Lighter visa requirements for Moldovans travelling to EU

The Moldovan Parliament ratified the amendment agreement of the Moldova-EU Agreement on the facilitation of visa issuance, signed at Brussels on June 27, 2012. The modifications stipulate that Moldovans invited to visit 1st degree relatives, who reside in the European Union, won't have to pay the €35 upon requesting a visa. Additionally, they fewer documents will be asked of them at the embassy, reports Info-Prim Neo. “Sisters and brothers, when invited by a relative residing in one of European Union's localities, will receive visas without additional paperwork, i.e. bank accounts and so on”, underlined Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Secretary General Mihai Capatina. The amendments stipulate the issuance of multiple-entry long-term visas, namely for 1 and 5 years. Meanwhile, youths up to - and including - 25 years of age, who participate in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural, or educational events in the EU, organized by NGOs, as well as representatives of the civil society who make trips with the goal of professional formation will be exempted from consular fees. After the ratification of the agreement by the Moldovan legislative, the agreement must also be ratified by the European Parliament.