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A UAE residence permit does not waive the Moldova visa. Your passport decides, and Moldova publishes the lists. Emirati citizens are on the visa-exempt list. Indians, Filipinos, Egyptians, Bangladeshis, Nepalis and Sri Lankans, among others, need a visa. A valid EU, Schengen, UK, US or Canada visa or residence permit changes that. Everyone else files an e-visa for a stay of up to 90 days.
What Moldova's own lists say
The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes three lists on its entry visa page: foreigners who need a visa, foreigners exempt from it, and states whose citizens need an invitation to apply. We read them in the Romanian version on .
- Visa required. The list includes India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.
- Visa exempt. The list includes the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Invitation needed. The Philippines, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and others. India is on the visa list, but we did not find it on the invitation list.
The waiver that matters for expats
A footnote on the visa-required list says the visa is not required for holders of a residence permit or a valid visa, other than transit, issued by an EU member state, a Schengen state, the United Kingdom, the United States or Canada. They may travel to Moldova for the validity of that document. India carries the footnote.
For the invitation, the exception is wider. Anyone with a valid residence permit or visa from those places is exempt from the invitation, even if the passport is on the invitation list.
What that means for common passports in the UAE:
| Passport and document | What Moldova asks |
|---|---|
| Indian with valid Schengen visa | No Moldovan visa while the Schengen visa is valid |
| Indian with only UAE residence | Visa required |
| Filipino with UAE residence only | Visa and an invitation |
| Filipino with a valid UK or US visa | Visa, but no invitation |
| Emirati | No visa |
Read the last two rows carefully. The Filipino row follows the lists as written: the waiver footnote is not printed next to the Philippines.
Cost and agency prices
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Short stay tourist visa (C, tourism) consular fee | EUR 40 plus related charge |
| Airport transit visa (A) | EUR 20 |
| Transit visa (B) | EUR 40 |
Source: Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Tipurile de vize" page, checked .
What Dubai agencies charge
Dubai agencies publish about AED 220 to AED 350 for a Moldova visa (published prices of 2 Dubai agencies, checked ). One shows a processing time of 15 to 20 business days. Plan in weeks, and compare what each quote includes.
Documents for a tourist visa
The ministry's list for a tourist visa asks for:
- Passport issued in the last 10 years and valid at least 3 months after you leave Moldova.
- One colour photo, 35 by 45 mm.
- An invitation from the Migration Inspectorate, or a residence permit or visa from the EU, a Schengen state, the UK, the US or Canada.
- An accommodation booking or a letter of support.
- A return ticket.
- A bank statement showing EUR 30 for each day, not less than EUR 300, issued within 10 days before you file.
- Travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 valid across Moldova.
A short stay visa covers up to 90 days in any 180 days.
How to file from the UAE
Moldova runs an official e-visa portal, evisa.gov.md, with pages for "Do I need a visa?", "Apply now" and the application status. You attach scanned documents and follow the payment steps the portal shows. The sources we read name no Moldovan embassy in the UAE, so we treat the portal as the route and confirm the details before you pay.
Why e-visa files stall
- A bank statement older than 10 days.
- An invitation missing for a passport that needs one.
- Insurance that does not cover all of Moldova.
- A residence permit or visa from the wrong country, for example the UAE, offered as a waiver.
How it works with us
You send the passport and any EU, UK, US or Canada visa on WhatsApp, or fill in the form on this page. A visa adviser checks the three Moldovan lists against your passport and tells you whether you are exempt, waived or in need of an e-visa. You see one total price before you pay. The team then builds the file, checks each document against the ministry list and submits it on the portal. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. Moldova decides every application.
Moldova does not refund its consular fee after a refusal. Before you pay us, the adviser tells you in writing which part of our total, if any, comes back in that case.
Official sources
- Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, entry visas: visa required, exempt and invitation lists.
- Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visa types and requirements: consular fees and documents.
- Moldova e-visa portal: application, status and visa check.
You may also want Georgia and Armenia for the region, Romania next door, the Schengen visa from Dubai that can waive Moldova, and all visas from Dubai.
