Setting up a company or running legal matters in Moldova does not require physical presence. With a properly issued power of attorney (POA), the founder acts under a power of attorney notarised and apostilled in their country of residence; supporting documents are accepted as scans or as physical copies, whichever the client prefers. Our legal representative then handles the procedural steps before ASP, the active commercial banks, and the relevant sectoral authorities.
This guide explains when a POA is needed, how to issue one correctly, what our lawyer is empowered to do under it, and how the instrument is used to close a Moldovan company formation, account opening, or licensing file without travel.
When you need a POA
A Moldovan POA is the right instrument whenever a non-resident wants to:
- Incorporate an SRL without visiting the notary or ASP in person.
- Open a corporate bank account remotely through legal representation, in line with the bank's onboarding rules under Law 308/2017.
- Sign contracts, file applications, or take procedural steps before Moldovan authorities at distance.
- Manage post-incorporation matters, such as licence renewals or representation in tax correspondence with SFS.
The POA is the link that lets us close the loop on registration and banking without the client travelling to Chisinau.
How to issue a POA: four routes
1. At a Moldovan embassy or consulate. The most direct route. We arrange the appointment, supply the Romanian text, and confirm the format. Once executed, the POA is immediately valid in Moldova without further legalisation.
2. At a notary in your country, with apostille. The POA is notarised locally. If the country is party to the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille is added by the competent authority. If not, the document is legalised through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and certified at a Moldovan consulate. Documents are translated into Romanian by a certified translator on arrival.
3. At a Moldovan notary in person. If you are visiting Moldova, our lawyer accompanies you to the notary. Interpreters are arranged where needed. This is the quickest route when the trip is already planned.
4. Online via MPower with electronic signature. Where you hold a Moldovan or compatible e-signature, the POA can be issued digitally through MPower. Secure, instant, and recognised by local institutions and registries.
What we do under the POA
When you appoint our lawyer as your representative, the scope of the mandate typically covers:
- Company registration. Drafting the founding act, notary filings, and submission to ASP. See the formation checklist and the broader company formation guide.
- Bank account opening. Coordination with the bank's compliance team without your presence; KYC questionnaires, beneficial ownership disclosures, and source-of-funds files are handled locally. See bank account opening.
- Business licensing. Submission and follow-up on sectoral licences identified through SIA GEAP under Law 160/2011. See business licensing.
- Immigration and residence. Residence permit support handled through our lawyer where applicable, including investor and IT specialist routes. See residence in Moldova.
- Post-setup legal assistance. Ongoing representation, contract signing, tax correspondence, and court filings if required.
Why a POA makes setup easier
- Convenience. No travel is needed; the dossier moves at the speed of correspondence.
- Speed. Registration with ASP and account opening are not held up by scheduling consular visits.
- Compliance. Local counsel ensures every step meets Moldovan requirements and the bank's AML expectations under Law 308/2017.
- Continuity. Once granted, the same POA usually covers downstream tasks such as licensing and amendments to the founding act.
Drafting matters
The POA must specifically reference each transaction it covers: registration with ASP, account opening with named banks, sectoral licence applications, signing of the founding act, and so on. Generic POAs are routinely rejected at the notary or by the bank. We provide the bilingual text in Romanian and English before notarisation, and we keep the wording aligned with how Moldovan banks and registries currently read mandates in 2026.
Example: forming a company under POA
- You issue the POA to our lawyer in line with the drafted text.
- We draft and submit the incorporation documents to ASP; registration completes in one to three working days for clean dossiers.
- We open the corporate bank account with one of the active commercial banks. SEPA has been operational for Moldova since 6 October 2025, which means euro payments to the new account work end-to-end from day one.
- We apply for sectoral licences if the activity requires them.
- You receive the full package: registration extract, bank credentials, IDNO, and supporting documentation, in scans or physical originals.
Working with us
For the broader process, see company formation in Moldova and the non-resident formation walkthrough. The structure is decided on the discovery call before any documents are drafted, so the POA scope, the bank shortlist, and the licensing path are all aligned with the activity from the outset.