Border crossing by foreign nationals

On the Moldovan-Romanian state border sector both Moldovan and Romanian citizens can cross the state border through all crossing points located on this sector.
On the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border sector both Moldovan and Ukrainian citizens can cross the state border at all crossing points, according to the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Ukraine on crossing points of the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border and simplification of border crossing formalities for citizens living in border districts" of 11.03.1997.

If you are not a citizen of the Republic of Moldova and you fear returning to your country of origin due to persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, or if you face a real risk of serious harm in your country of origin, you have the right to seek asylum in the Republic of Moldova at one of the following authorities:

• The Asylum and Integration Directorate and the structural and territorial subdivisions of the General Inspectorate for Migration, located at 124 Ștefan cel Mare Blvd., Chișinău; tel: (+373) 022 276 901; fax: (+373) 022 276 901; Green Line: (+373) 022 820 007 (Mon-Fri 8:00-17:00); e-mail: migratie@mai.gov.md;
• The Border Police subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs at any border crossing point of the Republic of Moldova; Green Line: (+373) 022 259 717 (24/7); e-mail: linia.verde@border.gov.md; web: www.border.gov.md;
• Police authorities;
• Institutions subordinated to the National Administration of Penitentiaries or temporary detention subdivisions within law enforcement bodies.

 IMPORTANT

1.    The asylum application must be submitted personally by the applicant.
2.    Asylum applications submitted outside the territory of the Republic of Moldova are not accepted.
3.    Competent authorities cannot refuse to accept an asylum application on the grounds that it was submitted late.
4.    Collective asylum applications are not accepted.
5.    In the case of an unaccompanied minor, the asylum application must be submitted by their legal representative.
6.    In the case of a person lacking capacity, the asylum application must be submitted by their guardian or curator after their appointment.
7.    If the applicant is illiterate, the official receiving the application will complete it according to the applicant’s oral statement; the application must then be signed by the applicant, official, and interpreter.
8.    If the applicant cannot sign, their fingerprint will be applied.
9.    Asylum seekers will not be penalized for illegal entry or stay on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
 

Pursuant to Art. 52 (b) and Art. 54 of Law no. 270/2008 on asylum in the Republic of Moldova, by Order no. 1260 of the General Inspectorate of the Border Police dated 28.12.2023, regarding the procedure for receiving asylum applications submitted by foreigners at the state border of the Republic of Moldova, the “Instruction on the procedure for receiving asylum applications submitted by foreigners at the state border of the Republic of Moldova” was approved.

Procedure for Receiving an Asylum Application

To ensure respect for the principle of non-refoulement and to guarantee the right to asylum, every person who may need international protection is granted access to the asylum procedure. All persons expressing the desire to apply for asylum/international protection at the border are given the opportunity to submit their application as soon as possible.
The procedure for receiving asylum applications at the border consists of three distinct stages, clearly distinguishing between:
•    The formulation;
•    The registration and submission of an application for international protection (specifically, an asylum application), and the order of these stages within the asylum procedure.

Submission of the Application

The formulation of an asylum application means the act of expressing, in any way, before the border police officer, the desire to obtain international protection. Any person who has expressed the intention to seek asylum is considered an asylum seeker with all the rights and obligations related to this status.
A foreigner who presents themselves at the state border of the Republic of Moldova and expresses their will, written or verbal, to request asylum on the territory of Moldova will complete the asylum application form.
Following the formulation of an asylum application, it is registered by the border police in the prescribed manner.
In specific situations, when a large number of simultaneous applications makes registration difficult in practice, the procedure may be carried out at other locations provided by applicable regulations.

Submitting an asylum application requires the applicant to provide information and/or documents to complete the file created at the moment of registration.
The asylum application can be submitted to Border Police officers at the state border and/or border area, personally by foreigners, in written or verbal form.
If the asylum seeker cannot write, the application will be completed by the border police officer receiving it, according to the applicant’s verbal statement, with relevant notes in the minutes explaining the reasons for the applicant’s inability or refusal to sign. The application must be signed by the asylum seeker, border police officer, and, if applicable, by the interpreter. If the asylum seeker cannot sign, their fingerprint will be applied.
The border police officer will not refuse to receive an asylum application on the grounds that it was submitted late.
Collective applications and applications submitted outside the territory of the Republic of Moldova are not accepted.
In the case of an unaccompanied minor, the application is submitted by their legal representative, and in the case of a person lacking capacity or with limited legal capacity, by their guardian or curator after appointment.

After submitting the asylum application, the border police officer will confidentially draft a report indicating:
a) data regarding the person’s identity, or declared identity if the person cannot provide documents;
b) circumstances that led the person to request asylum;
c) country of origin;
d) other data declared by the asylum seeker or known to competent authorities.

The report is completed in the state language and signed by the border police officer who drafted it and received the asylum application.
The Border Police Sector informs the responsible subdivision within the General Inspectorate for Migration (GIM). Also, the responsible subdivision of GIM is informed if the asylum seeker suffers from illnesses and requires the presence of a doctor or special transport means.
Border Police officers allow asylum seekers to enter the territory of Moldova only after informing and receiving permission from the General Inspectorate for Migration, which will take over the applicant within 24 hours from the state border.

Asylum seekers have the right to legal counseling during the examination of their application, both in administrative and judicial phases. This is provided free of charge by the National Council for State Guaranteed Legal Assistance, contactable at tel./fax: (+373 22) 496 953, 496 339, 310065.

Submission of Asylum Application by Unaccompanied Minors

For unaccompanied minor asylum seekers, the asylum procedure is suspended until a legal representative is appointed. During suspension, the minor enjoys the rights of asylum seekers.

The interests of the unaccompanied minor asylum seeker are defended by their legal representative. Unaccompanied minors are considered a vulnerable category and require special attention.

An unaccompanied minor asylum seeker under 14 years old submits the application through their legal representative, while one aged 14 or more may submit it personally but must be assisted by their legal representative.

An unaccompanied minor who has expressed, in writing or verbally before Border Police officers, the will to obtain protection will be registered as an asylum seeker, and the application will be submitted as soon as possible after appointment of their legal representative. In this case, the border police officer drafts all necessary documents except the asylum application and informs the GIM on the same day, which will ensure transportation of the minor.
 

Record Keeping of Applications at the State Border and Confidentiality

Information regarding a person's asylum application cannot be disclosed to authorities in the applicant’s country of origin or neighboring states.
Information about foreigners who have applied for asylum in Moldova or other related circumstances is confidential and may only be disclosed under conditions stipulated by the current legal framework.
 

Temporary Maintenance, Issuance of Provisional Certificate, and Transfer of Asylum Seekers

After receiving the asylum application, foreigners obtain asylum seeker status and are accommodated, up to 24 hours, in special rooms (asylum rooms) designated for temporary placement of asylum seekers (minimum standards for asylum room equipment) or, if such rooms are not available, in another room with minimum hygiene conditions, under the protection and supervision of border police officers.

A foreigner who applied for asylum at the state border is issued a provisional certificate by the border police officer, valid for no more than 48 hours. The provisional certificate serves as a temporary identity document and allows the holder to travel to the General Inspectorate for Migration.
When completing the provisional certificate, data from identity documents are entered if deemed genuine. If identity documents are missing, false, forged, or foreign, the provisional certificate is completed based on the asylum seeker’s self-declared identity.

When handing over the asylum seeker and the documents package, the border police officer and the GIM employee draft a Handover Act in two copies, one for the Border Police and one for GIM.
________________________________________
Useful links:
•    www.igm.gov.md

 

On the Moldovan-Romanian state border sector both Moldovan and Romanian citizens can cross the state border through all crossing points located on this sector.
On the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border sector both Moldovan and Ukrainian citizens can cross the state border at all crossing points, according to the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Ukraine on crossing points of the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border and simplification of border crossing formalities for citizens living in border districts" of 11.03.1997.

On the Moldovan-Romanian state border sector both Moldovan and Romanian citizens can cross the state border through all crossing points located on this sector.
On the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border sector both Moldovan and Ukrainian citizens can cross the state border at all crossing points, according to the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Ukraine on crossing points of the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border and simplification of border crossing formalities for citizens living in border districts" of 11.03.1997.

On the Moldovan-Romanian state border sector both Moldovan and Romanian citizens can cross the state border through all crossing points located on this sector.
On the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border sector both Moldovan and Ukrainian citizens can cross the state border at all crossing points, according to the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Ukraine on crossing points of the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border and simplification of border crossing formalities for citizens living in border districts" of 11.03.1997.

On the Moldovan-Romanian state border sector both Moldovan and Romanian citizens can cross the state border through all crossing points located on this sector.
On the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border sector both Moldovan and Ukrainian citizens can cross the state border at all crossing points, according to the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Ukraine on crossing points of the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border and simplification of border crossing formalities for citizens living in border districts" of 11.03.1997.