“Visa” is a permit for entry and short-term stay or transit issued to a foreigner by a competent authority of the Republic of North Macedonia

To apply for a visa (refers to nationals for which visa is necessary for entrance or application for the residence permit in the country), a foreigner must submit a visa application at the diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of North Macedonia in the country of origin of the foreigner or in the country of which the foreigner possesses a residence permit (with the assumption that in that country there is a diplomatic mission of North Macedonia). In the case that there is no diplomatic or consular mission in that country, the visa application is submitted at the diplomatic or consular mission of the country with which the Republic of North Macedonia has concluded a joint representation agreement.

Type of visas:

• Entry visa;
• Business visa;
• Employment visa.

Visas are issued to foreigners for entering the Republic of North Macedonia and staying short-term for the duration specified in the visa, entering and staying long-term or transiting the territory or the international transit zone at an airport.

The foreigner is obligated to secure his/her visa before entering the Republic of North Macedonia and may stay only for the purpose for which the visa was issued.

Types of entry visas:

• Airport Transit Visa (‘А’ visa);
• Short-Stay and Transit Visa (‘C’ visa);
• Long-Stay Visa (‘D’ visa).

Short-Stay and Transit Visa (‘C’ Visa)

Document needed for a short-stay visa, up to 90 days (‘C’ visa), i.e. transit visa of up to 5 days:

• recognized travel document valid at least 3 months beyond the period of intended stay;
• (individual and collective) travel insurance documents (policy issued by a legal insurance entity of the country of residence);
• notarized warranty letter i.e., invitation letter by a Macedonian natural/legal person;
• proof of possession of sufficient resources for the duration of the stay (credit card/bank statement);
• photography (size 3.5×4.5 cm) in color with a white background where the face of the applicant is visible;
• proof of paid fees for processing the visa application;
• neatly and legibly filled out a visa application.

Long-Stay Visa

To receive a long-stay visa the applicant should submit the documents corresponding to the visa type upon receiving a decision on granting temporary residence by the Ministry of Interior.

Types of permits:

• Work Permit;
• Residence Permit.

A permit for work is a document based on which the domestic or foreign employer concludes a contract of employment or does other business with a foreigner following the Law on Employment and Work on Employment of Foreigners.

Temporary residence is granted to a foreigner who intends to stay in the Republic of North Macedonia for the following reasons:

• Work;
• Study;
• Participation in international student exchange programs;
• Specialization, vocational training, and practical training;
• Volunteering;
• Scientific-research activities;
• Medical treatment;
• Accommodation in nursing homes;
• Family reunion;
• Humanitarian reasons.

Temporary residence is also granted to:

• A foreigner who is a close family member of a citizen of the Republic of North Macedonia;
• A foreigner who is from the Republic of North Macedonia by origin;
• A child of a foreigner born in the Republic of North Macedonia;
• A foreign resident of an EU or OECD Member State who has acquired the right to own an apartment, apartment building, or house on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia under the conditions laid down in the law;
• A foreigner who is granted a temporary stay for a specific purpose may stay in the Republic of North Macedonia only for the purpose for which he/she has been granted temporary residence.

For more information from the responsible bodies on these issues please consider the links below:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

Ministry of Internal Affairs