Moldova set to require visas from Russians and Belarusians, date unclear

Moldova plans to introduce visa requirements for citizens of Belarus and Russia, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said in an appearance on the programme "Black Box" on TV8. He linked the move to the country's bid to join the European Union, but gave no date for when travellers would need visas.

Key facts

• Announced: 6 November 2026, by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan
• Who is affected: citizens of Belarus and Russia, with a wider list of 11 visa-free countries under review
• Start date: not specified — the prime minister said he was not ready to name one
• Reason given: aligning Moldova's legislation with EU standards as part of its European integration process
• Wider list: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Vanuatu

What is changing?

Moldova is preparing to drop visa-free travel for citizens of Belarus and Russia, reversing the current arrangement under which they can enter without a visa. Tofan described the introduction of a visa regime as a necessary step for the country to move forward with European integration.

He did not confirm a timetable. Asked about timing, Tofan said he was "not ready to specify a date yet", adding that decisions should follow if EU norms require them.

Who else could be affected?

The source describes the planned change as one step in a broader review of Moldova's visa-free arrangements. Moldova currently has no visa requirements with 11 countries, and the alignment process includes introducing a visa regime for them. The countries listed are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Vanuatu.

No details were given about what form the visas would take, how much they would cost or how travellers would apply.

Why is this happening?

Moldova applied to join the European Union in 2022 and is working to bring its legislation into line with EU standards. Requiring visas from countries that currently enjoy visa-free access is presented as part of that alignment work.

What have other candidate countries done?

Montenegro has already introduced visa requirements for citizens of Russia, Belarus, China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, with effect from 1 November 2026. Albania has ended visa-free travel for citizens of Belarus and Bahrain, with some exceptions.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has scrapped its visa-free regime for citizens of Oman and Bahrain, and plans to introduce visas for citizens of Azerbaijan, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Russia and Turkey.

What this means for travellers

For now, entry rules for Belarusian and Russian citizens travelling to Moldova have not formally changed, and no deadline has been announced. Travellers from the 11 countries listed — including Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan — should check current Moldovan entry requirements before booking, since the source does not say which nationalities will be covered first or when.

The next step to watch is an official announcement of a start date and the application procedure, neither of which has been made public.