North Macedonia · Work
North Macedonia Strategic project worker
First stay: 1 yr
Temporary residence for workers on strategic projects (Law on Foreigners Art. 83-a)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Strategic project worker is a work route for North Macedonia. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Processing
- 30 working days
- First stay
- 1 yr
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
Issued for up to one year and extendable for the period of the project.
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
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- Applicant works on a strategic project defined by a special law, for a company with strategic-partner status.
- The Ministry of Economy and Labour issues a certificate that the employer has strategic-partner status.
- Applicant meets the general conditions of Art. 72, including accommodation and a clean criminal record.
Documents1
- Work contract with the strategic-partner company and an explanation of why the foreign worker is needed for the post.
Steps1
- The application is filed with the Ministry of Interior; the quota and the Employment Agency opinion do not apply.
After you arrive1
- Extensions are filed with the Ministry of Interior with the strategic-partner certificate and proof of social insurance, and can run for the project period.
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
- Accommodation
Applicant meets the general conditions of Art. 72, including accommodation and a clean criminal record
- Police certificate and civil documents
Applicant meets the general conditions of Art. 72, including accommodation and a clean criminal record
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence for foreigners working for a company with strategic-partner status on a project set by a special law, granted without the quota and without an Employment Agency opinion. 1
Requirements
- Applicant works on a strategic project defined by a special law, for a company with strategic-partner status. 1
- The Ministry of Economy and Labour issues a certificate that the employer has strategic-partner status. 1
- Applicant meets the general conditions of Art. 72, including accommodation and a clean criminal record. 1
- Work contract with the strategic-partner company and an explanation of why the foreign worker is needed for the post. 1
- The application is filed with the Ministry of Interior; the quota and the Employment Agency opinion do not apply. 1
- Extensions are filed with the Ministry of Interior with the strategic-partner certificate and proof of social insurance, and can run for the project period. 1
Stay
- Permit issued for up to one year and extendable for the period of the project.
- 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
Work for the strategic-partner company in the post for which the permit was issued.
Family
Family members can apply for family reunification once the holder has residence.
Official sources
- 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
- 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
Strategic project worker and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic project worker | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Work permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Posted worker permit | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Researcher permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Seasonal work permit | – | 9 mo | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Strategic project worker?
Permit issued for up to one year and extendable for the period of the project.
How long does the Strategic project worker 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 Strategic project worker?
Work for the strategic-partner company in the post for which the permit was issued.
Can I bring my family on the Strategic project worker?
Family members can apply for family reunification once the holder has residence.
Does the Strategic project worker lead to permanent residence in North Macedonia?
Time on the Strategic project worker counts toward permanent residence in North Macedonia, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Strategic project worker holders taxed in North Macedonia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Strategic project worker. 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 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.
- Law amending the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette 193/2025) · Official Gazette of North Macedonia No. 193/2025 · checked 2026-10-11
- 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
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.