Moldova work visa and residence for employment

The D/AM visa covers foreigners hired by an employer in Moldova, including seasonal workers, seconded and posted workers and athletes joining clubs on individual contracts. The D/IT visa is for managers and specialists hired by residents of Moldova's information technology parks under Law No. 77/2016. Separate D categories exist for intra-company transfers of managers and specialists (D/TP) and for trainees (D/FT). For short assignments, the GIM also grants a right of temporary stay of more than 90 days but at most one calendar year to contractual service suppliers, independent professionals, seasonal agricultural workers, frontier workers and IT specialists.

For migrant workers the GIM asks for the standard application form, the passport, the individual employment contract showing the monthly salary, the criminal record certificate from the country of origin, translated into Romanian and notarised or consular-authenticated, proof of ownership or use of the dwelling, such as a registered rental contract or real estate register extract, and one 3x4 cm colour photo. IT specialists add the consent of the competent IT authority.

Granting the right of residence for work costs MDL 3,600 in state fees plus MDL 90 to the GIM, and an extension MDL 1,800 plus MDL 90, with the decision issued within 15 days. The D visa fee is EUR 40 in the Ministry's general list; individual missions may charge a different amount. The residence permit card is issued for the period of the right of residence, but not beyond the passport's validity, and costs extra according to the chosen processing speed.

The employer submits the request for the right of residence for work at the GIM one-stop shop in the area of its office, signed by the manager and stamped. After the decision, the worker applies at a Moldovan mission for the D visa, presenting the GIM decision, a criminal record certificate translated into Romanian or English and legalised or apostilled, proof of funds and medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000. Migrant workers are among the groups who may apply without first holding a long-stay visa.

Documents for an extension must be submitted at least 30 days before the authorised stay ends; missing the deadline is subject to administrative penalties. For an extension the worker brings the residence permit, the current employment contract and proof of housing.