Moldova · Work
Moldova Highly qualified worker
Temporary residence for work: highly qualified foreign worker
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
Highly qualified worker is a work route for Moldova. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Government fees
- MDL 500 ≈ $28
- Processing
- Up to 30 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee MDL 500 ≈ $28; 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).
RenewalRenewable
Granted for the contract period and extendable.
General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
Permanent residence can be requested after 5 years as a temporary resident (3 years for family reunification), with housing and a satisfactory level of Romanian; a decision takes 90 days.
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.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Moldova
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- Applicant has professional training, work experience or competence specific to the post.
What you must show1
- Contract salary of at least 5 average monthly salaries on the economy.
Documents3
- Employment contract stating a monthly salary equal to at least 5 average monthly salaries.
- Proof of professional training, experience or specific competence.
- 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 workers whose contract salary is at least five average monthly salaries on the economy and who have proven qualifications or experience. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- 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). 3
Requirements
- Applicant has professional training, work experience or competence specific to the post. 1
- Contract salary of at least 5 average monthly salaries on the economy. 1
- Employment contract stating a monthly salary equal to at least 5 average monthly salaries. 1
- Proof of professional training, experience or specific competence. 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
Stay
- Residence right for the contract period; extendable.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Work for the employer named in the contract.
Family
Family members can apply for family-reunification residence if the holder has a valid permit and sufficient means (Law 200/2010, Art. 38).
Official sources
- Residence for work: highly qualified foreign workers · 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
- 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
Highly qualified worker and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly qualified worker | – | – | – |
| 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 | – | – | – |
| Free economic zone work | Needs income of MDL 17k+ a month ≈ $970 | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Highly qualified worker?
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 Highly qualified worker?
Residence right for the contract period; extendable.
How long does the Highly qualified worker take to process?
The examination period is 30 days, or 10 days with the urgency fee.
Can I work on the Highly qualified worker?
Work for the employer named in the contract.
Can I bring my family on the Highly qualified worker?
Family members can apply for family-reunification residence if the holder has a valid permit and sufficient means (Law 200/2010, Art.
Does the Highly qualified worker lead to permanent residence in Moldova?
Time on the Highly qualified worker counts toward permanent residence in Moldova, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Highly qualified worker holders taxed in Moldova?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Highly qualified worker. 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 2026-10-10 against 5 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: highly qualified foreign workers · 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
- 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.