Is It Safe to Travel to Moldova in 2026?
Moldova - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of 33,843 km2 (13,067 sq mi) and a population of 2.38 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south.
Is It Safe to Travel to Moldova in 2026?
Moldova is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise Increased Caution in Moldova due to risk of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Petty crime such as purse snatching and pickpocketing is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Reconsider Travel to Transnistria due to risk of armed conflict.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- other
- civil_unrest
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from petty crime such as pickpocketing, especially in tourist areas, and should remain vigilant in crowded places.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest in Transnistria and should be cautious about travel to that region, while major cities have reasonable infrastructure.
Families with children should be cautious of health risks and limited pediatric care outside major cities, and avoid areas with unexploded ordnance warnings.
Remote workers can find decent connectivity in urban areas but should avoid rural regions where infrastructure may be lacking.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Moldova.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 3 — Reconsider Travel1 region
▶Transnistria
Reconsider Travel to Transnistria due to risk of armed conflict.
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution1 region
▶Moldova
Exercise Increased Caution in Moldova due to risk of unexploded ordnance (UXO).
Moldova has 2 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
Travel insurance for Moldova
Protect your trip to Moldova — medical care, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation, wherever you're headed.
Mobile data in Moldova
Skip roaming fees — get an eSIM and land in Moldova with data already working.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Moldova has an overall threat severity of 4.1 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 5.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 61/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Moldovan Leu (MDL)
Language
Romanian
Notable restrictions:
- Taking photographs of military facilities and security forces is not allowed and may result in detention or arrest.
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Moldova
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Moldova?
▶Is it safe to travel to Moldova right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Moldova?
▶What vaccines do I need for Moldova?
▶Is Moldova safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Moldova?
More Moldova Data
Partly Free — 61/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.