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Country Commercial Guides FY 2000: Moldova Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Chisinau, released July 1999 Note*

Chapter IX: Business Travel

A. Business Customs

Business customs in Moldova do not differ much from western business customs. Moldovans are famous for their hospitality and usually offer food and beverages at business meetings. It is considered an offense if a guest refuses food or beverage the first time it is offered.

B. Travel Advisory and Visas

Moldova's capital, Chisinau, offers adequate hotels and restaurants, but tourist and business facilities in other parts of the country are not highly developed, and many of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet available.

Visas are required of all American citizens traveling to Moldova, with the exception of those traveling on diplomatic passports. As of June 1st, 1999, all visas must be obtained in advance of arrival from a Moldovan embassy or consulate. Only those Americans who can prove they reside in a country in which Moldova has no embassy or consulate will be permitted to obtain a tourist/business visa at the airport. No invitation is necessary. A one-entry visa, valid for a one-month stay, costs $45. Travelers on official passports can obtain a visa free of charge.

Travelers entering the Transnistria region of Moldova should be prepared for frequent checkpoints. Regular consular protective services are very difficult to provide in this region in the case of arrests or imprisonment of Americans.

Flying to Moldova from the United States is easy via Amsterdam (Holland), Frankfurt (Germany), Budapest (Hungary), and Vienna (Austria). These cities have direct flights to Chisinau, Moldova.

Additional information on travel to Moldova and the rest of the NIS is available on the state department's web page at http:\\www.travel.state.gov.

C. Holidays

There are 9 national holidays in Moldova. New Year's Day (January 1), Christmas (January 7 and 8), International Women's Day (March 8), two days of Easter determined by the Orthodox Church's calendar, Memorial Day (the first Monday a week after Easter), Victory Day (May 9), National Day (August 27) and Our Language Day (August 31) are celebrated in Moldova. Most businesses and all state institutions are closed on these days. The basic infrastructure institutions like airports and markets usually stay open. Private businesses and institutions normally open 24 hours a day maintain this regime.

D. Temporary Entry of Goods

There are few restrictions on bringing computer equipment, exhibit materials, or goods for personal use while traveling to Moldova. The quantity of goods should not exceed the number stipulated in the 1999 budget law, which is usually no more than 5 pieces of each product. If the number of goods does exceed the limit and there is no document confirming the marketing purpose of the goods, then a customs tariff and a customs tax will be applied.