North Macedonia · Student
North Macedonia Student permit
First stay: 1 yr
Temporary residence for schooling or study (Law on Foreigners Arts. 92-93)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Student permit is a student route for North Macedonia. You can't take local work. 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; extension is possible up to one year after the programme ends.
Permanent residenceTime here doesn't count
Permanent residence is not granted on this type of temporary stay.
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.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Needs a place at a school or university in North Macedonia
- Work isn't allowed on this route
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- Applicant is enrolled as a full-time pupil or student in a school or higher-education institution registered with the Ministry of Education and Science.
- A minor applicant needs a parent's or guardian's consent for the stay.
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.
Documents4
- Certificate of full-time enrolment stating the length of the programme.
- Health insurance policy or other proof of insurance.
- Proof of means of subsistence: bank statement, scholarship, employer certificate or parents' declaration with proof.
- Passport copy certified by a notary, proof of accommodation and an original criminal record certificate.
Steps1
- The application must be filed personally by the foreigner.
After you arrive2
- The permit is extended while studies continue and for up to one year after the programme ends, with one more year for justified study reasons.
- Students may not take employment; only short-term or auxiliary work allowed by 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
Health insurance policy or other proof of insurance
- Accommodation
Passport copy certified by a notary, proof of accommodation and an original criminal record certificate
- Bank account / funds
Proof of means of subsistence: bank statement, scholarship, employer certificate or parents' declaration with proof
- Police certificate and civil documents
Passport copy certified by a notary, proof of accommodation and an original criminal record certificate
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence for foreigners enrolled full time in an approved school or higher-education programme, granted for up to one year and extendable. 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 enrolled as a full-time pupil or student in a school or higher-education institution registered with the Ministry of Education and Science. 1 2
- A minor applicant needs a parent's or guardian's consent for the stay. 1
- Certificate of full-time enrolment stating the length of the programme. 1 2
- Health insurance policy or other proof of insurance. 2
- Proof of means of subsistence: bank statement, scholarship, employer certificate or parents' declaration with proof. 2
- Passport copy certified by a notary, proof of accommodation and an original criminal record certificate. 2
- The application must be filed personally by the foreigner. 2
- The permit is extended while studies continue and for up to one year after the programme ends, with one more year for justified study reasons. 1
- Students may not take employment; only short-term or auxiliary work allowed by law. 1
Stay
- Permit granted for up to one year and extendable; extension possible up to one year after the programme ends.
- 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
No employment; only short-term or auxiliary work permitted by law.
Family
Art. 107 gives family reunification to sponsors with permanent residence or one-year residence for work, research, volunteering or origin.
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 study, 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
Student permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | No |
| Student permit Portugal | Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030 | 3 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Internship permit Spain | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| D3 study visa Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | No |
| Student visa Italy | Needs savings of €10k+ a year ≈ $11k | – | Yes |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Student 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 Student permit?
Permit granted for up to one year and extendable; extension possible up to one year after the programme ends.
How long does the Student 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 Student permit?
No. No employment; only short-term or auxiliary work permitted by law.
Can I bring my family on the Student permit?
Art.
Does the Student permit lead to permanent residence in North Macedonia?
Time on the Student permit doesn't count toward permanent residence in North Macedonia.
How are Student permit holders taxed in North Macedonia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Student 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
Study visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
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 study, 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.