Visa-Free Countries for North Macedonia

Overview

North Macedonia operates one of the most open short-stay visa regimes in South-East Europe. Holders of ordinary passports of the countries listed below can enter the Republic of North Macedonia for tourism, short business trips, family visits, attending conferences, medical treatment, or transit, without obtaining a visa in advance. The visa-free stay is limited to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, mirroring the Schengen model. The day-count resets as older days fall outside the 180-day window, so travellers who exceed the allowance — even by a single day — are considered to be in illegal stay and face potential entry bans under Article 20 of the Law on Foreigners.

Being visa-free is not a blanket right of entry. Border police at the crossing still check each traveller against the general entry conditions in Article 11: a valid travel document with at least three months' validity beyond the intended stay and two blank pages, proof of the purpose of travel, sufficient means for the duration of the stay and return, valid travel health insurance, and the absence of any alert against the traveller or any public-policy or public-health concern. Travellers without these supporting elements can be refused entry even if they hold a visa-free passport. Carry your return ticket, accommodation details, insurance policy, and a reasonable amount of funds (cash, cards, or statements).

Several additional facilitations apply. Holders of valid multi-entry Schengen visas (C type), valid Schengen residence permits, and certain national visas and residence permits of EU Member States may enter North Macedonia visa-free for up to 15 days per entry, regardless of their own nationality, provided they enter with the document that grants them Schengen or EU-residence status. This rule is particularly useful for third-country professionals working in the EU who attend conferences, hold meetings, or travel for leisure in North Macedonia. The current text of the Government's decree should always be checked on mfa.gov.mk before relying on this facilitation.

The visa-free regime only covers short stays. It does not permit employment, paid work, enrolment as a full-time student, or setting up residence. A foreigner who wishes to work, study full-time, invest, or live in North Macedonia for more than 90 days must apply for a temporary residence permit and, where required, a work permit. The visa-free entry can be used to attend preparatory meetings, sign contracts, or register a company, but the legal basis for remaining beyond 90 days is always a residence permit — obtained through a Visa D if the applicant is not already a visa-free national, or directly at МВР in combination with a consular process for those who are.

The country list below is maintained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and can change. Bilateral agreements are occasionally concluded, suspended, or modified, and the Government may introduce temporary changes for public-order or public-health reasons. Always verify the latest status at mfa.gov.mk before you travel. If your country is not listed, you will need a Visa C or Visa D depending on the purpose and duration of travel.