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MDEntry · residence · long-term status

Legal ways to live in Moldova.

Moldova currently offers 4 active paths relevant to remote workers. There is no dedicated digital nomad visa, so the practical alternatives matter. Conditions below come from official immigration sources — filter by your citizenship.

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4 legalization paths · 3 sources · official immigration sources only

passport-specific

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4 legalization paths

01

Choose your route

A compact map of every documented option for Moldova. Start with eligibility and duration, then open the full conditions below.

  1. 01Visa-free short stay (90/180)Getting in · Visa-free stayWho qualifiesEU citizens, US citizens, UK citizens, Ukrainian citizensDuration3 moNo direct PR path
  2. 02IT Visa (Moldova IT Park) — residence for foreign IT specialistsStaying long-term · Freelance permitWho qualifiesAll except EU citizensDuration2 yrs +→ PR path
  3. 03Temporary residence for work or business (Residence Card)Staying long-term · Temporary residenceWho qualifiesAll except EU citizensDuration1 yr +→ PR path
  4. 04Temporary protection for displaced UkrainiansStaying long-term · Special programWho qualifiesUkrainian citizensDuration1 yr +No direct PR path

02

Getting in

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

01Getting in
Visa-free stayactive

Visa-free short stay (90/180)

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

Duration
3 months
Path to PR
No

Requirements (4)

04
  1. 01Citizens 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
  2. 02Valid passport; entry for tourism, business or family visit
  3. 03Time spent in Moldova does NOT count toward the Schengen 90/180 allowance (Moldova is outside Schengen)
  4. 04Local employment requires a separate work authorisation

03

Staying long-term

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

02Staying long-term
Freelance permitactive

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

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
2 years, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Family
Included

Requirements (4)

04
  1. 01Foreign IT specialist employed by (or founding) a company that is a resident of the Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP)
  2. 02The dedicated 'IT Visa' program streamlines the work-and-residence process — a fast, digital, largely paperless workflow run with the migration authority
  3. 03Employment contract / role with the MITP-resident company; from 1 Jan 2026 a single biometric Residence Card (Carte de Rezidență) is issued
  4. 04Available to EU citizens too, though EU nationals have simpler general access
03Staying long-term
Temporary residenceactive

Temporary residence for work or business (Residence Card)

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Family
Included

Requirements (4)

04
  1. 01Foreign 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)
  2. 02Grounds include employment (with a work permit), running/investing in a Moldovan company, study, or family reunification
  3. 03Applications processed by the General Inspectorate for Migration; permanent residence is possible after continuous legal residence
  4. 04Self-employment / business residence via registering and running a Moldovan SRL
04Staying long-term
Special programactive

Temporary protection for displaced Ukrainians

For: Ukrainian citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
No
Family
Included

Requirements (4)

04
  1. 01Displaced persons from Ukraine covered by Moldova's temporary-protection regime (activated 1 March 2023)
  2. 02Register for temporary protection to receive the status and associated rights
  3. 03Right to work and access to healthcare, education and support services during protection
  4. 04Ukrainians also enjoy visa-free entry to Moldova

Moldova

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