Europe

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• British nationals travelling to Moldova should be aware that on 14th October, during a public concert in the centre of Chisinau, a grenade was detonated injuring approximately 40 people.  The reason for the attack is as yet unknown. Visitors should remain vigilant, especially amongst large gatherings of people.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• We advise caution if considering travelling to Transnistria, where there is no official British representation and British consular services may be limited in their ability to help. You should consult the British Embassy, Chisinau for the most up-to-date information.
  
  
• People planning to visit Moldova should be aware of reports of increased difficulty in entering Moldova through its land borders with Romania.
  
  
• Three British nationals required consular assistance in Moldova in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (0 cases); hospitalisations (0 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (2 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (1 case). The Moldovan authorities are strictly enforcing penalties (including deportation) against those who overstay. See the Entry Requirements section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• You should be vigilant to petty crime, particularly in Chisinau.  Leave your passport, travel documents and other valuable items in a safe place.  But you should always carry a photocopy of your passport for identification purposes, as police checks are frequent.
  
  
• There are strong penalties for possession or use of drugs and avoid taking photographs of military or government installations.  See the Local Laws and Customs section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.