Calling all digital nomads!
No longer do you have to fork over your entire month’s earnings to live out your globetrotting dreams.
One of Europe’s cheapest countries, still largely undiscovered by the masses, is also one of the most authentic destinations you can experience.
How do I know? Because I’ve been!
Far removed from the glitz, glamour, and overly curated tourist traps lies an Eastern European gem garnering new hype over the past few years, with more connecting flights throughout Europe, making what’s usually deemed too off-path less of a headache to reach.
In fact, it once held the title of “Europe’s least visited nation”, but that didn’t stop me, and it shouldn’t deter you either!
Boasting an incredibly underrated countryside teeming with unforgettable wineries, nocturnal nightlife giving Berlin and Ibiza a run for their money, plus vibrant parks, ample cafes, and affordability across the board, it’s no surprise that Moldova has finally realized it’s the perfect fit as a digital nomad destination.
Moldova Finally Launching Digital Nomad Visa This Month
As someone who occasionally dips his toes into digital nomad waters, I know the feeling all too well of sitting at a cafe banging out an article wondering if I’m technically a criminal for working in foreign territory.
Sure, you can travel under the guise of a standard tourist visa in many places, but once you whip out your laptop for work, it begins to become a slippery slope — I mean, have you seen Locked Up Abroad?
The affordability factor has long been the main draw for Moldova, and there are surely numerous digital nomads planting themselves here already, simply to save money while experiencing a new culture.
With the soon-to-launch visa, those worries can be set aside, especially as simple as it seems to meet requirements, according to our sources.
The Full Rundown Of Moldova’s New Nomad Visa
Remember in The Office when Jim didn’t know how to do a proper rundown for Charles?
Well, the good news is I’m not Jim. I’m Sam. Hi.
According to various reports, here is the full rundown for Moldova’s new digital nomad visa.
Launch date:
Slated to launch September 20th, remote workers can stay up to 2 years in Moldova with the option to extend beyond that under certain conditions yet to be revealed.
Income Requirements:
Aligning with Moldova’s budget-friendly reputation, remote workers don’t have to be making a killing to make their base here.
The monthly income requirements are said to be a minimum of $1,500 to $2,000, helping Moldova stand out amongst its European peers.
Live/Work Requirements:
Stay off Moldova’s ZipRecruiter because you’re wasting your precious time trying to score a job on an application you likely can’t read, unless you happened to brush up on Romanian in your Rosetta Stone lessons.
Working for Moldova-registered companies will not be allowed. Freelancers, employees, and business owners will need to have a reliable remote job lined up with a foreign company, in addition to health insurance coverage for a full year, a clean criminal record, and confirmed accommodations, such as a lease agreement (which can easily be found for $300 – $500).
Application Fees:
Applications will be processed through Moldova’s Bureau of Migration and Asylum (BMA), although the portal has yet to be launched.
Fees are expected to cost between $45 -$90. You will also need a valid passport with 6 months’ validity, as well as 4 recent passport photos.
What To Do In Moldova
Being off the radar for many travelers, one might wonder what there is to do in Moldova. While my trip to Moldova was short but sweet, it remains one of my favorite wine destinations in the world — and I live in California…
After a hard week pretending to enjoy Zoom calls, there’s no better place to unwind, in my opinion, than Millesti Micii, located just 20 minutes or so outside the capital city of Chisinau.
This is where the action lies with buzzing markets and wild nightlife on weekends. The city has a mixed bag of reviews from visitors, including myself.
Chisinau still reflects its Soviet past with drab, brutalist architecture in some pockets, while other areas are vibrant and a delight to visit, such as Cathedral Park.
Outside the city are some staggering monasteries that have become more popular for epic photo-ops, like Orheiul Vechi and Curchi.
Day-to-day life for digital nomads won’t be nearly as drab as some of the architecture. I truly loved cafe-hopping in Chisinau.
If I took the plunge into digital nomadism, my weekly stomping grounds would be Coffee Molka, an equal mix of delicious coffee and an immersive history lesson, and Poetry Coffeeshop, a popular place to fuel up for the day with reliable Wi-Fi and endless people-watching.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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