North Macedonia temporary residence permit

Origin: a foreigner is of North Macedonian origin if at least one parent was a North Macedonian citizen at the time of his or her birth. The request goes to a mission or directly to the MVR, with a document proving origin and an apostilled certificate, not older than six months, showing no unconditional prison sentence over six months. Volunteering: requests are filed only at a mission and require consent for volunteering issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; residence lasts for the period of the consent, up to one year.

Care homes for the elderly: a foreigner over 60 with a contract with a care institution in North Macedonia, which also takes financial responsibility for costs in case of death, can obtain residence for one year, renewable; a younger person needs medical documentation from the home country. Humanitarian reasons: by exception, residence of up to one year can be granted to a suspected victim of human trafficking, an unaccompanied minor, a stateless person or for other justified humanitarian reasons, filed at the MVR.

Article 72 of the Law on Foreigners sets the conditions that apply to all temporary residence: means of subsistence or support secured in another lawful way, accommodation or the means for it, health insurance, fulfilment of the special conditions for the chosen purpose, and no threat to public order, national security, public health or international relations. The services portal adds that the foreigner must have no conviction and no pending criminal proceedings in the state where he or she lived during the year before the request. A minor staying without a parent needs certified parental consent.

Accommodation is proven with a notarised lease, proof of ownership or a contract with a hotel or other lodging business; means with a bank statement, an employment contract and employer certificate, proof of other monthly income or another lawful source; insurance with a policy or similar document, translated where the authority requires it. The passport must be valid at least three months beyond the planned stay, and a certified copy is attached.

The fee table on the national services portal lists MKD 50 for the request, MKD 1,230 for the approval or extension decision (EUR 20), MKD 930 for the permit (EUR 15) and MKD 4,000 for the permit form, whose price was set by a decision published in Official Gazette 71 of 3 April 2025. Euro-based taxes are paid in denars at the daily rate. The MVR decides within 30 working days of receipt, or 60 working days for requests sent by a mission, extendable by 30 working days in exceptional cases.

Extensions are requested only at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Under article 79 as described on the services portal, the request is filed no earlier than 90 days and no later than five days before the residence expires, and each extension lasts as long as needed for the purpose but not more than one year. You must still meet the general and special conditions. While the request is pending you may remain in the country, and the ministry issues a certificate confirming this. The ministry decides within 30 working days.

An extension can be refused if you spent more than a quarter of the approved period outside North Macedonia without justification. The length of an extended residence cannot be shortened because the foreigner falls ill. The extension service shows an objection to the MVR within 15 days and an appeal to the State Commission for Decision-Making in Administrative Procedure and Employment Procedure in Second Instance as remedies.