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Islamic Republic of Mauritania · work sponsored

Employer-Specific Work Permit A

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 14 November 2026. Full-review date shown above.

Employer-applied permission for a specified job that cannot be filled by a Mauritanian worker, for up to one year with one renewal.

Requires sponsorshipDoes not lead to permanent residencyA specified job for a specified employer, for a maximum of one year, renewable once. A contract, visa or residence-card term does not override this category limit.In flux
Processing time
The government procedure publishes 30 days. Article 6 provides a four-week decision framework for properly constituted qualifying A1/A2 applications. Under Article 7, after 30 days without authorisation or rejection the employer can request the competent employment service to supply the permit or motivated rejection within the following ten days. This is not automatic approval or permission to start work.
Government fees
The government work-permit procedure lists no tax for that procedure. This is not an all-in immigration price: entry visas, residence cards, document certification and other applicable charges are separate. Confirm the current assessment with DGE before filing.
Typical duration
A specified job for a specified employer, for a maximum of one year, renewable once. A contract, visa or residence-card term does not override this category limit.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Mauritania Official Gazette 1508 / ILO NATLEX reproduction ↗

In short

Employer-applied permission for a specified job that cannot be filled by a Mauritanian worker, for up to one year with one renewal. Guidance updated 14 November 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/mauritania/work-permit-a#answer

What is the Employer-Specific Work Permit A in Islamic Republic of Mauritania?

Employer-Specific Work Permit A is a sponsor-led Mauritania route. Indicative government fees are The government work-permit procedure lists no tax for that procedure. This is not an all-in immigration price: entry visas, residence cards, document certification and other applicable charges are separate. Confirm the current assessment with DGE before filing; indicative processing time is The government procedure publishes 30 days. Article 6 provides a four-week decision framework for properly constituted qualifying A1/A2 applications. Under Article 7, after 30 days without authorisation or rejection the employer can request the competent employment service to supply the permit or motivated rejection within the following ten days. This is not automatic approval or permission to start work; typical duration is A specified job for a specified employer, for a maximum of one year, renewable once. A contract, visa or residence-card term does not override this category limit. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with Mauritania Official Gazette 1508 / ILO NATLEX reproduction on 14 November 2026.

Overview

Articles 1 to 8 of Decree 2022-022 regulate permit A. The intended employer applies to the Director General of Employment through the designated digital process. The job must not be fillable by a Mauritanian worker, the foreign worker must have the required qualifications, and the employer and worker must satisfy the preceding-year compliance conditions. The permit identifies the job and employer; obtain it before employment starts. This is existing statutory coverage newly added to this website, not a newly announced programme.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Employer checks the local recruitment conditions, worker qualifications and any required Mauritanisation plan.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Employer obtains the required endorsement and files the complete category A request through the official DGE channel.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Employer obtains and gives the permit to the worker before the work begins, and notifies the employment service of the start date.

  4. After approval

    Keep lawful stay separately. File a permissible renewal at least one month before expiry; if engagement does not begin or ends early, follow the permit-return and notification rules.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Employer-Specific Work Permit A, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Employer-Specific Work Permit A instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Mauritania

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Mauritania. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceEmployer
    Check the DGE work-permit evidence list ↗

    The employer prepares the category A request and the statutory supporting evidence.

    Government administrative procedures / DGE · verified

  2. Official guidanceEmployer
    Find the Ministry digital-service referral ↗

    Confirm the current operational filing channel with DGE.

    Ministry responsible for Employment · verified

  3. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Read Decree 2022-022 ↗

    Use Articles 2 to 8 and 13 to 14 for category A conditions and renewal.

    Mauritania Official Gazette 1508 / ILO NATLEX reproduction · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Must the employer hand the permit to the employee?+

Yes. Article 8 requires this before work begins and requires the employer to notify the employment service of the actual start. If the engagement does not occur or the contract ends before permit expiry, the permit must be returned and the relevant authorities informed.

Does the work permit replace a visa or residence card?+

No. Keep lawful entry and stay permission separately. A permit to work, a residence card and the duration of an employment contract are different matters. The December 2024 Labour Code amendment addresses contract duration; it does not make every foreign-worker permit valid for the same period as the contract.

How early should a renewal be filed?+

Article 13 of Decree 2022-022 requires a renewal application at least one month before expiry. Article 14 uses the initial procedure and requires the current permit. Eligibility, the category renewal limit and continued lawful residence still matter.

Can I start work while the application is pending?+

Do not treat an application receipt or elapsed processing target as permission to work. Obtain the required authorisation and observe its job, employer and activity conditions before starting.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Mauritania

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Mauritania Official Gazette 1508 / ILO NATLEX reproduction

Last checked: 14 November 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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