The Moldovans who will violate the regime of stay on the territory of the EU after the abolition of the visa requirements will be penalized with a fine of up to €3,000 or will be banned from entering the Schengen area for a period of up to five years, IPN reports, quoting the information published by Deputy Foreign Minister Iulian Groza on a social networking site.

The legal term of stay in the EU without visas is 90 days within six months. The Moldovans will be able to travel visa-free in the EU, except for the UK and Ireland, and to other states that are not EU members, but form part of the Schengen area, such as Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Only those who hold biometric passports will be able to travel visa-free.

The visa-free regime will not enable the travelers to work. If a Moldovan manages to negotiate and sign a work or study contract while staying in one of the EU member states, they can apply to the authorities of that state for a long-stay visa or permit.

When going to the EU, the Moldovans will have to state the goal of the trip and the period of stay and to prove that they have money for living there at the request of the border police. Iulian Groza said these questions are put at random in order to prevent cases of illegal migration. The visa-free traveling in the Schengen does not imply additional conditions for the Moldovans.

The liberalized visa regime for Moldova is projected to start to be applied towards the end of spring.