Moldova residence permit in 2026: how to get one
A company stake from $30,000 or remote income of about $3,000 a month are the two shortest routes to living in Chisinau. Conditions, terms and costs.
A foreigner gets a Moldova residence permit on one of the grounds in the law on foreigners: work, study, family, investment in a local company, a job at the IT park or remote work for a foreign employer. The shortest routes for people who arrive with their own money or income are a stake in a Moldovan company worth at least 30 average salaries, about $30,000, and remote worker status with income of at least three average salaries a month, about $3,000.
Without a permit you can stay up to 90 days in any 180 if your citizenship allows visa-free entry. Longer stays need a right of residence and a residence card, which since 1 January 2026 is issued in a new biometric format. The country overview is on the Moldova page.
What grounds for a Moldova residence permit exist in 2026
| Ground | Main condition | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Investment in a company | A stake of at least 30 average salaries, ~$30,000, or one job at the average salary | Business owners |
| Remote work | Income of at least three average salaries a month over the last six months, from foreign companies only | Employees or freelancers of foreign companies |
| IT park | A job or management role at an IT park resident company, approved by the park commission | IT specialists and IT company founders |
| Employment | A work permit with a Moldovan employer | People with a local job offer |
| Family and study | Marriage, kinship with a resident or university enrolment | Spouses, children, students |
The average salary here is the projected average salary in the economy that the government approves each year. For 2026 it is about $980 a month.
How to get a Moldova residence permit through a company
First the company is registered with the Public Services Agency, and you either contribute capital or hire an employee at the average salary. An auditor confirms the investment; a statement of taxes and contributions paid for the employee confirms the job.
Then you book an appointment with the General Inspectorate for Migration and file a package: passport, a registered lease or proof of ownership, health insurance, proof of means, an extract from the company register and a criminal record certificate, apostilled and translated into Romanian.
The permit term depends on the size of the investment. A stake of up to 200 average salaries, about $200,000, or one job gives 2 years. Beyond that the term grows: 3 years for 200 salaries or 8 employees, up to 8 years for 4,000 salaries or 50 employees. Company formation and banking are covered on the Moldova company registration and Moldova bank account pages.
Moldova residence permit for remote workers
This status is for people working under an employment or service contract for a company abroad, or running their own foreign company. Income is proven with a bank statement for the 6 months before filing: at least 18 average salaries in total, about $18,000, or about $3,000 a month.
You also need a lease, health insurance and a criminal record certificate. Owners of a foreign company add a recent extract showing the company is active and not in liquidation. The permit is granted for the requested period, up to 2 years, and renewed on the same terms. A remote worker must have no Moldovan clients: the status covers work for foreign companies only. Similar schemes elsewhere are in our digital nomad visas section.
How much a Moldova residence permit costs
The fee for examining an investor's application is about $210. The residence card is paid separately, and the amount depends on how fast you need it. On top come certified Romanian translations, apostilles, health insurance and a lease with a registered contract.
Government fees for one adult start from $210. The total for your family with translations and insurance: Get an online estimate. A manager will quote Murblz support in the chat.
Investment counts only with an auditor's confirmation
The law does not prevent applying for a Moldova residence permit on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: money in the company account without an auditor's confirmation is not a ground, the inspectorate rejects an unregistered lease, and a remote worker's six-month statement falls short of three average salaries a month. Murblz support removes these risks: we pick the ground, register the company and prepare proof of investment, translate documents into Romanian and handle the filing until the residence card is issued. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.
The support fee depends on your ground and family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Pitfalls of a Moldova residence permit
- Documents in Romanian. Foreign certificates are accepted only with an apostille and a translation.
- A registered lease. The inspectorate needs a registered lease or proof of ownership.
- No auditor, no investment. Money in the company account without an auditor's confirmation or a hired employee does not count as a ground.
- Border guards decide entry. Visa-free travel does not guarantee entry: the border service can refuse it.
- Citizenship takes time. Naturalisation comes after 10 years of legal residence, or 3 years for the spouse of a citizen. People whose ancestors lived in Bessarabia have a shorter route: Moldovan citizenship by descent.
You become a tax resident after 183 days in the country in a year, and income tax is 12%. Count your days with the tax residency calculator; rates are on the Moldova taxes page.
How we help
Murblz specialists choose the ground for your permit, register the company and prepare proof of investment, translate documents into Romanian and handle the filing with the inspectorate until the residence card is issued. A manager will quote the support fee in the chat.
Company in Moldova
Company formation and a contribution that counts for residence.
Learn more →Bank account in Moldova
A personal account to prove means and live in the country.
Learn more →Citizenship by descent
A route to a passport for descendants of Bessarabia residents.
Learn more →We will pick the right ground for a Moldova residence permit. Tell us about your income, business and family. We will show which route is shorter and what to prepare first.
FAQ
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How much do you need to invest in Moldova for residence?
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