How to Get a Background Check in Mauritania for Ecuador Visa

The Bulletin No. 3 du Casier Judiciaire is the official criminal record certificate issued by Mauritania's Ministry of Justice (*Ministere de la Justice*). It confirms that you have no criminal record or pending criminal proceedings in Mauritania.

Ecuador requires this document for all visa applicants over the age of 18. You must submit a background check from Mauritania (your country of origin) and from every country where you have lived for the past five years. If you have lived in multiple countries, you will need a separate background check from each one.

This is the most important thing to understand before you start.

Ecuador is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Mauritania is not.

For countries inside the Hague Convention, a simple apostille stamp is enough to authenticate a document for Ecuador. For Mauritania, apostille is not available. Instead, your casier judiciaire must go through a longer chain of authentication called consular legalization:

1. Ministry of Justice (Ministere de la Justice) in Nouakchott issues the certificate
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania authenticates the Ministry of Justice's signature and seal
3. Embassy of Ecuador in Rabat, Morocco legalizes the document so Ecuador's immigration authority will accept it

There is no Embassy of Ecuador in Mauritania. The nearest Ecuadorian diplomatic mission is the Embassy of Ecuador in Rabat, Morocco, which serves as the closest option for consular legalization.

Skipping any step in this chain will result in automatic rejection of your visa application.

Online Application (Available Since March 2025)

Mauritania digitalized its casier judiciaire system in March 2025. Citizens can now request the certificate online through:

• The Khidmati portal (government services portal) — accessible from any smartphone or computer
• The Houwiyeti app — available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store

Important: You must register on the Houwiyeti platform before you can access digitized public services. Registration requires your national identity documents.

In-Person Application (Traditional Method)

If you prefer to apply in person or do not have internet access:

1. Visit the tribunal of the region where you reside in Mauritania, or go to the Criminal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice in Nouakchott
2. Bring the following documents:
3. Certified copy of your national identity card (*carte d'identite*)
4. Birth certificate
5. Valid passport
6. Attestation letter proving your residence in Mauritania
7. Written application explaining why the police clearance certificate is being requested (state that it is for an Ecuador tourist visa application)
8. Passport-sized photographs
9. Provide a full set of fingerprints — these are typically taken at your nearest police station or at the Criminal Affairs Department
10. The application must include your full name, surname, date of birth, place of birth, and identity number

Overseas Application: If you are currently living abroad, a relative in Mauritania may apply on your behalf with a written authorization letter and proper identification. Alternatively, contact the nearest Mauritanian embassy or consulate for guidance on applying from abroad.

Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 16 years of age with a valid passport.

Gather these before you start your application:

• Valid Mauritanian national identity card (*carte d'identite nationale*) — original and certified copy
• Birth certificate (*extrait d'acte de naissance*)
• Valid Mauritanian passport (scanned copy of data page for online; original for in-person)
• Passport-sized photographs
• Attestation of residence in Mauritania
• Written application letter stating the purpose (Ecuador tourist visa)
• Full set of fingerprints (captured at a police station or at the Ministry of Justice)

Ensure that names and dates of birth match exactly across all documents — discrepancies between your identity card, passport, and birth certificate will delay processing.

Processing Time: - Online via Khidmati/Houwiyeti: The government has stated that the digital system is designed to expedite processing, but specific turnaround times have not been published. Allow 1 to 3 weeks as a reasonable estimate. - In-person at the Ministry of Justice: Processing time varies. Allow 2 to 4 weeks depending on workload and location.

Cost: - The exact fee for the casier judiciaire has not been publicly listed in Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU). Fees are confirmed at the time of application and may vary. - Contact the Ministry of Justice directly or check the Khidmati portal for current pricing: justice.gov.mr

Note: Fees are generally modest compared to the authentication and legalization costs that follow. Budget for the full authentication chain, not just the certificate itself.

After receiving your casier judiciaire, you must have it authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania (*Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres*) in Nouakchott.

This step certifies that the signature and seal on your certificate are genuine and were applied by an authorized official at the Ministry of Justice.

What to bring: - Original casier judiciaire certificate - Photocopy of your national identity card and passport - Any additional documents the Ministry requires (confirm in advance)

Processing time: Allow 3 to 7 working days for standard processing.

Output: The Ministry applies an official authentication stamp, reference number, and officer signature to your certificate. This confirms to foreign authorities that the document is genuine.

Note: Authentication is handled at the Ministry headquarters in Nouakchott. If you are not based in Nouakchott, plan travel accordingly or use a trusted representative.

After Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication, you must have the certificate legalized by the Embassy of Ecuador in Rabat, Morocco. This is the step that makes the document legally valid for Ecuadorian immigration authorities.

There is no Embassy of Ecuador in Mauritania. The Embassy of Ecuador in Rabat is the nearest Ecuadorian diplomatic mission.

Embassy of Ecuador in Rabat, Morocco: Contact the embassy directly to confirm current address, hours, appointment requirements, and legalization fees. Email: eecumarruecos@cancilleria.gob.ec

What to bring: - Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticated original certificate - Photocopies of your passport - Completed consular application form (obtain from the embassy) - Legalization fee (confirm directly with the embassy — consular fees are subject to change)

Practical considerations: - Contact the embassy well in advance by email to confirm they are operational, verify current legalization fees, and secure an appointment date - You will need to travel to Rabat or use a trusted courier/document service to handle the legalization. Plan for flight or overland travel from Nouakchott to Rabat (approximately 1,500 km) - Appointment slots at Ecuadorian embassies can be limited — start this process early

Processing time: Varies; confirm with the embassy when scheduling your appointment. Allow 1 to 2 weeks for appointment availability plus processing.

Ecuador requires all documents not in Spanish to be translated by a certified translator. Your casier judiciaire will be issued in Arabic and/or French and must be translated into Spanish before submission.

Requirements for the translation: - Translated by a certified/sworn translator (*traductor jurado*) - The translator's signature and credentials must appear on the translation - Some consulates require the translation to be notarized

Timing: Get the translation done after the full authentication chain is complete. Translating before authentication may require you to translate again if the document is modified with additional stamps or annotations during authentication.

Service option: EcuadorTranslations.com provides certified translation and notarization for foreign documents used in Ecuador visa applications. Standard turnaround is approximately $150 per document. This service handles Arabic-to-Spanish and French-to-Spanish translations for documents like the casier judiciaire.

Ecuador requires that your casier judiciaire be issued within 180 days of your visa application date.

Critical rule that most applicants get wrong: The 180-day clock pauses while Ecuador is actively reviewing your application. The certificate does not expire during processing. If Ecuador takes 45 days to review your application, those 45 days are not counted against the 180-day window.

This means: - If your certificate is issued on Day 1 and you submit your visa application on Day 60, you still have 180 days of validity remaining — none of which is consumed during the review period - The 180-day limit applies to the window between issuance and the date you submit your application

Practical implication: Aim to submit your visa application within 90–120 days of your certificate issuance date. This gives you buffer time for the authentication chain (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ecuador Embassy, translation) without cutting close to the validity window.

Ecuador requires background checks not only from your country of origin (Mauritania) but also from every country where you have lived for the past five years.

If you have lived in another country — whether for work, study, or any other purpose — you must obtain a police clearance certificate from that country as well. Each certificate must go through its own authentication chain:

• Hague Convention member countries: Apostille is sufficient
• Non-Hague Convention countries: Full consular legalization chain required (like Mauritania)

Common countries of residence for Mauritanian nationals include France, Senegal, Morocco, and the UAE. Each has its own process and timeline. Start all background check applications simultaneously to avoid delays.

Important: All background checks must meet Ecuador's 180-day validity requirement independently. Coordinate your timelines so that no certificate expires before your visa application is submitted.