MoldovaPassports New Moldova passports from 15 Oct: travellers pay same €40, existing docs stay valid
Moldova started issuing a redesigned biometric passport on 15 October 2026 with more than 100 security features. The fee stays €40 (about 790 MDL), and current passports remain valid until they expire.
Moldova began issuing a redesigned biometric passport on 15 October 2026, adding more than 100 anti-counterfeiting security elements while keeping the standard issuance fee at €40 (about 790 MDL), the country's Public Services Agency (ASP) said. It is the most technologically advanced passport the agency has produced so far.
Key facts
- Rollout date: 15 October 2026
- Issuing authority: Public Services Agency (ASP)
- Fee: €40 (approximately 790 MDL), unchanged
- More than 100 security components
- Existing passports stay valid until their expiry dates
- Also covers diplomatic, service and refugee/stateless travel documents
What is changing?
The new passport carries more than 100 security features designed to make counterfeiting harder. It fully meets the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations body that sets rules for international travel documents.
The redesign also changes how the passport looks. Earlier editions repeated national motifs across the visa pages, but each page of the new document now has a unique layout. The visual concept is built around environmental themes, with artwork highlighting national biodiversity, nature and environmental preservation.
Who is affected?
The security upgrade covers Moldova's entire range of travel documents, not only ordinary passports. It also applies to diplomatic and service passports, as well as travel papers issued to refugees and stateless persons.
How much does it cost?
The standard issuance fee stays at €40 (approximately 790 MDL). No other fees or application procedures are stated for the new model.
Do I need to replace my current passport?
No. The ASP confirmed that passports already in circulation remain legally valid until the expiry date printed in them, so travellers do not need to exchange a document simply because a new design has been introduced.
What this means for travellers
Moldovan citizens applying for a passport will receive the redesigned document with the enhanced security features, at the same price as before. Travellers holding an existing Moldovan passport can continue using it until it expires.
The passport redesign forms part of a wider overhaul of Moldovan identity credentials. EU-standard polycarbonate identity cards were introduced in April 2025; those cards, modelled on European Union formats, are mandatory for all Moldovan citizens from the age of 14.