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Moldova introduces electronic visa system, complicating travel to Uman

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Moldova announced on Saturday it will require visas for Israelis entering the country, following the Israel’s introduction of a system that requires electronic travel authorization from its citizens. The Moldovan ambassador to Israel said the move effectively cancels the visa-free agreement between the two countries, which has been in place since 2014 and could affect Jews and Israelis traveling to Uman.

The tomb is a major pilgrimage site, with tens of thousands of Jews visiting it during Rosh Hashanah; some of them enter Ukraine via Moldova due to the halt of flights to the country, which is at war with Russia.

Israel announced last month that it is transitioning to an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) system for visitors from visa-exempt countries starting in August. This means tourists from visa-exempt countries will need Israeli approval through a computerized system for stays of up to 90 days in the country, whereas they could visit the country without it in the past.

“The ETA-IL system will impact Moldovan travelers to Israel, many of which are employed by Israeli companies, and in fact will unilaterally draw to cessation of the visa free regime with the Republic of Moldova by the State of Israel,” Moldova’s ambassador to Israel, Alex Roitman, wrote on his X account.

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ביקורת הדרכונים בכניסה לישראלביקורת הדרכונים בכניסה לישראל

Border control at Ben Gurion Airport

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Roitman noted the move would also affect thousands of Israelis flying to Uman in Ukraine through Moldova. “Moldova remains committed to the promotion of bilateral ties with the State of Israel in the spirit of mutual respect and reciprocity and is ready to engage in discussions and negotiations regarding this particular matter for the benefit of two countries and their citizens,” he said.

The ambassador noted: “We enjoy reciprocal visa free regime during 10 years already, it is worth mentioning that Moldova was the one which abolished unilaterally visa regime with Israel in 2011 followed by a visa free Agreement between both countries in 2014. In despite of the visa free regime, in the mentioned period, we experienced multiple cases of denying the entry of Moldovan citizens to the State of Israel.”

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