Moving to Moldova

Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

  • Passport
  • Detailed inventory
  • Pro-forma invoice
  • Moldovan identification (returning citizens)
  • Moldovan Resident Permit (immigrants)
  • Resident permit / work permit (temporary imports)
  • Letter of employment (temporary imports)
  • Diplomatic passport (diplomats)
  • Accreditation card (diplomats)

Specific Information

  • The letter of employment must confirm the length of the contract in Moldova as guarantee for any temporary import.
  • For surface shipments for returning citizens with a residence address in Chisinau, the shipment will be brought in Chisinau for Customs clearance.
    • The goods will be inspected and estimated / valued by a Customs officer. 
    • If the goods were not exported temporarily, the shipment is subject to value added tax (VAT) of approximately 20%.
    • Duties are approximately 0%-15% for new furniture from the estimated value.
  • For surface shipments for immigrants, the import in Moldova is duty free for one time import. 

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

  • Title / registration
  • Original bill of lading

Specific Information

  • Cars are subject to duties.
  • Vehicles older than 10 years cannot be imported.
  • Diplomats may not import a motor vehicle until the accreditation card from the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been issued.
  • For temporary import of a personal automobile, the owner of the goods must register the vehicle in the origin country.
  • A fee of approximately EUR 95 will be collected by the Customs office for a temporary import.
  • Duty-free import is done on a temporary basis of no longer than 12 months. 
    • However, the temporary import can be extended each year or when the owner of the goods’ resident permit expires and a new one is obtained. 
    • If the temporary import is not extended, the import file is sent to the contraband / smuggling department of the Customs office. 

Pets

Note:  Contact the destination agent for information.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

  • Cigarettes (200), cigarillos (50), cigars (50)
  • Leather goods (purses, etc.) and knitwear (3 items)
  • Shoes (2 pairs)
  • Tape recorders, audio players, etc. (1 total)
  • Video recording or reproducing devices (1 item)
  • Alcohol (1 bottle), malt beer (5 L)
  • Watches (3 items)
  • Perfume (quantity for personal use only)

Prohibited Items

  • Customs can prohibit the entry of certain goods or transport items which endanger or compromise the following:
    • State security and public and moral order
    • Environmental protection
    • Protection of art objects and objects of historical / archeological value
    • Intellectual property rights
    • Domestic market
    • Public interests
  • Animal products
  • Antiques
  • Pornographic or subversive materials
  • Perishable food items

Consignment Instructions

Recommended:  Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.

Cultural and Other Information