The authorities have drafted a law on entry, stay and control of foreigners in the Republic of Moldova, aimed at a comprehensive reform of migration policy.
According to the draft, forced removal is the escort of a foreigner by officials with special status to the point of crossing the state border, or to the country of origin, transit or destination.
In the medium and long term, it is expected to offset costs by increasing the efficiency of administrative procedures, reducing the number of legal disputes, and attracting investment and skilled labor.
One of the innovations will be the introduction of the concept of “risk profile”, a tool to identify persons who may pose a threat to national security, public order or public health. In addition, foreigners will be required to prove sufficient means of subsistence and housing, as well as to document the purpose of their stay.
Separate provisions refer to foreign citizens residing in the Transnistrian region, for whom a special mechanism of documentation will be established for the purpose of keeping state records.
Digitalization and control
The draft law provides for the possibility of additional checks for fictitious marriages, interviews and analysis of the evidence provided to confirm the reality of the marriage relationship.
An essential element of the reform will be the digitalization of procedures. It envisages the possibility of submitting applications in electronic format, as well as the introduction of a single document – the “Resident Card”, which will replace the existing types of identity cards for foreigners and simplify administrative processes.
In addition, exemption from fees is envisaged for certain categories of foreigners – seasonal and cross-border workers, participants in educational programs, researchers and specialists in priority professions for the economy.
When the law will start to be applied
The law is scheduled to enter into force in June 2027. Until then, a number of bylaws will have to be developed and approved, as well as amendments will have to be made to the current legislation for the full implementation of the reform.
It should be noted that the number of foreigners applying for the right to stay in the Republic of Moldova continues to grow. By the end of 2025, more than 21,500 foreigners and stateless persons from more than 130 countries were registered on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. Of these, over 5,600 had the right to permanent residence, and about 16,000 had temporary residence permits.
