On entering Transnistria you will need to obtain, fill out and get signed a Transnistrian ‘immigration’ entry form (a white A5 similar to the entrance form for Ukraine, written in Russian and English). This can be obtained at the border, or if you're lucky in your Chişinău-Tiraspol bus/marshutka. Ask the bus driver for a form, or anketa ("DAIE-teh anKYEtu").
It is often easiest to cross the border in a (large) bus or marshutka. The driver (and to a lesser extent other passengers) have a vested interest in getting their bus (and thus you) across the border as quickly as possible. If you don’t speak Russian yourself, look forlornly at the fixer/driver/fellow passengers and if you are lucky they will point you in the correct direction or tell border guards to hurry up and help you.
After passport control there will be a queue to get the form filled out for Moldovans, Ukrainians, Russians etc. If you make it obvious you are a Westerner, you may be dealt with separately in an office. It is not likely they will want a bribe but carry some extra currency (dollars or euros) just in case. Please note that bribes are no longer common. Even if they hint at wanting a bribe do not offer any money. They may make you wait for 10-15 minutes while they "process" your information, but they will eventually let you in.
Your entrance form is eventually signed, stating the time at which you must leave the country: For 24 hours, you may stay without any further hassle. If you plan to stay longer, you need to register your stay with a local police station, preferably within these 24 hours. This should be a straightforward process, though obviously you would need an address to register at: your host or your hotel. Once no one is stopping you from crossing the border barrier any more you can safely head on to Tiraspol. All you need to leave the country is the ‘departure’ half of the entrance form.
Leaving the country is ridiculously simple once you have the ‘departure’ form. When travelling back you simply hand over the form to the border guards, who will probably not even want to check your passport. Be aware that some smaller crossings don't officially allow foreigners to cross, though with some language skills or the help of a local that can be easily settled. In 2011, it took 5 minutes - the border guard had to make a call and all was fine.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Transnistria
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Transnistria - updated Apr 2024
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Transnistria Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
