Getting a SIM card and a bank account in Moldova as a foreigner

Good to know

• Who this is for: foreigners who are settling in Moldova.
• Operators and banks set their own conditions. Ask before you go.
• Banks can ask foreigners for a certificate of status.
• A different situation? Ask us about your case.

Steps, in order

1. Practical tip · not from an official source

   Buy a SIM card with your passport at hand

   Take your passport or residence document when you buy a SIM card. Compare a few operators and ask each how a foreigner activates a card.

2. Practical tip · not from an official source

   Ask a bank what it needs before you go

   Banks set their own conditions for foreigners. Phone or visit two or three banks and ask which documents each one needs.

3. You do this

   Get a certificate of your status if the bank asks for it

   Banks are often among the bodies that ask for it. It confirms your state ID number (IDNP), your ID document, your registered address and your family.

   Full guide: Certificate of your status as a foreigner in Moldova →checked 19 October 2026

4. A tax code, in some cases

   The State Tax Service gives a tax code to some taxpayers, such as foreigners who own taxable property in Moldova.

   Full guide: Tax code (fiscal code) in Moldova →checked 19 October 2026
5. Not covered here

   Online banking, cards and fees

   These depend on the bank and are not covered on this page.

   Ask about your case →

People also ask

• Can a foreigner open a bank account in Moldova?
• Which documents does a bank in Moldova need from a foreigner?
• What is a certificate of status as a foreigner?
• Do I need a residence permit to open a bank account in Moldova?

Guides on this page

• Certificate of your status as a foreigner in Moldova
• Tax code (fiscal code) in Moldova