A Moldovan passport allows visa-free travel to 120 countries, based on diplomacy and trust
Global mobility and the strength of the Republic of Moldova's passport depend directly on the state's diplomatic strategy and international partnerships. Consequently, the more countries a nation's citizens can visit visa-free or with simplified procedures, the more prestigious the passport is.
This is the conclusion drawn by Rodica Ghirișan, the head of a document processing company, speaking on the Radio Moldova program "Zi de Zi" , hosted by Daniela Gherman.
In the Henley Passport Index 2026, the Republic of Moldova’s passport ranks 46th globally, granting citizens visa-free access to 120 destinations. The index's methodology accounts for completely visa-free travel, visas obtained upon arrival, and electronic travel authorizations (eTA).
Data from the Global Passport Ranking presents a slightly different breakdown: Moldovan citizens can enter 74 countries visa-free, require a visa on arrival for 42 states, and need an eTA for 6 countries. Meanwhile, they must obtain a visa before departure for another 76 destinations.
"The Republic of Moldova’s passport currently offers quite good access, particularly to Europe. Moldovan citizens holding biometric passports can travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for short stays—specifically, 90 days within any 180-day period. Furthermore, there is visa-free access to numerous countries across Europe, the Balkans, Latin America, and, of course, other regions," noted Rodica Ghirișan.
Comparison with neighboring passports: Romania and Ukraine
The Romanian passport ranks 11th globally, granting access to 178 destinations. Romania’s significant advantage stems from its status as a European Union member state, which guarantees its citizens the rights associated with European citizenship.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian passport ranks 32nd, offering access to 142 destinations—22 more than the Republic of Moldova. However, Rodica Ghirișan emphasized that the Moldovan passport should not be viewed as weak; the 120 accessible destinations reflect a substantial level of mobility and significant progress achieved by the country in recent years.
Rodica Ghirișan noted that a passport's prestige depends not on the document itself, but on established diplomatic agreements. In her view, the authorities in Chișinău should prioritize visa-waiver negotiations with countries of interest for tourism, business, and education, grounded in mutual trust.
"I believe the first step would be to continue negotiations for visa waivers with as many countries important to Moldovan citizens as possible—particularly those relevant for tourism, business, and education. Secondly, we need to strengthen relations with existing partners, because a visa-free regime ultimately relies on mutual trust between states. We have a very interesting example here: the United Arab Emirates managed to add 153 visa-free destinations for their passport holders over two decades, rising to second place in the world rankings," she concluded. Passports for citizens of the Republic of Moldova, as well as documents for stateless persons, refugees, and beneficiaries of humanitarian protection, will be issued in an updated format.
Minister of Internal Affairs Daniella Misail-Nichitin said the documents will include modern security features—including biometric data and an electronic chip—to prevent forgery and fraudulent use and better protect citizens' personal data.
The new versions will be issued by December 31, 2026. Current documents remain valid until their expiration.
