Moldova Permanent Residence: Requirements and How to Apply

By Law Office Viorel FurtunaPublished On: March 11, 2026

How to Obtain Permanent Residence in Moldova

When a foreign citizen moves to live in Moldova, this usually happens for specific reasons. These may include studying at a university, starting a new business or expanding an existing one, family reunification, repatriation, and many other circumstances. To carry out their plans, a foreigner often needs to stay in Moldova permanently or for a long period of time, which requires obtaining a residence permit.

The legislation of the Republic of Moldova provides foreign citizens with the right of temporary residence and the right of permanent residence.

It should be noted that a foreign citizen who holds a permanent residence permit has more rights and opportunities than a foreigner with temporary residence or without residence status. In fact, a foreigner who holds permanent residence in Moldova enjoys almost all constitutional rights, with the main differences being the absence of the right to vote or be elected, the inability to purchase agricultural land, and several other restrictions provided by law.

Therefore, a permanent residence permit in Moldova is an important document that allows a foreign citizen to live in the country permanently.

What Is a Permanent Residence Permit in Moldova

A permanent residence permit in Moldova is an official document issued by the competent authority for foreigners in accordance with the law, confirming the right of a foreign citizen to reside permanently in the country.

To better understand this concept, it is necessary to distinguish between the right of residence and the residence permit.

In simple terms, the right of residence is a legal right granted by the competent migration authority that allows a foreign citizen to stay or live in the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The residence permit, on the other hand, is the document that confirms this right.

Therefore, when we speak about obtaining a permanent residence permit, it means that the foreign citizen is granted the right of permanent residence in Moldova.

Who Can Obtain Permanent Residence in Moldova

A foreign citizen may obtain permanent residence in Moldova if they already have the right of temporary residence and meet certain conditions established by law.

Marriage to a Moldovan citizen

A foreigner who is married to a citizen of the Republic of Moldova may apply for permanent residence after three years of legal and continuous residence in the country.

This means that after marriage, the foreign citizen first obtained a temporary residence permit and has lived legally in Moldova for at least three years.

In such circumstances, the foreigner may also apply for Moldovan citizenship, but if they choose not to do so, they have the right to apply for permanent residence instead.

Other categories of foreigners

A foreign citizen may also obtain permanent residence after five years of legal and continuous temporary residence in Moldova based on other grounds provided by law.

For example, a foreigner who obtained a temporary residence permit as an investor may qualify for permanent residence after this period.

Requirements for Obtaining Permanent Residence

To obtain permanent residence in Moldova, a foreign citizen must simultaneously meet several conditions:

continue to meet the conditions for entry into the Republic of Moldova;
not have circumstances that could lead to refusal of entry into the country;
not have had criminal convictions during the last three years.

Certain requirements do not apply to foreigners who have the right to obtain Moldovan citizenship by recognition.

Exceptions

The legal provisions mentioned above do not apply to certain categories of foreigners, including:

foreign students enrolled in educational institutions;
managers working in companies operating in the IT sector;
IT specialists;
posted workers;
foreigners working on investment projects of national importance;
employees of companies located in free economic zones;
foreigners involved in international assistance projects;
foreigners engaged in humanitarian or volunteer activities.

Foreign citizens whose presence in Moldova is considered to be in the interest of the state may also be granted permanent residence without meeting all the conditions listed above.

Documents Required for Obtaining Permanent Residence

Basic list of documents:

application form
passport
proof of residence
criminal record certificate
proof of income
certificate confirming knowledge of the Romanian language
health insurance

Can a Child Obtain Permanent Residence in Moldova?

A minor child may obtain permanent residence in Moldova together with their parents if both parents hold the right of permanent residence.

A child may also obtain permanent residence if only one parent has permanent residence, provided the child is financially dependent on that parent.

Validity of Permanent Residence

Permanent residence is granted from the moment the right of permanent residence is issued and remains valid for the duration of the holder’s national identity document.

The residence permit may be renewed repeatedly.

Importantly, the expiration of the physical residence permit does not terminate the right of permanent residence itself.

When Permanent Residence May Be Cancelled

The right of permanent residence may be cancelled in several situations, including when the foreign citizen:

requests cancellation themselves;
leaves Moldova permanently to settle in another country;
obtains permanent residence in another country;
is absent from Moldova for a long period of time;
is declared an undesirable person.

Legal Assistance for Obtaining Permanent Residence in Moldova

If you are not familiar with the procedure, do not know which documents are required, or simply do not have the time to deal with the process yourself, our law office is ready to provide comprehensive legal assistance.

Our firm has extensive experience in immigration law and provides a full range of services related to procedure of obtaionig residency by foreigners in Moldova.

Our services include: