North Macedonia
MKDNorth Macedonia is an EU candidate country with one of the lowest tax burdens in Europe (10% flat PIT, 10% corporate tax). Visa-free Schengen access for Macedonian citizens. The country reintroduced its citizenship-by-investment programme in 2023 after a 2018 closure: €200,000 government investment OR €400,000 business investment with at least 10 Macedonian employees. Long-stay residency for foreigners is via employment, business investment, or family reunification. Skopje has a low cost of living and growing remote-worker community despite no formal digital-nomad visa.
- Naturalisation
- 8 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Macedonian denar (MKD)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Skopje
- Region
- europe
- Population
- 1,830,000
- Cost-of-living
- 32 /100
Passport Rank
#41
Visa-Free
114
destinations
Visa-free travel
A North Macedonia passport has visa-free access to 114 destinations. See the full North Macedonia passport breakdown →
Passports that enter North Macedonia without a prior visa (78)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from North Macedonia
Current IRCC processing times for North Macedonia nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 32 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | No processing time available |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Skopje
- Currency
- Macedonian denar (MKD)
- Languages
- Macedonian, Albanian
- Population
- 1,830,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 8 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Continental / Mediterranean
- English Proficiency Rank
- #30
- GDP per capita
- $10,490
- Life expectancy
- 76.62 yrs
- Population growth
- -0.19%/yr
North Macedonia operates a 10% flat personal income tax. The 2024 amendment introduced a 15% rate on capital gains for non-residents.
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
32
Safety
65
Healthcare
55
Quality of Life
105
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 8 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Special Tax Regime
- North Macedonia operates a 10% flat personal income tax. The 2024 amendment introduced a 15% rate on capital gains for non-residents.
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skopje | $320 | $220 | $200 | $100 | $16 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Skopje
Rainfall range: 25–55 mm/month · Daylight h (winter) to h (summer)
Bitola
Rainfall range: 28–62 mm/month · Daylight h (winter) to h (summer)
Ohrid
Rainfall range: 20–58 mm/month · Daylight h (winter) to h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist
- Temporary Residence
- Work
- Investor
- Student
- Family Reunification
- Permanent Residence
- Business
- Transit
- Authority
- Ministry of Interior
- Official Portal
- www.mvr.gov.mk
- Phone
- +389 2 3117-222
- contact@mvr.gov.mk
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 8
- Language Test
- Yes (Macedonian conversational)
- Civic Test
- Yes
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $200
- Processing
- ~24 months
International Schools
← scroll the table →
| School | City | Curriculum | Tuition (USD/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| QSI International School of Skopje | Skopje | American / IB | $9,000–$16,000 |
Daily Life Logistics
Internet
60 Mbps median
50% fibre coverage
eSIM: A1 Macedonia, Telekom Macedonia, Lycamobile
Safety
GPI Rank
—
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
LGBTQ+ Legal Status
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not legal
- Civil Partnerships
- Not recognised
- Anti-Discrimination Law
- Yes
- ILGA Rank
- #35
Religious Life
- Halal Food
- Widely available
- Kosher Food
- Limited
- Prayer Facilities
- Common
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in North Macedonia, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Bar Association of the Republic of North Macedonia
MBAProfessional body for attorneys in North Macedonia. Immigration status is administered by state authorities including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Interior.
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for North Macedonia, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
Temporary Residence for Eligible Property Owner
ResidenceTemporary residence ground for eligible EU or OECD residents who acquire qualifying residential property in North Macedonia.
Short-term / business
Business Visit C Visa
Short-term / businessShort-stay business visitor route supported by an invitation letter from a registered legal entity or state body.
Short-Stay and Transit Visa (C Visa)
Short-term / businessShort-stay or transit visa for travel to North Macedonia for up to 90 days, or transit for up to 5 days.
Work (sponsored)
Long-Stay D Visa for Work Temporary Residence
Work (sponsored)D visa route used after a Ministry of Interior temporary residence decision for work in North Macedonia.
Family
Long-Stay D Visa for Family Reunion
FamilyD visa route linked to temporary residence for family reunion or close family of a North Macedonia citizen.
Study
Long-Stay D Visa for Study Temporary Residence
StudyD visa route linked to temporary residence for study, exchange, training, volunteering or research.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Citizenship by Investment
Citizenship by Descent
Sources & last verified
- Last verified