Foreigners holding a residence permit and residing on the territory of the Republic of Moldova enjoy the same rights and freedoms as citizens of the country, guaranteed by the Constitution of the country and other laws, as well as the rights provided for in international treaties to which Moldova is a party, with the exceptions established by current legislation.
In the main, the exceptions concern political rights, that is, the right to vote and be elected, and the right to hold certain public positions where Moldovan citizenship is mandatory.
Thus, having a residence permit in Moldova, a foreign citizen has the right to stay in the country for the duration of the residence permit, thereby not being subject to the provisions of the law limiting his stay to the validity period of the visa or to a period of 90 days within six months, and also to freely cross the border at any time.
The purposes of entry and exit from Moldova may be very different, such as vacation, business visit abroad, trip to homeland, treatment, education. They have no actual meaning. Foreigners have the right to move around the territory of the Republic of Moldova and choose their place of residence in accordance with the procedure established by the current legislation.
At the same time, having a residence permit gives foreigners the right to engage in entrepreneurial and investment activities, in accordance with the norms prescribed in Moldovan legislation.
Also, foreigners who have a residence permit in Moldova have the right to work and labor protection in accordance with current legislation. Moreover, the employer is the party responsible for the integration of the immigrant worker to the extent of the obligations provided for in the individual employment contract. It may pay for Romanian language courses for foreigners or implement other integration measures taking into account the needs and interests of the relevant organization.
Foreigners with a residence permit in Moldova have the right to rest and health care on the same basis as citizens of the Republic of Moldova. In addition, a foreigner has the opportunity to use the services of Moldovan medicine within the framework of the Compulsory Health Insurance policy. In fact, such a right allows a foreign citizen not to pay for a large number of examinations and procedures, as well as for visiting specialists.
Having a residence permit gives foreigners the right to receive allowances, pensions and other types of social insurance payments in accordance with current legislation.
A residence permit in Moldova gives foreigners access to pre-school, primary, secondary (gymnasium and lyceum) education in a manner similar to that established for citizens of the Republic of Moldova. Thus, children of foreign citizens who have a residence permit in Moldova have the right to receive free education, on an equal basis with Moldovan citizens.
Having a residence permit of Moldova, foreigners have the right to request and receive invitations to obtain visas for entry into the territory of Moldova for a resident of another country.
Holders of a residence permit in Moldova have the opportunity to apply for and receive visas at embassies of other countries that have diplomatic missions in the country.
In legal proceedings, foreigners enjoy the same procedural rights as citizens of the Republic of Moldova, legal assistance, free or on a contractual basis, from lawyers, as well as other persons authorized in the manner established by the Law on Legal Assistance Guaranteed by the State.
To sum up the above, we can say that a residence permit in Moldova provides many advantages that allow a foreign citizen to save money and time, as well as to obtain Moldovan citizenship in the future and become a full citizen of the country.