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Visas & legalization: Moldova

Moldova currently offers 4 active paths relevant to remote workers. Conditions below come from official immigration sources — filter by your citizenship.

Verified

Getting in

Who can enter Moldova and on what terms — visa-free windows and entry visas.

Visa-free short stay (90/180)

activeVisa-free stay

For: EU citizens, US citizens, UK citizens, Ukrainian citizens

Duration
3 months
Path to PR
No
Requirements (4)
  • Citizens of ~102 countries and territories (incl. the EU, US, UK, Canada, Australia) may enter Moldova visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period
  • Valid passport; entry for tourism, business or family visit
  • Time spent in Moldova does NOT count toward the Schengen 90/180 allowance (Moldova is outside Schengen)
  • Local employment requires a separate work authorisation

Tax implications: Short visa-free stays generally do not create Moldovan tax residency; working remotely for foreign clients during such a stay is a legal grey zone.

Moldova is very visa-liberal — most of our audience (EU, US, UK, Ukraine) enters visa-free for 90/180. A convenient base that does not burn Schengen days, but not a work or long-stay status; for stays over 90 days a residence card is required.

Staying long-term

Grounds for residence — business, employment, special programs — with the conditions to qualify.

IT Visa (Moldova IT Park) — residence for foreign IT specialists

activeFreelance permit

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
2 years, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Family
Included
Requirements (4)
  • Foreign IT specialist employed by (or founding) a company that is a resident of the Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP)
  • The dedicated 'IT Visa' program streamlines the work-and-residence process — a fast, digital, largely paperless workflow run with the migration authority
  • Employment contract / role with the MITP-resident company; from 1 Jan 2026 a single biometric Residence Card (Carte de Rezidență) is issued
  • Available to EU citizens too, though EU nationals have simpler general access

Tax implications: The MITP company pays the 7% single tax that already covers the specialist's salary income tax and social/health contributions — the lowest effective IT tax in Europe.related scheme →

The standout route for a remote IT worker: found or join a Moldova IT Park company and use the streamlined IT Visa to get residence, while the company's 7% single tax covers your salary taxes. It is employment/company-linked, not a pure digital-nomad visa (no fixed passive-income floor); the tie to an MITP-resident company is the qualifying condition.

Temporary residence for work or business (Residence Card)

activeTemporary residence

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Family
Included
Requirements (4)
  • Foreign nationals staying over 90 days in any 180-day period must obtain a right of residence and hold a valid biometric Residence Card (from 1 Jan 2026)
  • Grounds include employment (with a work permit), running/investing in a Moldovan company, study, or family reunification
  • Applications processed by the General Inspectorate for Migration; permanent residence is possible after continuous legal residence
  • Self-employment / business residence via registering and running a Moldovan SRL

Tax implications: Income taxed per its source and the applicable regime (12% flat individual / SRL routes, or the IT Park 7% if the activity qualifies).related scheme →related scheme →

The general non-EU residence route for those not going through the IT Visa — employment (work permit), business ownership, study or family. From 1 Jan 2026 Moldova issues a single biometric Residence Card replacing the old separate permits.

Temporary protection for displaced Ukrainians

activeSpecial program

For: Ukrainian citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
No
Family
Included
Requirements (4)
  • Displaced persons from Ukraine covered by Moldova's temporary-protection regime (activated 1 March 2023)
  • Register for temporary protection to receive the status and associated rights
  • Right to work and access to healthcare, education and support services during protection
  • Ukrainians also enjoy visa-free entry to Moldova

Tax implications: Access to work on the same terms as residents; income taxed under the applicable Moldovan regime.

Moldova, a neighbour hosting a very large number of Ukrainian refugees relative to its size, activated temporary protection on 1 March 2023 with the right to work and access to services. Renewed in line with the regional protection framework.