Schengen Area Visa Exemption for Moldovan Nationals

Effective today, Moldovan nationals who hold biometric passports no longer require a visa to enter the countries of the Schengen Area for stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period. 

Moldovan nationals previously required a Schengen visa issued by a consular post of a Schengen member country to enter the region. However, since January 1, 2008, they have benefitted from a Visa Facilitation Agreement with the EU that established lower fees for visa applicants, waived fees for certain categories of applicants, provided expedited visa processes, and permitted the issuance of multiple-entry visas with longer validity periods under certain conditions. Moldovan nationals without biometric passports will continue to be subject to visa requirements and procedures. 

Moldova was added to the Schengen Area’s visa waiver program due to the country’s major improvements in document security and in combating organized crime, corruption and unauthorized immigration. 

The Schengen Area is a group of 26 European countries that have abolished passport and immigration controls at their common borders. In theory, the Area functions as a single country for international travel purposes and features a common visa policy. The Schengen Area member countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. 

What This Means for Employers 

Employers that send Moldovan nationals with biometric passports into the Schengen Area for business visits will no longer need to wait for the foreign national to obtain a visa prior to departure.

How Fragomen Can Assist 

Fragomen can assist with questions related both to eligibility for the visa exemption and to visa requirements for Moldovan nationals who are not visa-exempt. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen Global or send an email to [email protected].

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