If you’re looking for fast and affordable second citizenship, it’s a good idea to cast your eye over the newer programmes on the scene. To compete with the more traditional locations, countries new to citizenship-by-investment often launch with low investment costs and benefits designed to catch the eye.
Moldova is one such new kid on the block, offering citizenship in return for a minimum investment of EUR 100,000. And with benefits including easy travel to 122 countries, an appealing tax regime, access to the Schengen area and one of the lowest costs of living in the world, it’s eye-catching to say the least.
5 ways you could benefit from Moldovan citizenship
Fast, affordable, straightforward citizenship
Moldova’s application process is fast and affordable with minimal criteria to meet.
Moldova’s citizenship-by-investment programme is one of the most affordable on offer, with minimum investment starting at just EUR 100,000 plus EUR 35,000 in government fees for a single applicant. This investment increases to EUR 115,000 for a couple, and up to EUR 155,000 for a family of five or more.
Only the Caribbean programmes of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Saint Lucia rival Moldova in terms of minimum investment criteria. The closest European citizenship programme in this department is Malta, however investment starts at a hefty EUR 1.2 million.
The application process is also incredibly fast. You can expect to be granted Moldovan citizenship in just 90 days from the date we submit the file. Again, this puts the programme among the best in the world in terms of speed to citizenship.
You can expect to be granted Moldovan citizenship in just 90 days from the date we submit the file.
Finally, the eligibility criteria for Moldovan citizenship is minimal. There is no interview or requirement to travel to the country during the application process. You are also not required to reside in Moldova once you are granted citizenship.
Easy global travel
As a Moldovan citizen you can travel freely to 122 countries worldwide
Moldovan citizenship makes travel, whether for business or pleasure, easy. Though not officially a member of the 26 state Schengen travel area, Moldova is a signatory to its visa-waiver agreement. This means citizens of Moldova can travel within the area visa-free for up to 90 days within every 180-day period.
Visa-free access is also possible to several other European countries as well, including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Romania and Switzerland.
In total, as a holder of Moldova’s biometric passport, you can travel on visa-free or visa-on-arrival terms to 122 countries, which also includes Malaysia, Russia and Turkey.
Great trade links
As a Moldavian citizen you can set up a company and trade with the EU without any fuss.
If EU access is your priority, Moldova is a strong option for your second citizenship. While not officially an EU member, the country benefits from a strong relationship with the Union.
If EU access is your priority, Moldova is a strong option for your second citizenship. While not officially an EU member, the country benefits from a strong relationship with the Union.
In 2009, for instance, Moldova joined the EU’s Eastern Partnership. Then, in 2016, the Moldova Association Agreement was introduced which saw the launch of an extensive free trade area between Moldova and the EU.
Known as the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), the agreement offers Moldova privileged access to the market and makes it easy for Moldovan companies to do business within the EU. So much so that it accounts for over half of all Moldovan trade, with total bilateral trade between the two increasing by 18% to EUR 4Bn in 2017.
Simply put, if you’re looking to tap into the vast EU market, Moldova offers an affordable point of entry.
Business benefits
Moldovan businesses benefit from low corporate tax rates and easy and affordable set up.
Moldova ranks 44th in the 2018 World Bank ’Doing Business’ report, scoring particularly well in the category of ‘Starting a Business.’ The country ranked 23rd in the world in this area of the report which measures the ease of starting a business based on the procedure, timeframe and cost of setting up.
Easy setup is just one of many reasons to start your business here. Moldova is home to a strong and expanding economy which grew by 4.5% last year. This growth was driven mainly by private spending on goods and services – great news for anyone wishing to do business in the country.
Start a business here and you’ll also benefit from one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Europe, at just 12%. Personal tax rates are competitive too at just 7% on incomes of up to 33,000 Moldovan Leu (USD 1,926) and 18% on any amount above that threshold.
Stability and security for you and your family
Moldova is a safe and stable country offering a low cost of living.
Moldova is a safe and stable location to live as well as work. The country is one of the safest in the world, receiving a ‘High’ rating in the 2018 Global Peace Index. Moldova ranked 63rd of 163 counties in the report putting it just three places below France, seven places below the UK and far ahead of Russia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran, Turkey and India.
The country is one of the safest in the world, receiving a ‘High’ rating in the 2018 Global Peace Index.
Moldova also benefits from an incredibly low cost of living. In a report for Time magazine, GoBankingRates ranked Moldova as the 15th cheapest place in the world to live. The report, which compares a country’s cost of living to that of New York, found rent and the cost of local goods and services in Moldova to be 92.8% and 74.1% cheaper respectively.
If you wish to relocate and take advantage of this stable setting and low cost of living, you can bring your family with you too. Moldovan citizenship lasts your lifetime and can be extended to your spouse as well as dependent children and parents.
Want affordable access to the EU?
If you’re looking for fast, low-cost European citizenship then Moldova’s citizenship-by-investment programme is the one for you. No other European programme can compete in terms of cost of investment or speed. The two leading programmes, Cyprus and Malta, require minimum investments of USD 1.2 million and USD 2 million respectively, making neither suitable for the frugal investor.
What’s more, Moldova’s lack of EU membership is less of a hindrance than it may seem thanks to close trade and travel links with the Union and the Schengen area. If all you require is access to the EU market for you and your business, then Moldova is the perfect fit.
Next Generation Equity is a government-approved provider of second citizenship and residency programmes tailored to the individual needs of discerning clients across the globe. To learn more about our programmes, please sign up for a free consultation via the form below.
