Moldova Ends Visa-Free Travel for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan amid EU Alignment Push
Moldova has officially withdrawn from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) visa-free travel agreement, meaning citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will now require visas to enter the country. The Moldovan parliament approved the termination of the 1992 Bishkek Agreement, according to inbusiness.kz.
Although Moldova ended its CIS membership earlier, it had continued allowing visa-free travel with several former Soviet republics, including Central Asian nations. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan remain unaffected, with Chişinău planning to maintain visa-free arrangements with these countries through separate bilateral agreements. In 2024, Moldova announced plans to open its first embassy in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana.
The new visa requirements apply to Kyrgyz and Tajik citizens seeking to work, study, or travel in Moldova. Authorities explained that the move is part of a broader effort to align Moldovan laws with European Union standards, ahead of the country’s anticipated EU accession. EU regulations mandate visas for all CIS nationals, and Moldova is gradually adjusting its migration and visa policies in line with these rules.
The decision follows Moldova’s October 2024 referendum, in which voters backed the country’s path toward EU membership. Since then, Chişinău has withdrawn from multiple CIS treaties, exited the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, ceased contributions to the Mir television network, and closed its local bureau.
Relations with Kyrgyzstan have also been strained by outstanding issues, including Kyrgyz calls for repayment of a Soviet-era debt and Moldova’s ban on Kyrgyz airlines over their inclusion on the EU aviation safety blacklist. Kyrgyz civil activist Almaz Tazhybay told Vesti.kg that Kyrgyz carriers will only regain access to Moldovan airspace once they meet EU safety requirements.
Moldovan officials emphasized that the policy is not targeting any specific country but forms part of a broader legal realignment as the nation seeks EU membership by 2030.
