Moldova · Work
Moldova Free economic zone work
Income needed: MDL 17k+ a month ≈ $970
Temporary residence for work: employees of free economic zone residents
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedRecord corrected 11 Oct 2026Change log
Key facts
Free economic zone work is a work route for Moldova. Applicants need income of MDL 17k+ a month ≈ $970. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- MDL 17k+ a month ≈ $970
- Government fees
- MDL 500 ≈ $28
- Processing
- Up to 30 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee MDL 500 ≈ $28; income to show MDL 17k+/mo ≈ $970; decision: up to 30 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesMDL 500 ≈ $28
- MDL 500 (≈ $28)Temporary residence permit card (IR): IGM fee MDL 350 (≈ $20) plus state fee MDL 150 (≈ $8) for the standard 20-working-day issue; faster issue costs more (up to MDL 1,750 (≈ $98) plus MDL 150 (≈ $8) for same-day).
Shown, not spentMDL 17k+/mo ≈ $970
- MDL 17,400 a month (≈ $970)Contract salary not lower than the forecast average monthly salary for the year (MDL 17,400 (≈ $970) for 2026).
RenewalRenewable
Granted for the contract period and extendable.
General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova
Permanent residenceTime here doesn't count
This category is excluded from the temporary residence years that lead to permanent residence.
General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova
ProcessingUp to 30 days
The examination period is 30 days, or 10 days with the urgency fee.
General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Moldova
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- Applicant is employed by a resident of a free economic zone.
What you must show1
- Monthly salary of at least MDL 17,400, (≈ $970) the 2026 forecast average monthly salary.
Documents3
- Request from the chief administrator of the free economic zone.
- Employment contract stating the monthly salary.
- Criminal-record certificate and proof of housing in Moldova.
Steps1
- File at the single desk for foreigners at least 15 days before the current legal stay ends.
What happens at day 183
How Moldova decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in a fiscal yearPresence in Moldova for more than 183 days in total during the fiscal year makes a foreign national resident.
- Foreign-source income
Residents are taxed on Moldovan-source income and on foreign-source income earned for activity in Moldova.
All tax rules for Moldova Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Accommodation
Criminal-record certificate and proof of housing in Moldova
- Police certificate and civil documents
Criminal-record certificate and proof of housing in Moldova
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence for foreign employees of residents of Moldova free economic zones, requested by the zone administrator, with at least the forecast average salary. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- Income of at least MDL 17,400 a month (≈ $970) · Contract salary not lower than the forecast average monthly salary for the year (MDL 17,400 (≈ $970) for 2026). 1 3
- A fee of MDL 500 (≈ $28) · Temporary residence permit card (IR): IGM fee MDL 350 (≈ $20) plus state fee MDL 150 (≈ $8) for the standard 20-working-day issue; faster issue costs more (up to MDL 1,750 (≈ $98) plus MDL 150 (≈ $8) for same-day). 4
Requirements
- Applicant is employed by a resident of a free economic zone. 1
- Monthly salary of at least MDL 17,400, (≈ $970) the 2026 forecast average monthly salary. 1 3
- Request from the chief administrator of the free economic zone. 1
- Employment contract stating the monthly salary. 1
- Criminal-record certificate and proof of housing in Moldova. 1
- File at the single desk for foreigners at least 15 days before the current legal stay ends. 1 5
Stay
- Residence right for the contract period; extendable.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Work for the zone resident named in the contract.
Official sources
- Residence for work: employees of free economic zone residents · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11
- Temporary residence for work: categories · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11
- Government approves the 2026 minimum wage and the average monthly wage of MDL 17,400 · Government of the Republic of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11
- Documentation of foreigners with identity documents: permit fees and issue times · General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM), Ministry of Internal Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Temporary residence right: purposes and procedure · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11
- Permanent residence right · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11
Free economic zone work and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free economic zone work | Needs income of MDL 17k+ a month ≈ $970 | – | – |
| IT Visa · specialist | Needs income of MDL 17k+ a month ≈ $970 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| IT Visa · manager | Needs income of MDL 17k+ a month ≈ $970 | 4 yr, renewable | – |
| National investment project work | – | – | – |
| Highly qualified worker | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Free economic zone work?
Income of at least MDL 17,400 a month (≈ $970). Contract salary not lower than the forecast average monthly salary for the year (MDL 17,400 (≈ $970) for 2026). A fee of MDL 500 (≈ $28). Temporary residence permit card (IR): IGM fee MDL 350 (≈ $20) plus state fee MDL 150 (≈ $8) for the standard 20-working-day issue; faster issue costs more (up to MDL 1,750 (≈ $98) plus MDL 150 (≈ $8) for same-day).
How long can I stay on the Free economic zone work?
Residence right for the contract period; extendable.
How long does the Free economic zone work take to process?
The examination period is 30 days, or 10 days with the urgency fee.
Can I work on the Free economic zone work?
Work for the zone resident named in the contract.
Does the Free economic zone work lead to permanent residence in Moldova?
Time on the Free economic zone work doesn't count toward permanent residence in Moldova.
How are Free economic zone work holders taxed in Moldova?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Free economic zone work. The standard rules apply: Resident individuals pay income tax at 12% of annual taxable income after a personal exemption of MDL 29,700 (≈ $1,660) a year in 2026; employees pay a 9% mandatory health premium out of gross pay and the employer pays social contributions on top. Residents are taxed on Moldovan-source income and on foreign-source income earned for activity in Moldova.
More in Moldova
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 6 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Residence for work: employees of free economic zone residents · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11
- Temporary residence for work: categories · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11
- Government approves the 2026 minimum wage and the average monthly wage of MDL 17,400 · Government of the Republic of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11
- Documentation of foreigners with identity documents: permit fees and issue times · General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM), Ministry of Internal Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Temporary residence right: purposes and procedure · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11
- Permanent residence right · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.