A company name in Moldova must include the legal form ("Societate cu răspundere limitată" or "S.R.L." for an LLC), be clearly distinct from companies already registered, and respect the prohibitions in Article 9 of Law No. 220/2007. You can check company name availability in Moldova and reserve the name for up to 6 months online at rsud.asp.gov.md or at the multifunctional centres of the Public Services Agency (ASP). For an LLC (SRL), the fee is 71 lei (3 working days), or 142, 213 or 284 lei for urgent processing.
Below you will find the legal rules, the words that require special permission, the practical steps for checking a name, and a few tips that will save you from a rejected application.
1. What an SRL name must contain
The basic rules come from two laws:
Correct example: Societatea cu Răspundere Limitată „Nord Logistic”, short form „Nord Logistic” S.R.L.
Once registered, the company holds the exclusive right to its name and must use it exactly as recorded in the State Register (Art. 9(3)) — on its stamp, invoices, contracts and website.
2. Which names are prohibited
Article 9(11) of Law No. 220/2007 prohibits registering a name that:
Similarity is assessed by the registrar, so the final word always belongs to ASP.
3. "Moldova", "Chișinău" and other sensitive words
The name of the state. "Republica Moldova", "Moldova", "Țara Moldovei", and their abbreviations or derivatives, in any characters, may appear in the name of a commercial company only with a permission granted under Government Decision No. 353/2025. A special commission examines the application within 30 days, and the state fee is 100,000 lei (State Fee Law No. 213/2023). The applicant must meet at least one condition: export revenue of at least 50% of annual revenue, large-taxpayer status, a foreign parent company that needs geographic identification, or a state stake of at least 25% of the capital. In practice, such names are out of reach for a new SRL.
Place names. "Chișinău", "Bălți" or the name of a village may be used only with a decision of the local council of that administrative-territorial unit.
Public authorities. Here the law provides no exception: the name may not contain the name of an authority, nor suggest that the company is part of the state.
The law does not contain a general list of "forbidden words". The test is the effect of the name: if it suggests a link with the state or an authority, the registrar may refuse it. If the name points to a regulated activity (banking, insurance, etc.), also check the special legislation for that sector.
4. How different the name must be
The law requires every new name to differ from existing ones "so that an obvious and clear distinction can be made between them without examining them in detail" (Art. 9(5)). If the name is similar to one already registered or reserved, you must add an element that clearly sets it apart.
Other useful rules:
In practice, minor differences — one letter, a plural form, word order, or adding a generic term such as "Group" or "Solutions" — may not be enough.
5. How to check and reserve a name at ASP
Online. At rsud.asp.gov.md/rezervare-denumire you can request a name check and reservation. The online service is available only for SRLs, joint-stock companies and non-profit organisations.
At the counter. At any ASP multifunctional centre, using the "Application for name verification and reservation" (Cerere de verificare și rezervare a denumirii), a template of which is published on asp.gov.md.
Fees for an SRL (as stated on the ASP form):
The free 5-working-day option is reserved for non-profit organisations.
A reservation holds the name for you for up to 6 months (Art. 9(8)), during which you can prepare your documents without the risk of someone else registering it.
Reservation is not mandatory if you file in person at the counter, because the registrar checks the name at registration. However, if you file electronically (with a qualified advanced electronic signature) or by registered mail, the law requires you to check name availability before filing (Art. 9(7)).
Separately, search the name in the AGEPI trademark database (db.agepi.md): a name identical to a registered trademark will be refused even if no company uses it.
6. Practical tips before filing
Frequently asked questions
Can I use English words in my SRL name?
Yes. The law allows words from other languages as long as they are written in Latin characters; they are usually placed in quotation marks. The legal form ("Societate cu răspundere limitată" / "S.R.L.") stays in Romanian.
Is name reservation mandatory?
No, if you file in person at the ASP counter. It is recommended, however, and if you file electronically or by post you must check name availability before filing.
How much does a name check and reservation cost for an SRL?
71 lei for the 3-working-day term; for urgent processing, 142 lei (24 hours), 213 lei (4 hours) or 284 lei (1 hour). Check the current fee on asp.gov.md before paying.
Can I call my company „Moldova Tech” S.R.L.?
Only with a permission granted under Government Decision No. 353/2025, with a state fee of 100,000 lei, and only if you meet one of the strict conditions (exports, large taxpayer, foreign parent company or state participation).
How long does a reservation last?
Up to 6 months — enough time to prepare and file the incorporation documents.
Once the name is chosen and reserved, the documents come next. SRLRapid fills in the official ASP forms — the Articles of Association (Statutul), the minutes of the constituent meeting (Procesul-verbal), the registration application (Cererea) and the founders' declarations — from a single questionnaire, with the name written identically in every document. You sign the documents and file them at ASP.
Note: this guide is for information only and reflects legislation and ASP practice at the date of publication. SRLRapid prepares the documents but does not replace legal advice and does not file on behalf of the founders.
