Moldova: More Foreign Workers, Stricter Rules and a New Law Coming in 2027

26 October 2026 · General information, not legal advice

What is happening

Moldova is seeing a sharp rise in foreign workers. According to the head of the General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM), more than 6,300 foreigners had been documented for the first time for employment by 1 September 2026, compared with about 4,300 in the whole of 2025. In 2025 the authorities received over 6,100 applications for temporary residence for work and approved about 5,700. Most workers come from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Turkey and Uzbekistan and are employed in agriculture, construction, delivery services and factories. The growth is putting pressure on the migration service, which is now calling for stronger monitoring and selective inspections of employers.

Problems the authorities report

Most employment contracts submitted to the authorities specify salaries below 10,000 lei per month, with some employers reporting 20,000 lei or more. Inspectors have found cases where pay was reduced after the application was approved, for example by moving workers to part-time schedules. The new rules require employers to keep the minimum salary for the whole period of employment, not just at the time of application. The IGM also reports a rise in complaints about unpaid wages and unfulfilled recruitment promises, and cases where companies fail to pay return tickets. Some workers, misled about “free access” to the EU, have tried to cross the border illegally. Moldova is not an EU member, and working there does not give access to the EU labour market.

A new law on foreigners from 1 June 2027

Parliament has adopted a new law on the admission, stay and supervision of foreigners, published in the Official Journal in 2026. It enters into force on 1 June 2027 and will replace Law No. 200/2010. The law provides for 23 purposes of stay, including work (also highly qualified work), self-employment, study and research, and introduces new categories such as seasonal worker permits, intra-corporate transfers (ICT) and au pair. It also creates a single Residence Card, moves procedures online and requires employers to pay foreign workers no less than Moldovan citizens doing similar work. A parliamentary committee also backed a draft that would set the minimum salary for foreign workers at 50% of the forecast average monthly wage in the economy; we could not confirm that this threshold is in the final text, so employers should check the adopted version. Separately, a labour-market draft law published in June 2026 would, among other things, remove the rule that private employment agencies may hire only Moldovan citizens, but it is still a proposal.

What candidates and employers should do

Candidates should check that the job and the salary are written in the employment contract, that the employer is registered and that the work residence permit is issued before travel. Never pay for a “guaranteed” job or visa, and never rely on promises that Moldova is a route to the EU. Keep copies of the contract, payslips and any payments made. Employers should make sure that the declared salary is paid for the whole period of employment, that pay is not lower than for local staff, that return-ticket obligations are met, and that they follow IGM updates ahead of the 2027 law. We have not found a numerical quota for foreign workers in Moldova in the sources reviewed; the rules focus on the work residence permit, the salary and the employer’s obligations. Looking for a legal way to work in Europe? See our current offers at https://www.mnidealcompany.com/. Sources: MoldovaLive, 23 Sept 2026 · Logos Press, 18 May 2026 · Moldpres, 4 June 2026 · Cotidianul, 30 April 2026 · Logos Press, 29 April 2026 · General Inspectorate for Migration