Moldova citizenship by investment

How the program worked

The Moldova Citizenship by Investment Program (MCBI) launched in the second half of 2018, run by the Moldovan government with international partners, to attract foreign investment for the country's sustainable development. In exchange for a non-refundable contribution to the Public Investment Fund, investors and their families could obtain citizenship through an accelerated process after a due diligence review.

The terms that used to apply

Minimum contributions were €100,000 for a single applicant, €115,000 for a couple, €145,000 for a family of four, and €155,000 for a family of five or more. Government fees added around €35,000 per application. There was no residency requirement and no language or history exams, and dual citizenship was allowed.

Why the program closed

The program originally had a quota of 5,000 main applicants. Due to political reasons it was suspended earlier: a moratorium was introduced in July 2019, and the program was permanently closed in 2020.

How to get Moldovan citizenship now that the program is closed

The €100,000 door is shut, but Moldova still hands out passports to families with roots in the country. The new citizenship law, No. 253/2025, came into force on 24 December 2025. Under Article 10 an adult born abroad is recognized as a Moldovan citizen if at least one parent, grandparent or great-grandparent was born on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

The price has simply changed currency: the investment route asked for money, recognition asks for grammar. The applicant must know Romanian and the provisions of the Moldovan Constitution. Applications are filed in person with the Public Services Agency (Agenția Servicii Publice, the state body that issues identity documents) in Chișinău or at a Moldovan embassy or consulate. The law allows up to a year for review, plus up to six more months if documents need extra checks. Documents and grounds: Moldovan citizenship by descent.

Romania by Bessarabian roots

For many Moldovan families the bigger prize lies across the Prut river. Most of today's Moldova belonged to Romania as Bessarabia from 1918 to 1940. Article 11 of Romania's Citizenship Law No. 21/1991 restores citizenship to people who lost it against their will and to their descendants up to the third degree: children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Moving to Romania is not required, and the current passport stays.

The road is slower than it looks. Since 2025 Romania asks for Romanian at B1 level, with exemptions, and in 2025 about 130,000 applications from Moldova were waiting for a decision of the National Citizenship Authority (Autoritatea Națională pentru Cetățenie, ANC). The full picture: Romanian citizenship by descent or naturalization.

Status in 2026

Moldova's citizenship by investment programme is closed; no new applications have been accepted since July 2019. Applications filed before the moratorium were processed to the end. A Moldovan passport for a fund contribution is not available in 2026, either from the state or through intermediaries.

What the programme cost

Government fees and charges of about €35,000 per application came on top. There were no residence or language requirements, and dual citizenship was allowed. That simplicity is exactly what drew criticism.

Timeline

Why the programme was closed

The authorities and international partners saw risks of corruption, money laundering and security threats. Repeal was one of the EU's conditions for releasing a €30 million second tranche of macro-financial aid. Moldova has since moved towards EU membership, and there are no plans to restart passport sales.

Beware of offers in 2026

If someone offers Moldovan citizenship for money outside the procedures, it is a scam or an illegal scheme. Warning signs: cash or payment to a private account, a passport promised without the Romanian exam or proof of roots, refusal to name the legal basis. There are two legal routes now: descent and naturalisation.

Routes to a Moldovan passport that remain

For most people from former Soviet countries with Moldovan ancestors, the first route is more realistic: no residence in Moldova and no need to give up your passport.

What a Moldovan passport gives today

About 119 destinations visa-free or with visa on arrival, including the Schengen area for 90 days in any 180. It does not yet give the right to live and work in the EU. Dual citizenship is allowed.

Alternatives to citizenship by investment

For comparison, a family of four paid Moldova €145,000 plus about €35,000 in fees. Caribbean programmes cost a similar amount for such a family today and open more countries.

If you need an EU passport

If the goal is the right to live and work in the EU, look at citizenship by descent: Romania for descendants of Romanian citizens before 1940, Bulgaria or Greece. Many people with ancestors from Bessarabia can apply to both Moldova and Romania.

A residence route: Paraguay

For those ready to go via residence, Paraguay fits: investor permanent residence from $70,000, citizenship no earlier than 3 years after permanent residence, in practice after 4.5-6 years.

Does the descent route suit you: three questions

1. Was a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent born on the territory of present-day Moldova, or did they live in Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina or the Hertsa region before 28 June 1940?
2. Can birth and marriage certificates be found for the whole chain from you to that ancestor, at least via archives?
3. Are you ready to prepare for a Romanian exam over 4-6 months?

If all three answers are yes, the descent route is realistic.

What we do

We check whether you qualify for Moldovan or Romanian citizenship by descent, choose an investment programme to suit your budget and family, and calculate the full cost and timeline. We fix our fee in writing after a free consultation.

What the program used to offer

FAQ

75 visa-free countries with a Moldovan passport