“If EU rules require it”: Russian citizens could need visas to enter Moldova
The Republic of Moldova could introduce visa requirements for citizens of Russia and Belarus as part of efforts to align its policies with European Union standards. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan says the country must take the necessary steps to advance its EU accession process. However, he did not say when the new visa rules might take effect.
"I am not prepared to give a date. If EU standards require it, I believe we must make the decisions necessary to move forward," Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said on November 5 on TV8.
Currently, citizens of Russia and Belarus can enter the Republic of Moldova visa-free for short-term stays.
According to the European Commission's report, presented on November 4, the Republic of Moldova has yet to fully align its visa policy with the European Union's.
The report identifies 11 countries whose citizens can travel to Moldova without a visa, although they are generally required to obtain one to enter the Schengen Area. These countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.
Visa requirements for short-term travel to the Schengen Area are governed by EU Regulation 2018/1806, which lists the countries whose citizens must obtain a visa and those exempt from this requirement.
Aligning its visa policy with EU standards is one of the commitments undertaken by the Republic of Moldova as part of its accession process. This means that the authorities in Chișinău must gradually bring entry requirements for citizens of non-EU countries into line with those applied across the European Union.
Moldova has already taken a step in this direction. In December 2025, the authorities adopted legislation to denounce the CIS agreement on visa-free travel. The European Commission considers this decision a preparatory step towards harmonising the country's visa policy with that of the EU.
Brussels has also recommended strengthening border controls, particularly for people arriving from countries considered to pose a higher risk of irregular migration or security threats.
A recent example is Montenegro, an EU candidate country, which introduced visa requirements for citizens of several countries, including Russia, Belarus, and China, effective November 1, 2026, subject to certain exceptions. The measure is part of its efforts to align its visa policy with EU standards.
As for Russia, the European Union tightened visa procedures in September 2022 following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Council of the EU decided to fully suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Russia, with the measure taking effect on September 12, 2022.
As a result, obtaining a visa has become more difficult, costly, and time-consuming for Russian citizens.
