Message to U.S. Citizens – U.S. Embassy Chisinau, Moldova (April 5, 2020)

Message to U.S. Citizens – U.S. Embassy Chisinau, Moldova (April 5, 2020)

Location:  Republic of Moldova

Event:  Air Moldova has announced several charter flights to European locations to repatriate Moldovan citizens.  We understand U.S. citizens may purchase a ticket on outbound flights to depart Moldova. There is a flight scheduled to fly from Chisinau (KIV) to London Stansted Airport (STN) (https://www.stanstedairport.com/) on April 6 and a flight from Chisinau (KIV) to Frankfurt (FRA) on April 8.  Details of the flights can be found below.

Date:                                   6 APRIL 2020 / 16h40

Destination:                       London Stansted (STN)

Booking:                            https://www.zbor.md/ro/cautare#0604KIVLON or +373-22-225-857

Date:                                   8 APRIL 2020 / 13h00

Destination:                       Frankfurt (FRA)

Booking:                           https://www.zbor.md/ro/cautare#0804KIVFRA or +373-22-225-857

If you want to join the London, Frankfurt, or any future Moldovan charter flights, please purchase a ticket online in advance or contact the provider at the number above.  Please note that the U.S. Embassy has no further information on these flights. We are merely sharing this information to facilitate opportunities to depart Moldova with the goal of eventually returning to the United States.  You are responsible for making your own connecting flights to the United States and all related expenses.  

London:

Stansted Airport is located 70km northeast of Central London and does not offer flights to the United States.  You will need to travel from Stansted Airport to London Heathrow and likely spend the night in the UK due to the late arrival of the Stansted flight.  Currently, most public transportation and shuttles in the UK are not operating; passengers may need to take a taxi or Uber to transfer airports at their own expense. For a list of hotels and transfer information, please visit the U.S. Embassy in London website.  

We have been informed that U.S. citizens should be able to transit the United Kingdom if they are in possession of a valid flight ticket to depart within 24 hours, ideally.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, we cannot assist you in determining if you need a visa to transit the United Kingdom, but you can refer to this website.  You should contact your own Embassy in the United Kingdom for assistance.

Frankfurt:

Air transit through German airports by U.S. citizens for the purpose of connecting to an outbound flight to the United States is permissible under Germany’s list of exemptions to border controls.  Travelers in transit status are not permitted to enter Germany for any period, even to stay at hotels in the vicinity of the airport and are advised to plan travel accordingly.  

The only hotel at the Frankfurt Airport permissible for an air transit traveler to use is the MyCloud transit hotel, located within the airport’s transit zone.  This is a very small hotel and is seeing extraordinarily high demand. Transit travelers should not presume they will be able to book a room in this hotel on short notice.

Travelers arriving on a Moldovan charter flight to Frankfurt will likely not be able to check their bag through to their final destination and must reach out to their connecting airline to facilitate baggage transfer.  Passengers are not permitted to leave the transit area to access baggage claim without special exceptions. 

If you decide to take this flight, we request that you notify us at Chisinau-CA@state.gov so that we can notify the U.S. Embassy in London or the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt that you will transit the country.  If you need to contact the U.S. Embassy in London while transiting, visit their website or dial (0)20-7499-9000 for emergencies involving U.S. citizens.  In Frankfurt, visit the Consulate General’s website, email GermanyACS@state.gov , or call (069) 7535-2102.  

The U.S. Embassy cannot guarantee that these flights will depart as scheduled.  If you choose to pursue this option to depart, we encourage you to make sure that your onward travel arrangements are refundable. 

The U.S. Embassy in Chisinau continues to operate but has suspended visa services.  The Consular Section remains open for American Citizen Services.

The Department of State has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory advising U.S. citizens to not travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19.

Actions to Take

Assistance:

  • U.S. Embassy Chisinau, Moldova

+373 2240 8300

Chisinau-CA@state.gov

https://md.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/

  • State Department – Consular Affairs

888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444