Arrival in Macedonia

Before travelling to North Macedonia, check the visa regime for your nationality and status through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. A passport or travel document must be valid. For a visa application, the document generally must have been issued no more than 10 years earlier, contain at least two blank pages and remain valid for at least three months after the visa ends. A 35 × 45 mm photograph, travel medical insurance for the entire stay, proof of purpose, accommodation, financial means and return or onward travel may be required. Visa applications are submitted personally to the responsible resident or non-resident diplomatic or consular representation, no earlier than six months and at least 15 days before travel. A national Visa D costs EUR 70, or EUR 35 for children aged 6 to 12. The visa purpose remains binding. An appeal against a refusal must be filed within eight days and does not suspend the refusal. Entry rules depend on nationality and document status. EU and Schengen nationals can enter without a visa with a valid national identity card. A third-country national holding a temporary or permanent residence permit from an EU or Schengen country may enter for up to 15 days per entry and up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A multiple-entry Schengen Visa C must generally remain valid for at least five days beyond the planned stay and permits up to 15 days per entry, within the 90-day limit in a 180-day period. A temporary 2026 rule also covers multiple-entry British, American and Canadian visas in the passport under similar limits. United Nations travel documents are visa-free under the stated regime. Individual eligibility should be checked before departure because the applicable rule depends on nationality, document and purpose. The Ministry of Interior, commonly called MVR, handles entry, stay, residence registration and related foreigner documents. A person planning to remain beyond a short stay should check the appropriate temporary-residence or permanent-residence procedure before the permitted stay expires. Purpose, accommodation, sufficient means and health insurance can be relevant to residence status. A foreigner may also need a foreigner identity card, called лична карта за странец, or proof of regulated stay. Accommodation reporting is a separate arrival requirement. A paid accommodation provider reports a foreigner to MVR within 12 hours after providing the accommodation. A private host or another accommodation provider reports the arrival to the responsible police station within 48 hours. MVR offers electronic registration, but an electronic form submitted by a private individual does not necessarily replace the personal report required within 48 hours for a certified confirmation. Keep the accommodation proof and confirmation. The responsible police station or regional MVR unit depends on the address, and no single national office handles every case. A resident of North Macedonia moving permanently from abroad applies for residence registration at the responsible MVR unit. The previous foreign residence does not have to be cancelled first according to the MVR information. A citizen moving between addresses inside North Macedonia must report the old and new residence within eight days. The application, identity document, proof of habitable accommodation and proof of ownership or a legally compliant notarised lease agreement may be required. In some family situations, proof of ownership together with a declaration from a parent or child may be accepted. The confirmation of the previous deregistration may also be required. The citizen form is free according to MVR information, while other possible fees are not stated as one fixed amount. A North Macedonian citizen staying outside the registered residence for more than 30 days may need to report a temporary stay to the responsible police station. MVR information gives inconsistent deadlines, referring in different places to three days after arrival and 48 hours after accommodation. Acting within 48 hours and confirming the local requirement is the safer approach. Temporary-stay registration is renewed every six months and should be cancelled before departure. Hotels, tourist enterprises, student dormitories and boarding schools can have their own reporting and guest-register duties. A citizen violation can lead to a penalty equivalent to EUR 100 to EUR 500, while a provider violation can lead to a penalty equivalent to EUR 1,000 to EUR 2,000. When entering with more than EUR 10,000 in effective foreign currency or cheques, declare the amount to the Customs Administration and keep the declaration certificate. Border and customs rules can change, so check the current requirements before travelling. After arrival, keep the registration confirmation, passport or identity document, visa or residence permit, insurance evidence and accommodation proof in both digital and paper form. Birth, family-status and education documents may also be needed for later procedures. Do not assume that every document requires translation or notarisation; the responsible authority and the specific procedure determine that requirement. The public part of uslugi.gov.mk, the national e-services portal, contains central and local services for citizens and foreign nationals. Private e-services on the portal are currently intended for natural persons who are citizens of North Macedonia, so foreign nationals should not assume that eID/SEN, the portal's Single Sign-On system, is automatically available to them. Check the service catalogue for the responsible institution, current fee and deadline. Many arrival procedures still require personal attendance at MVR, the Health Insurance Fund or a consular mission. English support is not guaranteed at every office; carrying the Macedonian terms for the relevant form or procedure can reduce misunderstandings. Health coverage does not begin automatically for every newcomer. Rights arise after an insured status has been established. A foreign employee may need the ZО-1 health-insurance registration form, a health booklet, a foreigner identity card or proof of regulated stay. A foreign student or trainee may need ZО-1, a health booklet, proof from the educational institution and a foreigner identity card or proof of regulated stay. Applications are submitted to a regional unit of the Health Insurance Fund, known as FZO. Registration generally takes place within eight days after employment or acquisition of the relevant status. FZO states an approximate decision period of 30 days, or up to 45 days when a medical commission is involved, with a 15-day appeal period. Keep private travel insurance until FZO status is confirmed. Lack of documents does not establish regular insurance coverage; for urgent care, contact the local health centre or the Ministry of Health about the applicable emergency pathway. The emergency number is 112 and the police number is 192. The practical sequence is to confirm entry eligibility, secure address evidence, complete the correct accommodation or residence report, preserve every confirmation and then clarify health coverage and other service access with the responsible institution. The correct office depends mainly on the address, citizenship, purpose of stay and type of accommodation rather than on a single nationwide arrival procedure.