Trade with Moldova: How to Plan Deliveries Successfully

Transports to Moldova: what companies should consider regarding customs clearance, documents and delivery routes

Moldova is one of the European transport destinations where thorough preparation is particularly important. For an international freight forwarder, the route from Germany to Chișinău can generally be organised well. Nevertheless, such deliveries differ significantly from a transport to Poland, Hungary or Romania.

The reason: the Republic of Moldova is not a member of the European Union. Every regular delivery of goods from Germany must therefore be organised in compliance with export and import regulations. This is not just about the customs declaration. The choice of border crossing, coordination with the consignee and the question of where the goods are finally cleared also affect the process.

Since November 2025, there has also been an important simplification: Moldova participates in the common European transit procedure. For many international transports, this simplifies customs handling.

Transports from Germany to Moldova: what options are there?

Most commercial transports of goods between Germany and Moldova go by road. Depending on the shipment size and the delivery date, different modes of transport are possible.

Mode of transport	Suitable for	Special features
FTL – full truckload	Larger shipments, machines, full truckloads	Direct carriage without regular transhipment
LTL – part load	Individual pallets, smaller quantities of goods	Consolidation with other shipments
Express transport	Urgent spare parts and time-critical goods	Direct carriage with a suitable vehicle
Temperature-controlled transport	Goods requiring refrigeration or sensitive to temperature	Monitoring of the specified temperature
Special transport	Large or heavy machines and equipment	Additional route and permit checks

For companies with regular deliveries to Moldova, both full truckloads and part loads are of interest.

A full truckload is a good option if there are enough goods for a dedicated vehicle or if direct delivery is required. For smaller shipments, a part load can be more economical. However, the decision does not depend on weight alone. The value of the goods, the packaging, the delivery date and the customs procedure also play a role.

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Which route leads from Germany to Moldova?

The usual road connection from Germany to Moldova runs through several EU member states to Romania.

Depending on the place of loading and the traffic situation, routes such as the following are possible:

Germany – Czech Republic – Slovakia – Hungary – Romania – Moldova

Germany – Poland – Slovakia – Hungary – Romania – Moldova

For deliveries to Chișinău and central Moldova, the Albița–Leușeni border crossing is an important connection. Other crossings between Romania and Moldova include Sculeni–Sculeni and Oancea–Cahul.

Which border crossing is actually used depends on the destination, the type of goods, the intended customs procedure and the current clearance conditions. The shortest road connection is therefore not necessarily the fastest transport solution.

Why a route via Ukraine does not always make sense

Geographically, transport connections via Ukraine are also possible. For many deliveries from Germany, however, the route via Romania is the more obvious choice.

A route through Ukraine must be checked separately because of the security situation, possible restrictions and insurance issues.

The Transnistria region should also be taken into account in route planning. Transport to or through this area can involve particular practical and legal difficulties.

For regular deliveries to Chișinău, Bălți or Cahul, connections via the Romanian border network are therefore often used.

How long does a truck transport to Moldova take?

When calculating the transport time, companies must distinguish between pure driving time and the actual delivery time.

In addition to the road carriage, the total transit time includes loading, the mandatory rest periods, border clearance and, where applicable, customs clearance in the country of destination.

The following periods can serve as practical planning values for transports from Germany:

Mode of transport	Guide value
FTL – full truckload	approx. 3–4 days
LTL – part load	approx. 5–6 days
Express transport	Individually, depending on place of loading, vehicle and customs clearance

The values given take a normal border process into account but are not guaranteed delivery times. With part loads, the shipments may also first be collected or brought together at a transhipment point.

Delays also arise quickly if the customs documents are not yet complete when the vehicle arrives. For time-critical deliveries, it is therefore advisable to specify not only the desired delivery date but also the latest possible loading time.

Which documents are needed for transports to Moldova?

For commercial deliveries from Germany to Moldova, both transport and customs documents are generally required.

The most important documents include:

1. Commercial invoice

The commercial invoice is a central basis for customs clearance.

In particular, it should contain details of the seller, the buyer, the consignee, the value of the goods, the currency and an exact description of the goods.

The agreed terms of delivery, for example under Incoterms, should also be stated clearly.

2. Packing list

A packing list shows how the shipment is divided into individual packages. Details of the number, weight, type of packaging and contents are important. Especially for machines, spare parts or several items, a complete packing list makes customs inspection easier.

3. CMR consignment note

The CMR consignment note documents the international carriage by road. Among other things, it contains the sender, consignee, place of loading, place of unloading and details of the goods. However, the CMR replaces neither the commercial invoice nor the required customs declaration.

4. Export declaration and MRN

For regular commercial exports from Germany, an electronic export declaration is generally required unless a statutory exception applies. In Germany, the declaration is handled via ATLAS. The customs operation is given an MRN by which the declaration can be clearly identified.

5. Transit documents

Depending on the customs status of the goods and the chosen transport process, a transit procedure may be required. A distinction must be made as to whether, for example, a T1 or a T2 procedure is used. Not every shipment to Moldova automatically needs a T1 document.

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6. Proofs of origin and additional licences

For certain goods, proofs of origin, conformity documents, health certificates or other licences may be required. Which documents are actually needed should be clarified with the competent customs representative before loading.

Moldova and the NCTS procedure: what has changed?

Since 1 November 2025, Moldova has been a party to the Convention on a common transit procedure. The country is therefore integrated into the European system for handling common customs transit procedures. The electronic New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) allows suitable shipments to be carried through the participating customs territories under a common transit procedure.

For transport from Germany via Romania to Moldova, this can simplify handling considerably.

Instead of having to organise independent transit procedures at several points, a common procedure can be used for suitable shipments. Among other things, the customs declaration, the required guarantee and the competent customs office of destination must be specified correctly. One thing remains important: the common transit procedure does not replace final import clearance in Moldova. It governs carriage under customs supervision up to the intended customs office.

T1 or T2: which procedure is right for transports to Moldova?

Transport requests often ask for a T1 document across the board.
Whether this procedure is actually correct, however, depends on the customs status of the goods.
T1 is generally used for non-Union goods in the external transit procedure.
In common transit, T2 is used in particular for Union goods whose customs status is to be preserved during carriage.
For a regular export of Union goods from Germany to Moldova, it must therefore be checked which combination of export and, where applicable, transit procedure is intended.
The decision should not be made on the basis of the destination country alone.
Choosing the wrong procedure can mean that the shipment cannot be cleared at a customs office as planned.

Customs clearance in Moldova: who takes on which tasks?

In an international transport, several parties are responsible for different tasks.
The German exporter provides the required commercial documents and takes care of export handling within the scope of its obligations.
The Moldovan importer usually organises import customs clearance, often together with a local customs representative.
The freight forwarder carries out the agreed carriage and coordinates the transport-related processes.
Which party bears which costs results, among other things, from the contractually agreed terms of delivery.
A particularly important question is whether the goods are to be cleared directly at the border or at an inland customs office in Moldova.
For clearance inland, the necessary transit procedure must be organised in good time.
A vehicle should therefore not be sent for loading as long as basic questions about customs clearance are unresolved.

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Which duties are payable on import into Moldova?

Under the Association Agreement, there is a deep and comprehensive free trade area, the DCFTA, between the European Union and Moldova. As a result, customs preferences can apply to many goods with the corresponding preferential origin. However, this does not mean that every product from Germany can automatically be imported into Moldova duty-free.

What matters in particular are the commodity code, the preferential origin and the applicable import regulations. A product sold in Germany may, for example, originally come from China. Shipping it from Germany alone does not make it a product with EU preferential origin. To claim a customs preference, a suitable proof of origin may be required, for example an EUR.1 or an admissible statement on origin.

Since 2026, the revised pan-Euro-Mediterranean rules of origin have been particularly relevant. In addition to possible duties, Moldovan import VAT and, where applicable, other charges must also be taken into account.

The specific amounts depend on the goods and the regulations applicable in each case.

Which goods are often transported to Moldova?

Freight transport between Germany and Moldova covers various sectors. These include, for example, machines and industrial equipment, spare parts, technical equipment, packaging materials and goods for trade and production.

Depending on the product, additional requirements may arise.

Machines and industrial equipment: for larger dimensions or heavy weights, the vehicle type, load securing and, where applicable, special permits must be checked.
Food: depending on the product, veterinary or phytosanitary documents and special inspections may be required.
Chemicals and dangerous goods: the relevant ADR regulations and product-specific provisions must be observed.
Medical devices and technical products: depending on the type of goods, proofs of conformity, approvals or other documents may be required.

Especially for such shipments, the document check should not only begin when the vehicle is already on its way to the border.

Practical example: a machine delivery to Chișinău

A German company sells a production machine to a business customer in Chișinău. The machine is suitable for transport on a standard truck. The consignee needs it by an agreed date because assembly is to begin afterwards. At first glance, this is a straightforward full truckload. For reliable execution, however, several questions need to be clarified.

First, the freight forwarder needs the exact dimensions and weight of the machine. Then the commercial invoice, the packing list and the information on export handling are agreed. It must also be clear which customs representative will handle the import in Moldova and at which customs office clearance is to take place. Only then can the right route via Romania, with the planned border crossing and the planned customs procedure, be sensibly determined.

Once everything has been prepared, the vehicle can drive towards Moldova after loading without avoidable interruptions.

If, on the other hand, the information on the customs office of destination is missing, for example, onward travel may be delayed despite arriving at the border on time.

Where do the most common problems occur in transports to Moldova?

Experience in international third-country traffic shows that difficulties can often be traced back to incomplete information. A classic example is different weight details in the commercial invoice, the packing list and the consignment note. Imprecise descriptions of the goods can also trigger queries. The term “machine parts”, for example, is not always sufficient for correct customs classification.

What should a transport request for Moldova contain?

To prepare a reliable calculation, a freight forwarder needs more than just “Germany – Moldova”.

The following information is particularly helpful:

Information	Why it matters
Loading address with postcode	Determining the approach and the transport route
Unloading address in Moldova	Planning the route and the border crossing
Description of the goods	Checking special requirements
Weight and dimensions	Choosing the right vehicle
Number and type of packages	Loading space planning and load securing
Value of the goods	Basis for customs and insurance questions
Commodity code	Preparing customs clearance
Desired loading date	Scheduling and transit time planning
Incoterms	Clarifying contractual responsibilities
Customs representative and customs office	Coordinating import handling

If this information is complete, a realistic transport solution can often be presented with the very first quote.

EU–Moldova transport agreement: simplifications until March 2027

In addition to customs regulations, transport law also plays an important role. The road transport agreement between the EU and Moldova has been extended until 31 March 2027. It facilitates cross-border road freight transport between the contracting parties by lifting the usual permit requirements for certain bilateral transports and transit journeys.

For freight forwarders and shippers, this creates better conditions for organising the corresponding transport links. However, the agreement does not mean that all types of freight transport may be carried out without restriction. Cabotage and third-country traffic not covered by the agreement in particular must be considered separately.

Customs clearance also remains necessary.

The transport agreement therefore governs a different area from the common transit procedure: it concerns market access for road freight transport, while NCTS facilitates the carriage of goods under customs law.

FAQ: frequently asked questions about transports to Moldova