Paying for a home in Moldova: transfer, escrow or notarial deposit
The ways to pay the price and a deposit, who holds the money and what it costs. cheia never receives or handles money.
Published by Cheia. Reviewed: .
The basic rule
cheia never receives, holds or forwards the price, a deposit or an arvună. Only licensed payment service providers may move client money (Law 114/2012, arts. 4 and 6). The notary authenticates the sale; banks move the money.
Bank transfer at signing
The buyer transfers the price from their account to the seller’s account at the notary appointment or right after it.
Between individuals in 2026, a price above 1,305,000 lei (75 average salaries) is paid by bank transfer, with at most 200,000 lei in cash; from 2027 the threshold falls to 50 average salaries. Withdrawing the proceeds in cash can cost a fee (at maib, 0.1 % above 75 average salaries).
Bank escrow account
Escrow is a contract between the bank, the payer and the beneficiary: the bank holds the money as a neutral party and releases it only when the contract’s conditions are met and the required documents are shown.
maib (tariffs in force from 1 July 2026): 0.5 % of the amount, minimum 1,000 and maximum 5,000 lei; free within a maib home loan. OTP Bank (tariffs in force from 3 August 2026): 0.5 %, minimum 1,000 lei, no maximum published; free under Prima Casă (the tariff does not say whether OTP Bank must also grant the loan; ask the bank); the seller is paid once the buyer’s ownership is registered, and the money returns to the buyer if the sale does not happen.
Other banks offer escrow too. Ask your bank for its conditions and tariff.
Notarial deposit
The notary can receive the money on deposit for the beneficiary and hand it over or return it under the procedure the law sets (Law 246/2018, arts. 60–61). Ask the notary about the conditions and the fee in advance.
With a mortgage
The bank pays the seller as the loan agreement says, usually after authentication and registration of the mortgage. The buyer’s own funds can go by transfer or through an escrow account.
Deposits
An arvună or advance on a home is protected only by a notarized pre-contract (Civil Code, art. 954(2) and art. 999(2)). A private receipt counts at best as an advance that can be claimed back.
Place a deposit in an escrow account or a notarial deposit, never with an intermediary.
The order of steps
Terms agreed, notary chosen, a notarized pre-contract with a deposit if there is one, documents and extracts, authentication and payment, registration filed by the notary, handover of keys and meters. The same steps appear in the dossier’s Progress section.
Costs
The dossier’s costs show every amount, who usually pays it and its source. The notary must state the fee and the state duty; a fee different from the legal amount needs a written agreement annexed to the act, so ask for it in writing before the appointment.
Red flags
“Changed” bank details sent by messenger; requests to pay a third party; pressure to pay in cash; anyone calling themselves “cheia escrow”. cheia has no such service.
Sources and limits
General information, checked on 27 September 2026. Not legal or tax advice. Confirm the conditions with your notary and your bank.