Romania & Moldova
The same language, the same history, the same tricolour. Everything that binds Romania to the Republic of Moldova — and everything you need to know to cross from one country to the other.
Romania and the Republic of Moldova are two states, but one language, a shared history and, to a large extent, the same culture. The border between them is the river Prut, and on either side of it live people who understand one another without a translator. This section gathers in one place the real ties between the two countries and the practical information you need — whether you are from Romania and want to visit Moldova, or from Moldova and are interested in studying or travelling in Romania.
The same language
Romanian is spoken on both banks of the Prut. Since 2023, the legislation of the Republic of Moldova officially uses the name „limba română" (the Romanian language), in line with the 1991 Declaration of Independence.
The same tricolour
Both countries have a blue-yellow-red flag. Moldova adds, on the yellow band, the coat of arms with the aurochs head — the symbol of the old Principality of Moldavia.
A shared history
The same medieval Principality of Moldavia, divided in 1812, when the Russian Empire annexed the territory between the Prut and the Dniester, called Bessarabia. On 27 March 1918, Sfatul Țării (the Country’s Council) voted for union with Romania.
Faith and traditions
Orthodoxy, Mărțișor on 1 March, the doină, the horă, the same holidays and customs. Across the border, a shared cultural ground handed down over centuries.
The shared road and the partings
In the Middle Ages, the territory of today’s Republic of Moldova was part of the Principality of Moldavia, ruled among others by Ștefan cel Mare. In 1812, by the Peace of Bucharest, the Russian Empire annexed the eastern part of the principality, between the Prut and the Dniester, naming it Bessarabia. More than a century of Russian administration followed.
On 27 March 1918, Sfatul Țării in Chișinău voted for the union of Bessarabia with Romania. The union held until 1940 when, following the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, the Soviet Union annexed the territory and created the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. During the Soviet period, the Romanian language was made to use the Cyrillic alphabet and given a separate name.
On 31 August 1989 the Latin alphabet was restored — a moment marked today as the Day of the Romanian Language, „Limba noastră" (Our Language). Two years later, on 27 August 1991, the Republic of Moldova declared its independence. Since then the two states have kept close ties, and since 2014 Moldova has had an Association Agreement with the European Union, followed in 2022 by candidate-country status.
Podul de Flori (the Bridge of Flowers)
On 6 May 1990, the border on the Prut opened for a day: thousands of people from Romania and from Bessarabia crossed the river, many without documents, embracing and throwing flowers into the water. The event, repeated in June 1991, is remembered as „Podul de Flori" — the best-known symbol of the coming together of the two banks after decades of closed border.
27 August 1991
Romania, the first state to recognise independence
A few hours after the Parliament in Chișinău proclaimed the independence of the Republic of Moldova, Romania recognised it — the first state in the world to do so. Diplomatic relations were established two days later, and the Romanian Embassy, opened in Chișinău, was the first diplomatic mission of any state in the new capital, operating from January 1992.
- 1991On 27 August, a few hours after independence was proclaimed, Romania becomes the first state to recognise the Republic of Moldova. Diplomatic relations are established on 29 August.
- 1992The Romanian Embassy in Chișinău — the first diplomatic mission of any state in the new capital — begins work on 20 January.
- 2014The Iași–Ungheni gas pipeline is inaugurated. The same year, Moldova obtains visa-free travel with the European Union.
- 2020The pipeline reaches Chișinău, connecting Moldova’s gas network to Romania’s.
- 2022The Republic of Moldova becomes a candidate country for the European Union, with Romania’s firm support.
- 2026Moldova joins the EU’s „Roam Like at Home" area — telephone and internet at domestic rates between Moldova and European countries, including Romania.
Living ties today
The closeness is not only a matter of history and language. In recent years the two countries have tied their infrastructure together ever more closely. In energy, the Iași–Ungheni gas pipeline was inaugurated in 2014, and its extension to Chișinău was completed in 2020, connecting Moldova’s gas network to Romania’s. In parallel, electricity interconnection is advancing through the substation at Vulcănești and the Vulcănești–Chișinău high-voltage line, alongside the planned Suceava–Bălți line, intended to integrate the energy market across the Prut into the Romanian one.
To these are added trade — Romania is one of the largest trading partners of the Republic of Moldova — and the transport links across the Prut, from the border crossing points to the shared dam at Stânca–Costești. One peculiarity of the railways: Moldova uses the broad gauge inherited from the Soviet period, different from the European gauge used in Romania, which is why trains are slower at the border.
31 August: the Day of the Romanian Language
The strongest tie between the two countries is the language — and it has a day of its own, on 31 August, marked on both banks of the Prut. The date is not accidental.
On 31 August 1989, after the Great National Assembly in Chișinău — attended by hundreds of thousands of people — a vote restored the Latin alphabet and recognised Romanian as the state language. In the Republic of Moldova the day has been a national holiday since 1990, under the name „Limba noastră"; since 2023 it is officially called „Limba Română" (the Romanian Language).
Romania in turn adopted the Day of the Romanian Language on 31 August, by law, in 2013. So the same language is celebrated, on the same day, in two neighbouring states.
The border
Bridges over the Prut
The border between Romania and the Republic of Moldova follows the river Prut. Along it, nine control points are open to international traffic — seven road and three rail. Here are the road crossings, from north to south.
in the north
beside the shared dam on the Prut
close to Iași
one of the busiest
towards the south
beside the Danube
on the middle Prut
On the railways, the main crossings are Ungheni–Iași, Giurgiulești–Galați and Fălciu–Stoiana. From March 2026, the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) has been introduced gradually at the crossing points: on a first crossing, the travel document is scanned and biometric data collected. Check the state of the crossings and the current rules before you travel, on the border police pages.
Solidarity
Concrete support for Moldova
The closeness shows in deeds as well. Romania is the Republic of Moldova’s main partner on its European path and one of its largest supporters, through programmes in education, energy and infrastructure.
Scholarships
In recent years Romania has granted around 10,000 scholarships a year — for secondary school, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and medical residency studies.
Kindergartens
About 1,100 kindergartens in Moldova have been repaired or renovated with Romanian support.
School transport
Dozens of school minibuses donated, under the 2023 support agreement worth 100 million euros.
Infrastructure
Water and sewerage projects in dozens of localities, energy interconnections and equipment for schools.
The figures are indicative and vary from year to year; the source is the Romanian Embassy in Chișinău and official institutions in the two countries.
Practical guides
Which side of the Prut are you on?
From Moldova: studying and working in Romania
Romania offers thousands of study places every year — at secondary school, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level — and scholarships for „românii de pretutindeni" (Romanians everywhere), a category that includes citizens of the Republic of Moldova. Several Romanian universities also have branches open in Moldova.
The number of places, the scholarships, the deadlines and the rules change from year to year, so always check the official sources: Romania’s Ministry of Education (edu.ro), the roburse.ro platform and the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova.
From Romania: visiting Moldova is easy
- Documents: you enter with an identity card or a passport, without a visa.
- Currency: the Moldovan leu (MDL), different from the Romanian one, although both are called „leu". Bring some cash as well.
- Phone: from 2026, Moldova is part of the EU’s „Roam Like at Home" area — calls, messages and internet at domestic rates between Moldova and EU countries, including Romania.
- Getting there: by car via Iași (the Sculeni or Albița–Leușeni crossings), by plane from Bucharest, by coach or by train.
Citizenship & paperwork
Many citizens of the Republic of Moldova also hold Romanian, and therefore European, citizenship. Romanian law provides for the possibility of regaining citizenship for people who lost it for reasons beyond their control, as well as for their descendants.
We note only this much, as an informative starting point. The procedures, documents and deadlines change, and the competent authority is the National Citizenship Authority. This portal does not offer legal advice — for concrete steps, consult the official sources below.
Resources
Official sources
For information that changes — scholarships, documents, fees, border-crossing conditions — always check directly at the source.
Note: information about studies, citizenship, currency and border crossing is indicative and may change. Before making a decision, confirm the details on the pages of the official institutions in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about Romania and Moldova
Is the same language spoken in Romania and the Republic of Moldova?
Yes, Romanian is spoken in both countries. Since 2023, the legislation of the Republic of Moldova officially uses the name „limba română" (the Romanian language), confirming what the 1991 Declaration of Independence had established.
Do Romania and Moldova have the same flag?
Both have a vertical blue-yellow-red tricolour. Moldova adds, on the yellow band, the state coat of arms with the aurochs head, a symbol of the old Principality of Moldavia.
Can I enter Moldova with an identity card?
Yes. Romanian citizens can enter the Republic of Moldova with an identity card or a passport, without a visa. Conditions can change, so check official sources before you travel.
How much does phone roaming cost in Moldova?
From 2026, the Republic of Moldova is part of the European Union’s „Roam Like at Home" area. That means calls, messages and internet at domestic rates between Moldova and EU countries, including Romania, at no extra cost.
How can I study in Romania if I am from the Republic of Moldova?
Romania offers study places and scholarships every year for „românii de pretutindeni" (Romanians everywhere), including Moldovan citizens, at secondary school and university level. For the number of places, deadlines and rules, consult edu.ro and roburse.ro.
What currency is used in the Republic of Moldova?
The Moldovan leu (MDL), different from the Romanian leu (RON). Cards are accepted in the cities, but it is worth carrying cash for markets and villages.
Which country was first to recognise the independence of the Republic of Moldova?
Romania. On 27 August 1991, a few hours after the Parliament in Chișinău proclaimed independence, Romania recognised the Republic of Moldova — the first state in the world to do so.
How many border crossing points are there between Romania and Moldova?
Nine points open to international traffic along the river Prut — seven road (among them Albița–Leușeni, Sculeni and Galați–Giurgiulești) and three rail.
When is the Day of the Romanian Language?
On 31 August, marked on both banks of the Prut. The date commemorates the return to the Latin alphabet in 1989; in Moldova it has been a national holiday since 1990, and Romania adopted it by law in 2013.
Where to stay in Moldova
If you are coming from Romania, compare places to stay on the map before you set off.
Map provided by Stay22. Bookings are completed on the partner platforms.
Book the route
Where to stay
Real hotels and guesthouses, with prices compared on the map across Booking, Airbnb and other platforms.
SeeGetting there from Romania
Plane, coach, train or car — real journey times, border crossings and the documents you need.
SeeTours & day trips
Organised trips with transport included — useful above all if you are going tasting.
SeeDiscover the Republic of Moldova
A country a night’s drive from Bucharest — the same language, excellent wine and little-known places.
