Do Moldovan passport holders need a visa for the United States?
By Arun Singh · Destinations Writer, Tripmojo · Updated · Reviewed by Simran Raheja
Yes. Moldovan citizens need a B1/B2 visitor visa for the United States. Moldova is not in the Visa Waiver Programme, so there is no ESTA route, and neither is Romania, which matters because many Moldovans also hold a Romanian passport. The visa costs 185 US dollars and requires an interview at the US Embassy in Chisinau. No visa bond applies to Moldovan nationals.
Quick facts
Visa required- Visa required
- Yes, a B1/B2 visitor visa
- ESTA
- Not available on a Moldovan passport, nor on a Romanian one
- Cost
- USD 185, unchanged since May 2023
- Visa bond
- Not on the published bond list
- Interview
- Required in person, at the US Embassy in Chisinau
- Covers
- Tourism, visiting family, business meetings
Entry requirements
- A Moldovan passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay.
- An approved B1/B2 visa before you travel. There is no visa on arrival in the United States.
- A completed DS-160 and its confirmation page, filled in for the passport you will actually travel on.
- Evidence of ties to Moldova you will return to: employment, studies, property or family.
- Proof of funds for the trip, plus an itinerary or an invitation where you have one.
How to apply for a B1/B2 visa
Complete the DS-160 online, pay the 185 dollar fee, then book an interview at the US Embassy in Chisinau. The fee is paid before the appointment and is not refunded if the visa is refused.
A separate 750 US dollar fee can buy an interview appointment within ten business days at selected posts. It is optional, it is on top of the 185 dollars, and it is temporary: it took effect on 1 July 2026 and expires on 31 December 2026 unless extended.
Apply on the passport you intend to travel on and keep it consistent. The DS-160, the fee receipt, the visa and the boarding pass should all carry the same document, because a visa issued in one passport does not attach to another one you happen to hold.
Good to know
- The Romanian passport does not solve this, and it is the most common and most expensive mistake on this route. Romania was designated for the Visa Waiver Programme on 9 January 2025, but the designation was rescinded on 2 May 2025 before it took effect, so Romanian citizens have never been able to use ESTA. Dual Moldovan-Romanian nationals need a US visa on either passport.
- Holding two passports does not mean two chances. Consular officers see the applicant, not the document, and a refusal recorded against you follows you regardless of which nationality you apply under next time. Pick the passport with the stronger evidence of ties behind it and apply once, properly.
- A visa in an expired passport remains valid until its own expiry date. If you renew your Moldovan passport while a US visa is still running, carry both books and present them together rather than assuming the visa died with the old one.
Frequently asked questions
Do Moldovans need a visa for the USA?
Yes. Moldova is not in the Visa Waiver Programme, so a B1/B2 visitor visa must be obtained before travelling. The application fee is 185 US dollars.
Can I use my Romanian passport to visit the US without a visa?
No. Romania was designated for the Visa Waiver Programme on 9 January 2025 and the designation was rescinded on 2 May 2025 before it was implemented, so Romanian citizens still require a visa.
Where do Moldovans apply for a US visa?
At the US Embassy in Chisinau, after completing the DS-160 online and paying the 185 dollar application fee.
Do Moldovans have to pay a US visa bond?
Moldova is not on the published list of countries subject to visa bonds. The list is revised on a rolling basis, so check it again close to your application date.
Which passport should a dual Moldovan-Romanian national apply on?
Either requires a visa, so apply on the one with the stronger evidence of ties behind it, and then use that same passport for the booking and at the border.
Related pages
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources below on .
- US Department of Homeland Security — Visa Waiver Program designated countries. Moldova is absent from the designation list of 42 countries. Read 2026-08-16.
- US Department of Homeland Security — Visa Waiver Program country table footnote: "Romania was designated on January 9, 2025 but that designation was not implemented before rescission on May 2, 2025."
- Federal Register, 9 June 2026, Schedule of Fees for Consular Services (2026-11513) — USD 185 MRV fee
- Federal Register, 3 August 2026, Visas: Visa Bond Program (2026-15726) — covered countries are published only on travel.state.gov, added on 15 days notice and modified on a rolling basis
- Countries Subject to Visa Bonds, 6 January 2026 revision: Moldova not listed. travel.state.gov refuses automated clients, so this is taken from two independent immigration-law trackers of that revision, cross-checked against each other on 2026-08-16. NOT a browser read of the Department list.
Entry rules change without notice and the official source is always the authority. Confirm with the embassy or immigration portal before you book.
