How Can a Foreign Citizen Set Up an LLC (SRL) in the Republic of Moldova?
The Republic of Moldova may represent an option for foreign citizens who wish to start an economic activity or establish a company in the country.
One of the most common legal forms of organization is the Limited Liability Company (SRL).
An important question is whether a foreign citizen must be physically present in the Republic of Moldova in order to establish the company.
In certain situations, the procedure can be carried out through a representative authorized by a power of attorney. However, the documents and powers of attorney must be properly prepared, and the exact requirements depend on the structure of the company and the specific circumstances of the foreign person.
Can a foreign citizen be a founder of an LLC in the Republic of Moldova?
Yes. The legal framework governing limited liability companies allows a company to be established by one or more individuals and/or legal entities, in accordance with the law.
The Public Services Agency (ASP) provides specific procedures and document requirements for situations in which founders or administrators are foreign citizens.
In the case of a foreign individual, an accepted travel document may be used to identify the person during the registration procedure.
Is an IDNP required?
The need for an IDNP (State Identification Number) must be assessed depending on the role of the foreign person within the company and the specific structure of the company.
For example, the Public Services Agency currently indicates that, in certain situations involving the establishment of a company with a foreign administrator, the IDNP code of the foreign administrator, issued by the General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM), is required.
In addition, the documentation concerning the beneficial owner may contain identification details that must be prepared correctly.
Therefore, if the foreign person is to have several roles within the company – for example, founder, administrator and/or beneficial owner – it is advisable to determine the structure before starting the procedure.
First step: determine the company structure
Before preparing the documents, the essential elements of the future company should be established:
- the company name;
- the founder or founders;
- the administrator;
- the beneficial owner;
- the registered office;
- the business activities;
- the amount of the share capital;
- the manner of representation, if the founder does not personally participate in the procedure.
These elements, in turn, determine which documents need to be prepared.
Can a foreign citizen establish an LLC through a power of attorney?
If the founder is not located in the Republic of Moldova, the procedure may be carried out through an authorized representative, provided that the applicable legal requirements are met.
The Public Services Agency indicates, for representation through an authorized person, the need for a special notarized power of attorney.
This mechanism may be useful for foreign citizens who wish to start a business in the Republic of Moldova without personally completing every administrative step.
What should the power of attorney contain?
The power of attorney should be drafted in such a way as to grant the representative exactly the powers required for the intended procedure.
Depending on the circumstances, the power of attorney may include powers relating to:
- representation before the competent authorities;
- submission and collection of documents;
- signing the necessary documents within the limits permitted by law;
- registration of the company;
- obtaining documents issued following the registration;
- carrying out other administrative formalities expressly provided for in the power of attorney.
The content of the power of attorney must be adapted to the specific situation. A general power of attorney should not automatically be treated as equivalent to a special power of attorney for the incorporation of a company.
What if the power of attorney is issued abroad?
When the power of attorney is executed outside the Republic of Moldova, it is necessary to verify how it can be used in Moldova.
Depending on the issuing country and the applicable legal framework, the following may be required:
- apostille of the document;
- superlegalization of the document;
- another form of recognition;
- authorized translation into Romanian;
- notarial legalization of the translation, where applicable.
Important: not all foreign documents are automatically subject to apostille. The applicable requirements depend on the issuing country and the legal instruments applicable between that country and the Republic of Moldova.
The role of authorized translation
Foreign documents used in an official procedure in the Republic of Moldova must be submitted in the form and language accepted by the competent authority.
For documents issued in a foreign language, an authorized translation into Romanian may be required.
Depending on the document and the procedure, the translation may also require notarial legalization.
This is one of the stages where preparing the file before sending the documents to the Republic of Moldova can save time and avoid unnecessary additional steps.
What documents are required to establish an LLC?
The exact list depends on the company structure and on the circumstances of the founders and administrators.
Among the standard documents indicated by the Public Services Agency for the registration of legal entities are:
- the incorporation decision;
- the constitutive documents;
- the company's articles of association;
- information concerning the beneficial owner(s);
- a declaration on one's own responsibility regarding the absence of unexpunged criminal records for the offences specified by law.
Depending on the circumstances, additional documents may also be requested.
What happens if the founder is a foreign citizen?
When a foreign individual participates in the incorporation of a company, particular attention should be paid to identification documents and to the personal data that must be included in the company's documents.
The Public Services Agency indicates, for certain situations involving foreign citizens, which travel documents are accepted. For a foreign administrator, the IDNP issued by the General Inspectorate for Migration may be required.
Furthermore, where the founder is represented by an authorized person, a special notarized power of attorney is required.
A possible route for a foreign entrepreneur
1. Determine the company structure
Founder, administrator, beneficial owner, registered office and business activities.
2. Check whether an IDNP is required
This depends on the foreign person's role and on the specific procedure.
3. Prepare the power of attorney
If the founder is not in the Republic of Moldova and the procedure is to be carried out through a representative.
4. Legalize the documents abroad
Apostille, superlegalization or another form of recognition, where applicable.
5. Translate the documents
Authorized translation and, where applicable, notarial legalization.
6. Obtain or confirm the IDNP
Where it is required for the specific procedure.
7. Prepare the company documents
Incorporation decision, articles of association, beneficial ownership information and other required documents.
8. Submit the documents to the Public Services Agency (ASP)
Personally or through a representative, in accordance with the applicable requirements.
9. Register the LLC
Following verification of the documents and completion of the registration procedure.
How long does it take to establish an LLC?
The total duration does not depend solely on the company registration stage.
For a founder located abroad, the timeframe may be affected by:
- preparation of the power of attorney;
- apostille or superlegalization of documents, where applicable;
- transportation of documents to the Republic of Moldova;
- translation and legalization of translations;
- obtaining or confirming the IDNP, where required;
- preparation of the company's documents;
- any additional requests from the competent authorities.
For this reason, it is useful to plan the procedure as a single coordinated process, rather than as a series of completely independent steps.
REMIDALIS – assistance with documents for foreign entrepreneurs
When a foreign citizen wishes to start a business in the Republic of Moldova, the documents may originate from several countries and may involve several authorities.
At REMIDALIS, we provide authorized language services for official documents and can assist with the linguistic and documentary component of the procedure.
- authorized translations of passports and official documents;
- translation of powers of attorney;
- legal and administrative translations;
- notarial legalization of translations, where applicable;
- linguistic assistance with documents intended for use in the Republic of Moldova;
- assistance with preparing documents for procedures carried out through a representative.
For a client located abroad, the objective is simple: to have the documents arrive in the Republic of Moldova properly prepared for the next stage of the procedure.
IDNP → LLC: two stages that may form part of the same project
For a foreign entrepreneur, obtaining an IDNP and establishing an LLC do not necessarily have to be treated as two completely separate projects.
Depending on the company structure, the IDNP may represent one of the preparatory stages for establishing the company.
For this reason, it is advisable to plan the entire process from the beginning:
documents from abroad → power of attorney → recognition of documents → translation → IDNP, if required → corporate documents → LLC registration.
A coordinated approach may reduce situations in which a document has to be reissued or sent again from abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreign citizen open an LLC in Moldova without living here?
The fact that the founder is a foreign citizen or lives outside the Republic of Moldova does not, in itself, exclude the possibility of establishing a company. The specific procedure and the need for representation must be determined according to the individual circumstances.
Can someone else submit the documents on behalf of the founder?
Yes. Where representation is permitted, the founder may be represented by an authorized person on the basis of a special notarized power of attorney.
Does the power of attorney have to be apostilled?
This depends on the country in which the power of attorney was issued and on the applicable legal framework. Not all foreign documents are automatically subject to apostille.
Is a passport translation sufficient?
The requirements vary depending on the procedure and the document. For the incorporation of a company, the entire file and the foreign person's role within the company should be assessed.
Can I start the procedure from abroad?
Depending on the circumstances, certain stages can be prepared and carried out through a representative in the Republic of Moldova. This must be determined according to the specific procedure and the requirements of the competent authorities.
Conclusion
Establishing a company in the Republic of Moldova as a foreign citizen involves more than simply submitting documents to the registrar.
When the founder is located abroad, it is important to ensure that the documents, power of attorney, translations and any apostille or superlegalization formalities are prepared in the correct order.
Depending on the company structure, obtaining or confirming an IDNP may represent one of the important stages of the project.
REMIDALIS can provide the linguistic and documentary support required for this process, from translating documents to preparing the documentation necessary for their use in the Republic of Moldova.
Would you like to establish a company in the Republic of Moldova while living abroad?
Contact the REMIDALIS team to discuss the documents required and the steps that need to be prepared according to your specific situation.
Important note: The information presented in this article is for informational purposes only and reflects the information available as of 29 September 2026. Administrative procedures, fees, document requirements and the requirements of the competent authorities may change over time, including as a result of legislative amendments. Before starting a procedure, we recommend checking the current requirements of the competent authority and, where appropriate, consulting a qualified specialist.
