Visas for Moldova are issued to foreigners at state border crossing points in emergencies deriving from natural disasters, calamities and accidents, in cases of death or serious disease and when passenger ships or planes have to anchor or land as a result of technical faults or dangers of terrorist acts. The Government approved such detailed provisions to the Law on the Regime of Stay for Foreigners, IPN reports.

Deputy Minister of the Interior Veaceslav Ceban said the law, in its current form, contains many contradictory norms and the subdivisions of the Ministry of the Interior encounter difficulties in implementing them. The proposed amendments detail the conditions that the applicants for visas must fulfill and define the terms of validity of the visas issued in exceptional cases.

Thus, a visa issued on the state border allows the holder to stay in Moldova for a period of up to 15 days. In case of transit, the period cannot exceed 5 days. The decision to refuse a visa is communicated to the applicant in written form and can be challenged in an administrative court.

The approval of the bill is part of the commitments made by Moldova with a view to obtaining a liberalized visa regime for Moldovans in the EU.