Almost 1.5 million Moldovans travel without visa in EU in recent four years

Chisinau, 27 April /MOLDPRES/ – About 1.5 million Moldovans have crossed the Moldovan border using biometric passports designed for European countries until today, within four years passed since liberalisation of visa regime with EU countries.

According to the border police’s information and media communication service, around 79.5 per cent of Moldovans which have benefited from that facility have returned to Moldova.

According to the cited source, most Moldovans chose to cross the border through Customs checking point Leuseni – Albita, border guards registering 562,076 persons, followed by Chisinau International Airport with 273,300 biometric passport holders. More 256,307 Moldovans left for EU throughout border crossing point Cahul – Oancea, and 217,896 Moldovans preferred Sculeni border check point.

The authorities announce for number of Moldovans travelling to EU countries by biometric passports have been increasing annually. The youngsters, aged 26 – 35, were in top of persons choosing to go to the European Union, their number at crossings reaching up to 1,181,346.

From start of 2018 until 23 April, over 449,479 persons crossed border checkpoint by biometric passport.

According to the provided data of behalf of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of EU Member States, since the liberalisation of visa regime with the EU (28 April 2014 – 31 December 2017), it was refused entry into the EU Member States EU to 14,019 Moldovan citizens. The main reason is failure to meet entry conditions, lack of financial means and exceeding of legal residence term in EU Member States.

(Reporter A. Zara, editor L. Alcaza)