Everything you need
to know before you start.

Yes. The founder does not need to travel to Moldova for formation. We act under a power of attorney that you notarise and apostille in your country of residence (or wherever the director lives). Supporting documents are accepted as scans or as physical originals sent to our office in Chișinău, whichever the client prefers. ASP processes the filings electronically. Bank account opening is a separate step and requires one in-person signing at the bank's office in Chișinău.

For an individual founder: passport copy, proof of address (utility bill or bank statement under 90 days), CV or short professional profile, your home tax identification number, and a power of attorney notarised and apostilled in your country of residence. For a corporate founder: certificate of incorporation (apostilled), certificate of good standing, articles, full UBO chain documentation, and an authorising shareholder resolution. The exact checklist depends on the founder structure and the activity codes; we issue a precise list at scoping. We accept scans or physical copies, whichever the client prefers.

ASP issues the IDNO and the certificate of registration in one to three working days from clean dossier submission. Adding bank account opening, total elapsed time is typically five to seven working days. The bottleneck is rarely ASP itself; it is the document gathering on the founder's side and the bank compliance review.

Yes. Under Law 135/2007 a Moldovan SRL can be formed with a single founder who also acts as sole administrator. There is no minimum founder requirement beyond one. The structure mirrors the German GmbH or UK Ltd in this respect. Non-resident directors and founders are permitted; there is no Moldovan-resident requirement.

Yes. Every SRL must maintain a registered office (sediu) in Moldova. The address is used for official correspondence from ASP, SFS, and other authorities. We coordinate the registered address as part of the engagement; if you already have a qualifying Moldovan property you may use that instead. The registered address satisfies the filing requirement; for substance purposes (tax residence, exit-tax defence in your home jurisdiction) you will likely need more than the address.

There is no statutory minimum share capital under Law 135/2007. The historical MDL 5,400 figure was abolished and founders declare capital freely (in practice often a nominal amount). Some banks may request evidence of operational funding at account-opening time; this is a practical matter, not a legal one.

Our active relationships include Maib (the largest Moldovan bank), Moldindconbank, Victoriabank (Banca Transilvania group), OTP Bank Moldova (formerly Mobiasbanca), EximBank, and ProCredit. Each has a different risk appetite and onboarding posture. Maib and Moldindconbank are usually most flexible for non-resident UBOs; Victoriabank and ProCredit have stricter compliance review. We match your profile to the right institution before applying.

No. All Moldovan banks require an in-person signing at the bank's own office. The signing is held at the branch, which in our partners' case is within walking distance of our office in Chișinău. The visit is short (1–2 hours); we arrange the appointment, brief you in advance, and accompany you.

Two to four weeks from submission of a clean dossier. Maib and Moldindconbank are typically fastest; Victoriabank and ProCredit are at the upper end of that range due to stricter compliance posture. The timeline extends if the bank's compliance team requests additional documentation; we manage all follow-up.

Yes. Moldova joined SEPA on 6 October 2025; eight Moldovan commercial banks are SEPA participants. EUR transfers between Moldovan accounts and SEPA-zone accounts are processed at SEPA SCT speeds and SEPA fees, identical to intra-EU transfers. This is the structural change that makes Moldovan banking materially comparable to EU banking for cross-border EUR.

For SMEs (turnover up to 100M MDL, up to 249 employees) in eligible sectors, undistributed profit is taxed at 0%. Tax is owed only when profit is distributed: 12% CIT on the distributed amount plus 6% dividend withholding at source. The scheme was introduced in 2023 and has been extended each year, currently in force through 2026. Excluded sectors include IT Park residents (which use the MITP 7% turnover regime), FEZ residents, and certain financial and trade activities.

IT Park (MITP) residents pay a single 7% turnover-based tax that replaces corporate income tax, salary income tax, social security contributions, medical insurance, local taxes, real estate tax, and road tax for IT activities and IT specialists. VAT is separate. There is a minimum tax floor per employee (around MDL 5,200 per month for 2026, equivalent to 30% of the forecast average monthly salary). To qualify, the company must conduct eligible IT activities under Law 77/2016 and earn at least 70% of revenue from those activities. The regime is state-guaranteed through 2035.

VAT registration is mandatory once turnover exceeds MDL 1.5 million in the previous 12 months (rising to MDL 1.7 million from 1 March 2026). Voluntary registration is available below the threshold. The standard rate is 20%; a reduced 8% rate applies to medical products and a few other categories. For B2B operators invoicing EU clients, voluntary registration is sometimes worthwhile to recover input VAT.

Dividends paid by a Moldovan company to individual shareholders are subject to a 6% withholding tax at source. For corporate shareholders the rate may be reduced under applicable double-taxation treaties; Moldova has a wide treaty network. Combined with the 12% standard CIT (or the 0% reinvested scheme), the effective tax burden on extracted income compares favourably with most western European jurisdictions.

Moldovan SRLs file VAT returns periodically (if registered), annual income tax declarations, payroll declarations if employees are on the books, and annual financial statements with SFS. Accounting must be maintained by a qualified accountant. We connect clients with accounting partners in Chișinău who handle filings digitally and report in English where requested.

Yes, via investor residence. The threshold is equity in a Moldovan legal entity equivalent to 30 forecast average monthly salaries, plus at least one created job at the average forecast salary. The investment must be documented, the source of funds proven, and the operational substance demonstrated. Application is at the Bureau for Migration and Asylum; typical timeline is six to ten weeks.

The simplified procedure for managers and IT specialists employed by an MITP-resident company. Validity is up to four years for managers; for specialists it is shorter but renewable. Documentation is lighter than standard employment-based residence and processing is faster. Required: medical insurance with €30,000 minimum coverage, employment contract, and the standard immigration documentation. We coordinate alongside the IT Park residency application.

Substance is the real economic presence of a company in its declared jurisdiction. For a Moldovan SRL, substance indicators include local employment or a director with genuine operational duties, documented decision-making in Moldova, a registered office used for actual correspondence, client contracts naming the Moldovan entity, and banking activity consistent with operational cashflow. Substance is assessed by both Moldovan authorities and, critically, by the tax authority of any jurisdiction you are exiting.

Moldovan residence does not grant Schengen access. Moldovan nationals enjoy visa-free Schengen travel since 2014, but a Moldovan residence permit issued to a non-Moldovan national does not. For Schengen mobility, your existing nationality remains the determining factor; for non-EU passport holders considering Schengen access, Romania (a Schengen member since January 2025) or another EU jurisdiction is a different question.