--- title: "Moldova Immigrant worker permit 2026: MDL 8,700+/mo needed" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/work-immigrant-worker/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Moldova · Work # Moldova Immigrant worker permit **Income needed:** MDL 8,700+ a month ≈ $490 Temporary residence for work: immigrant worker First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Record corrected 11 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-md-work-immigrant-worker) [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **Income needed:** MDL 8,700+ a month ≈ $490 (Income of at least MDL 8,700 a month (≈ $490) · Contract salary not lower than 50% of the forecast average monthly salary for the year (50% of MDL 17,400 for 2026). A fee of MDL 500 (≈ $28) · Temporary residence permit card (IR): IGM fee MDL 350 plus state fee MDL 150 for the standard 20-working-day issue; faster issue costs more (up to MDL 1,750 plus MDL 150 for same-day).) - **Who can apply:** Any passport - **Family:** Family can join (Family members can apply for family-reunification residence if the holder has a valid permit and sufficient means (Law 200/2010, Art. 38).) ## Key facts Immigrant worker permit is a work route for Moldova. Applicants need income of MDL 8,700+ a month ≈ $490. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Money needed:** MDL 8,700+ a month ≈ $490 - **Government fees:** MDL 500 ≈ $28 - **Processing:** Up to 15 days ## Cost, time and long term To apply: government fee MDL 500 ≈ $28; income to show MDL 8,700+/mo ≈ $490; decision: up to 15 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included. **Government fees: MDL 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 spent: MDL 8,700+/mo ≈ $490** - MDL 8,700 a month (≈ $490) Contract salary not lower than 50% of the forecast average monthly salary for the year (50% of MDL 17,400 (≈ $970) for 2026). **Renewal: Renewable** Granted for the contract period and extendable on the same conditions. [General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova](https://old.igm.gov.md/imigrare/sederea-provizorie/munca/lucrator-imigrant/) **Permanent residence: After 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](https://old.igm.gov.md/imigrare/sederea-provizorie/) **Processing: Up to 15 days** The examination period is 15 days for foreign investors and immigrant workers, or 10 days with the urgency fee. [General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova](https://old.igm.gov.md/imigrare/sederea-provizorie/) ## 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 apply - Applicant has an individual employment contract with a Moldovan employer. #### What you must show - Monthly salary of at least MDL 8,700, (≈ $490) which is 50% of the 2026 forecast average monthly salary of MDL 17,400 (≈ $970). #### Documents - Employment contract (original and copy) stating the monthly salary. - Criminal-record certificate from the home country, apostilled; one from the residence country is added after two years of legal stay elsewhere. - Proof of ownership or use of housing in Moldova. #### Steps 1. File at the single desk for foreigners at least 15 days before the current legal stay ends. #### After you arrive - Extension requires the residence permit and a contract with the same minimum salary. ## 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 year** Presence 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Accommodation** Proof of ownership or use of housing in Moldova - **Police certificate and civil documents** Criminal-record certificate from the home country, apostilled Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** Residence for a foreign national employed in Moldova under an individual employment contract with a salary of at least half the forecast average salary. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) #### What you must show and pay - Income of at least MDL 8,700 a month (≈ $490) · Contract salary not lower than 50% of the forecast average monthly salary for the year (50% of MDL 17,400 (≈ $970) for 2026). (sources 1, 4) - 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). (source 5) #### Requirements - Applicant has an individual employment contract with a Moldovan employer. (source 1) - Monthly salary of at least MDL 8,700, (≈ $490) which is 50% of the 2026 forecast average monthly salary of MDL 17,400 (≈ $970). (sources 1, 4) - Employment contract (original and copy) stating the monthly salary. (source 1) - Criminal-record certificate from the home country, apostilled; one from the residence country is added after two years of legal stay elsewhere. (source 1) - Proof of ownership or use of housing in Moldova. (source 1) - File at the single desk for foreigners at least 15 days before the current legal stay ends. (sources 1, 3) - Extension requires the residence permit and a contract with the same minimum salary. (source 1) #### Stay - Residence right for the contract period; extendable on the same conditions. - 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). Checked 2026-10-11 · partly verified ## Official sources 1. [Residence for work: immigrant worker](https://old.igm.gov.md/imigrare/sederea-provizorie/munca/lucrator-imigrant/) · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Temporary residence for work: categories](https://old.igm.gov.md/imigrare/sederea-provizorie/dreptul-de-sedere-provizorie-cu-scop-de-munca/) · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Temporary residence right: purposes and procedure](https://old.igm.gov.md/imigrare/sederea-provizorie/) · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Government approves the 2026 minimum wage and the average monthly wage of MDL 17,400](https://gov.md/en/print/pdf/node/5613) · Government of the Republic of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Documentation of foreigners with identity documents: permit fees and issue times](https://old.igm.gov.md/documentarea-cu-acte-de-identitate-pentru-straini/) · General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM), Ministry of Internal Affairs · checked 2026-10-11 6. [Permanent residence right](https://old.igm.gov.md/sederea-permanenta/) · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11 ## Immigrant worker permit and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Immigrant worker permit | Needs income of MDL 8,700+ a month ≈ $490 | – | – | | [IT Visa · specialist](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/it-specialist/) | Needs income of MDL 17k+ a month ≈ $970 | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [IT Visa · manager](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/it-manager/) | Needs income of MDL 17k+ a month ≈ $970 | 4 yr, renewable | – | | [National investment project work](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/work-national-investment-project/) | – | – | – | | [Free economic zone work](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/work-free-economic-zone/) | Needs income of MDL 17k+ a month ≈ $970 | – | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Immigrant worker permit? Income of at least MDL 8,700 a month (≈ $490). Contract salary not lower than 50% of the forecast average monthly salary for the year (50% of 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 Immigrant worker permit? Residence right for the contract period; extendable on the same conditions. ### How long does the Immigrant worker permit take to process? The examination period is 15 days for foreign investors and immigrant workers, or 10 days with the urgency fee. ### Can I work on the Immigrant worker permit? Work for the employer named in the contract. ### Can I bring my family on the Immigrant worker permit? Family members can apply for family-reunification residence if the holder has a valid permit and sufficient means (Law 200/2010, Art. ### Does the Immigrant worker permit lead to permanent residence in Moldova? Time on the Immigrant worker permit counts toward permanent residence in Moldova, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. ### How are Immigrant worker permit holders taxed in Moldova? No special regime in our records is tied to the Immigrant worker permit. 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 [Digital nomad residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/digital-nomad/) [Highly qualified worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/work-highly-qualified/) [Foreign-investment manager](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/manager-foreign-investment-company/) [Posted worker permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/work-posted-worker/) [Priority occupation work](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/work-priority-occupation/) [Teaching, health and sport work](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/work-teaching-culture-health-sport/) [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/moldova/student/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇵🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) [🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## 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. 1. [Residence for work: immigrant worker](https://old.igm.gov.md/imigrare/sederea-provizorie/munca/lucrator-imigrant/) · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Temporary residence for work: categories](https://old.igm.gov.md/imigrare/sederea-provizorie/dreptul-de-sedere-provizorie-cu-scop-de-munca/) · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Temporary residence right: purposes and procedure](https://old.igm.gov.md/imigrare/sederea-provizorie/) · General Inspectorate for Migration, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Government approves the 2026 minimum wage and the average monthly wage of MDL 17,400](https://gov.md/en/print/pdf/node/5613) · Government of the Republic of Moldova · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Documentation of foreigners with identity documents: permit fees and issue times](https://old.igm.gov.md/documentarea-cu-acte-de-identitate-pentru-straini/) · General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM), Ministry of Internal Affairs · checked 2026-10-11 6. [Permanent residence right](https://old.igm.gov.md/sederea-permanenta/) · 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](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.