No Mauritian VISA from Morocco Western Sahara border IMPORTANT UPDATE

[Duck]

About 5 days ago (9-11-09) no VISAs, transit or otherwise, can be got from the border crossing

Get your VISA at Rabat before travelling down, embassy is open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 11am and then collect it the next day, do not think they are open Friday but could be wrong. You will need two passport photos and fill in a 2 page form.

We got to the border only to be turned away. The border officials were stealing too much money and not passing on all the money so the rubber stamp has been taken away from them so do not even think you can bribe your way across. I am sure you will get a VISA in the future at the border but not now because they have been naughty naughty boys! heehee, you have to laugh…not nice to see a grown man cry

Our passports have been taken by a French man to Rabat with 9 passports to get everyone’s VISA and share costs, means a 6 day delay with the weekend.

Good luck and maybe someone update this when you can get a border VISA again…

[saharaeend]

IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!

Hey guys,

Just met 4 Spanish guys, in Dakhla, who had their visas for Mauritania 30st of September in Rabat, for 30 days. After seeing Morocco, they wanted to pass the border yesterday (17th November) but got refused at the border and sent back to Dakhla and back to Rabat for new visa, cause at the border they said it was expired at the 30th of October.

Although it shouldn't be like that, this IS their situation and believe me... the were quite experienced in Africa.
In order to avoid the same situation, make sure when you pick ur visa at the embassy, the dates written on it are somehow the same like your intended date of crossing the border.

I can imagine that lots of travellers will get their visa in Rabat and do a month or so tour around Morocco. Check the dates or you might get refused at the border later on.
I know in the Lonely Planet guide, it is stated that you have a three months period after issueing the visa, but that seemed to be outdated, at least, for the Spanish guys.

You can try ur luck, or keep this post in mind!

Ciao
Ruud

Welkom bij Saharaeend

[wareb]

Yep,

Just get it in Rabat, I don't know why people go all this way without a visa, only to turn around and have to go back 1200miles/4days to Rabat. Just get it in Rabat on the way down, its EEEEAAAAZZZZYYYY. Rabat is a nice/clean/safe city.

[priffe]

Originally Posted by wareb

Rabat is a nice/clean/safe city.

But is it fun?

[It begins with Africa]

We are currently near Agadir and were told by someone that one of his friends was refused entry without a visa from Rabat 6 days ago... But then another person also told us that he knows someone who was able to buy a visa at the border only 3 days ago and is now making his way towards Burkina Faso...

So have things changed already? Has anyone got any confirmation that it is possible again to get a visa at the border? We are cycling and do not really fancy pedalling our way to Rabat and back if unnecessary. Rabat was not on our way as we flew into Marrakech, but we do not want to cyclefurther South either if visas at the border are a thing of the past!

Has anyone got any further updates???