Bringing a pet to Mauritania

Last reviewed October 2, 2026

Mauritania is a rabies-endemic country with a moderately strict pet import regime: dogs need a valid rabies vaccination, an international health certificate, and an import authorisation from the Direction des Services Vétérinaires (DSV). There is no routine quarantine for properly documented pets. On paper the same core documents are required regardless of origin, but officials may scrutinise paperwork from high-risk origins more closely. Start the permit and certificate process at least 4–6 weeks before travel and confirm current requirements with the DSV in Nouakchott, as enforcement at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy airport can vary.

Requirements for your pet

Showing requirements for a dog travelling from United States to Mauritania.

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian endorsed by the origin country's competent authority (e.g. USDA APHIS-accredited vet for the US, an Official Veterinarian for the UK/EU) · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 3 months

Breed restrictions

Mauritania has no nationwide breed ban for dogs. However, airlines serving Nouakchott (Air Mauritanie, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Royal Air Maroc) enforce their own brachycephalic (snub-nosed) restrictions — bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, boxers, Persian-type cats — and may refuse carriage in summer months (May–September) when ground temperatures at Nouakchott exceed 35 °C. Check the operating carrier's live-animal policy before booking; the country itself does not restrict these breeds.

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate (inactivated vaccine, valid 1–3 years depending on product)
International health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival and endorsed by the origin government authority
Import authorisation from the Direction des Services Vétérinaires (DSV), Nouakchott
Proof of microchip (ISO 11784/11785) or clear tattoo predating vaccination
Owner's passport copy and travel itinerary

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only — verify locally. Microchip ~$30–60; rabies vaccination ~$20–50; international health certificate ~$100–250; DSV import permit fee typically modest (often under $50 but confirm with the DSV); courier/translation of French documents ~$50–150. Total commonly $250–500 per dog. Prices vary widely by origin country and are not guaranteed.

Even from an EU-equivalent origin, Mauritania does not waive the import permit. Allow 3–4 weeks for the DSV to process the authorisation; applications are usually routed through a local veterinarian or the Mauritanian embassy in the origin country.

Apply / official dog import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 3 months

Breed restrictions

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate (inactivated vaccine, valid 1–3 years depending on product)
International health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival and endorsed by the origin government authority
Import authorisation from the Direction des Services Vétérinaires (DSV), Nouakchott
Proof of microchip (ISO 11784/11785) or clear tattoo predating vaccination
Owner's passport copy and travel itinerary

Rough budget

Same document set as the free tier. Mauritania does not formally distinguish low-risk from free origins, but officials may ask for the rabies vaccination to have been given at least 30 days before travel rather than the standard 21 — build in a buffer.

Apply / official dog import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 30+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Required

Blood draw 90+ days before travel

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 3 months

Breed restrictions

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate (inactivated vaccine, valid 1–3 years depending on product)
FAVN/rabies neutralising antibody titre test result ≥0.5 IU/ml from an approved laboratory
International health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival and endorsed by the origin government authority
Import authorisation from the Direction des Services Vétérinaires (DSV), Nouakchott
Proof of microchip (ISO 11784/11785) or clear tattoo predating vaccination
Owner's passport copy and travel itinerary

Rough budget

Rough ballpark only — verify locally. Microchip ~$30–60; rabies vaccination ~$20–50; FAVN titre test ~$120–300 including shipping to an approved lab; international health certificate ~$100–250; DSV import permit fee typically modest (often under $50 but confirm with the DSV); translation/courier ~$50–150. Total commonly $400–800 per dog. Prices vary widely by origin country and are not guaranteed.

Mauritania does not run a formal quarantine station, so a pet from a high-risk origin with a valid titre test and permit is normally released at the airport. Without the titre test, expect the DSV to refuse the import authorisation or to demand the animal be held at the owner's cost in a private kennel in Nouakchott — there is no government facility. Start the process at least 4 months before travel.

Apply / official dog import page

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Mauritania requires an import authorisation issued by the Direction des Services Vétérinaires (DSV) under the Ministère du Développement Rural, regardless of whether the dog comes from France, the US, or Senegal. Apply through a local Nouakchott veterinarian or the Mauritanian embassy in your country, and allow 3–4 weeks for processing. The permit is normally valid for a single entry within a stated window (often 30–60 days), so do not apply too early.

At least 21 days before arrival for pets from low-risk or free origins, and at least 30 days for pets from high-risk origins. The vaccine must be an inactivated (killed) rabies vaccine licensed for a 1- or 3-year booster interval, and the vaccination date must be after the microchip was implanted. A 1-year vaccine given 10 days before flying will be refused at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy airport.

No. Mauritania has no government quarantine station for pets. A dog with a valid rabies vaccination, health certificate, and DSV import permit is cleared at the airport. If documents are missing, the animal may be refused entry or held in a private kennel in Nouakchott at the owner's expense — there is no official facility, so this is a serious risk. Do not travel without the permit in hand.

Mauritania does not publish a hard numeric cap, but in practice the DSV treats up to 3 dogs per travelling owner as a non-commercial movement. Four or more dogs on one itinerary, or any dog intended for sale, breeding, or resale, is likely to be classified as a commercial import and will require additional veterinary inspection, a commercial import licence, and possibly an establishment registration in the origin country. If you are moving with more than 3 dogs, contact the DSV in advance.

No. Mauritania does not exempt service dogs or emotional-support animals from rabies vaccination, health certification, or the DSV import permit. A guide dog for a visually impaired traveller still needs the same paperwork as any other dog. Some airlines will carry a service dog in the cabin, but that is an airline policy, not a Mauritanian government exemption — the animal must still clear veterinary import control on arrival.

You need an international veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, signed by an official government veterinarian (for the US, a USDA APHIS-accredited veterinarian whose signature is endorsed by APHIS; for the UK/EU, an Official Veterinarian). The certificate must state the dog is free of infectious and contagious diseases, confirm the microchip number, and record the rabies vaccination date and product. Certificates older than 10 days at the time of arrival are routinely rejected.

It depends on where you are travelling from. Dogs from high-risk rabies countries — including most of West Africa, Russia, Thailand, and the Middle East — are increasingly asked for a neutralising antibody titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml from an approved laboratory (e.g. ANSES Nancy or Kansas State). The blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, and you should allow 90 days between a successful test and travel if the dog was not previously vaccinated. Dogs from the EU, US, UK, Japan, and Australia are not routinely asked for a titre test, though the DSV can request one at its discretion.

Showing requirements for a cat travelling from United States to Mauritania.

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian or accredited veterinarian endorsed by the origin country's veterinary authority · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel and current at entry
International health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival
Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200. No titer test or import permit required for this tier. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Mauritanian Ministry of Rural Development (veterinary services).

No rabies titer test or import permit required for cats from free-tier origins. Rabies vaccine must be administered at least 21 days before travel and remain current at entry.

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian or accredited veterinarian endorsed by the origin country's veterinary authority · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel and current at entry
International health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival
Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip

Rough budget

Same requirements as free-tier origins. Documents should be in French or accompanied by a certified French translation, as French is the administrative language.

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Required

Blood draw 90+ days before travel

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian or accredited veterinarian endorsed by the origin country's veterinary authority · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel and current at entry
FAVN rabies titer test result (≥0.5 IU/ml, sampled at least 30 days post-vaccination, travel at least 90 days after sampling)
Import permit issued by the Mauritanian Ministry of Rural Development (Direction des Services Vétérinaires)
International health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival
Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, import permit fee ~$50-100. No quarantine fee applies. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Mauritanian Ministry of Rural Development.

High-risk origins require an import permit and a valid FAVN titer test. The permit must be obtained before travel. Quarantine is not imposed on cats, but the titer test and permit add significant lead time (at least 3-4 months).

Frequently asked questions

Only if your cat is travelling from a high-risk rabies country. For low-risk or free origins, no titer test is required. If required, the FAVN test must be done at least 30 days after vaccination, show ≥0.5 IU/ml, and travel must occur at least 90 days after the blood sample was taken.

Mauritania does not publish a specific limit for non-commercial pet cats. In practice, up to 2-3 cats are usually accepted as personal pets, but larger numbers may be considered commercial and require additional permits. Confirm with the Mauritanian veterinary services before travel.

No. Mauritania does not grant exemptions for emotional support or service animals. All cats, regardless of function, must meet the same rabies vaccination, microchip, health certificate, and permit requirements.

The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival in Mauritania. It must be signed by an official government veterinarian or an accredited veterinarian endorsed by the origin country's veterinary authority.

Yes, a microchip conforming to ISO 11784/11785 is required. The microchip number must be recorded on the health certificate and vaccination records.

The rabies vaccine must be administered at least 21 days before travel. The vaccine must be current (not expired) at the time of entry. For high-risk origins, a titer test is also required, which adds at least 30 days after vaccination plus a 90-day wait after sampling before travel.

Yes, if your cat is coming from a high-risk rabies country. For low-risk or free origins, no import permit is required. The permit is issued by the Mauritanian Ministry of Rural Development (Direction des Services Vétérinaires) and should be obtained well in advance.

Showing requirements for a ferret travelling from United States to Mauritania.

Microchip

Not required

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian of the origin country, endorsed by the central veterinary authority · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Minimum age: 3 months

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel and not expired
International veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Import declaration for live animals (may be requested at the border)

Rough budget

Rough estimates only: health certificate ~$50–150, rabies vaccination ~$20–50, possible border fees ~$10–50. No titer test or import permit is required for this tier. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Mauritanian Directorate of Veterinary Services.

Mauritania has no published pet travel scheme for ferrets. Requirements are based on general animal health law and border practice. Ferrets are not listed as prohibited, but import is at the discretion of the border veterinarian. A health certificate and proof of rabies vaccination are typically requested. No quarantine for healthy, vaccinated animals from low-risk countries.

Microchip

Not required

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian of the origin country, endorsed by the central veterinary authority · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Minimum age: 3 months

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel and not expired
International veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Import declaration for live animals (may be requested at the border)

Rough budget

Same requirements as for free-tier origins. Mauritania does not differentiate between low-risk and free origins for ferrets. A valid rabies vaccination and a recent health certificate are the key documents. No quarantine is imposed for healthy, vaccinated ferrets from low-risk countries.

Microchip

Not required

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Required

Blood draw 90+ days before travel

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian of the origin country, endorsed by the central veterinary authority · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Minimum age: 3 months

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel and not expired
FAVN/RFFIT rabies titer test result (≥0.5 IU/ml) from an approved laboratory
Import permit issued by the Mauritanian Directorate of Veterinary Services (must be obtained in advance)
International veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Import declaration for live animals

Rough budget

Rough estimates only: health certificate ~$50–150, rabies vaccination ~$20–50, FAVN titer test ~$100–250, import permit fee ~$50–200 (varies), possible border fees ~$10–50. No quarantine fee is expected if documents are in order. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Mauritanian Directorate of Veterinary Services.

For ferrets from high-risk rabies countries (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East), Mauritania requires a rabies titer test and an import permit. The permit must be applied for well in advance (allow 4–8 weeks). The titer test must be done at an approved lab. No quarantine is imposed if all documents are in order, but the animal may be subject to inspection at the border. Ferrets are not typically vaccinated against rabies in some high-risk countries; if no valid vaccination exists, the animal may be refused entry.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, ferrets are not explicitly prohibited, but Mauritania has no published pet travel scheme for them. Import is allowed at the discretion of the border veterinarian, provided you have a valid rabies vaccination certificate and a recent international health certificate. Ferrets are considered exotic pets, so requirements may be stricter than for cats and dogs. Always confirm with the Mauritanian Directorate of Veterinary Services before travel.

No. Mauritania does not require a microchip for ferrets. However, if your ferret is travelling from a country that requires a microchip for rabies vaccination (e.g., EU countries), the microchip must be implanted before vaccination. For entry into Mauritania, a microchip is not mandatory, but it is recommended for identification.

A valid rabies vaccination is required. The vaccine must be given at least 21 days before travel and must not be expired. Ferrets must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination. Other vaccinations (e.g., distemper) are not required by Mauritania but are recommended for the animal's health.

It depends on the origin country. If your ferret is coming from a high-risk rabies country (e.g., most of Africa, Asia, Middle East, South America), a FAVN or RFFIT titer test showing at least 0.5 IU/ml is required. The test must be done at least 90 days after vaccination and at least 30 days before travel. For low-risk or free origins, no titer test is required.

Mauritania does not specify a maximum number for non-commercial pet ferrets. However, if you are bringing more than 5 ferrets, they may be considered a commercial import, which triggers additional requirements such as a commercial import permit, veterinary inspection at the border, and possibly quarantine. For personal pets, keep the number small (1–2) to avoid commercial classification.

No. Mauritania does not recognise emotional support or service animals as exempt from import requirements. All ferrets, regardless of their role, must meet the same rabies vaccination, health certificate, and (if applicable) titer test and import permit rules. There is no exemption for service animals.

There is no mandatory quarantine for ferrets entering Mauritania if they have a valid rabies vaccination and a health certificate. However, if the animal arrives without proper documentation or shows signs of illness, the border veterinarian may order quarantine or refuse entry. Quarantine, if imposed, would be at the owner's expense and for an unspecified period.

Good to know

Mauritania has no published tiered pet-import scheme equivalent to the EU Pet Travel Scheme. The Direction des Services Vétérinaires (DSV) under the Ministère du Développement Rural issues import authorisations case by case. Arabic and French are the working languages of the authority; correspondence in French is strongly advised. Rabies is endemic, so vaccination proof is checked carefully. There is no recognised quarantine facility at Nouakchott airport for pets; animals arriving without valid documents may be refused entry or held at the owner's expense in a private kennel.

Airline rules & connecting flights

Government import rules are only half the picture — your airline sets its own pet policy on top of them: whether your petcan fly in the cabin at all, size/weight limits for the carrier, breed embargoes (many airlines refuse brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs and pugs in cargo), and seasonal heat restrictions. Check your specific airline's pet policy before booking — see IATA's Traveler's Pet Corner .

If your flight has a layover, the transit country can have its own pet rules — sometimes these apply even if you never leave the airport. If you're transiting through another country on the way to Mauritania, check that country's pet-entry/transit rules separately (search "pets" on this site for that country too).