NationalityLaws
Mauritania flag

Mauritania.mr

Dual Citizenship: No Africa

Do I need a visa?

Full visa checker →

Country Snapshot

Passport Power
#97
42 visa-free
Henley Passport Index 2026
Happiness
#123
of 143 countries
World Happiness Report 2024
Global Peace
#103
of 163 countries
Global Peace Index 2024
Human Development
#164
of 193 countries
UNDP HDI 2024
Economic Freedom
53.1
of 100
Heritage Foundation 2024
Corruption Index
28
of 100 (higher = cleaner)
Transparency International 2024
Business Friendliness
3/10
Nationality Index Assessment

Mauritania

Last Updated: 2026-04-02

Official Portal: Government of Mauritania

Embassy Finder: Mauritanian Embassies Worldwide

Quick Facts

CategoryDetails
Residency for naturalization5 years of continuous residence
Language requirementKnowledge of Arabic (official language) expected
Civics testNone codified
Processing time12—36 months
Naturalization feeVariable; set by decree
Dual citizenshipNot permitted
Citizenship by birth in MauritaniaNo automatic jus soli
Citizenship by descentPrimarily through the father
Governing lawLaw No. 1961-112 (Nationality Code), as amended; Constitution of Mauritania (1991, revised 2012)

Dual Citizenship

Mauritania does not permit dual citizenship. The Nationality Code provides that acquisition of a foreign nationality results in loss of Mauritanian citizenship.

Key provisions:

  • A Mauritanian citizen who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses Mauritanian citizenship.
  • Persons naturalizing as Mauritanian must renounce all prior citizenships.
  • No bilateral or multilateral treaties provide exceptions.
  • The prohibition is consistent with the legal traditions of many Francophone African and Arab states.

Diaspora context: Mauritanians abroad (principally in France, Senegal, Mali, and the Gulf states) who acquire foreign nationality technically forfeit their Mauritanian citizenship. In practice, enforcement depends on whether the Mauritanian authorities become aware of the foreign acquisition. There is no systematic verification mechanism.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Mauritania does not apply automatic jus soli. Birth in Mauritania alone does not confer nationality.

Exceptions:

  • A child born in Mauritania to unknown parents is presumed Mauritanian.
  • A child born in Mauritania to stateless parents may acquire Mauritanian nationality.
  • A child born in Mauritania to a Mauritanian mother and a foreign father may acquire nationality under certain conditions (see descent rules).

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Mauritania’s nationality law is patrilineal in orientation, though some provisions extend to maternal descent.

Rules:

  1. A child born to a Mauritanian father acquires nationality at birth, regardless of place of birth or the nationality of the mother.
  2. A child born to a Mauritanian mother and a foreign or stateless father may acquire Mauritanian nationality, but the mechanism is less automatic:
    • If born in Mauritania, the child may claim nationality.
    • If born outside Mauritania, the child may apply for nationality by declaration upon reaching majority.
  3. A child born out of wedlock to a Mauritanian mother is Mauritanian if paternity by a foreign father is not established.

Gender disparity: The law does not fully equalize maternal and paternal transmission. CEDAW and other international bodies have recommended reform, but the Nationality Code has not been substantially amended on this point.

By Adoption

Mauritania follows Islamic legal traditions. Full adoption (tabanni) is not recognized under Mauritanian law. The applicable framework is kafala (guardianship/foster care), which does not create a parent-child legal relationship and does not confer nationality.

By Marriage

A foreign woman married to a Mauritanian man may acquire Mauritanian nationality by declaration after 5 years of marriage. She must renounce her prior nationality.

A foreign man married to a Mauritanian woman has no facilitated pathway to nationality through the marriage. He must apply through the standard naturalization process.

By Naturalization

RequirementDetails
Residence5 years of continuous lawful residence in Mauritania
Good characterNo criminal record
LanguageKnowledge of Arabic
Financial meansAdequate means of livelihood
HealthGood health (medical certificate)
IntegrationEvidence of integration into Mauritanian society
RenunciationMust renounce all prior nationalities
Age18+

Naturalization is granted by presidential decree and is discretionary. The residency requirement may be reduced for persons who have rendered exceptional services to Mauritania.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A Mauritanian citizen who has acquired or intends to acquire a foreign nationality may renounce Mauritanian citizenship by declaration. Approval is required.

Involuntary Loss

Mauritanian nationality is lost when a citizen:

  1. Voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality.
  2. Serves in a foreign military or government without authorization.
  3. Commits acts prejudicial to the interests of Mauritania while residing abroad.
  4. Obtained citizenship through fraud — revocable by decree.

Restoration of Nationality

Former Mauritanian citizens may apply for restoration of nationality. Requirements:

  • Application to the Ministry of Justice or Interior
  • Residence in Mauritania (or intent to return)
  • Renunciation of any foreign nationality held
  • Good character
  • Presidential decree

Restoration is discretionary and not guaranteed.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

  • A foundling discovered in Mauritania is presumed to be Mauritanian.
  • Children born in Mauritania to stateless parents may acquire nationality.
  • Mauritania faces particular statelessness challenges related to the Haratine and Black Mauritanian communities, some of whom have historically been denied documentation and nationality recognition due to ethnic and social discrimination.
  • Mauritania ratified the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons but has not ratified the 1961 Statelessness Convention.

Document Checklist

Completed nationality application form

Birth certificate (original + certified Arabic or French translation)

Valid passport or travel document

Proof of 5 years continuous residence in Mauritania

Criminal background check

Medical certificate of good health

Proof of financial self-sufficiency

Marriage certificate (if applicable)

Certificate of renunciation from prior nationality

Passport-sized photographs (4)

Application fee receipt

Sources

  1. Law No. 1961-112 — Mauritanian Nationality Code — As amended, governing acquisition, loss, and restoration of nationality.

  2. Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (1991, revised 2012) — https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Mauritania_2012

  3. Ministry of the Interior, Mauritania — Administrative authority for nationality and immigration.

  4. UNHCR Refworld — Mauritania — https://www.refworld.org/

  5. CEDAW Concluding Observations on Mauritania — Gender discrimination in nationality law. https://www.ohchr.org/

← All Countries