Immigration
A 2010 foreigners regime with a visa-free EU association
Moldovan citizens travel visa-free to the Schengen area, and foreigners in Moldova fall under Law 200/2010. Work requires a right-to-work confirmation obtained through the employment agency, and residence permits are issued by the migration bureau.
Key rules
- Temporary residence for employment is granted for the duration of the contract, up to defined limits.
- Permanent residence generally follows three years of temporary residence, or shorter on family grounds.
- Foreigners must register their place of residence with the migration authorities.
- Investor and IT Park routes provide simplified access to work authorisation.
Governing law
- Law No. 200/2010 on the regime of foreigners (2010)
- Law No. 270/2008 on asylum (2008)
- Law No. 105/2018 on employment promotion (2018)
In practice
Residence applications are filed at the Bureau of Migration and Asylum in Chişinău and require an apostilled criminal record certificate, which is the usual cause of delay for first-time applicants.