Customs regulations for your trip to Moldova

Customs regulations

Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

• Passport
• Detailed inventory
• Pro-forma invoice
• Moldovan identification (returning citizens)
• Moldovan Resident Permit (immigrants)
• Resident permit / work permit (temporary imports)
• Letter of employment (temporary imports)
• Diplomatic passport (diplomats)
• Accreditation card (diplomats)

Specific Information

• The letter of employment must confirm the length of the contract in Moldova as guarantee for any temporary import.
• For surface shipments for returning citizens with a residence address in Chisinau, the shipment will be brought in Chisinau for Customs clearance.
  • The goods will be inspected and estimated / valued by a Customs officer.
  • If the goods were not exported temporarily, the shipment is subject to value added tax (VAT) of approximately 20%.
  • Duties are approximately 0%-15% for new furniture from the estimated value.
• For surface shipments for immigrants, the import in Moldova is duty free for one time import.

Free import for persons over 18 years of age:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars/cigarillos;
• 2 liters of wines and/or spirits;
• 5 liters of beer;
• perfume and other goods for personal use.

There is a zero tolerance policy for possessing or supplying any drugs. While legislation stipulates that fines are possible for drug use/supply, in practice possession of even small quantities of drugs (Class B/C drugs as well as Class A) could result in long prison terms in addition to heavy fines.

Homosexuality is not forbidden in Moldova, though the Moldovan government does not formally recognise unmarried or same-sex partners. There is an active social and lobbying group on gay and lesbian issues in Chisinau, but public attitudes are less tolerant. Be careful about public displays of affection. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel.

Avoid taking photos of military and government facilities (including airports, power stations etc). You’re likely to be detained for questioning or arrested if you’re caught.

There are frequent police checks and police officers have the legal right to ask for identification on the street. You should carry a copy of the bio data page of your passport with you at all times.

You must obtain permission from the Moldovan Department of Monuments to bring out of the country any artwork or antiques. Failure to obtain this permission could result in the artwork or antiques being impounded and criminal charges brought.

The person conveying goods and vehicles across a customs border or the authorized customs broker representing an importer must declare goods and vehicles for customs clearance.  Importers must submit customs declarations in writing within 72 hours following importation into the customs territory of Moldova or electronically at least one hour before the vehicles and goods are presented at the border.  A customs declaration must be filled out for every commercial invoice.  A customs declaration has to be accompanied by a commercial document such as the contract or invoice; transport document  and the permissive act (licenses, and other authorizations, which will vary depending on the product.)

Agents must pay import duties prior to submitting the customs declaration.   All business and customs brokers should obtain an “electronic signature” from the Special Telecommunications Center to access the electronic customs clearance on import and export.  Folowing payment of import duties, agents can electronically sign and register their cargo via the customs information system Asycuda World.

Licensed customs brokers can help navigate the complex procedure of customs clearance, reduce interaction with customs, and prevent extra costs because of insufficient knowledge of all relevant regulations.  A list of licensed customs brokers can be found here.

Upon request, Moldovan Customs may issue a so-called Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status to any businesses that meet a set of reliability criteria.  The AEO status allows businesses to enjoy simplified clearance procedures, priority at border crossing, fewer customs controls, fewer formalities to be met, etc.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Cigarettes (200), cigarillos (50), cigars (50)
• Leather goods (purses, etc.) and knitwear (3 items)
• Shoes (2 pairs)
• Tape recorders, audio players, etc. (1 total)
• Video recording or reproducing devices (1 item)
• Alcohol (1 bottle), malt beer (5 L)
• Watches (3 items)
• Perfume (quantity for personal use only)

Prohibited Items

The law on general product safety prohibits dangerous products from being placed on the market.  The Customs Code notes that Moldovan legislation can prohibit or restrict certain goods or transport means from being introduced into or taken out of Moldova for reasons of state security, assurance of public and moral order, environmental protection, protection of art objects, protection of objects of historical or archeological value, protection of intellectual property rights, protection of the domestic market, and protection of other public interests.  Moldovan legislation has special provisions dealing with strategic goods, weapons, munitions, dual-use goods, radioactive and toxic substances, and food products.  Certain restrictions apply on ethylic alcohol, tobacco products and oil products.  The import of such products is subject to license or permission from various authorities.

Temporary import prohibitions are also applied in line with the latest updates on hazardous diseases from the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) and based on EU legislation for certain diseases.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration keeps a centralized record of all mandatory international restrictive measures in force.

• Customs can prohibit the entry of certain goods or transport items which endanger or compromise the following:
  • State security and public and moral order
  • Environmental protection
  • Protection of art objects and objects of historical / archeological value
  • Intellectual property rights
  • Domestic market
  • Public interests
• Animal products
• Antiques
• Pornographic or subversive materials
• Perishable food items

Miscellaneous (Pets, Motors, and others.)

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

• Title / registration
• Original bill of lading

Specific Information

• Cars are subject to duties.
• Vehicles older than 10 years cannot be imported.
• Diplomats may not import a motor vehicle until the accreditation card from the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been issued.
• For temporary import of a personal automobile, the owner of the goods must register the vehicle in the origin country.
• A fee of approximately EUR 95 will be collected by the Customs office for a temporary import.
• Duty-free import is done on a temporary basis of no longer than 12 months.
  • However, the temporary import can be extended each year or when the owner of the goods’ resident permit expires and a new one is obtained.
  • If the temporary import is not extended, the import file is sent to the contraband / smuggling department of the Customs office.

Pets

Note:  Contact the destination agent for information.

Birds, cats and dogs require a Veterinarian Good Health Certificate issued at point of origin. Additionally, cats and dogs also require a Rabies Inoculation Certificate and a Certificate that the animal is not of national value.

Baggage Clearance regulations:

Baggage is cleared at the first airport of entry in Moldova (Rep.).

Exempt: baggage of transit passengers, transiting through Chisinau (KIV), with a destination outside of Moldova (Rep.).

Currency

Currency Import regulations:

Residents and non-residents: local currency (Moldova Leu-MDL) up to MDL 2,500.- without declaration. Foreign currencies: no limit. Non-residents must declare amount imported upon entry.

Currency Export regulations:

Residents and non-residents: local currency (Moldova Leu-MDL) up to MDL 2,500.- without declaration. Foreign currencies: up to USD 5,000.- or equivalent for residents and up to the amount declared on arrival for non-residents. For sums up to USD 50,000.- or equivalent, written permission from the National Bank of Moldova or other authorized bank is required.