The short answer: there's no separate "transit visa"
If you're searching for a special document called a "Moldovan transit visa for entering Ukraine," let's clear this up right away: no such separate category exists in 2026. Moldova does not issue any special visa "for onward travel to Ukraine." Transit is handled far more simply:
- if you're eligible to enter Moldova visa-free, you may travel through the country in transit without any additional permit;
- if your country is not on Moldova's visa-free list, you'll need an ordinary short-stay Moldovan visa (type C), which already covers transit — there's no separate "transit" designation.
In other words, the real question isn't "where do I get a transit visa," but "do I need any Moldovan visa at all." Here's how it breaks down by category.
Who can transit Moldova without a visa
Moldova applies visa-free entry to citizens of the European Union, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, and a number of other states — usually for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. For these travellers, transiting to the Ukrainian border requires nothing in advance: a valid passport is enough.
The current, complete list of visa-free countries and permitted stays is published by the Bureau for Migration and Asylum of Moldova and the Border Police of the Republic of Moldova (border.gov.md). Because these lists are revised from time to time, always check the official source before your trip rather than relying on forums.
Who needs a Moldovan visa
Citizens of countries not on the visa-free list need a short-stay type C visa to enter and transit Moldova. It must be arranged in advance through a Moldovan diplomatic mission or the electronic visa system (evisa.gov.md), provided your country has access to it.
Important: holding a Ukrainian visa or being eligible for visa-free entry to Ukraine does not exempt you from the Moldovan visa if your nationality requires one. The two systems are independent — each country assesses your passport separately.
Category details are current as of early 2026. For exact consular fees and the required document list, refer only to Moldova's official resources — these change, and we don't quote figures that could become outdated.
Step by step: from the Moldovan border to Ukraine
The busiest crossings on the Moldova–Ukraine route are Palanca, Maiaky-Udobne-Palanca, Kuchurhan-Pervomaisk, and the northern crossings toward Chernivtsi Oblast. The sequence of steps is broadly the same at each.
- Entering Moldova. You clear Moldovan entry control (from Romania or at Chișinău airport). Present your passport and, if required, your visa.
- Crossing Moldova. Transit is unrestricted. Stick to the official highways; avoid routes through Transnistria, where border controls follow their own rules. It's best to plan your route via roads under Chișinău's control.
- Leaving Moldova. At a joint or separate checkpoint, you clear Moldovan exit control.
- Entering Ukraine. You go through checks by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS). Here they verify your grounds for entry under the martial-law rules in force.
For official information on how Ukrainian crossings operate, their status, and expected traffic, check the website of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (dpsu.gov.ua) and the queue-monitoring apps.
Documents for entering Ukraine
No matter which side you enter from, the Ukrainian side will expect:
- a valid passport;
- a Ukrainian visa — if your nationality requires one (visa-free nationals don't need it);
- confirmation of the purpose and duration of your trip, on request from the officer;
- a valid medical insurance policy — a requirement for foreign nationals during martial law.
That last point is often underestimated. Under martial law, standard travel policies usually do not cover risks linked to hostilities, so foreign visitors should arrange separate insurance that accounts for war-related risks. You can arrange a suitable policy online in advance — it's worth taking a moment to calculate the cost of insurance with war-risk cover before you leave Moldova, so you have the document in hand at the border.
What war-risk insurance covers
On the market, policies like these typically start from a few euros per day and depend on the duration and scope of cover — you'll see the exact figure on the quote page. Pay attention to the territorial exclusions: reputable insurers clearly spell out where cover doesn't apply. As standard, four categories of zones are excluded:
- combat zones, as defined by the relevant state acts;
- temporarily occupied territories;
- a 50-kilometre buffer strip around both of the above;
- areas under a special-access regime.
Note that it's these specific zones that are excluded, not entire oblasts. In other words, travel to safe regions remains covered — you just need to check the current list of exclusions in the policy before you enter.
In summary
There is no separate Moldovan transit visa for travelling on to Ukraine in 2026. If your country is visa-free for Moldova, you simply transit with your passport. If it isn't, you arrange an ordinary short-stay Moldovan visa in advance. On the Ukrainian side, the key thing is to meet the SBGS requirements, including a valid insurance policy. Verify any uncertain details only against the official sources: border.gov.md, evisa.gov.md, and dpsu.gov.ua.