Visa-free travel to the European Union remains in force for Moldovan citizens - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Moldovan citizens will continue to enjoy visa-free travel to Schengen countries after the European Commission adopted its eighth report on the EU visa suspension mechanism on December 19. According to the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, based on the European Commission's conclusions, Moldova has taken steps to implement the recommendations set out in the previous report. The document contains a detailed assessment of developments relating to: bringing visa policy into line with EU standards; trends in illegal migration, applications for international protection, returns and readmission; cooperation in the field of migration, border control, and readmission; cooperation in the field of security. At the same time, the report includes a number of specific recommendations for each beneficiary of the visa-free regime in particular and is focused on countries neighboring the EU, the Caribbean, and Latin America. With regard to Moldova, the European Commission recommends aligning visa policy with that of the European Union, in particular with regard to third countries that pose a high risk of illegal migration or a threat to the security of the EU. Until full compliance is achieved, it is recommended to continue and strengthen strict checks on third-country nationals exempt from visa requirements for entry into Moldova, with a particular focus on citizens of high-risk countries. In addition, the European Commission recommends stepping up efforts to reduce the number of unfounded asylum applications submitted by Moldovan citizens in EU countries, including through information campaigns adapted to the relevant migration profiles, as well as by introducing exit controls to improve methods of tracking and preventing this phenomenon. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it confirms its readiness to continue, along with the competent national authorities, cooperation with the European Union in implementing the recommendations set out in the report. The European Commission's recommendations are linked to Moldova's status as a candidate country for EU membership. The topics covered in the Commission's annual reports on the EU visa-free regime are also monitored in the annual enlargement packages (2023, 2024, 2025). In the 11 years since the visa-free regime for short-term travel to the Schengen area came into force, more than 2.6 million Moldovan citizens have taken advantage of this regime. According to statistics, more than 18.2 million trips to the European Union have been registered. // 23.12.2025 — InfoMarket.
