Visa-free entry to Moldova
Entry stamp to Moldova.
The question of whether Russians need a visa to Moldova automatically disappears, since permission is not required for short-term trips.
Tourists traveling to the republic for less than 3 months do not need a visa. Visa-free travel is allowed every six months. Similar rules apply to a number of other countries.
Money and currency exchange
The country's monetary unit is the Moldovan leu (MDL), there are 100 bani in 1 lei. Current rate: 1 MDL = 4.16 RUB (1 USD = 17.93 MDL, 1 EUR = 21.17 MDL).
You can exchange money at bank branches and exchange offices, at hotel receptions. There is also no shortage of ATMs in the Republic of Moldova - in addition to bank branches, they can be found in hotels, shopping centers and on the central streets of Moldovan cities. Of course, it is better to go to the province with cash lei: there may not be a currency exchange or ATM at hand.
Rules for entry into Moldova for Russians
You will be able to cross the border only by preparing documents for entry into Moldova.
According to the state's visa rules, those tourists who have a passport giving the right to travel outside the Russian Federation will be able to travel to the republic. The document is valid for at least six months.
But there are cases when border guards also allow travelers whose passports will expire no earlier than 3 months from the date of departure from the country.
A person's official proof of identity must have a minimum of 2 blank pages.
It is important! In some cases, visa-free travel to Moldova is allowed using diplomatic and service passports.
A pleasant fact: registration at the place of residence in the Republic of Moldova is not required for foreigners, unlike other post-Soviet republics.
Requirements of the Republic of Moldova for tourists
Entry into Moldova is visa-free for Russians, only with a foreign passport. The length of stay of a foreigner in the country without a visa is 90 days every six months from the date of the first border crossing. The passport is valid for at least 6 months at the time of departure from the country.
The path to Moldova may lie through the Transnistrian Moldavian Republic, which sets separate requirements for entry into its territory. To cross the state border of Transnistria, you need to present a passport and pay fees, as well as fill out a migration card in 2 copies. The second copy remains with the foreigner during his stay in the country and is presented upon departure.
Upon arrival in Moldova, you must register within the first 3 days, otherwise a fine may be imposed.
For citizens of the Russian Federation, it is not mandatory to take out medical insurance, but it is recommended to do so in order to receive medical care in case of illness or accident.
If you plan to take a pet on a trip, it must be vaccinated and have a veterinary passport.
What can be imported into the territory of Moldova without customs duties:
- declared foreign currency;
- personal items;
- no more than 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars;
- no more than 5 liters of beer and 2 liters of wine;
- leather goods - no more than 3 units;
- shoes - no more than 2 pairs;
- points - no more than 4 units;
- any types of watches - 3 units.
The import of weapons, drugs, poisons, and explosives is prohibited.
What visas are issued to Moldova for Russian citizens?
This is what a visa to Moldova looks like in a foreign passport.
Depending on the purpose of the trip, Moldova issues several types of visa permits to foreigners:
- Type A. (airport visa). Issued to tourists crossing the border by air for further transfer to another flight. The validity period does not exceed 24 hours. Not issued to Russians.
- Type B. Issued for a period of up to one year, while the period of stay in Moldova is no more than 5 days per period of one transit. This is a multiple-entry visa for travelers who regularly travel with connections in Moldova. Not issued to Russians.
- Type C. A short-term visa, issued for a certain period (single or multi-entry), allows a tourist to stay in the country for 90 days over six months. Not issued to Russians.
- Type D. Long-term visa, issued for up to 1 year. It is issued for the purpose of finding a job, enrolling in a university, undergoing treatment, reuniting with relatives, or conducting official or business activities.
How to get to Moldova
You can get from Moscow to Chisinau using S7 and Air Moldova flights. S7 flies daily all year round and twice a day in the summer from Moscow Domodedovo and lands at the airport of the Moldovan capital 2 hours later. Air Moldova flights take off twice a day - at 10:40 and 22:40 - every day throughout the year, also from Domodedovo.
Air Moldova flies from St. Petersburg on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (2 hours in the air), and from Kyiv on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the journey takes 1 hour.
Citizens of Belarus will have to get to Moldova with a transfer in Moscow or Kyiv or use the railway connection.
You can also arrive in Chisinau by rail: several trains depart daily from Moscow's Kievsky Station. Travel time is from 26 to 32 hours. From St. Petersburg to Chisinau by rail - 40 hours, trains run every day; from Minsk - 30 hours, communication on odd days.
Details on how to get to the popular region of Moldova - Chisinau.
Search for air tickets to Moldova at minimal prices
How to get a visa to Moldova?
You can obtain a Moldovan visa at the Moldovan Embassy.
To obtain a Moldovan visa, you must go to the country's Embassy, which is located in the capital of the Russian Federation on the street. Rozhdestvenka, 7.
They also use the services of visa centers or travel agencies. But the prices there are a little high.
Document processing at the Consulate is carried out without an appointment; the office’s working hours are weekdays from half past eight in the morning to one in the afternoon.
To obtain a visa, you need to prepare documents for a visa to Moldova. The main one is the visa questionnaire (questionnaire). It is filled out in Russian, it indicates:
- family status
- citizenship at birth (if different from the current one);
- an identification number;
- Kind of activity;
- Purpose of Travel.
The tourist demonstrates previously received visas from Moldova (if any), the applicant indicates who he is going to (full name of the host person), and also the official sponsor - the person who pays for the trip.
The traveler must provide two photographs (standard format - 35 by 45 mm). One is glued to the application form, the second is submitted with the rest of the papers.
For business trips, you need an official invitation from a Moldovan company, certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the state. It records the purposes and timing of the trip, information about the applicant, and his place of residence at the time of his stay in the territory of Moldova.
This is important to know! Sometimes, in addition to photographs, consular officers ask for fingerprints.
When traveling with children, they take special documents: if available, the young tourist’s foreign passport, birth certificate. If a child travels without parents or with one of them, be sure to take a notarized power of attorney from the second.
Application form for a visa to Moldova (203 Downloads) Sample of filling out an application form for a visa to Moldova (183 Downloads)
What documents are needed for children
Parents have a natural question whether their children need a foreign passport to Moldova. Under 14 years of age, a foreign passport is not required if the parents have an old-style document with a record of the child’s data and a photograph. Children cannot be included in the new passport, a biometric one, so separate documents must be prepared.
For visa-free entry into Moldova with a child, you must have a birth certificate. If children are traveling with one of the parents, a notarized consent of the other parent is required for their departure from the country.
Children over 14 years old can visit Moldova only with their own passport.
Customs regulations of Moldova
Customs point on the border of Moldova.
The following are allowed to be imported:
- foreign currency declared in advance;
- national currency in the amount of no more than 2500 lei;
- alcoholic drinks (wine – 1 l, beer – 5 l);
- cigarettes (maximum 200 pcs.);
- pets (if there is a certificate from a veterinarian about vaccinations);
- personal use items.
It is prohibited to import weapons, poisons, chemicals, and narcotic substances.
Rent a Car
The rules for car rental, as well as border formalities, in Moldova are very simple: to rent you will need a driver's license and money. No one really looks at the driver’s age or driving experience. Renting the most affordable model will cost from 15 EUR per day (insurance included), a more interesting car, for example, a Mercedes with an automatic transmission, can be rented for 45-60 EUR per day. As a rule, when renting a car, a deposit of 100-200 EUR is required, depending on the model. Prices on the page are as of September 2018.
How to enter Moldova from Ukraine?
Due to the military actions taking place on the territory of Ukraine, crossing the border of this country has become more difficult.
In order to freely enter the territory of the state, in addition to a foreign passport, you must have an invitation from a resident of Ukraine, certified by a notary.
The Ukrainian government prohibits entry to representatives of the stronger sex from 16 to 60 years old if:
- they are registered in the Republic of Crimea;
- are performing military service.
Other tourists will have to communicate with border guards and demonstrate the contents of the car.
Residence in Moldova for more than 90 days
Russians can stay in Moldova for 90 days in every six months using visa-free entry. If it is necessary to obtain the opportunity for a longer stay in the country, a residence permit (immigration certificate) is issued.
The reasons on which this document can be obtained are:
- Employment in Moldova;
- Doing business in the country;
- Long-term treatment in one of the medical institutions in Moldova;
- Studying at universities in the country;
- Reunion with family.
An application for a residence permit is submitted to the Migration Department. Documents needed:
- International passport;
- Medical certificate;
- Documents on the availability of housing;
- A letter from an organization, medical or educational institution (depending on the purpose of residence);
- Documents confirming family status (for family reunification).
The issue of issuing a residence permit is discussed in more detail on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova: bma.gov.md/ru/content/6559
