North Macedonia · Spouse visas
North Macedonia Spouse of a citizen
First stay: 1 yr
Temporary residence for the spouse or close family of a citizen (Law on Foreigners Arts. 114-116)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for North Macedonia. 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
Granted for up to one year and extendable.
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.
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- Applicant is the spouse of a citizen of North Macedonia, or a minor child, or a dependent parent or adult child described in Art. 115.
- The citizen is registered as living in North Macedonia.
- The permit is refused if the marriage appears to have been made only to gain residence.
- Means of support and health insurance are not required from close family of a citizen.
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.
Documents2
- Marriage certificate not older than six months and the citizen's identity card copy.
- Passport copy certified by a notary, proof of accommodation and an original criminal record certificate.
Steps1
- Apply with the Ministry of Interior; the citizen may also apply for the family member.
After you arrive2
- The permit is granted for up to one year and extendable; it continues on the holder's own request if the citizen dies or the marriage ends after at least three years.
- Holders have the right to education, training, employment and self-employment under the law.
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 close family of a citizen
- Accommodation
Passport copy certified by a notary, proof of accommodation and an original criminal record certificate
- Police certificate and civil documents
Marriage certificate not older than six months and the citizen's identity card copy
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
One-year residence for the spouse, minor children and certain dependent parents of a citizen of North Macedonia who is registered as living in the country. 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 is the spouse of a citizen of North Macedonia, or a minor child, or a dependent parent or adult child described in Art. 115. 1
- The citizen is registered as living in North Macedonia. 1
- The permit is refused if the marriage appears to have been made only to gain residence. 1
- Means of support and health insurance are not required from close family of a citizen. 2
- Marriage certificate not older than six months and the citizen's identity card copy. 3
- Passport copy certified by a notary, proof of accommodation and an original criminal record certificate. 3
- Apply with the Ministry of Interior; the citizen may also apply for the family member. 1 3
- The permit is granted for up to one year and extendable; it continues on the holder's own request if the citizen dies or the marriage ends after at least three years. 1
- Holders have the right to education, training, employment and self-employment under the law. 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
Open to foreigners generally.
Work
Right to employment and self-employment under the conditions of law.
Family
Minor children and dependent parents of the citizen can also apply as close family.
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 marriage to a citizen, 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
Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a resident | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Portugal | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a resident Spain | Needs income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010 | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a resident Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen?
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 Spouse of a citizen?
Permit granted for up to one year and extendable.
How long does the Spouse of a citizen 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 Spouse of a citizen?
Right to employment and self-employment under the conditions of law.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen?
Minor children and dependent parents of the citizen can also apply as close family.
Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in North Macedonia?
Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in North Macedonia, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in North Macedonia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. 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
Spouse and partner 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 marriage to a citizen, 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.