Visa for the United Kingdom from Mauritania: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. Mauritanian passport holders must obtain a Standard Visitor visa before travelling to the UK for tourism, family visits or short business. It normally permits a stay of up to six months. This visa is not issued at the border and must be approved before you leave.

The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.

• Government fee135 GBP

  Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.

• Application centre feeVariable, set by the operator

  Only when the post uses an external centre. The amount is set locally and we do not publish a figure we cannot verify.

• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top

  Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.

• ExtrasVariable

  Courier return, SMS tracking, compliant photo, insurance, sworn translation or legalisation, depending on what the post requires.

We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.

Prepare a valid passport, evidence of sufficient funds (bank statements), proof of accommodation, your itinerary, and evidence of ties to Mauritania (employment, family, property) showing you intend to return. The fee depends on the visa length; rely only on the price displayed on GOV.UK at the point of payment. Documents may need certified English translations.

Apply online at GOV.UK: create an account, complete the form and pay the fee. You then book an appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) to give fingerprints and a photo; for applicants in Mauritania this centre may be located in a neighbouring country. Bring your passport and appointment confirmation on the day.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Mauritania, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Mauritania but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

GOV.UK publishes indicative processing times for each centre; check them before booking flights and apply in good time. A paid priority service is sometimes available depending on the centre. Also confirm any entry health requirements that may apply to your route.

A classic mistake is underestimating proof of ties and funds, a thin file often leads to refusal. Do not buy non-refundable tickets before the visa is granted. Because fees and timelines change, always rely on GOV.UK (gov.uk/standard-visitor) rather than third-party sites.