Permanent residence and citizenship by naturalisation
Foreigners can apply for permanent residence after at least 3 years of temporary residence for family reunification or 5 years in other categories, with Romanian language, housing and a clean record for 3 years. Naturalisation under the 2025 Citizenship Law generally needs 10 years of continuous legal residence and legal permanent residence on the filing date. Shorter periods apply to spouses, refugees, stateless people and some family members.
Life in Moldova
Money
3
Currency
Moldovan Leu
MDL
Moldovan Leu
Cost of living
50
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
Flat 12%
Income tax (national)
VAT (TVA) 20%
Flat 12% after a personal exemption; employees also pay 9% compulsory health insurance; a 2027 reform (7% PIT plus a higher bracket) is only a draft.
Living
1
Happiness
#75 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Long-term residents of Moldova planning to settle or naturalise.
Eligibility
PR residence period
You need 3 years of temporary residence for family reunification, or 5 years in other categories.
Temporary residence needed
- Family reunification
- 3 years
- Other categories
- 5 years
- Students, IT specialists and posted workers are excluded from the 3-year route
- Workers in national investment projects and free economic zones are also excluded
- Religious, humanitarian or volunteer workers are also excluded
- Source: GIM provisional stay page
Official wording
At least 3 years of temporary residence for family reunification, or 5 years in other categories (GIM provisional stay page). Students, IT specialists, posted workers, workers in national investment projects and free economic zones, and religious, humanitarian or volunteer workers are excluded from the 3-year route.
PR conditions
Hold a temporary residence permit or a right to citizenship by recognition, and meet the housing, language and record conditions.
- You need housing
- State language at a satisfactory level, shown by certificate
- No criminal record in the last 3 years
Official wording
Hold a temporary residence permit or a right to citizenship by recognition; have housing; speak the state language at a satisfactory level (certificate); no criminal record in the last 3 years.
Citizenship residence
Show continuous legal residence for the period that fits your situation.
Residence needed for citizenship
- Standard
- 10 years
- Stateless or protectedstateless, refugee, protection holders
- 8 years
- Married to a citizenmarriage, plus 3 years residence
- 3 years
- Other listed family cases also exist
- Source: Law No. 253/2025, Art. 14
Official wording
Continuous legal residence of at least 10 years; 8 years for stateless persons and refugees or protection holders; 3 years of marriage to a citizen plus 3 years of residence; or other listed family cases (Law No. 253/2025, Art. 14).
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementCitizenship conditions
- Document checklistPR: application, passport, residence permit
- FeesPR: state tax for examination
The full requirements are for members
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- 2 more requirements
- 7 documents
- 4 fees
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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