4,600 Foreign Nationals Work in Moldova on Residence Permits: Nepal and Bangladesh Top the List

According to data from the Migration Inspectorate, more than 4,600 foreign nationals in Moldova hold a valid residence permit with the right to work. The majority of them are men from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Turkey and Uzbekistan. The main concentration of foreign workers is observed in Chisinau, Balti, Cahul, as well as in Riscani and Leova. Over the past three years, the number of applications for work permits has increased by approximately a thousand each year, reports logos-press.md. In 2025 alone, the authorities registered over 6,100 applications for the granting or extension of temporary residence permits for employment purposes. More than 5,700 applicants were granted permission, whilst 453 applications were refused. In agriculture, such foreign nationals are increasingly being hired for seasonal work – picking strawberries, cherries, apricots, plums and grapes, as well as for work in greenhouses. It should also be noted that there are currently over 87,000 Ukrainian citizens in Moldova. Of these, over 77,000 are officially registered under temporary protection status, around 3,500 have temporary residence status, and several thousand have been granted Moldovan citizenship. Currently, over 1,600 Ukrainian citizens are officially employed in Moldova. They mainly hold positions in the fields of programming, engineering, services (as chefs, waiters and sales assistants), medicine, education and in manufacturing enterprises. Recruitment agencies report a growing demand for foreign workers. They are most often recruited for construction, agriculture, delivery services, factories and processing plants.