Mauritania Background Screening Guide

Mauritania has moved decisively toward digital government services: since March 2025, citizens can obtain their criminal record remotely through a mobile app rather than visiting a court in person — a meaningful improvement in turnaround for employers running time-sensitive screening.

National Identity Verification

Mauritania's biometric National Identity Card, established under Decree No. 2021-138 of 3 August 2021, is the standard reference document for identity verification. Biometric enrollment underpins both the ID system and a linked biometric application used to manage criminal records, specifically to prevent falsification or mismatches between individuals with similar names — a meaningful safeguard given how common shared naming conventions are in the region.

Criminal Record Check

Mauritania's criminal-clearance document is the casier judiciaire. As of its digitalization launch on 28 March 2025, citizens can request it remotely through the Houwiyeti mobile application or the Khidmati government services portal (available on Android and iOS), without needing to visit judicial services in person. This represents one of the more advanced digital-government approaches to criminal record access in the region.

Employment & Education Verification

Employment verification is generally most reliable with established employers in Nouakchott, Mauritania's capital and main commercial centre. Education verification should be conducted directly with the issuing institution.

Data Protection & Consent

Screening in Mauritania is governed by Law No. 2017-020 of 22 July 2017 on the protection of personal data, enforced by the Autorité de Protection des Données à caractère Personnel (APD), a seven-member regulatory body based in Nouakchott that authorizes and controls personal data processing carried out by both public and private entities. Employers should ensure documented candidate consent is in place before initiating any screening involving Mauritanian nationals.

Practical Notes for Employers

• Use the Houwiyeti app or Khidmati portal for casier judiciaire requests where the candidate can self-serve — it is markedly faster than the previous in-person process.
• Confirm the candidate's biometric ID enrollment status, since it underpins accurate criminal record matching.
• Document candidate consent in line with Law 2017-020 before initiating screening.

Related Resources

See the Africa Criminal Records Index for how Mauritania compares to other markets, and the Senegal Background Screening Guide for a neighboring West African market. To discuss screening for candidates in Mauritania, contact our team.