Turnkey registration of a foundation in Moldova — including bank account opening

Turnkey registration of a foundation (fund) in Moldova — with bank account opening

You receive a functioning organization: an extract from the State Register, IDNO, a seal, and an active current account. Not a folder of documents, but a structure that can receive and spend money from day one. The full cycle takes from 3 to 5 weeks; we open the account within 1–3 business days after obtaining the extract from the register. We work by power of attorney: you do not need to come to Moldova for registration.

Current as of September 2026. Legal basis: Law of the Republic of Moldova No. 86/2020 “On Non-Commercial Organizations”, Civil Code, Art. 52 and Art. 167 of the Tax Code, Government Decision No. 773 of 17.12.2025 (average monthly wage in the economy for 2026 — 17,400 lei), Law No. 308/2017 on combating money laundering.

Three places where people usually get stuck

Formally, everything is simple: registration of a non-commercial organization with the Public Services Agency (ASP) is free, and the decision is made within 15 days. In practice, people lose months at three points.

The first is confirmation of the subscribed capital. A foundation’s charter must contain provisions on subscribed capital (capital subscris) of at least two average monthly wages in the economy — in 2026 this is 34,800 lei. The document confirming the capital is included in the registration package. But the legal entity does not yet exist, which means there is no account into which the capital could be deposited. The procedure depends on the form of the contribution and on the requirements of the specific bank, and it must be agreed before filing the documents, not after the registrar’s comments.

The second is the bank. Non-profit organizations worldwide are classified as high-risk for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. Moldovan banks apply enhanced due diligence to them: origin of funds, beneficial owners, grant sources, founders’ connections. An organization that comes “off the street” with an incomplete package does not receive a refusal, but an endless request for additional documents — weeks are wasted. We write about how Moldova’s banking market works on the page Banks in Moldova for business

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Third — a foreign founder. The passport, power of attorney and corporate documents of a foreign company require legalization along the correct route: for some countries this is an apostille, for others — full consular legalization, for still others neither is required. A mistake in choosing the route costs a month and money wasted in vain.

We cover all three points with one contract.

Bank account: why it is fast with us

Speed here is not “connections in the bank,” but preparation. We know in advance what the bank will request from a non-profit organization and bring it right away.

How the process actually works. The bank opens an account for the legal entity and submits the information to the State Tax Service; account transactions become possible only after confirmation from the tax authority (Art. 167 of the Tax Code). This step is what creates the feeling that “the account was opened but does not work.” We guide the organization until the account is actually ready for transactions, not until the signature at the branch.

What we do to fit within 1–3 working days:

• We agree on the bank and company profile in advance, as early as the stage of drafting the articles of association. The wording of the statutory objectives directly affects how the bank assesses risk; articles of association drafted with compliance requirements in mind pass the review without being returned.
• We prepare the bank compliance package in parallel with registration, rather than after it: information about beneficial owners, origin of the subscribed capital, planned sources of funding, description of activities.
• We prepare a card with specimen signatures and a seal. We order the seal immediately after receiving the extract — one business day.
• We schedule the administrator for a specific time at a specific branch — no queues and no “come back tomorrow”.
• We accompany you at the bank meeting, including translation if the administrator does not speak Romanian.
• We see it through to confirmation by the tax office and check that the account is active and can be used to make payments.

What we open: a multi-currency account (MDL / EUR / USD), internet banking access, and, if necessary, a separate account for grant funding if the donor requires separate accounting of funds. For organizations with foreign funding, we prepare in advance an explanatory note for the bank: who the donor is, on what basis the funds are received, and how they will be spent. It is precisely the absence of this document that turns opening an account into a month and a half of correspondence.

What is included in the service

Work	Basic	Turnkey	International
Selection and verification of the name, reservation with ASP (our service — €80)	✔	✔	✔
Drafting of the charter tailored to your goals	✔	✔	✔
Minutes or decision on incorporation, list of founders	✔	✔	✔
Preparation of the share capital document	✔	✔	✔
Declaration of the beneficial owner	✔	✔	✔
Submission and support with ASP until receipt of the extract	✔	✔	✔
Legal address	—	option	✔
Manufacture of seal	—	✔	✔
Opening a current account with assistance	—	✔	✔
Bank compliance package	—	✔	✔
Apostille or consular legalization of the founder’s documents	—	option	✔
Certified translation of documents	—	option	✔
Work fully by power of attorney, without visiting	—	option	✔
Assistance with an interpreter at the bank and notary	—	—	✔
Accounting setup and accountant selection	option	option	✔
Consultation on public benefit status and the 2% mechanism	—	✔	✔

The cost is fixed in the contract before work begins. We do not take a percentage of the fund’s capital and do not tie the price to the amount of future financing.

Cost

Item	Price
Preliminary consultation — analysis of your situation: which form is suitable, who can be the founder and administrator, how to confirm the share capital, which bank is realistic for your profile, the document legalization route	150 €
Name selection and verification — options through our software service, checking availability and admissibility, reservation with ASP for 6 months	80 €
Turnkey foundation registration — our services: charter tailored to your goals, founding decision or protocol, list of founders, document on subscribed capital, declaration of beneficial owner, submission and follow-up with ASP until the extract is issued	630 €
ASP state fee for registration of a non-profit organization	0 lei
Subscribed capital — remains the property of the foundation, not a payment to anyone	from 34,800 lei
Seal, legal address, account opening with support, accounting	according to the selected package
Apostille, consular legalization, sworn translation of the founder’s documents	according to the tariff, depends on the country

The items are added together. Consultation and name selection are paid separately, on top of the registration cost: the full path “from scratch to the extract” is 860 euros for our services (150 + 80 + 630). If you have already chosen and checked the name and the structure is clear, 630 euros remain. The prices are for our work and do not include third-country state fees or notarial expenses abroad. The final estimate is agreed before work begins and does not change during the process. Reference points for related services are in the price list for legal services.

Timeline by stages

Stage	Timeframe	Who handles it
Name check and reservation	5 business days (ASP response)	We
Drafting the articles of association and document package	2–4 business days	We
Legalization of the foreign founder’s documents	3–15 business days, depending on the country	We
Submission to ASP	1 day	We
Registration decision	up to 15 days by law	ASP
Seal production	1 business day	We
Account opening and tax confirmation	1–3 business days	We and the bank

Total until the organization is operational3–5 weeks—

Reservation with the ASP itself is free of charge; the name is held for 6 months; our work on selecting and checking the name — 80 euros(we select options using our own software service, check availability and phonetic similarity, and filter out anything the ASP will not approve). Registration documents must be submitted within 3 months from the date of approval of the articles of association — we monitor this deadline. For the procedure itself, see the page reservation of a company name in Moldova.

Legal parameters of the foundation — briefly

Registering authority	Public Services Agency (ASP)
Registration period	15 days from submission of the complete package
State fee	0 lei — registration of a non-profit organization is free
Minimum subscribed capital	34,800 lei (2 × 17,400 lei for 2026, approx. 1,800 euros)
Is capital frozen	No — the law allows its use for statutory purposes
Number of founders	One or more, natural and legal persons
Citizenship of founders	No restrictions

MembershipNone — a foundation has no membersSupreme bodyCouncilEconomic activityPermitted if it serves the statutory purposes; profit is not distributedIncome taxExemption under Art. 52 of the Tax Code from the date of registrationThe word “Moldova” in the nameNo permit required, no fee chargedPublic benefit statusNot earlier than after one year of activity, granted for 5 years

The subscribed capital amount is tied to the average monthly salary in the economy and is reviewed annually: for 2026 it was approved by Government Decision No. 773 of 17.12.2025 in the amount of 17,400 lei.

Foundation, public association or private institution

Law No. 86/2020 merged the three forms of non-profit organizations under one procedure, repealing the former Law No. 581/1999 “On Foundations” and Law No. 837/1996 “On Public Associations”. The form is chosen once, and changing it later is expensive, so let us compare them in substance.

Parameter	Foundation (fund)	Public association	Private institution
Membership	No	Yes, mandatory	No
Founders	One or several persons	Several persons	Strictly one person
Supreme body	Council	General meeting of members	Founder
Subscribed capital	Mandatory, from two average salaries in the economy	Not required	Not required
Property basis	Separate capital, donations, grants	Member contributions, donations	Funding by the founder

Typical applicationCharitable or grant capital, family foundation, CSR structure within a companyCivic engagement, associations, communitiesSchool, clinic, center

A foundation is chosen when there is start-up capital or a donor, control over property without dilution by members is important, and long-term targeted funding is planned. A public associationmore appropriate when the organization is built around a community, membership fees and collective decisions — we also handle this form, see registration of a public organization in the Republic of Moldova. For a foreign organization that needs not a new structure but a presence in the country, a branch or subdivision of a foreign public organization is usually suitable.

Requirements for founders, capital and administrator

Who may establish a foundation: natural persons, including foreign citizens and stateless persons; legal entities, including foreign ones; minors and persons under guardianship — under the conditions of the law and the Civil Code; educational institutions, for which an exception is made from the general prohibition for public structures.

Who may not: public authorities, public institutions, state and municipal enterprises. The only exception is educational institutions.

Subscribed capital. Minimum — two average monthly salaries in the economy at the time of filing the documents, i.e. 34,800 lei in 2026. The capital is not “frozen”: the law expressly allows it to be used to achieve the non-commercial purposes for which the foundation was created. It remains the property of the organization itself, not a payment to the state or to us.

Restrictions for the administrator. The administrator may not be a person prohibited by law or court decision from such activity; an adult under guardianship with a restricted right of disposal; a person with an unspent criminal record for intentional crimes against property, economic crimes, or crimes of officials and managers of organizations. The administrator’s citizenship does not matter.

Package of documents for registration

The list of documents is exhaustive — the registration authority is not entitled to require anything beyond it:

1. Registration application, signed by an authorized person.
2. Charter of the foundation in two copies, signed by the founder or founders.
3. Minutes of the founding meeting or decision on establishment, if there is a single founder.
4. Confirmation of name availability issued by the registration authority.
5. List of founders: name, IDNP, date of birth, domicile and citizenship — for natural persons; name, legal address, IDNO and document confirming the representative’s authority — for legal entities.
6. Consent to use the name of an individual if it is included in the name of the foundation.
7. Document confirming the legal address — a declaration of the individual owner or the consent of a legal entity with a title document. We can provide the address, see legal address in the Republic of Moldova.
8. Document confirming the subscribed capital — required specifically for a foundation.
9. Conclusion of the specialized body — only for national associations and national sports federations.

Additionally, a declaration of beneficial owner is submitted — a requirement of anti-money laundering legislation (Law No. 308/2017). The bank will request it in extended form.

What the charter must include: organisational and legal form; name; purposes; procedure for establishment, reorganization and termination of activity; management and control bodies, the procedure for their appointment, competence and term of office; procedure for appointing the administrator; method of ensuring transparency of activity; provisions on subscribed capital; provisions on relations between the founder and the foundation. If the charter is approved by the executor under a will, it is subject to notarial authentication.

Step-by-step procedure

• Step 1. Name. We select name options using our software service and request confirmation of availability from the ASP; the response is provided within 5 working days, with reservation for 6 months. The ASP does not charge a reservation fee; our selection and verification service costs EUR 80. For non-profit organizations, the words “Moldova”, “Republica Moldova”, names of administrative-territorial units and their historical names do not require permission and are not subject to fees — unlike for commercial companies.
• Step 2. Charter. It is approved by a decision of the sole founder or by the minutes of the founding meeting.
• Step 3. Submission. The package is submitted within 3 months from the date the charter was approved — otherwise the charter will have to be re-approved. Submission is possible online or at a territorial subdivision of the ASP.
• Step 4. Decision. A decision is made within 15 days. If deficiencies are identified, the ASP sends a request to remedy them; after the corrected documents are submitted, the decision is made within 5 working days. Up to 3 months are allowed to remedy the deficiencies.
• Step 5. Legal personality. The foundation becomes a legal entity from the moment of registration and is entered in the State Register of Legal Entities with an IDNO assigned.
• Step 6. Seal, bank account, accounting. Seal — one day; bank account with support until confirmation by the tax office — 1–3 working days; then accounting setup.

Grounds for refusal and how to avoid creating them

ASP refuses by a reasoned decision if the organization’s purposes conflict with national and public security, the protection of public order, the prevention of crime, the protection of health, morals, or the rights and freedoms of others — and the refusal is a measure necessary in a democratic society; if the name or symbols use the names of current public figures holding an elective or exclusively political office, or leaders of political parties; if deficiencies in the documents are not remedied within 3 months.

A refusal on the last ground does not prevent re-submission. Any refusal may be appealed through administrative court proceedings. In practice, almost all remarks concern the wording of the charter and the completeness of the package, that is, exactly the part of the work that we do.

Documents from you and the legalization route

Founder — an individual from Moldova: a copy of the identity card and a description of the goals of the future foundation in your own words. We will formulate the rest.

Founder — foreign individual: copy of passport, if necessary with apostille and sworn translation; power of attorney to our representative, notarized at the place of location and legalized according to your country’s route. We prepare the text of the power of attorney — as in the service power of attorney for opening a company abroad.

Founder — a foreign legal entity: an extract from the trade register of the country of registration, constituent documents, a document on the signatory’s powers, a resolution of the authorized body on participation in the establishment of a foundation in Moldova — all legalized and translated.

We determine the legalization route before you incur any expenses. For CIS countries bound with Moldova by legal assistance treaties (the 1993 Minsk Convention), an apostille is usually not required — a notarized translation is sufficient. For Germany, full consular legalization applies between our countries.

, not an apostille. For other countries, see the list of countries covered by the apostille and apply an apostille. We handle the sworn and legal translation ourselves.

Legalization has been our core competence since 2005, not a side service: for a foreign founder, it is half of the entire work of setting up the foundation, and it does not pass into outside hands.

After registration: what you need to know right away

• Annual activity report is published no later than 6 months after the end of the reporting year. If the report has not been published, the organization must, within one month, provide a copy of it to any person requesting it. Failure to submit the report after a repeated request by the Ministry of Justice is grounds for initiating forced liquidation through the court.
• Changes to the charter, legal address, e-mail address, or composition of the management and control bodies must be notified to the ASP within no more than 3 months.
• Accounting is maintained according to national standards; responsibility for accounting and reporting lies with the head of the organization. We can set up and maintain the accounting for you — see accounting services.
• Political restrictions are strict: a non-profit organization may not provide material support to parties and socio-political organizations or render them free services, and during an election campaign — may not support electoral competitors or conduct campaigning. A violation entails loss of state support, the right to the 2% mechanism, and the obligation to return what was received.
• Property upon liquidation after settlements with creditors is transferred to another non-profit organization with similar goals — specified in the charter or determined by the supreme management body.

Taxes, public benefit status and the 2% mechanism

Income tax. Non-commercial organizations are exempt from income tax subject to the conditions of art. 52 of the Tax Code; the right to exemption arises from the date of registration. If funds are used for purposes not provided for by the charter, tax is charged on the corresponding amount.

Economic activity is permitted — directly, including social entrepreneurship, or through established commercial legal entities. Profit is not distributed among the founders; licensed types of activity require a license.

Public utility status (utilitate publică) is assigned by the Certification Commission under the Public Services Agency for a period of 5 years. The conditions apply cumulatively: the organization has been operating for at least one year before submitting the application; the statutory purposes relate to activities of public benefit (education, science and culture, sport, health care, human rights, social protection, ecology, protection of monuments, civic activism and other areas); there is a council of at least three persons who are not employees of the organization; there is a control body — censor or external audit; rules on conflict of interest are observed; there is no debt to the national public budget; among the foundersit and members have no political parties; the organization does not support parties and electoral competitors; the annual report is published. The status gives access to tax benefits, preferential use of public property, non-repayable financing and social contracting.

Percentage designation mechanism (2%). An organization that carries out public-benefit activities, has been operating for at least one year before submitting the application, has not supported parties or electoral competitors in the last four years and has no debts to the budget is entitled to participate. Administrative expenses from the received funds are limited: 50% — if the amount is up to 50,000 lei inclusive; 40% — from 50,000 to 100,000; 30% — from 100,000 to 500,000; 25% — over 500,000 lei. Funds must be used within no more than two tax periods after the designation period; unused funds are returned to the budget.

We include the requirements for the board and supervisory body in the charter right away — so that in a year, when applying for status, you do not have to rewrite the founding documents and go through registration of changes again.

Who we are a good fit for — and who we are not

We handle the foundation from start to finish: structure, charter, registration, bank account, first year of reporting. This makes sense where real money and a real task stand behind the structure, and it does not pay off where you need to “simply set up something as cheaply as possible.”

Our clients are:

• foundations with real capital or a confirmed donor that need a working account, not just a registry entry;
• foreign founders — individuals and companies whose documents require an apostille or consular legalization;
• international organizations and donors opening a structure or representative office in Moldova under a programme;
• companies creating a foundation within their business — a charitable, family, or CSR structure;
• organizations that plan public benefit status and the 2% mechanism and want the charter to be written for this right away.

We are not the right fit if the task is minimal registration at the lowest price, if there is no clarity on the origin of the subscribed capital, or if the foundation is conceived as a shell for non-core operations. In such cases, we say this honestly during the consultation and do not take on the project — this is cheaper for both sides than parting ways halfway through.

What we do not promise

• We do not guarantee the bank’s decision. Opening an account is the bank’s right, not an obligation. We guarantee a complete and correct package, preliminary approval, and support. If one bank refuses, we handle the process with a second bank free of charge.
• We do not speed up ASP. The fifteen-day period is established by law. We shorten not that period, but everything else: preparation, correction of remarks, printing, the bank.
• We do not build schemes. If the purpose of the structure is not non-profit activity but something else, we do not take on such a task.
• We do not provide free consultations. Analyzing a specific situation is paid legal work: 150 euros. In return, you receive not “general information,” but a solution for your structure: legal form, founders, capital, bank, legalization route — and a direct answer if the task is not suitable for us.
• We don’t charge for what is free from the state. The state fee for registering a non-profit organization and reserving the name with ASP is zero lei, and these lines in the estimate are zero. Our work is paid: name selection and verification (€80), charter tailored to your goals, bank compliance package, support until the extract and the working account.

How much does it cost to register a foundation in Moldova?

The state fee for registering a non-profit organization is not charged, and reserving the name with the ASP is also free. You pay for the work, not for government services: preliminary consultation — 150 euros, selection and verification of the name — 80 euros, turnkey foundation registration — 630 euros. The items add up: the full path from scratch — 860 euros for our services. Beyond this — subscribed capital from 34,800 lei, which remains the property of the foundation itself, and for foreign founders, legalization with translations at the applicable rate. The final estimate is fixed in the contract before the start and does not increase along the way.

Is it true that an account is opened within 1–3 business days?

This is how long opening an account takes with a prepared package and a bank agreed in advance — from receipt of the registry extract to confirmation by the State Tax Service, after which transactions can be conducted on the account. Without preparation, the same process for a non-profit organization takes from two weeks to a month and a half. In any case, the decision to open an account is made by the bank.

Why are banks so picky about non-profit organizations?

The non-profit sector is classified as a high-risk area under international standards on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and in Moldova — under Law No. 308/2017. The bank is required to understand where money comes from and what it is spent on. This is not bias but a legal requirement, and it is satisfied by quality documentation: a description of activities, information about beneficiaries, and an explanation of funding sources.

Do you need to come to Moldova?

For registration — no, it is carried out by power of attorney. To open a bank account, the bank usually requires a one-time personal appearance of the administrator. We clarify the specific bank’s conditions in advance and organize the visit so that all steps — bank, notary, seal — are completed in one day.

Can one person establish a foundation?

Yes. A foundation is created by one or more persons. If there is a single founder, the charter is approved by that founder’s decision rather than by minutes of a meeting.

Can a foreigner establish a foundation in Moldova?

Yes. There are no restrictions on the citizenship and residence of founders — neither for individuals nor for legal entities. The restriction concerns public authorities, public institutions, state and municipal enterprises. Registration is possible fully remotely, by power of attorney.

Is the subscribed capital frozen?

No. The law expressly allows the use of the subscribed capital to achieve the foundation’s non-profit purposes. It is not a deposit or a security payment: the money remains the property of the organisation and works for its programmes.

Can the capital be contributed with property rather than money?

The law refers to property separate from the founders’ property and does not reduce it exclusively to monetary funds. The specific method of confirmation depends on the form of the contribution and the requirements of the bank and the registrar, so we coordinate this matter before submitting documents, rather than after comments are raised.

May the fund engage in commercial activity?

Yes, if it serves the statutory purposes. Direct economic activity is possible, including social entrepreneurship, and the creation of commercial legal entities. Profit is not distributed among the founders but is directed to the statutory purposes.

How does a foundation differ from a public association?

A foundation has no members; its highest governing body is the council, and subscribed capital is mandatory. A public association has members; its highest governing body is the general assembly, and there is no capital requirement. A foundation is convenient when control over assets and long-term earmarked funding are important; an association is convenient when the organization is built around a community.

Can a foundation receive foreign grants?

Yes. The law establishes the right of a non-commercial organization to request, receive and use financial and material resources both domestically and from abroad. We prepare the documentation so that the receipt of a grant does not raise questions at the bank, and if necessary we open a separate account for segregated accounting of donor funds.

What happens if the annual report is not published?

The report is published within 6 months after the end of the year; if it is not published, a copy must be provided to anyone who requests it within a month. Failure to submit the report after a repeated request by the Ministry of Justice is grounds for applying to court to request the compulsory liquidation of the organization.

When can public benefit status be obtained?

Not earlier than after one year of operation and upon simultaneous fulfillment of all conditions, including a council of three persons who are not employed by the organization, a supervisory body and a published annual report. The status is granted for 5 years by the Certification Commission under the ASP.

Why bizmoldova.com

Twenty years of practice with documents and legal entities of the Republic of Moldova. P.P. Revista BUSINESS LIGA S.R.L., IDNO 1005600033679, state registration date — July 21, 2005; office in Chisinau, 22 A. Pushkin St. The company details are public and can be verified in the state register — we work under our own name, not under a sign without a legal entity.

What we know in this area — from experience, not from a manual:

• Non-commercial organizations of all three forms. In addition to foundations, we also register and maintain public organizations, and for foreign structures — branches and subdivisions of foreign public organizations. We know which charter wording passes the ASP on the first attempt and which is sent back for revision.
• Banks and compliance. We have been guiding clients in Moldovan banks since 2005 and understand exactly what each of them asks of a non-profit organization and a structure with foreign participation. Comparison of banks, SWIFT and IBAN codes — on our page banks in Moldova for business.
• Legalization is our core competence, not subcontracting. Apostille, consular legalization and certified translationswe do it ourselves. For a foreign founder, this is half of all the work involved in establishing a foundation: we know in advance which country requires an apostille, which one requires full consular legalization, and where a notarized translation under the Minsk Convention is sufficient. We maintain the list of countries party to the Hague Convention as a separate reference.
• Supporting infrastructure — all from one provider: legal address, accounting, powers of attorney tailored to the requirements of a specific authority or bank, registration of commercial companies if the fund needs a business entity.
• Client geography: CIS, EU countries, Transcaucasia, China. Service in Russian, Romanian and English, fully remote process — how it works.
• Fixed price, quoted before the start: €150 consultation, €80 name, €630 turnkey registration — €860 for the full process. No percentage of the fund’s capital, no hourly billing, and no imposed subscription service.

Order fund registration

Tell us about the task: how many founders and from which countries, what is the purpose of the foundation, whether foreign funding is planned, and whether a separate account for grants is needed. In response, you will receive a list of documents tailored to your situation, a realistic timeline, and a fixed cost estimate. Phone and messengers: +373 67 666 333 · WhatsApp · contacts

. It is convenient to submit a request on the page remote document ordering.

Where to start. The starting point is a preliminary consultation, EUR 150: we analyze your structure, outline the legalization route, identify a real bank suited to your profile, and honestly tell you whether we will take it on. Then in order: name — EUR 80 (selection by our software service, availability and admissibility check, reservation in ASP for 6 months) and turnkey registration — EUR 630. Items are summed up, the full path is EUR 860; each service can also be ordered separately.

The material is for informational purposes only and does not replace legal advice for a specific situation. Amounts tied to the average monthly salary in the economy are revised annually; the decision to open an account is made by the bank.

BUSINESS LIGA SRL · bizmoldova.com · +373 67 666 333 — the material has been verified and published in full.