The Cultural Voucher is now accessible directly on every young person's smartphone through the automatic issuance of a virtual Paynet Mastercard, ready for immediate use online, in physical locations, and via Apple Pay or Google Pay.
The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova, Mastercard Moldova, and Paynet have signed a partnership agreement alongside the Electronic Governance Agency (EGA) to expand access and payment options for 18-year-olds using the Cultural Voucher. Under this initiative, every young person turning 18 can activate a dedicated virtual Mastercard for their Cultural Voucher directly within the Paynet app. The card is free of charge, has no monthly or annual fees, and can be activated with a single tap. The 1,000 MDL balance is immediately available for purchasing books, theater tickets, concerts, museum entries, and exhibitions. Payments can be made online as well as in-store using Apple Pay and Google Pay.
"The Cultural Voucher was born from a straightforward belief: young people should have easy and accessible ways to explore Moldovan culture, build their own sense of purpose, and ultimately feel a deeper connection to their country. From the outset of this program, we believed it could and should be much easier to use. The partnership with Mastercard and Paynet directly answers this need. We want every young person to experience genuine joy and pride in the culture they belong to."
— Marcela Nistor, State Secretary, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova
"Moldova has already achieved a remarkable digital leap in payments, and today, together with our partners, we are helping make cultural initiatives even more accessible to young people. We are thrilled to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture, the Electronic Governance Agency, and Paynet to deliver a new solution for the Cultural Voucher. It stands as a clear example of how digital innovation delivers everyday benefits and fosters youth engagement in the country's cultural life."
— Irina Untila, Vice President, Country Manager, Mastercard Moldova
"The Cultural Voucher is one of those public services that clearly demonstrates how digitalization makes life simpler for citizens. The EGA engineered and maintains the digital infrastructure that allows youth to utilize their voucher through EVO and MPay every single day, and now Paynet provides an additional pathway. The more frictionless options we provide to access this benefit, the higher the likelihood they will actively use it and experience Moldova's cultural wealth."
— Nicoleta Colomeeț, Director of the Electronic Governance Agency
"Through Paynet, the Cultural Voucher becomes a real Mastercard right inside a young person's phone—issued instantly and free of charge. An 18-year-old simply opens the Paynet app, activates the voucher, and within seconds can purchase their first book, theater ticket, or concert pass. We are digitalizing everyday life, and we are convinced that this platform will inspire many more young people to discover just how effortless and rewarding engaging with culture in Moldova can be."
— Călin Greadcenco, CEO of Paynet
How It Works:
- Download the Paynet app and create an account;
- The Cultural Voucher appears automatically in the app. Activate it with a single tap to generate your dedicated virtual Paynet Mastercard;
- Spend immediately: online across cultural partner platforms, or in-store at partner venues using Apple Pay / Google Pay.
The card remains valid for 12 months from your 18th birthday and can be spent exclusively on cultural products and services within the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
The roster of eligible venues expands weekly. Today, cardholders can make purchases at the following partners:
Important: Card issuance and usage are 100% free.
The Cultural Voucher also remains accessible via the EVO app, where youth with an electronic signature can redeem it through MPay—the government electronic payment service—and check their remaining balance. The virtual Paynet Mastercard offers a complementary pathway that works both online and at physical POS terminals without requiring an electronic signature.
Launched in November 2022 at the initiative of a group of youth MPs, the "Cultural Voucher" National Program is implemented by the Ministry of Culture and developed by the Electronic Governance Agency, which maintains the core infrastructure and digital rails required to grant, process, and manage the vouchers.
