--- title: "North Macedonia Macedonian origin residence requirements 2026" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/origin/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- North Macedonia · For your nationality or ancestry # North Macedonia Macedonian origin residence **First stay:** 1 yr Temporary residence for foreigners of Macedonian origin (Law on Foreigners Art. 117) First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 1 yr (Permit granted for up to one year and extendable.) - **Who can apply:** Ancestry or status (Foreigners who had at least one parent who was a citizen of North Macedonia at their birth.) - **Family:** Family can join (Family members can apply for family reunification.) ## Key facts Macedonian origin residence is a for your nationality or ancestry route for North Macedonia. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Processing:** 30 working days - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Time and long term **Renewal: Renewable** Each extension runs for up to one year. Apply no earlier than 90 days and no later than 5 days before the permit expires. [Official Gazette of North Macedonia (editorial consolidated texts), via the Ministry of Digital Transformation portal](https://portal.mdt.gov.mk/post-body-files/zakoni-mvr-file-UtsW.pdf) [Official Gazette of North Macedonia No. 193/2025](https://www.mchamber.mk/Upload/Documents/%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%9A%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%20%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BD%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%9A%D0%B5%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%82%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8.pdf) **Permanent residence: After 5 years of residence** Permanent residence can be granted after five years of uninterrupted residence on a temporary permit, if you have regular means of support, housing, health insurance, no serious recent conviction and speak Macedonian well enough to be understood. [Official Gazette of North Macedonia (editorial consolidated texts), via the Ministry of Digital Transformation portal](https://portal.mdt.gov.mk/post-body-files/zakoni-mvr-file-UtsW.pdf) **Processing: 30 working days** The Ministry of Interior decides within 30 working days if you apply to it, or 60 working days if you apply through a consulate. Either period can be extended by up to 30 working days. [Official Gazette of North Macedonia (editorial consolidated texts), via the Ministry of Digital Transformation portal](https://portal.mdt.gov.mk/post-body-files/zakoni-mvr-file-UtsW.pdf) **Where to apply: Abroad or in-country** Apply at a Macedonian consulate abroad. People already staying legally in the country can apply to the Ministry of Interior. [Official Gazette of North Macedonia (editorial consolidated texts), via the Ministry of Digital Transformation portal](https://portal.mdt.gov.mk/post-body-files/zakoni-mvr-file-UtsW.pdf) **Presence rules: Absence limits** An extension is refused if you were absent without good reason for more than a quarter of the permit's term. [Official Gazette of North Macedonia (editorial consolidated texts), via the Ministry of Digital Transformation portal](https://portal.mdt.gov.mk/post-body-files/zakoni-mvr-file-UtsW.pdf) ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - At the time of the applicant's birth at least one parent was a citizen of North Macedonia. - The applicant has no sentence of more than 6 months, no pending criminal case for such an offence, and is no threat to public order or security. #### What you must show - The applicant has means to live, or support provided another lawful way. #### Documents - The applicant has housing or the means to pay for it, and health insurance. #### Steps 1. Apply with the Ministry of Interior; applicants staying legally in the country can apply from inside it. #### After you arrive - The permit is granted for up to one year and can be extended. ## 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 period** Staying 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Health insurance** The applicant has housing or the means to pay for it, and health insurance - **Accommodation** The applicant has housing or the means to pay for it, and health insurance Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** Temporary residence for a foreigner who had at least one parent who was a citizen of North Macedonia at the time of their birth. (sources 1, 2) #### Requirements - At the time of the applicant's birth at least one parent was a citizen of North Macedonia. (source 1) - The applicant has no sentence of more than 6 months, no pending criminal case for such an offence, and is no threat to public order or security. (source 1) - The applicant has means to live, or support provided another lawful way. (source 1) - The applicant has housing or the means to pay for it, and health insurance. (source 1) - Apply with the Ministry of Interior; applicants staying legally in the country can apply from inside it. (source 1) - The permit is granted for up to one year and can be extended. (source 1) #### Stay - Permit granted for up to one year and extendable. - First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Nationality Foreigners who had at least one parent who was a citizen of North Macedonia at their birth. #### Family Family members can apply for family reunification. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [Law on Foreigners, editorial consolidated text (Official Gazette 97/18, 108/19, 294/21, 284/23)](https://portal.mdt.gov.mk/post-body-files/zakoni-mvr-file-UtsW.pdf) · Official Gazette of North Macedonia (editorial consolidated texts), via the Ministry of Digital Transformation portal · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2023 2. [Law amending the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette 193/2025)](https://www.mchamber.mk/Upload/Documents/%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%9A%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%20%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BD%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%9A%D0%B5%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%82%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8.pdf) · Official Gazette of North Macedonia No. 193/2025 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-09-18 ## Macedonian origin residence and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Macedonian origin residence | – | 1 yr, renewable | – | | [CPLP residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/cplp-residence-87a/) Portugal | – | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Spanish nationality by descent and option](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/citizenship-by-descent-and-option/) Spain | – | – | – | | [Italian citizenship by descent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/citizenship-by-descent/) Italy | – | – | Yes | | [Greek citizenship by descent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/citizenship-by-descent/) Greece | – | – | – | ## Questions people ask ### How long can I stay on the Macedonian origin residence? Permit granted for up to one year and extendable. ### How long does the Macedonian origin residence take to process? The Ministry of Interior decides within 30 working days if you apply to it, or 60 working days if you apply through a consulate. ### Can I bring my family on the Macedonian origin residence? Family members can apply for family reunification. ### Does the Macedonian origin residence lead to permanent residence in North Macedonia? Time on the Macedonian origin residence counts toward permanent residence in North Macedonia, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. ### How are Macedonian origin residence holders taxed in North Macedonia? No special regime in our records is tied to the Macedonian origin residence. 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 [Property owner residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/property-owner/) [Elderly care residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/elderly-care/) [Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/self-employment/) [Work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/employment/) [Posted worker permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/posted-worker/) [Researcher permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/researcher/) [Seasonal work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/seasonal-work/) [Strategic project worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/north-macedonia/strategic-project/) ## Nationality or ancestry visas elsewhere [🇬🇧 BN(O) visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/bno-visa/) [🇷🇸 Serbian origin residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/serbia/serbian-origin-residence/) [🇦🇲 Special residence status](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/armenia/special-residence-status/) [🇱🇮 EEA residence lottery](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/liechtenstein/eea-lottery-residence/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 2 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. 1. [Law on Foreigners, editorial consolidated text (Official Gazette 97/18, 108/19, 294/21, 284/23)](https://portal.mdt.gov.mk/post-body-files/zakoni-mvr-file-UtsW.pdf) · Official Gazette of North Macedonia (editorial consolidated texts), via the Ministry of Digital Transformation portal · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Law amending the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette 193/2025)](https://www.mchamber.mk/Upload/Documents/%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%9A%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%20%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BD%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%9A%D0%B5%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%82%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8.pdf) · Official Gazette of North Macedonia No. 193/2025 · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.