How much Romanian do you need for work in Moldova in 2026?

International tech, NGOs, embassies, research projects, and many corporate teams in Chișinău hire and operate in English. Standups, Slack, and client calls often stay English even when the building corridor is Romanian or Russian. Remote employees paid by foreign companies can keep Romanian optional for the desk if residence and banking stay smooth: Best places for remote workers and Digital nomad community. Day-to-day English outside the office: English in Moldova.

Small local firms, sales that chase Moldovan clients, and neighbour-facing trades switch languages faster. In Bălți and some eastern workplaces, Russian may appear on the shop floor before English does: Living in Bălți and Regional languages.

State and municipal roles, many healthcare and education posts, and customer desks that serve the general public expect Romanian for duties and paperwork. Romanian is the state language for administration; Russian remains a practical workplace language in many private shops, markets, and northern teams without rewriting IGM forms into Russian. Employment contracts may be drafted in a language circulating in Moldova that the employee and labour inspectors can understand, yet the interview and daily team still set the real bar.

Ask the vacancy whether Romanian or Russian interviews are required before you assume an English CV is enough. Build level through Casa Limbii Române, Alliance Française, or integration classes: Learn Romanian. Paperwork and utility desks still mix languages even on English payrolls: Bureaucracy without Romanian. Lawful stay still filters who can take a local contract: Apply for a residence permit.