Just Landed in Moldova? Your First 7 Days

Mobile data in Moldova is cheap, fast and widely available; 4G blankets cities and most towns, and 5G is live in parts of Chișinău. Prepaid SIMs are sold against passport registration at airport counters, telco shops and malls, and top up easily via app, kiosk or supermarket till. Home fibre broadband from Orange or Moldtelecom is inexpensive and genuinely fast, often under 300–400 MDL a month.

Typical cost: Around 150–300 MDL/month for a prepaid plan with generous data (tens of GB), calls and texts.

The Moldovan leu (MDL) is cash-friendly, but cards work in most Chișinău shops, supermarkets, malls and restaurants, and contactless is normal in the capital. Markets, small kiosks, rural areas and many older taxis remain cash only, so never rely on plastic once you leave the centre.

Opening an account: Maib (Moldova Agroindbank) and Victoriabank are the most foreigner-friendly, with English-capable branches in central Chișinău; MICB and OTP Bank are alternatives. To open a full account you typically need your passport, a local address and, in most cases, your IDNP personal identification number or a residence permit. Bring patience and photocopies, as onboarding can be paper-heavy.

Cash: Keep lei on hand for Piața Centrală, marshrutkas, village shops and small vendors. ATMs from Maib and Victoriabank are plentiful in cities but sparse in rural areas, so withdraw before heading out of town. Revolut and Wise cards work for spending and ATM withdrawals but expect the odd machine to reject foreign cards.

Tipping: Tipping is optional but appreciated: rounding up or leaving about 10% is normal in sit-down restaurants. Taxis are usually just rounded up, and cafés and bars do not expect a set percentage.

Foreigners staying beyond the 90-day visa-free period must register their residence and, for longer stays, obtain a residence permit through the Bureau for Migration and Asylum (BMA). Short visa-free visitors do not register but must keep proof of their entry stamp, and hotels register their guests automatically. Registration is genuinely enforced, and overstaying without a permit can lead to fines and future entry problems, so start the process well before your 90 days run out.

Deadline: Within the 90-day visa-free window: hosts should register your address shortly after arrival, and you must apply for a residence permit before the 90 days expire.

Where: Bureau for Migration and Asylum (BMA) offices, with supporting documents and personal-number (IDNP) issuance handled via ASP (Public Services Agency) centres.

Chișinău runs on trolleybuses and marshrutkas (shared minibuses) that are extremely cheap, plus app-based taxis that are affordable and reliable. There is no metro, and the compact centre is very walkable, though pavements and crossings can be uneven. Intercity travel relies on marshrutkas and buses from the central and north bus stations; the rail network is slow and limited.

From the airport: Chișinău International Airport (KIV) is about 13 km south-east of the centre. Trolleybus route 30 runs into town for a few lei, a marshrutka does the same, and a Yango or Bolt ride costs roughly 100–150 MDL and takes 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.

Renting is straightforward and cheap by European standards, mostly arranged through the 999.md classifieds site or local agents. Furnished flats are common in Chișinău, and many blocks have had modern renovations behind Soviet-era facades. Contracts are often informal, so always insist on a written agreement naming the real owner and listing the deposit, rent and notice terms.

Typical rent: A one-bedroom flat in central Chișinău runs about 6,000–10,000 MDL/month; outside the centre roughly 4,000–7,000 MDL. Bills and heating in winter are usually extra.

Deposit norm: Usually one month's rent as a deposit plus the first month upfront; where an agent is involved, their fee is typically half a month to one month's rent.

Moldova runs a public system funded through CNAM (the National Health Insurance Company) alongside private clinics that offer faster, more English-friendly care. Public hospitals are underfunded and often expect informal payments, so most expats use private providers for routine and non-emergency needs, where costs are still low by Western standards.

How to access it: For non-emergencies, book directly with a private clinic such as MedPark, which has an international department, or one of the many private cabinet clinics in Chișinău. For emergencies call 112. Pharmacies (farmacie) are widespread, open late, and dispense a wide range of medicines, many without a prescription.

Insurance: Employees and residents contribute to CNAM, which covers public care; until you are enrolled, carry private or travel health insurance, as private clinics and any non-covered treatment are paid out of pocket. Keep receipts if your insurer reimburses.

• Greet with a firm handshake and use the polite Romanian 'dumneavoastră' (or a respectful tone) until you are invited to be informal.
• Bring a small gift, such as wine, chocolates or flowers in odd numbers, when invited to someone's home, and expect generous hospitality in return.
• Learn a few Romanian phrases; effort is warmly received, even though Russian is common in Chișinău and the north.
• Remove your shoes when entering a Moldovan home, where slippers are usually offered to guests.
• Accept food and drink when hosted, as refusing outright can seem cold; a small taste is enough if you cannot manage more.
• Dress a little smartly for meetings, restaurants and family visits, as casual scruffiness reads as disrespect.
• Toasting is taken seriously over Moldova's famous wine; make eye contact and expect several rounds of toasts at a proper meal.

• Avoid casual jokes about the Transnistria region, Russia–Romania politics or wartime history, all of which are genuinely sensitive.
• Do not photograph checkpoints, soldiers or official buildings, especially near the Transnistrian administrative line.
• Bureaucracy is slow and often paper-based; carry passport photocopies, expect queues and do not leave official errands to the last day.
• Be careful mixing up Romanian and Russian identity; some people identify strongly one way, and assumptions can cause offence.
• Winter heating, icy pavements and short daylight hours catch newcomers out, so sort warm clothing and a reliable heater early.