Moldova will open its new Digital Nomad Visa on September 20, 2025, giving remote workers and entrepreneurs a clear path to live in the country for up to two years with online processing and simple post‑arrival registration. The program, approved by Parliament in June after an April announcement and August rollout confirmation, targets mobile professionals who earn from abroad and want a base in a fast‑growing tech hub.
Officials say the move is designed to draw global talent while keeping Moldova’s labor market rules and border obligations intact. Under the plan, applicants receive an initial one‑year residence permit, renewable for a second year. In some cases, local registration may allow stays of up to five years, according to government guidance tied to residence rules.
The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization led the policy work, supported by the Economic Council, the Bureau of Migration and Asylum, and lawmakers who shaped final provisions to fit regional standards and local capacity. The government points to Moldova’s growing IT sector and improving digital services as key reasons the country can host remote workers at scale.
Who the visa is for and the overall approach
The visa is tailored for people who work for companies registered outside Moldova or who run their own foreign companies. Applicants must show steady income from abroad and agree not to take jobs with Moldovan employers.
Authorities have set a clear tax approach: digital nomads are taxed as individuals at a flat rate without separate social or compulsory health contributions required for this status. Legal analysts note the plan mirrors practices in nearby countries while keeping strict lines around local employment. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the final design reflects a balance between welcoming remote workers and maintaining compliance with European travel and labor frameworks.
The official launch date—September 20, 2025—is firm. Remote workers who prepare documents now can be ready to apply through the government’s online system as soon as the window opens. Moldova positions this as a practical option for freelancers, software developers, designers, and founders who want a European base with good connectivity, a growing tech scene, and manageable costs. Authorities emphasize digital infrastructure and services that support remote work, including the Moldova IT Park framework.
Policy details and eligibility
At the core of Moldova’s Digital Nomad Visa are rules that protect the local labor market while giving remote workers flexibility to live and spend time in the country.
Key rules and thresholds:
– Work and income from outside Moldova: Applicants must work for or own a business registered abroad and receive their income from foreign sources.
– Minimum monthly income: Applicants must show between $1,500–$2,000 USD per month, roughly at least three times the Moldovan average salary. Bank statements and contracts are the most common proofs.
– No local job contracts: You cannot work for Moldovan companies or carry out local business activities that require Moldovan registration.
– Visa length: One year initially, renewable for a second year; some residents who complete all local steps may be able to stay up to five years under general residence rules.
– Target audience: IT professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs are natural fits, but other remote workers may qualify if they meet the income and remote‑work conditions.
– Insurance and records: Applicants need medical insurance that covers at least one year and a clean criminal record.
In practice, “work from outside Moldova” means your employer or main clients are not in Moldova, and the business that pays you is registered in another country. Examples:
– A software engineer hired by a firm in Germany.
– A marketing consultant with clients in the United Kingdom.
– A graphic designer with clients across the United States 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦.
The ban on Moldovan employment is firm. Digital nomads on this visa:
– cannot sign a local job contract,
– cannot set up and operate a Moldovan‑registered company for local commerce under this status,
– cannot provide services billed to Moldovan entities as their main activity.
Spending money locally, renting an apartment, and buying services for personal use are allowed, but work income must be foreign. Officials frame this as a simple rule: live in Moldova, work for the world.
Age, degree, and profession are flexible if the remote work is legal in Moldova and the applicant meets income and insurance rules. The government expects many applicants from software and digital services, but writers, consultants, and founders in other fields may also qualify.
Family provisions:
– Dependents can apply for related stay through standard residence procedures.
– Families should prepare extra documents (marriage and birth certificates) translated and legalized in advance.
– No separate income thresholds announced for families — applicants should budget for higher proof of means.
Document handling:
– All documents must be translated into Romanian and legalized.
– Officials urge early preparation to avoid delays from translation and legalization steps.
Application steps, fees, and registration
Moldova’s application sequence is straightforward, with an online front end and clear post‑arrival steps. The Bureau of Migration and Asylum manages decisions; approvals will be sent by email. While processing times have not been published, the digital format and simple criteria suggest a faster path than many traditional residence permits.
What to prepare before you apply:
– Valid passport with at least six months validity beyond arrival.
– Proof of income from abroad: recent bank statements, contracts with foreign employers or clients, and proof of continued work.
– Medical insurance covering at least one year in Moldova.
– Certificate of non‑criminal record from your home country (and any country where you lived recently, if required).
– Proof of accommodation: lease, rental letter, or booking in Moldova.
– Employment or client contracts proving remote work for a foreign company or foreign clients.
– Four recent passport photos.
– Translations and legalization: All documents must be translated into Romanian and legalized.
Step‑by‑step process:
1. Gather documents and complete translations and legalization. Ensure names and dates match across all documents.
2. Submit your application online once the program opens on September 20, 2025. Apply through the official portal: Moldova eVisa.
3. Watch for email updates — the decision will arrive by email. Respond quickly if more documents are requested.
4. Travel to Moldova once you receive approval. Border officers may ask for your approval notice and core documents.
5. Upon arrival, complete local registration with migration authorities and obtain your temporary residence ID card.
6. Track renewal timing and start renewal months before expiry if you plan a second year.
Fees and extra costs:
– Processing fee: €40–€80 depending on the service requested.
– Applicants should budget for translation, legalization, and insurance costs, which vary by provider and country.
In‑country registration is essential. During registration, officials verify address, check ID, and print your residence card. Successful registration and continued compliance may enable stays up to five years under local rules, though digital nomad status centers on one‑year periods.
Practical tips:
– Keep bank statements, contracts, and invoices in single, clearly named PDFs per category.
– Ensure health insurance letters state your full name, coverage dates, and territory.
– If income fluctuates, provide extra months of statements to show stability above the $1,500–$2,000 USD minimum.
– Use a consistent email and check spam folders for messages from authorities.
– Bring paper copies of key documents when you travel.
Applicants can also file in person after arrival, but the online route is primary. If arriving first, ensure you have legal entry and the right to apply from inside Moldova per current guidance. Officials warn that rules may be adjusted around and after September 20, 2025, so monitor official updates.
Common reasons for refusal:
– Missing translations or legalization.
– Unclear proof of foreign income.
– Evidence of plans to work for Moldovan employers.
Avoid vague documents; ensure contracts show work is remote and paid from abroad.
Taxes, long‑term options, and program context
Tax treatment:
– Under Article 15 of the Tax Code, individuals pay a flat 12% tax on taxable income.
– Digital nomads under this visa have no obligation to pay social or compulsory health insurance contributions tied to employment status.
– Non‑resident companies with no local permanent establishment are generally not subject to Moldova’s corporate income tax.
– If a digital nomad chooses to operate locally later, different rules apply (e.g., 7% tax in the special IT regime), but this falls outside the digital nomad visa’s scope.
Double tax treaties:
– Moldova maintains treaties with many countries to prevent double taxation.
– Digital nomads should check how their home country treats tax residency during long stays and whether tax paid can be offset under treaty terms.
Long‑term pathways:
– Digital nomad permits focus on one‑year periods, renewable once.
– Moldova’s law allows longer legal stays through general residence pathways when conditions are met.
– People who maintain legal stay for 3–5 years may qualify for permanent residence.
– Citizenship is possible after 10 years of legal stay — or 5 years for those holding permanent residence — subject to language and other legal requirements.
Program context and comparators:
– Moldova joins nearby countries with similar offers (Romania, Hungary, Montenegro, Slovenia) and competes with programs in Spain and other EU states.
– Officials highlight Moldova’s growing tech scene, coworking spaces, and the Moldova IT Park as advantages.
– Final law followed months of debate; themes included alignment with European border rules and clarity around tax and employment.
Government monitoring and potential changes:
– Agencies will monitor demand, processing times, and bottlenecks.
– Possible adjustments may include more detailed tax guidance, improved links to local services, or tweaks to stay limits.
– For official updates and technical changes, see Moldova eVisa.
Practical examples
Three common applicant profiles:
– A Canadian product designer earning $4,000/month from a U.S. startup: gathers bank statements, contract, clean record certificate, one‑year insurance, and a Chișinău rental agreement; applies online, registers locally, pays 12% tax on taxable income.
– A Brazilian developer with a non‑Moldovan company contracting EU clients: meets $1,500–$2,000 USD minimum, uses coworking spaces, keeps company registered abroad, renews after year one and explores long‑term residence after cumulative legal stay.
– A British freelance writer with variable income: submits six months of bank statements plus extra months to exceed the minimum, adds a letter explaining client mix and remote setup to avoid doubts.
Each case follows the same pattern: foreign income, no local employer, clean records, insurance, and complete documents.
Employer and corporate implications
Employers and global mobility teams should note:
– Moldova’s stance simplifies planning: individual tax at 12% without social or compulsory health payments for digital nomads.
– Employers must avoid creating a local presence: no local contracts, no local payroll, and no arrangements that would make the worker appear as a Moldovan employee.
– Companies can keep workers as contractors or foreign employees, but legal teams should review treaty positions and local definitions of “permanent establishment.”
Key warnings and final practical checklist
Important deadlines and warnings:
– The program opens on September 20, 2025. Prepare documents early.
– All documents must be translated into Romanian and legalized.
– Missing translations, unclear proof of foreign income, or evidence of local employment plans are common reasons for refusal.
– The residence card does not grant Schengen or other state entry rights — it covers Moldova residence only.
Three things to do now:
1. Finalize document translations and legalization; verify names, dates, and amounts across files.
2. Line up one‑year health insurance and save a PDF letter showing coverage dates and your full name.
3. Prepare to file online on September 20, 2025, and respond quickly to any follow‑up emails.
Moldova’s Digital Nomad Visa is designed to be simple and practical: clear income rules, online application, and a flat 12% individual tax. For qualifying remote workers with steady foreign income, clean records, and proper insurance, the door opens on September 20, 2025. For official application filings and technical updates, use the government portal: Moldova eVisa.
This Article in a Nutshell
Starting September 20, 2025, Moldova’s Digital Nomad Visa lets foreign‑income remote workers live up to two years (renewable) with online application, $1,500–$2,000 monthly income requirement, one‑year insurance, Romanian translations, and a flat 12% tax rate.
