Publication date: 15.08.2025
How Much Does It Cost to Obtain Moldovan Citizenship in 2025: Official Fees, Hidden Expenses, and Lawyer Services
Moldovan citizenship opens real opportunities: visa-free travel to Schengen, convenient conditions for study and business, easier interaction with European institutions. At the same time, every applicant is most interested in the main thing — what payments make up the total cost and how much a Moldovan passport actually costs in 2025. Below is a structured guide from “Legal Marketplace Consultant” with a breakdown of official fees, additional costs, lawyer fees, and example budgets for different grounds.
What Makes Up the Cost of Citizenship?
Legal basis: origin, marriage, naturalization, child, special merits / investment.
Urgency: standard or expedited procedure (extra fee).
Legalization and translations: apostille/consular legalization, notarized translations into Romanian.
Archive requests: proof of origin, registry extracts, duplicate records.
Lawyer support: full package preparation, communication with authorities, minimizing refusals.
Official Fees in 2025 (Approx.)
State fee for application: €100–200.
Expedited review: extra €100–150 (if available).
Passport + ID card: €50–80 (depending on urgency/age).
Apostille / legalization: €20–50 per document (depends on country and volume).
Police clearance and other certificates: €10–30 (in Ukraine or Moldova).
Total without lawyers: usually €150–300 with standard review or €250–400 with expedited (not counting archives and large-volume translations). Note: if many apostilles/translations are needed, the “bill” will be higher.
Additional Costs Often Forgotten
Courier services, postage, registered mail.
Trips to Moldova/consulate, accommodation, document delivery.
Biometric photos, copies, laminating, scanning.
Notarized powers of attorney (if needed).
For naturalization: if required — language exam/certificate (price depends on the center).
How Much Do Lawyer Services Cost in 2025?
Document prep + consultations: about €400–800.
Full service package: €800–1500 (collecting certificates, translations, submission, support until passport).
Hourly billing: €50–120/hour (for complex archives or non-standard cases).
The cost of legal support pays off by avoiding refusals and re-submissions, faster processing, accurate translations, and proper communication with authorities.
Example Budgets for Different Grounds (Cases)
1) Citizenship by origin (applicant abroad):
-State fee for application: €100–200
-Apostille/translations (5–8 documents): €120–350
- Passport + ID after approval: €50–80
-Courier/notary/miscellaneous: €30–70
-Lawyer (if needed): €400–1200
Total without lawyer: ≈ €300–600; with lawyer: ≈ €700–1800
2) Marriage with a Moldovan citizen:
-State fee for application: €100–200
-Apostille/translations (certificates + documents): €100–250
-Expedited review (optional): €100–150
-Passport + ID: €50–80
-Lawyer: €600–1400
Total without lawyer: ≈ €250–480 (standard); with lawyer: ≈ €850–1880
3) Naturalization (after residence):
-State fee for application: €100–200
-Language certificate/exam (if required): €30–100+
-Certificates of income/registration/police clearance: €20–60
-Translations/apostille (4–6 documents): €80–250
-Passport + ID: €50–80
-Lawyer: €800–1500
Total without lawyer: ≈ €280–690; with lawyer: ≈ €1080–2190
4) Child (inclusion in application/origin):
-State fee (for minors): €50–100
-Translations/apostille (2–4 documents): €40–120
-Child’s passport: €25–50 (depending on urgency/queue)
-Lawyer: €300–800
Total without lawyer: ≈ €115–270; with lawyer: ≈ €415–1070
How to Save and Avoid Overpaying
Collect documents in advance; avoid expired certificates.- Check where apostille is needed and where consular legalization is required (different procedures and budgets).
- Use certified Romanian translators — cheaper than redoing.
- Choose standard procedure if there’s no urgent need.
- A lawyer helps avoid refusals and repeat submissions — saves both time and money.
Typical Mistakes That Increase Costs
Submitting “last minute” → reissuing certificates, new translations, double courier costs.
Name/date/address discrepancies → refusals, revisions, extra fees.
Missing apostille/legalization where mandatory → repeated expenses.
Wrong choice of legal basis (e.g., naturalization without required residency) → “dead end” and wasted budget.
Approximate “Step-by-Step” Estimate (Standard Case by Origin)
- Initial consultation: free / €50–100 (detailed audit).
- Archive requests/duplicate records: €0–150 (depending on country and volume).
- Apostille/legalization + translations (5–8 docs): €120–350.
- Application submission (state fee): €100–200 (expedited +€100–150).
- Passport + ID after approval: €50–80.
- Miscellaneous (courier/notary/photo): €30–70.
Total (standard): ≈ €300–600; with lawyer “full package”: ≈ €900–2000 (depending on complexity).
Why “Legal Marketplace Consultant”?
Accurate estimate for your case: transparent calculation of official and service fees.
Complete document package: archive searches, apostille/legalization, notarized translations without errors.
Submission support: correct forms, communication with authorities, deadline control.
Reduced refusal risk: preventive audit, fixing inconsistencies before submission.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Moldovan passport cost?
Issuing a passport and ID card usually costs €50–80 (depending on urgency and applicant’s age).
Can I apply for citizenship without lawyers?
Yes. But self-application often takes more time and doesn’t guarantee no refusals. A lawyer helps avoid re-submissions and hidden expenses.
Are translations included in the state fee?
No. Translations and apostille/legalization are paid separately — about €20–50 per document.
How much does expedited procedure cost?
Extra €100–150 on top of the standard fee, if the expedited option is available.
Are the costs different for a child?
Yes. For minors the state fee is usually lower (€50–100), and the child’s passport may cost €25–50. Translations and apostille follow standard rates.
When should I order the “full package”?
When there’s no time, archives/legalizations are needed, or the case is complex (origin from different jurisdictions, name changes, date discrepancies). This is usually cheaper than fixing mistakes afterwards.
The basic range of official costs for Moldovan citizenship in 2025 is usually €300–500 including fees and typical notary expenses. Adding legal support increases the budget, but also increases the chance of a quick and safe result without re-submissions and refusals. Want an exact figure for your case? We will calculate the full “turnkey” estimate.
Ready to know your budget? Contact “Legal Marketplace Consultant” — we’ll prepare the calculation, collect the documents, and support you until you get the passport. 👉 [Book a consultation]
