North Macedonia · Work
North Macedonia Work permit
First stay: 1 yr
Temporary residence for employment (single permit for work and residence, Law on Foreigners Arts. 80-87)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Work permit is a work route for North Macedonia. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- MKD 4,000 ≈ $73 · +2 more
- Processing
- 30 working days
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 3 government fees listed below; decision: 30 working days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesMKD 4,000 ≈ $73 · +2 more
- MKD 4,000 (≈ $73)Payment listed in the document list for the permit (nationals of Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo pay only this amount).
- MKD 2,150 (≈ $39)Second payment listed in the document list for the permit (not charged to nationals of Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo).
- MKD 50 (≈ $1)Administrative tax stamp on the application form.
RenewalRenewable
Issued for up to one year and extendable for up to one year at a time while the purpose continues.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
Permanent residence is granted after at least 5 years of uninterrupted approved temporary stay; the decision is due within 4 months, extendable by up to 3 months.
Processing30 working days
The Ministry decides within 30 working days if the application is filed with it in North Macedonia, or 60 working days if filed through an embassy or consulate; this can be extended by up to 30 working days.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
File with the Ministry of Interior in North Macedonia, or through a North Macedonian diplomatic or consular mission abroad together with the D visa application.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in North Macedonia
- Work rights are limited
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- Applicant has an employment contract with an employer registered in North Macedonia.
- The Employment Agency issues a positive opinion: the employer meets legal conditions, the quota is not full and the job does not harm the labour market.
- Means of support and health insurance are not required from applicants for employment-based residence.
What you must show and pay3
- A fee of MKD 4,000 (≈ $73) · Payment listed in the document list for the permit (nationals of Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo pay only this amount).
- A fee of MKD 2,150 (≈ $39) · Second payment listed in the document list for the permit (not charged to nationals of Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo).
- A fee of MKD 50 (≈ $1) · Administrative tax stamp on the application form.
Documents8
- Signed employment contract between the employer and the foreigner.
- Proof of education or specific professional qualification issued by an authorised body.
- Current extract from the Central Register for the employer, not older than six months.
- Explanation of the employer's need to hire the foreigner.
- Notarised employer guarantee to bear residence, accommodation and removal costs.
- Copy of the passport certified by a notary, with a certified translation.
- Proof of accommodation: certified lease, property title, or a certificate from a registered accommodation provider.
- Proof of no criminal conviction and no pending criminal case in the country of residence in the last year.
Steps3
- Apply with the Ministry of Interior, or at a mission abroad together with the long-stay visa (D) application.
- The Employment Agency issues its opinion within 15 working days of receiving the documents.
- The Ministry decides within 30 working days if the application is filed in the country, or 60 working days if filed at a mission, extendable by 30.
After you arrive2
- The employer registers the start of work within 30 days of the residence permit being prepared.
- Extensions are filed between 90 and 5 days before expiry, each for up to one year.
What happens at day 183
How North Macedonia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 1 year at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in any 12-month periodStaying 183 or more days continuously or with breaks in any 12-month period makes a person resident for personal income tax.
- Foreign-source income
Residents of North Macedonia pay a flat 10% personal income tax on income earned in the country and abroad; for salary the tax base is gross pay minus the 28% employee contributions and a tax reduction of MKD 10,932 (≈ $200) a month (MKD 131,184 (≈ $2,400) a year in 2026).
All tax rules for North Macedonia Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Means of support and health insurance are not required from applicants for employment-based residence
- Accommodation
Notarised employer guarantee to bear residence, accommodation and removal costs
- Certified translation
Copy of the passport certified by a notary, with a certified translation
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence and work permit tied to one employer, issued after a positive opinion of the Employment Agency under the annual quota. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- A fee of MKD 4,000 (≈ $73) · Payment listed in the document list for the permit (nationals of Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo pay only this amount). 3
- A fee of MKD 2,150 (≈ $39) · Second payment listed in the document list for the permit (not charged to nationals of Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo). 3
- A fee of MKD 50 (≈ $1) · Administrative tax stamp on the application form. 3
Requirements
- Applicant has an employment contract with an employer registered in North Macedonia. 1 3
- The Employment Agency issues a positive opinion: the employer meets legal conditions, the quota is not full and the job does not harm the labour market. 1
- Means of support and health insurance are not required from applicants for employment-based residence. 2
- Signed employment contract between the employer and the foreigner. 1 3
- Proof of education or specific professional qualification issued by an authorised body. 1 3
- Current extract from the Central Register for the employer, not older than six months. 3
- Explanation of the employer's need to hire the foreigner. 1 3
- Notarised employer guarantee to bear residence, accommodation and removal costs. 2
- Copy of the passport certified by a notary, with a certified translation. 3
- Proof of accommodation: certified lease, property title, or a certificate from a registered accommodation provider. 3 2
- Proof of no criminal conviction and no pending criminal case in the country of residence in the last year. 3 2
- Apply with the Ministry of Interior, or at a mission abroad together with the long-stay visa (D) application. 1
- The Employment Agency issues its opinion within 15 working days of receiving the documents. 1
- The Ministry decides within 30 working days if the application is filed in the country, or 60 working days if filed at a mission, extendable by 30. 1
- The employer registers the start of work within 30 days of the residence permit being prepared. 2
- Extensions are filed between 90 and 5 days before expiry, each for up to one year. 2
Stay
- Permit issued for up to one year and extendable for up to one year at a time while the purpose continues.
- First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Open to foreigners generally; nationals who need a visa get a long-stay visa (D) with the approved permit.
Work
Work only for the employer and in the job for which the permit was issued; the permit is the single permit for work and residence.
Family
The spouse and minor children can apply for family reunification once the holder has residence.
Official sources
- Law on Foreigners, editorial consolidated text (Official Gazette 97/18, 108/19, 294/21, 284/23) · Official Gazette of North Macedonia (editorial consolidated texts), via the Ministry of Digital Transformation portal · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2023
- Law amending the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette 193/2025) · Official Gazette of North Macedonia No. 193/2025 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-09-18
- Documents required for employment, first application · Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia · checked 2026-10-11
- Guide and procedure for foreigners' rights and applications · Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia · checked 2026-10-11
Work permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Posted worker permit | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Researcher permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Seasonal work permit | – | 9 mo | – |
| Strategic project worker | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Work permit?
A fee of MKD 4,000 (≈ $73). Payment listed in the document list for the permit (nationals of Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo pay only this amount). A fee of MKD 2,150 (≈ $39). Second payment listed in the document list for the permit (not charged to nationals of Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo). A fee of MKD 50 (≈ $1). Administrative tax stamp on the application form.
How long can I stay on the Work permit?
Permit issued for up to one year and extendable for up to one year at a time while the purpose continues.
How long does the Work permit take to process?
The Ministry decides within 30 working days if the application is filed with it in North Macedonia, or 60 working days if filed through an embassy or consulate; this can be extended by up to 30 working days.
Can I work on the Work permit?
Limited. Work only for the employer and in the job for which the permit was issued; the permit is the single permit for work and residence.
Can I bring my family on the Work permit?
The spouse and minor children can apply for family reunification once the holder has residence.
Does the Work permit lead to permanent residence in North Macedonia?
Time on the Work permit counts toward permanent residence in North Macedonia, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Work permit holders taxed in North Macedonia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Work permit. The standard rules apply: Residents of North Macedonia pay a flat 10% personal income tax on income earned in the country and abroad; for salary the tax base is gross pay minus the 28% employee contributions and a tax reduction of MKD 10,932 (≈ $200) a month (MKD 131,184 (≈ $2,400) a year in 2026). Non-residents pay on income earned in North Macedonia.
More in North Macedonia
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Law on Foreigners, editorial consolidated text (Official Gazette 97/18, 108/19, 294/21, 284/23) · Official Gazette of North Macedonia (editorial consolidated texts), via the Ministry of Digital Transformation portal · checked 2026-10-11
- Law amending the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette 193/2025) · Official Gazette of North Macedonia No. 193/2025 · checked 2026-10-11
- Documents required for employment, first application · Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia · checked 2026-10-11
- Guide and procedure for foreigners' rights and applications · Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.