Direct passenger flights from South Asia to Ukrainian airports are limited. The reliable corridor is via Chisinau, Moldova, with onward ground transport to Ukraine. This guide covers the Moldovan B-B transit visa, the Chisinau to Ukraine road journey and what Asia Work handles for you.
Why Moldova is the standard transit point
Chisinau International Airport receives daily flights from Istanbul, Doha, Vienna and other regional hubs. From Chisinau the road journey to Ukraine is four to seven hours depending on the destination city. The Palanca border crossing is the main entry point, well-served by transport providers familiar with foreign worker transits.
The alternative routes (Warsaw, Bucharest, Vienna with onward flights to Ukrainian cities) exist but carry higher costs and more complex logistics. For Asia Work workers, Moldova is the default and works reliably.
Who needs the Moldovan transit visa
Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali, Sri Lankan, Filipino-citizens-without-Schengen-visa, and several African nationalities need the B-B transit visa to spend up to five days in Moldova. Vietnamese and Indonesian citizens often do not need it. Filipino citizens with valid Schengen, US, UK or Canadian visas can transit without a Moldovan visa.
Asia Work checks your specific case during the application and confirms whether you need the e-visa.
Application process via evisa.gov.md
The application is fully online at evisa.gov.md. Standard processing is five working days. Express processing in three days is available for an extra fee.
Required documents:
- Passport bio page scan, color, all corners visible
- Ukrainian D-03 visa scan from your passport
- Flight booking from your country to Chisinau
- Onward travel proof to Ukraine (Asia Work provides a transport voucher)
- Hotel booking in Moldova for the transit night if needed
- Recent passport photo, digital, white background
- Travel medical insurance valid in Moldova
Asia Work files the application on your behalf once your D-03 visa is stamped in your passport. The e-visa arrives by email within the processing window and you carry the printed copy with you.
Travel timing
The B-B transit visa allows up to five days in Moldova. Most Asia Work travelers book a flight that arrives in Chisinau in the late afternoon, spend one night at a hotel near the airport, and travel by road to Ukraine the next morning.
The five-day window provides flexibility if your Chisinau flight is delayed or if road conditions require an overnight stop on the way to your final destination.
Chisinau airport experience
Chisinau International Airport is small and easy to navigate. After landing, immigration officers check the printed B-B transit visa, your passport and your onward Ukrainian D-03. The check is brief and routine for transit travelers with complete documentation.
Asia Work transport is waiting in the arrivals hall. The driver displays a sign with your name, English-speaking and familiar with the route. If your flight is delayed, the driver tracks your flight number and adjusts.
Hotel options in Chisinau
For transit nights, Asia Work books a vetted hotel close to the airport. Standard options include Best Western Plus Flowers Hotel, Codru Hotel, and several other three-star properties at fair rates. Breakfast is included and rooms are clean and quiet.
If you prefer a different category of hotel, Asia Work coordinates the booking. Cost difference is your responsibility.
The road journey from Chisinau to Ukraine
Distance and time vary by Ukrainian destination:
- Odesa: 3 to 4 hours
- Vinnytsia: 5 to 6 hours
- Kyiv: 7 to 8 hours
- Lviv: 8 to 9 hours
- Khmelnytskyi: 6 to 7 hours
The vehicle is typically a comfortable minivan or SUV with air conditioning, charging ports for phones and bottled water. The driver speaks English and Russian and assists with form-filling at the border.
Palanca border crossing
The Palanca border crossing on the Moldova-Ukraine border is the main entry point for foreign worker transits. Crossing time varies from 30 minutes to two hours depending on traffic.
Documents checked at the border:
- Passport with valid D-03 visa
- Work permit notification (printed copy)
- Employment contract (printed copy)
- Asia Work transport voucher
The border officers are familiar with foreign worker arrivals via Asia Work. The driver hands over the documents on your behalf and you stay in the vehicle. After stamping, you are officially in Ukraine.
What Asia Work covers
The Moldova transit is included in our service for relevant nationalities. Costs covered:
- B-B transit e-visa application fee
- Hotel night in Chisinau if needed
- Ground transport from Chisinau airport to your final Ukrainian destination
- Driver tip and any small road expenses
You do not pay anything additional for the transit segment.
Common questions
How early before my flight to Chisinau should I file the B-B transit visa? Asia Work files it as soon as your D-03 visa is stamped, typically 7 to 14 days before your flight date. Standard processing covers this comfortably.
What if my Moldova e-visa is not approved? Approval is highly likely with complete documentation. If a problem occurs Asia Work re-files immediately or arranges an alternative routing through Warsaw or Bucharest.
Can I use this transit for personal travel in Moldova? The five-day window allows brief sightseeing in Chisinau if your schedule allows. Most workers proceed directly to Ukraine within 24 hours of landing in Chisinau, saving energy for the start of work.
What if I need a different Moldova visa category? The B-B transit is the right category for almost all Asia Work transit travelers. Other categories (B-1 short stay, B-2 multiple entry) apply only in unusual cases.
Read more about the process
For the full picture of how Moldova transit fits into your journey from home country to first day at Ukrainian workplace, read the process overview and the arrival guide.
For country-specific guidance:
- D visa for India covers Delhi and Mumbai consulate specifics
- D visa for Pakistan covers Islamabad embassy specifics