Country Guide: Moldova
Updated: November 23, 2015
Household Goods and Personal Effects
Documents Required
- Passport
- Detailed inventory
- Pro-forma invoice
- Moldovan Identification (returning citizens)
- 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, which is arranged at the Customs border point for a fee of approximately EUR 275. 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 of approximately 0%-15% for new, furniture) from the estimated value.
Motor Vehicles
Documents Required
- Title / Registration
- OBL
Specific Information
- Cars are subject to duties.
- Vehicles older than 7 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 shipper 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 1 year. However, the temporary import can be extended each year or when the shipper’s 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.
Helpful Website(s):
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_972.html
http://www.customs.gov.md/index.php?id=1260
http://www.gov.md/homepage.php?l=ro
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/moldova/106281/PDF/Customs_Clearance.pdf
http://countries.bridgat.com/Moldova_Import_Restrictions.html#.UW_EN7Xql8F