BeninMauritania: e-Visa

BeninMauritania

Do Benin passport holders need a visa for Mauritania?

e-Visa

Yes. Benin passport holders need a visa for Mauritania, available online as an e-visa before travel.

An e-visa must be applied for and approved online before travel.

Source: diplomatie.gov.mr (checked July 18, 2026).

Requiremente-Visa

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-21

Distance2,404 km, straight line (~3h 20m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Mauritania11 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Mauritania passport holders visiting Benin: Visa-free.

Visa-free alternatives near Mauritania

Benin passport holders can visit these nearby destinations without a visa in advance:

Other visa-free destinations for Benin passport holders

See all Benin destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Benin passport holders need a visa for Mauritania?

Yes. Benin passport holders need a visa for Mauritania, available online as an e-visa before travel.

How far is Mauritania from Benin?

About 2,404 km in a straight line, roughly ~3h 20m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in Mauritania?

Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU).

What is the emergency number in Mauritania?

101 / 117 / 118.

What time zone is Mauritania in?

Nouakchott (UTC+0).

What is the nearest airport to Nouakchott?

Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC), about 8 km away.

How many countries can enter Mauritania without a visa?

11 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Mauritania visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

What nearby countries can Benin passport holders visit without a visa instead of Mauritania?

Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Guinea, Mali.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About Benin

Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the northwest, and Niger to the northeast. The majority of its population lives on the southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Porto-Novo, and the seat of government is in Cotonou, the most populous city and economic capital. Benin covers an area of 112,622 km2 (43,484 sq mi), and its population in 2026 was estimated to be approximately 15 million. It is a tropical country with an economy heavily dependent on agriculture and the exports of palm oil and cotton.

CapitalPorto-Novo

RegionWestern Africa

Population14.8M

Area112,622 km²

CurrencyWest African CFA franc (1 USD ≈ 584.27 XOF)

LanguagesFrench

Calling code+229

Drives on theright

TimezonePorto-Novo (UTC+1)

Nearest airportCotonou Cadjehoun International Airport (COO), 31 km

Emergency number112 / 117 / 118

UNESCO sites4

Income levelLower middle income

GDP per capita$1,658 (2025)

Tourist arrivals337K (2019)

Climate in Porto-Novo

Warmest March, coolest August, driest January, sunniest December. Best time to visit: January, February, March, April, August, November, December.

Monthly climate normals for Porto-Novo, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	33.9°C	21.9°C	3mm	313h
February	34.8°C	23.9°C	10mm	300h
March	32.4°C	25.7°C	62mm	280h
April	32.1°C	25.3°C	60mm	283h
May	31.2°C	25°C	140mm	296h
June	29°C	23.7°C	331mm	221h
July	27.7°C	23.2°C	483mm	250h
August	28.3°C	22.5°C	24mm	310h
September	28.7°C	23.4°C	208mm	241h
October	29.4°C	23.5°C	197mm	282h
November	31°C	24.4°C	112mm	310h
December	31.5°C	24.4°C	42mm	318h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Benin is a country in West Africa. You'll find culture through a large collection of palatial ruins and temples of the once powerful Kingdom of Dahomey (1800s–1894). Moreover, Benin is the birthplace of Vodun (Voodoo) and all that goes with it. Vodun is the official religion of the country, and an important part of the life of ordinary Beninese. Many important tourist sites are linked to Vodun or the slave trade. The national parks of Benin are well worth a visit for their wildlife. It is also one of the most stable and safest countries in the region. With its rich history, vibrant culture, protected wildlife, Grand Popo ocean beach, and artisan market in Se, Benin is one of the best kept tourist secrets in West Africa.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Koutammakou
Royal Palace Museum
Royal Palaces of Abomey
W-Arly-Pendjari Complex

Upcoming public holidays

October 26, 2026Armed Forces Day

November 1, 2026All Saints' Day

November 30, 2026National Day

Full source list on About.

About Mauritania

Mauritania, officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in the Maghreb region of West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to the north and northwest, Algeria to the northeast, Mali to the east and southeast, and Senegal to the southwest. By land area Mauritania is the 11th-largest country in Africa and the 28th-largest in the world; 90% of its territory is in the Sahara desert. Most of its population of 5.4 million live in the temperate south of the country; roughly a third of the population is concentrated in the capital and largest city, Nouakchott, on the Atlantic coast.

CapitalNouakchott

RegionWestern Africa

Population5.3M

Area1,030,700 km²

CurrencyMauritanian ouguiya (1 USD ≈ 40.13 MRU)

LanguagesArabic

Calling code+222

Drives on theright

TimezoneNouakchott (UTC+0)

Nearest airportNouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC), 8 km

Emergency number101 / 117 / 118

UNESCO sites2

Income levelLower middle income

GDP per capita$2,198 (2025)

Tourist arrivals30K (2000)

Climate in Nouakchott

Warmest October, coolest January, driest January, sunniest May. Best time to visit: January, February, March, May, June, August, November, December.

Monthly climate normals for Nouakchott, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	28.6°C	16°C	0mm	293h
February	33.6°C	19.4°C	0mm	303h
March	32.3°C	18.4°C	0mm	343h
April	32.7°C	20.5°C	1mm	342h
May	33.3°C	21.6°C	0mm	364h
June	33.7°C	23.5°C	0mm	330h
July	28.8°C	23.9°C	8mm	327h
August	30.6°C	25.9°C	0mm	331h
September	32.5°C	26.4°C	10mm	304h
October	37.5°C	25.5°C	5mm	322h
November	33.5°C	20.9°C	0mm	292h
December	28.8°C	16.8°C	0mm	286h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Mauritania is a land of desert and ocean. It is of course no wonder that the main attractions for most tourists are the desert in Adrar and Tagant areas, and the ocean in Banc d'Arguin.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata
Banc d'Arguin National Park

Upcoming public holidays

November 28, 2026Independence Day

January 1, 2027New Year's Day

May 1, 2027Labour Day

Full source list on About.