Your first 90 days in Moldova: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Do not assume the residence permit gives healthcare — CNAM cover is a separate purchase for anyone not employed locally, and the ambulance and hospital services will bill an uninsured resident. Buy the annual policy in the first month; it costs far less than one uninsured admission.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Apply for the residence permit (permis de ședere) at the General Inspectorate for Migration, and register your address
Foreigners staying beyond 90 days must hold a residence permit; the application is expected before the visa-free or visa period runs out
Standard processing runs about 30 calendar days with an expedited fee cutting it to roughly 5-10 working days, and part of the file can be lodged digitally through the e-migrare service before you attend in person.
Get your IDNP (personal state identification number)
It is the identifier on the residence card and the key to banking, the health insurance company (CNAM), property registration and tax filings.
Assigned by the Public Services Agency when your residence permit is issued; a separate registration with the State Tax Service follows if you take up self-employment.
Open a bank account
Moldovan banks (Maib, Victoriabank, OTP) open accounts on the residence permit and IDNP; identity checks are thorough but the process is fast. The leu is not freely convertible outside the country, so most foreign residents keep the bulk of their money offshore and move it in as needed through a multi-currency account.
Enrol in healthcare
Compulsory health insurance runs through CNAM: employees are covered by contributions, and anyone else — including most foreign residents without local employment — buys the annual individual policy, which is inexpensive by European standards. Private clinics in Chișinău handle most routine care for expatriates.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence with a translation, or an International Driving Permit, is accepted for the initial period of residence; after that Moldova expects an exchange at the Public Services Agency, with a medical certificate and, depending on the issuing country, an examination.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Moldova?
Add your email for new Moldova guides and a heads-up when the arrival rules or figures change. We never file anything ourselves.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Moldova: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Moldova?
Apply for the residence permit (permis de ședere) at the General Inspectorate for Migration, and register your address — Foreigners staying beyond 90 days must hold a residence permit; the application is expected before the visa-free or visa period runs out. Standard processing runs about 30 calendar days with an expedited fee cutting it to roughly 5-10 working days, and part of the file can be lodged digitally through the e-migrare service before you attend in person. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the IDNP and do I need one?
IDNP (personal state identification number) is Moldova's personal tax/ID number. It is the identifier on the residence card and the key to banking, the health insurance company (CNAM), property registration and tax filings. Assigned by the Public Services Agency when your residence permit is issued; a separate registration with the State Tax Service follows if you take up self-employment.
Can I drive in Moldova on a US license?
A foreign licence with a translation, or an International Driving Permit, is accepted for the initial period of residence; after that Moldova expects an exchange at the Public Services Agency, with a medical certificate and, depending on the issuing country, an examination. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Moldova?
Compulsory health insurance runs through CNAM: employees are covered by contributions, and anyone else — including most foreign residents without local employment — buys the annual individual policy, which is inexpensive by European standards. Private clinics in Chișinău handle most routine care for expatriates. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Moldova's system treats foreign residents.