The updated list of states that accept the automatic extension of the validity period of the passports of citizens of the Republic of Moldova
The passports of the Republic of Moldova with an extended validity period can be used, so far, in 19 countries that have confirmed the recognition of the decision of the Moldovan authorities regarding the automatic extension of the validity period of the passports of Moldovan citizens.
Currently, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MAEIE), the confirmation was received through the diplomatic channel of the following state:
- Latvia;
- Israel’s status;
- The Russian Federation;
- Armenia;
- Estonia;
- Azerbaijan;
- Croatia;
- Ireland;
- Ukraine;
- Lithuania;
- Serbia;
- Georgia;
- Portugal;
- Republic of Slovakia;
- Turkmenistan;
- Republic of Belarus;
- Italy;
- Canada;
- Turkey.
The competent Estonian authorities notified the authorities in Chisinau that, due to technical reasons, for citizens using for the purpose of travel the passports had to be valid, the border crossing control procedure could take longer than in . normal.
Also, the Portuguese authorities have notified that entry and exit from the country is only allowed to holders of biometric passports, for a short stay of 90 days. At the same time, Moldovan citizens with expired passports cannot apply to the national authorities for the application of a residence visa and a residence permit in the Portuguese Republic, if the Moldovan passport is not valid for at least 6 months.
For their part, the Canadian authorities communicated the possibility of recognizing temporary extended passports, until June 30, 2023, in the situation when the purpose of the trip is related to the immigration procedure, such as the request to renew work permits in Canada.
“Considering international travel rules, the Canadian side communicates that Moldovan citizens holding an expired passport without an extension document may face travel delays or denied boarding when traveling to Canada. The diplomatic and consular missions continue to take the necessary steps in search of their agreement for the operationalization of the decision of the Commission for Exceptional Situations (…),” mention the MAEIE representatives.
From June 1, 2022, the validity period of the passports of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, which expired between January 1, 2020 or will expire until December 30, 2022, were automatically extended until June 30, 2023 by a provision of the Situations Commission Exceptional of the Republic of Moldova.
In order to implement the Provision of the Commission for Extraordinary Situations of the Republic of Moldova, MAEIE notified foreign authorities about the decision to extend the validity of passports and requested their recognition as valid travel documents.