Morocco to Mauritania Border Crossing Guide (Overland Travel) — Step-by-Step

Morocco to Mauritania Border Crossing Guide (Overland Travel) — Step-by-Step

This is a complete step-by-step guide to crossing the border from Morocco to Mauritania overland with your own vehicle. I’m sharing exactly how the process went for us, including what documents you need, what to expect at each office, and the order you’ll be sent through during the crossing. I also included Google Maps images to show you the exact locations of the buildings you need to visit, so you know where to park, where to go next, and how to get through the border as smoothly as possible.

Planning an overland trip from Mauritania to Senegal? Follow our detailed guide to safely cross the border with your vehicle Follow our detailed guide to safely cross the border with your vehicle

Applying for the Mauritania e-Visa (Fast + Easy)

Applying for the Mauritania e-Visa is quick and straightforward. You’ll just need a few documents prepared in the correct format before you start.

What you need

Make sure you have:

• One passport-style photo (white background, good quality)
• One scan/photo of your passport (the first two pages:
  the page with your personal information + the opposite page)

Photo requirements (important)

Before uploading, resize both images to match the official requirements:

• File size: under 400 KB
• Dimensions:
  • Maximum: 1280 x 960 px
  • Minimum: 480 x 640 px
• Accepted formats: JPG / JPEG only

Step-by-step application process

Page 1 — Choose your visa length

Select one of the following options:

• 30 days — €55
• 90 days — €95

Page 2 — Fill in your general information

A few important tips here:

• For “Address in Mauritania”, you can enter the name of a hotel.
  (You don’t need to have a confirmed reservation.)
• For “Reason for travel”, write a short description and mention a few places you plan to visit.
• For “Supporting document” (invitation letter, certificate, etc.), simply upload your passport photo.

Page 3 — Passport details

Enter your passport information.

Page 4 — Traveler information

Complete the traveler details.

Page 5 — Upload passport photo

Upload your passport-style photo.

Page 6 — Upload passport scan

Upload the scan/photo of the first two pages of your passport.

After submitting your application

Once your application is submitted successfully, you’ll receive an application ID number. Save it — you’ll need it to track your visa status.

To check your application:

1. Go back to the e-Visa website (Page 1)
2. Click “Do you already have an ongoing request? Track your request”
3. Enter:
   • Your application ID number
   • Your passport number

Important: It may at least 24 hours for the status to update.

If your visa is denied

Don’t panic — in most cases, you can simply double-check your details, correct anything that may be wrong, and reapply.

Official e-Visa application link

Apply here through the official Mauritania government website:

Print Extra Copies of Your Visa (Trust Me!)

Bring at least two printed color copies of your Mauritania e-visa.

During the border process, your papers can easily get folded, dirty, or damaged — and if your visa isn’t in good condition, the QR code may not scan properly when it’s time to pay.

That’s exactly what happened to us. Our visa paper got messed up, and they couldn’t scan the QR code… so we had to use a clean copy instead.

So save yourself the stress and bring a couple of good printed copies from the start.

Our Border Crossing Tip: Sleep Near the Border the Night Before

We stayed close to the border the night before crossing — this is something we’ll do every single time we cross a border in Africa.

Why? Because it lets you start early, stay calm, and avoid unnecessary stress.

Cross as early as possible

If you can, cross as soon as the border opens. It gives you the whole day to deal with paperwork, waiting times, and the usual border “back and forth.”

And let’s be real… starting early can also help you avoid big crowds, which sometimes makes everything smoother (and can help reduce the chances of dealing with corruption).

Our whole border crossing took about 5 hours from the moment we entered the Moroccan border until we were fully done on the Mauritanian side (including car insurance).

Fuel Tip Before Entering Mauritania: Fill Up First!

One thing we highly recommend before crossing into Mauritania is to fill up your tank before you enter the country, especially if your vehicle runs on petrol (gasoline).

Petrol (gasoline) can be hard to find

Even in the capital (Nouakchott), some gas stations can run completely dry. There are times when you may literally have to wait for the fuel truck to arrive… and until then, you’ll find yourself driving around checking station after station.

Yes, you will see people selling petrol out of jugs in some towns — but for us, that wasn’t an option (especially not this early in our journey).

Diesel is easier (but not perfect)

If you drive diesel, it’s usually easier to find… but it can still be scarce in some areas.

Also, we were warned by several overlanders that diesel quality in Mauritania isn’t great. One person described it perfectly:

It’s like comparing Sprite to Coke — and the “Coke” is what you get in Mauritania.

Where to Fill Up Before the Border

Filling up before the crossing won’t be a problem. There are:

• several stations in the towns before the border
• two stations right next to the border

Fuel Availability in Mauritania (Where We Saw Stations)

Once you’re inside Mauritania, you’ll find fuel in:

• Nouadhibou
• Nouakchott
• Atar
• Along the road between Nouakchott and El Asma
• Akjoujt
• Ouadane (diesel only)
• Choum (diesel only)

Money + Paperwork to Prepare Before Crossing into Mauritania

Fuel isn’t the only thing you should plan for before entering Mauritania — money and paperwork can make (or break) how smooth your crossing goes.

Bring Euros (seriously!)

Make sure you have cash Euros with you before you reach the border.

Mauritania visas are paid in Euros only, US dollars are NOT accepted (not even as a backup)

Paying by card is not an option.

It’s also smart to bring extra Euros so you can exchange some into the local currency, the Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU).

You’ll find plenty of guys offering to exchange money — either dollars to euros, or euros and dollars to Ouguiya (the local currency). The exchange rate wasn’t bad at all.

The Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU) is a restricted currency, which basically means you’re not really supposed to bring it into the country or take it out. So don’t exchange more than you need — and before leaving Mauritania, try to exchange any leftover MRU back into euros or dollars.

Quick currency tip: Mauritania switched from the old Ouguiya (MRO) to the new Ouguiya (MRU), and the difference is simple but important — the new currency is worth 10x the old one. That means 1 MRU = 10 MRO (or 1,000 MRU = 10,000 MRO). Even though MRU is the official currency now, you’ll still hear people quote prices using the old numbers out of habit, especially in markets and small towns. So always ask “MRU or MRO?” before you pay, and if you’re unsure, ask them to write the amount down.

The new MRU notes and coins you’ll see are:

• Coins: 1, 5, 10, 20 MRU
• Banknotes: 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 MRU

One thing I really want to stress: don’t count on paying by card in Mauritania — even in the bigger cities, most places won’t accept it. Unless you’re staying somewhere high-end (like a major hotel). In the Adrar region (Atar, Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tergit, and places around the Eye of Africa or Ben Amera), card payments are basically not an option. Even ATMs can be hit-or-miss, so make sure you’re carrying enough cash for fuel, food, camping, and emergencies before heading deeper into the desert. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

Car Insurance: You’ll Need Local Currency (MRU)

You’ll need cash in Ouguiya to pay for vehicle insurance after crossing.

Euros, US dollars and cards are not accepted for insurance payments, so you’ll need to exchange money.

The only type of car insurance you can get (at least at the border) is basic liability insurance.

Full guide below.

ATMs in Mauritania (Not Reliable)

ATMs are rare in Mauritania and only found in some larger cities. And even when you do find one that accepts Visa or Mastercard, there’s a good chance it won’t work on the first try.

Be prepared to test a few different ATMs before you can successfully withdraw cash.

Also keep in mind:

• Every bank has a daily withdrawal limit
• Sometimes it’s as low as $100 USD per day
• Sometimes it’s closer to $300 USD per day

Where you can find ATMs

From our experience (and what we’ve seen so far), ATMs are available in:

• Nouadhibou
• Nouakchott
• Atar

Best ATM we found: BMCI
After trying multiple banks, BMCI was the most reliable for us.

Don’t Forget Your “La Fiche” Copies (You’ll Need A LOT)

Before crossing into Mauritania, make sure you print at least 50 copies of “la fiche.”

If you’ve never used them before, la fiche is a simple document that includes:

• your personal details
• your passport info
• your vehicle information

It’s usually printed in different languages: your language, French, and English

Why you need so many

You’ll be handing these out constantly at checkpoints — and trust me, there are MANY checkpoints all over Mauritania.

Having your fiches ready will save you time and make every stop way easier.

Download La Fiche (French + English PDF) here:

Morocco → Mauritania Border Crossing Step by Step Guide (Our Experience)

Exiting Morocco is easy and organized

Leaving Morocco was actually pretty straightforward.

Right at the entrance before you drive into the border area, an officer will ask to see your Mauritanian visa.

Once you enter the customs zone, you’ll see two identical buildings, one on each side.

Park your vehicle and head to the passport office to get stamped out.

Where to go:

It’s in the building on the right-hand side, and it’s the first office on the right.

Don’t forget your vehicle exit card

At the passport office, you’ll also hand over your vehicle “visa” (that small white card you received when you entered Morocco).

(Some people also receive it from the customs officer on the ferry.)

Vehicle Inspection + Customs (Douane)

After your passport stamp, move your vehicle forward for the inspection.

Here’s what happened to us:

• A narcotics dog jumped into the car
• Officers asked us to open a few compartments
• They repeatedly asked if we were carrying drugs or alcohol

Once you pass inspection, hand the following through the window at the customs office (Douane) right there:

• the driver’s passport
• the vehicle registration

They’ll give you back your documents along with a document.
Take that document to the building directly across.

Final stamps + back to customs

In the building across:

• walk all the way to the beginning of the building
• hand the document + driver’s passport through the window
• you’ll receive a stamp

Then take the stamped document back to customs.

That’s it — you’re officially on your way out of Morocco!

Final Morocco Exit Stops

Before you fully leave the border area, expect a couple of quick stops where officers may ask for:

• your passport
• your vehicle registration

IMPORTANT: The “No Man’s Land” Area (Stay on the Road!)

After leaving Morocco, you’ll drive through the stretch between the two borders (often called “no man’s land”).

This area is heavily mined, so stay on the tarmac and do not drive off-road.

You’ll see military personnel along the way, but the drive itself is short and you’ll reach the Mauritania border quickly.

Entering Mauritania (Long, Crowded, and Slow)

The Mauritania border crossing is split into two sections.

It’s not difficult, but it is:

• very long
• crowded
• chaotic
• full of “nonsense” moments
• and it requires a LOT of patience

So my best advice is:

Be calm
Be friendly and respectful
Keep a good attitude
Be patient (even when it’s frustrating)

Carnet the passage is NOT required!

Use the photos in this guide to get familiar with:

• the steps
• the offices
• where to park
• where to go next

That way, when you arrive you already know exactly what to do and you can confidently avoid the fixers.

Mauritania Border Crossing (Section 1 + Section 2) — Step-by-Step

Section 1 — First parking area (small + simple)

First, you’ll arrive at a small parking lot with two small buildings, one on each side.
This is Section 1 of the border crossing.

Park your vehicle and walk to the police station (the building on the left).

Fixers (Important Warning)

The second you park, you will most likely be approached by fixers.

Some of them wear fluorescent vests and will tell you they are “official” or that they “work for the border.”

That is NOT true.

They can be extremely persistent — they will follow you everywhere, even inside the offices.

If you don’t want a fixer:

Just stay polite and declined their help.

Eventually, they usually back off (but it may take a while).

If you DO choose to use a fixer:

Be very careful. You are handing someone your passport, visa, and vehicle documents, so make sure it’s someone you truly trust.

Fixers will run around doing the paperwork for you and often pay bribes to desk officers to “speed up” the process.

But honestly… when there are lots of fixers (and locals use them too), it can actually make everything slower, because everyone is trying to pay money at the same time.

We personally watched officers take bribes with zero hesitation — either straight into a drawer or directly into their pocket.

My recommendation: do it yourself!
It’s not hard, it’s part of the overlanding experience, and you’re not feeding into corruption.

Police Office (Section 1)

At the police office, hand over:

• your passport
• your Mauritania visa

They’ll ask a few basic questions like:

• Where are you going?
• Where are you staying?
• What cities are you planning to visit?

Once you’re done, walk across to the other building (customs).

Customs Office (Section 1)

Go inside the customs building and enter the first office on the left.

Hand over your documents, including:

• passport + visa
• vehicle registration
• any other paperwork they ask for

They’ll ask a few questions, then you’ll drive your vehicle to the side of the building for inspection.

Vehicle search

Customs will search your vehicle and use narcotics dogs.
They will also repeatedly ask if you’re carrying:

• drugs
• alcohol

Once you pass the search, you’re ready for Section 2.

Section 2 — Busy + Chaotic (But You’ve Got This)

Section 2 is where things get more crowded and messy.

As soon as you drive in, Douane officers will tell you where to park.

Before entering customs (very important!)

Before you walk into the customs building (on the right), you must take:

a photo of the front of your vehicle
a photo of the back of your vehicle

Customs Office (Section 2) — Getting the Passavant (Vehicle “Visa”)

Walk into the customs building and go to the first office on the left.

Hand over all your documents to the desk officer and then… take a deep breath. Because this part can take a long time depending on how busy it is.

The officer will ask you to send the vehicle photos by text or WhatsApp to the phone number written on the wall behind them.

This is where you get your Passavant (your vehicle import paper / vehicle “visa”).

In our case, the officer was actually very kind, when we walked outside of his office to answer a phone call, he asked me for our documents. So I didn’t need to work my way into his desk.

He asked how many days I wanted for the vehicle, and I requested 30 days, which he gave us.

We heard that sometimes they give you whatever they want by default, but you can politely ask for more time.
If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to request an extension later in the capital.

Next Step: Documents Check + Receipt

Once your passavant is ready, drive further down and go into the building to the right of the bank.

Go to the first office on the left and hand your documents to the officer at the door — he will pass them to the desk officers inside.

Wait until they call your name.

They’ll ask a few questions and then give you a receipt.

Visa Payment + Biometrics (Cash Euros Only!)

Now take that receipt to the visa office to the left of the bank.

Walk inside, turn right, and the office will be on the left-hand side.

This is where you pay for your visa:

• €55 for 30 days
• €95 for 90 days

Cash Euros only — no dollars, no card payments.

They will also do your biometrics, including:

• a photograph
• fingerprints

They’ll give your receipt back to you.

Final Step: Back to the Office (Right of the Bank)

Take your receipt back to the building to the right of the bank again.

Hand your documents to the officer at the door and wait for them to call your name.

Once they call you and return your documents…

You’re done!

Last Stop Before You Exit

There’s one final checkpoint right at the exit where they briefly check your documents one last time.

Then the officer lowers the chain blocking the road… and you’re officially in Mauritania!

Car Insurance (Right After the Border)

Once you exit the border area, park your vehicle right outside the gate.

Before you drive off, I recommend you:

1. Exchange some money into Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU)
2. Walk to the first building on the left — this is the car insurance office

How much does the insurance cost?

The price depends on your vehicle.

For our Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, we paid around $33 USD (converted into MRU) for 30 days of liability only insurance.

Important: They only accept Ouguiya (MRU) — no Euros, no US dollars, and no card payments.

Checkpoints in Mauritania (Don’t Stress!)

As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of checkpoints in Mauritania — you’ll find them on every road, and even in small villages.

The good news?
In our experience, the officers were very friendly, and we personally had zero issues with corruption.

What to expect at checkpoints

Most of the time you’ll be stopped briefly and they’ll ask for:

• La fiche (this is why you need so many copies!)
• Where you’re coming from
• Where you’re going

Sometimes they’ll also:

• quickly check your license plate number

It’s usually quick, polite, and you’ll be back on the road in no time.

Driving in Mauritania (What It’s Really Like)

Driving in Mauritania can definitely be a bit challenging — mostly because there are basically no road or traffic rules (at least none that anyone follows).

People will drive in every direction, and yes… sometimes you’ll even see cars coming head-on in your lane.

What to watch out for

Here are the main things we noticed while driving:

• Cars merge into traffic without looking
• Using side mirrors doesn’t seem to be a thing (and many vehicles don’t even have side mirrors)
• Pedestrians walk on the road constantly — in every direction
• Kids can appear on the road at any time

So no matter if you’re in a big city or a tiny village, you really need to stay alert and drive defensively.

Road Conditions (Better Than We Expected)

Overall, the paved roads were actually pretty decent in most areas we drove.

Most of our route had good tarmac, with a few sections that were rough and full of potholes!

The worst road we drove

The roughest road for us was the dirt road from Chinguetti to Ouadane.

It’s heavily corrugated (washboards) the entire way, which puts a lot more stress on your vehicle.

Because of that, many travelers choose the sand track instead — just keep in mind the sand route is usually longer and takes more time.

Another road that gets a rough reputation is the dirt road from the small village of Keur-Macene to the Diama border crossing. Honestly, for us it wasn’t bad at all — we did it in the dry season and it was totally manageable. There are some ups and downs (“whoopty-doos”), but what helped is that there are basically two tracks running side by side, so you can switch between them depending on which section is smoother. We did it without any issues, and it’s definitely doable in 2WD.

Throughout our journey in Mauritania, we drove several 4×4 tracks and didn’t have any technical issues — we even managed to never get stuck. That said, definitely do your research before heading out on those tracks, because some of them can be challenging depending on the terrain and conditions.

They’re amazing tracks, and totally worth exploring if you’re prepared.

Our Driving Recommendation (for tarmac roads)

Our best advice is to drive at a speed that lets you:

react quickly
avoid unexpected potholes
stay in control at all times

Mauritania is an incredible country to explore, but the driving definitely requires extra attention — especially around towns and villages.