Moldova is considering the possibility of introducing a visa regime for citizens of Russia, Belarus, and nine other countries as part of its preparations for accession to the European Union. These changes could be part of the mandatory alignment of Moldovan immigration legislation with European standards.
Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan made this statement during an appearance on the “Cutia Neagră” program on TV8.
“We want to continue on the European path. I’m not yet ready to name a date. If EU standards require it, I believe we must make decisions that will allow us to move forward in the process of European integration,” the head of government said.
The basis for discussing these changes was the European Commission’s annual report on Moldova’s progress toward EU membership, presented on November 4, 2026.
The document notes that Moldova’s visa policy does not yet fully comply with EU requirements. In particular, Chisinau maintains a visa-free regime with 11 countries whose citizens require visas for short-term entry into the EU.
This list includes Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.
The European Commission recommends that Moldova continue to align its national visa legislation with European standards. Until this process is complete, Brussels proposes strengthening checks on third-country nationals who benefit from visa-free entry, particularly in cases where there are migration risks or security threats.
The report also notes that in December 2025, Moldova adopted a law denouncing the CIS agreement on visa-free travel. The European Commission views this step as a preparatory stage for further alignment of visa policy with EU legislation.
At the same time, the denunciation of the agreement does not in itself mean the automatic introduction of visas for citizens of all CIS countries.
As of November 6, 2026, citizens of Russia and Belarus can still enter Moldova without visas. Current rules allow for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
The Moldovan government has not yet specified the exact timing of a possible change to the visa regime.
Similar measures are already being taken by other countries seeking to join the European Union. In particular, Montenegro introduced a visa regime for citizens of Russia, Belarus, China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey effective November 1, 2026.
Albania had previously abolished its permanent visa-free regime for citizens of Belarus.
Moldova applied for membership in the European Union on March 3, 2022, received candidate country status in June of that year, and officially began accession negotiations on June 25, 2024.
In 2026, the country continued the negotiation process, opening several thematic chapters related to the internal market, competitiveness, and external relations.
The Moldovan authorities expect to conclude EU accession negotiations by early 2028, while maintaining their long-term goal of becoming a member of the EU by 2030.
