Moldova: visa and entry rules

Moldova's borders: every crossing point

Moldova's land border crossings, by neighbour:

With Romania: Leuseni — Albita (the main one, on the Chisinau — Bucharest road), Sculeni, Giurgiulesti, Cahul — Oancea.
With Ukraine: Palanca towards Odesa, Otaci, Kuchurhan and Pervomaisk on the Transnistrian stretch.

The Transnistrian stretch is a separate matter. Crossings between Ukraine and Transnistria lead into territory Moldova does not control, and there is no Moldovan border control there. Anyone who enters that way is not recorded as having entered in Moldova's database.

Hence the most common problem in this section: on departure through Moldova proper — from Chisinau or via Romania — the missing entry record turns into a breach of the rules on length of stay. Registration in that case is arranged with the Moldovan migration authorities, not in Tiraspol.

Inside the country, entering Transnistria you are given its own permit slip with a limited validity; it is extended locally.

Driving to Moldova

A Green Card is compulsory. Insurance is bought at the border or in advance.

Temporary import is processed at the border, and its term is tied to your permitted length of stay.

A road charge (vignette) is payable for foreign-registered cars — arranged online or at the crossing point.

Travelling to Moldova with a pet

A microchip is compulsory, ISO standard, and it is fitted before the rabies vaccination.

A rabies vaccination — no later than 21 days before entry.

A rabies antibody titre test is required only for pets from a country not on the EU's approved list. The US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK are on the list, so this does not apply to pets travelling from those countries; Russia is one of the countries it does apply to. Moldova follows the European requirements, and the test is done no earlier than 30 days after the vaccination.

A veterinary certificate is issued before the trip and endorsed by the state veterinary service.

There is no quarantine if the paperwork is complete.

Overstaying your visa in Moldova

The fine is issued on departure, and has to be paid before you fly out.

An entry ban is imposed for a significant overstay; the length is set by the migration service.

A separate risk is entering via Transnistria. Someone who got into the country without a Moldovan entry record is formally there illegally from day one, even if no time limit has been broken. The cure is registration with the Moldovan migration authorities, and it should be done straight away, not just before departure.

Leaving of your own accord is cheaper than explaining yourself at the border.