Foreign-owned companies established in Moldova cannot own agricultural and forestry land. They may only lease such lands for business purposes on a long-term basis. The previous legislation established the maximum lease term at 99 years. Current legislation seem not to impose any limitation. For the purpose of the OECD FDIRRI, it is assumed that leases up to 99 years are allowed.
"Chapter I- GENERAL DISPOSITIONS
Article 1. Scope of the law
This law applies in the following cases:
a) the sale-purchase of the land, including the land related to the privatized or privatized objectives, the land related to the private objective, as well as the land related to the unfinished constructions;
[...]
Section 4. Sale of publicly owned land
(1) Lands owned by the state shall be divided into lands owned by the state and lands owned by the administrative-territorial units, the procedure for attribution to which is established by law. [...]
(3) Lands owned by the state may be sold both to individuals and legal entities of the Republic of Moldova, and to foreign investors, with the exception of agricultural land and lands of the forest fund, which can only be sold to individuals and legal entities of the Republic of Moldova.
[...]
Section 6. Purchase and sale of privately owned agricultural land [...]
(2) The right to purchase and sell agricultural land is vested in the state, individuals who are citizens of the Republic of Moldova, as well as legal entities whose authorized capital does not contain foreign investments.
(3) If foreign citizens or stateless persons become owners of agricultural land or forest fund lands as a result of inheritance by law or by will, they are entitled to alienate these lands by concluding legal acts that enter into force during the person's life, only in favor of citizens of the Republic Moldova. [...]" (Law No. 1308 dated 25 July 1997 on the "Normative Price of Land and Sale – Purchase Operations with Land Plots" [google translated])
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"Chapter II - Lease Agreement
Article 7. Lease Agreement Conclusion
The key document to regulate the relations between the Lessee and the Lessor shall be the lease agreement.  Such agreement shall be signed in writing for a specific period, not greater than 99 years [...]" (Law No. 861-XII of January 14, 1992 on Leasing [google translated][no longer in force])
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"Foreign individuals and entities may freely participate in M&A transactions involving entities, shares or assets in Moldova, with certain exceptions.  (1) Restrictions to own agricultural land and land plots from the forestry fund: Foreign companies or individuals, as well as Moldovan companies with foreign investment are prohibited from owning agricultural land and land plots from the forestry fund. [...]" (Invest Moldova (2020), "Investment Guide Moldova", The Moldovan Investment Agency)
Law No. 1308 dated 25 July 1997 on the "Normative Price of Land and Sale – Purchase Operations with Land Plots" [google translated]
Law No. 861-XII of January 14, 1992 on Leasing [google translated][no longer in force]
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