Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

• Passport
• Detailed inventory
• Pro-forma invoice
• Moldovan identification (returning citizens)
• Moldovan Resident Permit (immigrants)
• Resident permit / work permit (temporary imports)
• Letter of employment (temporary imports)
• Diplomatic passport (diplomats)
• Accreditation card (diplomats)

Specific Information

• The letter of employment must confirm the length of the contract in Moldova as guarantee for any temporary import.
• For surface shipments for returning citizens with a residence address in Chisinau, the shipment will be brought in Chisinau for Customs clearance.
  • The goods will be inspected and estimated / valued by a Customs officer. 
  • If the goods were not exported temporarily, the shipment is subject to value added tax (VAT) of approximately 20%.
  • Duties are approximately 0%-15% for new furniture from the estimated value.
• For surface shipments for immigrants, the import in Moldova is duty free for one time import. 

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

• Title / registration
• Original bill of lading

Specific Information

• Cars are subject to duties.
• Vehicles older than 10 years cannot be imported.
• Diplomats may not import a motor vehicle until the accreditation card from the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been issued.
• For temporary import of a personal automobile, the owner of the goods must register the vehicle in the origin country.
• A fee of approximately EUR 95 will be collected by the Customs office for a temporary import.
• Duty-free import is done on a temporary basis of no longer than 12 months. 
  • However, the temporary import can be extended each year or when the owner of the goods’ resident permit expires and a new one is obtained. 
  • If the temporary import is not extended, the import file is sent to the contraband / smuggling department of the Customs office. 

Pets

Note:  Contact the destination agent for information.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Cigarettes (200), cigarillos (50), cigars (50)
• Leather goods (purses, etc.) and knitwear (3 items)
• Shoes (2 pairs)
• Tape recorders, audio players, etc. (1 total)
• Video recording or reproducing devices (1 item)
• Alcohol (1 bottle), malt beer (5 L)
• Watches (3 items)
• Perfume (quantity for personal use only)

Prohibited Items

• Customs can prohibit the entry of certain goods or transport items which endanger or compromise the following:
  • State security and public and moral order
  • Environmental protection
  • Protection of art objects and objects of historical / archeological value
  • Intellectual property rights
  • Domestic market
  • Public interests
• Animal products
• Antiques
• Pornographic or subversive materials
• Perishable food items

Consignment Instructions

Recommended:  Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.

Helpful Website(s):

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/moldova.html

http://sua.mfa.md

http://www.customs.gov.md/en

http://www.gov.md/en