Recent changes to the Law on Foreigners in North Macedonia introduce simpler residence requirements, new deadlines, additional employer obligations, and special rules for strategic projects. The amendments take effect on 26 September 2025. Key points are below.
Simplified conditions for temporary residence
- Instead of criminal record checks from both the country of citizenship and the country of residence, applicants will need to submit a certificate from the country where they resided during the last 12 months confirming no criminal convictions and no pending criminal proceedings.
- Certain applicants no longer need to provide proof of financial means or health insurance, such as:
- Immediate family members of Macedonian citizens;
- Foreign nationals applying for residence based on employment.
Timing for extending temporary residence
- Applications must be filed no earlier than 90 days before the permit expires and no later than 5 days before expiry.
- Filing after the permit has expired is no longer permitted.
New employer obligations for work-based residence (employment, secondment, seasonal work)
- Employers must submit a notarised statement guaranteeing payment of all costs related to the foreign national’s stay, including any costs associated with potential forced removal.
- If documentation filed with the Ministry of Internal Affairs is incomplete, the applicant will be notified and given 7 days from the date of notification to complete it. Failure to do so will result in a decision rejecting the application.
Special regime for strategic projects
- Quotas do not apply, and an opinion from the Employment Agency is not required to grant temporary residence to foreign nationals working on strategic projects.
- It is sufficient that the legal entity holds strategic partner status confirmed by the Ministry of Economy and Labour.
Registration of employment and oversight
- The start of employment must be registered with the Employment Agency within 30 days of the date the temporary residence permit is issued (previously 90 days from the Agency’s opinion).
- Data exchange between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Employment Agency will now occur monthly rather than quarterly.
Streamlined Employment Agency opinion
- Proof of filing a request for intermediation for employment with the Employment Agency is no longer required.
Limits for seconded employees providing services under contracts between non-affiliated companies
- Residence is limited to a maximum of 180 days.
- Exception: For companies with strategic partner status, residence may last up to one year and can be extended if the project is ongoing.
Effective date and transitional rules
- The amendments enter into force on 26 September 2025.
All proceedings initiated before that date for the issuance of a temporary residence permit will continue under the previous provisions.
The information in this document does not constitute legal advice on any particular matter and is provided for general informational purposes only.
