Photo: studyportals.com
According to IGM, a temporary residence permit for study purposes is issued following official enrollment in a higher education institution, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Education and Research. The resident card is valid for the entire duration of the student’s studies, regardless of whether the student is enrolled at a public or private accredited educational institution.
To complete the paperwork, you must submit an application, your passport, proof of enrollment and a student contract, proof of residence, a valid health insurance policy, and a number of other documents.
In most cases, a certificate of no criminal record is also required; if a foreign citizen has resided legally in another country for at least two years, a similar document must be provided from that country as well.
However, international students studying on scholarships from the Moldovan government are exempt from the requirement to prove they have sufficient funds to cover their living expenses.
Document submission begins on July 27
The admissions campaign for Moldovan higher education institutions will begin on July 27. For the third consecutive year, applications will be accepted exclusively in electronic format via the E-Admitere platform.
The Inspectorate also reminds students that foreign students are required to comply with the purpose of their stay in the country. Any change of address or passport information must be reported to immigration authorities within 15 days, and in the event of lost documents, the police must be notified immediately.
According to IGM data, 3,179 foreign citizens currently hold temporary residence permits in Moldova for the purpose of studying. The largest groups of students came from India (1,418 people), Israel (875), and Tunisia (231).
In 2025, 981 residence permits for study purposes were issued to foreign nationals, which, according to the agency’s assessment, indicates continued interest in pursuing higher education in Moldova.
