This guide is written for people applying from the United Kingdom, although many of the eligibility rules are national rules rather than UK-specific ones. Consulates can still ask for different evidence, translations, legalisation or appointments. Check the competent mission before paying for accommodation or making a non-refundable move.
At a glance
| Question | Current position |
|---|---|
| Is this a dedicated digital nomad route? | Yes. |
| Who it is for | Employees, service providers and shareholder-managers connected to a foreign legal entity and working through information technology. |
| Work connection | Foreign legal entity as employee, contractor/service provider or shareholder/manager. |
| Income or funds test | Across the preceding six months, total income equal to at least 18 forecast average monthly salaries—equivalent to three average salaries per month. |
| Typical permission | Up to two years, extendable. |
| Family | Family reunification can be available under the current framework. |
| Can you work for local clients or employers? | The route is built around a foreign legal entity rather than Moldovan employment. |
| Where the application starts | The General Inspectorate for Migration, in person or through an authorised representative under current rules. |
What this route actually is
The status is temporary residence for remote activity carried out through information and communications technology for a foreign legal entity. It can last up to two years and can support family reunification. The formula-based income requirement should be updated whenever the forecast average salary changes.
That distinction is more than a naming point. A dedicated remote-work permit is usually designed around foreign employment or foreign clients. A self-employment or assignment route may instead test the value of a local business, professional licensing, a contract in the destination country or the economic benefit of the proposed activity. Applying under the wrong label is one of the easiest ways to build the wrong document pack.
Who can qualify
Applicants need a documented relationship with a foreign legal entity, six months of qualifying income, accommodation, health insurance and an apostilled criminal record. Company owners/managers should show both their role and the entity’s real operation.
A credible application normally shows not only that the applicant can work online, but that the work is real and continuing. Authorities may look for a signed employment or service contract, employer or client letters, company registration records, recent invoices, bank statements and a concise explanation of what the applicant does day to day.
Core eligibility points
- You are employed by, provide services to, or are a shareholder/manager of a foreign legal entity.
- You perform the activity remotely using information and communication technology.
- Your six-month income meets the 18-times-forecast-average-salary aggregate.
- You have accommodation, insurance and a qualifying criminal-record certificate.
- You file with the General Inspectorate for Migration through an accepted channel.
Income and financial evidence
The official formula requires total income over the previous six months equal to at least 18 forecast average monthly salaries—three forecast average salaries for each month. Calculate from the current Moldovan government figure and show the calculation date.
Treat every published figure as a floor rather than a planning budget. The authority may examine whether income is regular, whether it comes from a permitted source and whether it will continue after relocation. A one-off transfer immediately before applying is usually weaker evidence than a consistent trail of salary payments, client receipts and matching contracts.
Documents to prepare
The exact checklist depends on the mission and the applicant’s circumstances, but a well-organised file will usually need the following:
- Residence application and valid passport.
- Foreign employment/service contract or shareholder/management records.
- Six months of bank statements, payslips, invoices or distributions.
- Calculation against the current forecast average salary.
- Moldovan accommodation and health insurance.
- Apostilled criminal-record certificate and required translations.
- Family-reunification documents where applicable.
Names, dates, job titles, salary figures and company details should match across the whole file. Where documents are issued in the UK, check whether the receiving authority requires an apostille, a sworn or certified translation, or both. Do not assume that an English document will be accepted simply because the authority publishes an English-language website.
Application process from the UK
- Identify the employee, service-provider or shareholder/manager profile.
- Calculate the six-month income aggregate using the current forecast average salary.
- Obtain apostilles and Romanian translations where required.
- Submit to the General Inspectorate for Migration in person or through an accepted representative.
- Complete biometrics and residence-card issuance.
- Maintain the foreign relationship and file extension/family applications before expiry.
The visa sticker, entry permission and residence card are often separate stages. Read the approval notice carefully: some routes require registration with the police, municipality, tax authority or immigration office shortly after arrival. Missing a local deadline can create avoidable problems even when the entry visa was correctly issued.
Family members
Current official investment guidance states that family reunification is possible. Dependants still need separate applications, relationship evidence, accommodation and means. Their work rights require an independent check.
Where dependants are allowed, expect separate forms and fees. Marriage and birth certificates may need recent copies, legalisation and translation. A dependant’s right to work should never be assumed; several remote-work schemes allow family residence but prohibit the spouse from local employment.
Validity, renewal and switching route
Temporary residence can be granted for up to two years and extended while the conditions continue. The exact period and renewal evidence are set by the migration authority. It is a residence route rather than a short visitor visa.
A route that can be renewed is not automatically a route to permanent residence. Some permissions are expressly temporary, some do not count toward settlement, and others may lead to longer residence only after a switch into a different category. Anyone planning a multi-year move should check the settlement position before choosing a country.
Tax, social security and insurance
Two years of residence can create Moldovan tax residence and foreign-company management issues. The income formula is an immigration test, not a tax exemption. Obtain cross-border advice before relocating management or payroll functions.
Immigration permission does not answer every tax question. Residence, payroll, permanent-establishment risk, social-security coverage and local registration can all depend on facts such as days present, where management decisions are made and who benefits from the work. Obtain advice covering both the destination country and the country where the employer or business is established.
Common problems to avoid
- Calculating income from one month rather than the six-month aggregate.
- Using an old forecast average salary.
- Failing to apostille the criminal record.
- Assuming any informal client relationship meets the foreign legal entity test.
- Treating family reunification as automatic.
Official sources
The following official sources were checked for this guide on 8 August 2026. Rules, thresholds and application channels can change without notice.