Investment framework and opportunities in Moldova

Procedures Relative to Foreign Investment

Freedom of Establishment: By statute, special forms of legal organizations and certain activities require a minimum of capital to be invested. The most widespread forms are Limited Liability Companies (LLC) followed by Joint Stock Companies (JSC). For a 100% investment, using an LLC tends to be more convenient. It is easier to establish and operate an LLC than a JSC.
To learn more about the different legal forms of enterprises that may be settled in Moldova, you can visit the PWC guide to investment in Moldova.
Acquisition of Holdings: A 100% foreign ownership is legal.
Obligation to Declare: Establishing a business entity in Moldova involves registration with the State Register of Legal Entities held by the State Registration Chamber of the Ministry of Justice. The State Registration Chamber registers LLC / JSC within five business days (general term) or four hours – one day (speed-up procedure) of submitting all the required documents.
The JSC shares need to be subsequently registered with the National Commission for Financial Market (NCFM). It takes five business days from the required documents being submitted. The fee for the registration of JSC shares is 0.4% of the amount of stock issue.
For more information, refer to the Invest In Moldova website or to the World Bank report on Doing Business in Moldova.
Competent Organisation For the Declaration: Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Republic of Moldova
Ministry of Justice's website
Requests For Specific Authorisations: The list of activities subject to licensing is expressly provided by the Law on regulation by licensing of entrepreneurial activity (which includes audit, banking, insurance and private medical assistance). A licence may be obtained through an online platform recently launched by the Moldovan Licensing Chamber.