How Ukrainians can get a job in Moldova 

Statistics and trends

According to the latest data as of 1 March 2024, since the beginning of the emergency situation in the Republic of Moldova, the National Employment Agency (ANOFM) has received notifications from employers to hire 1,316 citizens of Ukraine. Among them 911 women and 405 men. Most of them were employed in the capital Chisinau (1,009), also some workers found jobs in ATU Gagauzia (52), Balti (63) and other regions of the country. According to the information provided, Ukrainian citizens occupied a wide range of professions: from programmers and engineers to seamstresses and shop assistants. As well as doctors, cooks, waiters, fitters and other specialists.

Support for refugees from Ukraine in Moldova

A portal was launched to facilitate access to all information related to the refugee crisis from Ukraine www.dopomoga.gov.md.

Here you can find data on all types of assistance available to Ukrainian refugees, including transport, food, medical services, resettlement opportunities in Europe and useful contacts.

This portal also has a section dedicated to job vacancies. It can be accessed under Jobswhere you will find links to a variety of resources, social media groups and job advert sites, as well as information on professional development courses.

Registration and employment procedure

Regardless of the period for which you want to be employed in Moldova, you need to register with the Inspectorate for Migration and have a temporary protection status. Also, you must have an identification code (IDNP), which is provided upon entry into the territory of the Republic of Moldova or upon request by the multifunctional centres of the Public Services Agency.

With the temporary protection status, you can get a job in the Republic of Moldova only for a short-term period - a maximum of one year. Temporary protection is granted for one year from 1 March 2023 to 1 March 2024. The status has been extended from 1 March 2024 to 1 March 2025. Long-term employment will require a residence permit. To do this, the temporary protection status must first be relinquished. Please note that a residence permit can be obtained for up to 5 years.

For the short-term period, companies wishing to employ Ukrainian citizens (refugees) must conclude an individual fixed-term labour contract with them. Once signed, the employer must notify the National Employment Agency (ANOFM) of the fact of employment of a Ukrainian citizen, providing a copy of the documents in electronic or paper format within 5 days.

The following documents are required for employment:

• copy of the identity card of a Ukrainian citizen;
• copy of the labour contract drawn up taking into account the legislation of the Republic of Moldova;
• information on personal numerical code (IDNP).

These documents can be emailed to angajare_ua@anofm.md or submitted in hard copy to the local offices of the National Employment Agency for employment.

Main stages of obtaining a residence permit

Refugee status is the basis for obtaining a residence permit for up to 5 years. Refugees who have obtained a Moldovan residence permit may subsequently obtain a permanent residence permit.

In order to apply for a residence permit, you should apply to the Migration Office. You will need:

• application in the prescribed form;
• passport and internal passport, with their photocopies;
• certificate of criminal record from the country of citizenship with an apostille (international stamp confirming the legality of the document) - for persons over 16 years of age;
• documents confirming the place of residence in Moldova (even rented accommodation, with a signed contract);
• medical documents confirming the absence of mental disabilities, infectious diseases, HIV and AIDS;
• medical insurance of at least 30000 euros, valid for at least 3 months;
• documents confirming the availability of sufficient funds for living in Moldova for the whole period of stay.

When applying for a residence permit, it is necessary to provide documents confirming the grounds for this (refugee status).

In addition to the required documents, the dossier for obtaining a residence permit must also include two 5×6 cm photographs of the applicant. For Ukrainian citizens who wish to obtain a residence permit for work, there is a privilege in the form of cancellation of the state duty in the amount of 1440 lei.

The application for a residence permit is usually examined within 30 days. Following the examination of the application, the applicant will receive a reply on the possibility of obtaining a residence permit in the Republic of Moldova.

The obtained document is valid for a period from a few months to 5 years depending on the grounds provided. In most cases, this period is 1 year with the possibility of its extension.

Opening an SRL and joining an IT park

Entrepreneurs wishing to establish their business in Moldova have an attractive opportunity to open an enterprise in an IT park.

For information about the possibility of opening a company in the IT Park and employment opportunities, please see our article. 

One of the main advantages of opening a company in an IT park is a number of tax benefits, such as exemption from income tax and other taxes.

In terms of employment in the IT Park, there are various opportunities for IT professionals. Companies in the IT Park actively recruit staff through their websites, social networks and specialised job search platforms.

There are a number of benefits for employees of IT park resident companies, including exemption from payroll taxes, retention of social insurance and no need to file a tax return. 

For Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, employment is not only an opportunity to provide for themselves and their families, but also a chance to start a new life in a stable environment. The system of employment support and regulation allows them to integrate into Moldovan society and contribute to the economic development of the country. Thanks to the efforts of the state and public organisations, Ukrainian refugees can find not only jobs, but also support on the path of adaptation and integration.