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.sua.mfa.md

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