New citizenship rules: Moldovan Embassy in Ukraine suspends acceptance of applications
The consular section of the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Ukraine will suspend the processing of citizenship applications starting December 23.
In an official statement, the diplomatic mission announced that the acceptance of citizenship applications is suspended "for an indefinite period" due to the implementation of the new Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Moldova, which was approved in the summer of this year.
It is noteworthy that since February 24, 2022—the date marking the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation—over 4,400 Ukrainian citizens have applied for Moldovan citizenship. By the end of July this year, 2,630 Ukrainians had successfully obtained Moldovan citizenship, and 2,843 applicants were recognized as citizens of the Republic of Moldova, according to data from the General Inspectorate for Migration.
The new law on citizenship, set to take effect on December 24, tightens the criteria for granting citizenship to prevent and combat fraudulent attempts to obtain it.
The Public Services Agency reported that in the last three years alone, over 100 attempts to fraudulently acquire citizenship through forged documents or false information have been uncovered.
Under the new regulations, applicants can no longer submit applications through proxies or intermediaries, aiming to prevent corruption. Individuals must appear in person either at the Public Services Agency offices in the Republic of Moldova or at consulates abroad. The entire application process will be recorded, and the footage will be archived.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Intelligence and Security Service will conduct more comprehensive background checks. Additionally, applicants may be required to attend an interview to address any relevant questions.
Individuals under restrictive measures or international sanctions will not be eligible to apply for Moldovan citizenship. Furthermore, the new law mandates that applicants demonstrate proficiency in the Romanian language, with the specific requirements to be established by the Government.
