Moldova to issue passports, travel documents aligned with European security standards

Moldova’s authorities starting from 2026 will issue modern passports and travel documents aligned with European security standards. A draft amendment to the Law on Identity Documents of the national passport system has been passed by parliament in the first reading.

The new travel documents will meet the technical requirements provided for by the International Civil Aviation Organization and European Union’s regulations, featuring advanced biometric elements and unified identification codes. By integrating modern identification technologies, they will provide an enhanced level of security over the personal data of beneficiaries and prevent forgery attempts.

According to the legislative initiative, a part of the information in the travel documents will be in three languages: Romanian, English and French, allowing for their international recognition. At the same time, along with personal data, the identity documents will include a handwritten signature applied from the age of 14. Biometric data, such as facial image and fingerprints of the holder, will also be included. Exceptions will be made for children under the age of 12 and persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible.

The draft specifies the validity periods of passports, depending on the holder's age and status. Travel documents for stateless people, refugees or beneficiaries of humanitarian protection will have validity from 3 to 10 years. In cases where fingerprinting is temporarily physically impossible, the passport and travel document will have a validity period of one year.

The Public Services Agency will issue most identity documents, except for the diplomatic passport and service passport, which will be issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Identity documents for stateless persons, refugees and beneficiaries of humanitarian protection will be issued by the General Inspectorate for Migration of Interior Ministry.

The passport will be issued to citizens of Moldova and travel documents will be issued to those recognized as stateless persons or refugees, as well as persons to whom humanitarian protection was provided, according to migration and asylum regulations.

The draft law, developed by the Public Services Agency in collaboration with the Interior Ministry, is set to be examined by the parliament in the second reading.