North Macedonia · Spouse visas
North Macedonia Spouse of a resident
First stay: 1 yr
Family reunification with a foreigner with permanent or temporary residence (Law on Foreigners Arts. 107-112)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a resident 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, extendable for as long as the sponsor's residence lasts.
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 apply3
- Applicant is the spouse, minor child or an eligible dependent relative of the sponsor under Art. 108.
- The sponsor holds permanent residence, or a temporary residence of one year for work, research, volunteering or origin.
- Family of a seasonal worker cannot use reunification.
What you must show1
- The sponsor shows stable and regular sources of income enough for the sponsor and the family members.
Documents2
- Marriage certificate and child's birth certificate with certified translations, and copies of the sponsor's decision and permit.
- Proof of accommodation for the family, health insurance and an original criminal record certificate.
Steps1
- Apply with the Ministry of Interior; the sponsor can also apply for the family member.
After you arrive2
- Family of a permanent resident gets one year, extendable until the conditions for permanent residence are met.
- After four years of reunification residence, the spouse can ask for an autonomous permit.
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
Proof of accommodation for the family, health insurance and an original criminal record certificate
- Accommodation
Proof of accommodation for the family, health insurance and an original criminal record certificate
- Police certificate and civil documents
Marriage certificate and child's birth certificate with certified translations, and copies of the sponsor's decision and permit
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 and minor children of a foreigner with permanent residence, or with a one-year residence for work, research or volunteering. 1 2 3
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). 2
- 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). 2
- A fee of MKD 50 (≈ $1) · Administrative tax stamp on the application form. 2
Requirements
- Applicant is the spouse, minor child or an eligible dependent relative of the sponsor under Art. 108. 1
- The sponsor holds permanent residence, or a temporary residence of one year for work, research, volunteering or origin. 1
- Family of a seasonal worker cannot use reunification. 1
- The sponsor shows stable and regular sources of income enough for the sponsor and the family members. 1
- Marriage certificate and child's birth certificate with certified translations, and copies of the sponsor's decision and permit. 2
- Proof of accommodation for the family, health insurance and an original criminal record certificate. 1 2
- Apply with the Ministry of Interior; the sponsor can also apply for the family member. 1
- Family of a permanent resident gets one year, extendable until the conditions for permanent residence are met. 1
- After four years of reunification residence, the spouse can ask for an autonomous permit. 1
Stay
- Permit granted for up to one year, extendable for as long as the sponsor's residence or until permanent residence conditions are met.
- 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 education, training, employment and self-employment under the conditions of law.
Family
Covers the spouse; unmarried children under 18 of the sponsor or the spouse, including adopted children in their custody; dependent parents of the sponsor or spouse; and unmarried adult children who cannot support themselves for health reasons.
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
- Documents required for family reunification, 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 resident and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a resident | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen | – | 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 resident?
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 resident?
Permit granted for up to one year, extendable for as long as the sponsor's residence or until permanent residence conditions are met.
How long does the Spouse of a resident 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 resident?
Right to education, training, employment and self-employment under the conditions of law.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a resident?
Covers the spouse; unmarried children under 18 of the sponsor or the spouse, including adopted children in their custody; dependent parents of the sponsor or spouse; and unmarried adult children who cannot support themselves for health reasons.
Does the Spouse of a resident lead to permanent residence in North Macedonia?
Time on the Spouse of a resident counts toward permanent residence in North Macedonia, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Spouse of a resident holders taxed in North Macedonia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a resident. 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 3 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
- Documents required for family reunification, 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.