Resident3
  6. Dependent3
  7. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident1
  8. Highly Skilled Professional1
Residents, December 2025
30
In work-related statuses
4
Share in work-related statuses
13.3%
Students
12
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Mauritania

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Mauritania, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Spain17,74011,5695,39330.4%
France4,2292,8841,23229.1%
Germany1,62778980449.4%

Applications by year

12k24k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
12k24k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20096,311
20109,811
20119,308
20129,652
201310,425
201411,573
201512,352
201612,736
201715,321
201815,684
201919,489
20207,147
202112,552
202221,399
202323,253
202423,596
Refusal rate, 2024
31.5%
Refusal rate, 2019
18.9%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Mauritania in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Family1,159
  2. Other reasons1,046
  3. Education622
  4. Work256
First permits by country
  1. France1,619
  2. Spain1,081
  3. Belgium135
  4. Germany107
  5. Italy51
  6. Portugal27
  7. Romania18
  8. Switzerland14
  9. Luxembourg7
  10. Greece5
  11. Netherlands5
  12. Sweden4
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card3
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)2
  3. Researchers2
  4. Other paid activities249
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
15
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
1,108
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
1,803
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
130
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
35,538
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1,288
Changed status into work, 2025
227
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Mauritania in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025101
Austria202503-3
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Mauritania

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Mauritania, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Algeria1——
Brazil1——
China1——
Egypt1——
France1——
Gambia1——
Germany1——
Israel1——
Japan1——
Morocco11—
Palestine1——
Russia1——
Saudi Arabia1——
South Africa1——
Spain1——
Syria1——
Tunisia1——
Türkiye1——
United Arab Emirates1——
United Kingdom1——
Countries
20
Missions
21
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Mauritania, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

851692017202020232024
851692017202020232024
Data table
201777
201860
201964
2020169
202113
2022109
2023168
202495
Remittances received, 2024
US$95 million
Share of GDP, 2024
0.9%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

All corridors from Mauritania

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Mauritania → Spain
  • Mauritania → France
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more