Is your company planning to expand operations in the Republic of North Macedonia? Recent economic growth has created a favorable environment for international companies to do business in the country. However, if you are planning to relocate existing team members or hire new employees, you’ll need to ensure that they have the necessary documentation to live and work in the Republic of North Macedonia.
Types of work visas in the Republic of North Macedonia
The Republic of North Macedonia government issues 3 different types of visas to nationals from other countries:
- Type B visas for transit, which allow a maximum stay of 5 days.
- Type C visas for short visits up to 3 months.
- Type D visas for long stays for work, medical treatment, scientific research, study, humanitarian work, or family reunification.
To live and work in the Republic of North Macedonia, international employees will need to obtain a Type D visa. However, the long-stay visa on its own does not allow the employee to reside in the Republic of North Macedonia.
Employees will need to complete the process of obtaining a temporary residence for employment purposes from the Ministry of Interior. Non-nationals may also reside and work in the Republic of Macedonia based on a certificate of employment if the duration of work does not exceed 90 days. The latest amendments to the Foreigners Act (2015) introduced a single permit that allows individuals to stay and work in the country.
Requirements to obtain Republic of North Macedonia work visas
To live and work in the Republic of North Macedonia, international employees will need to obtain a residency permit for employment purposes.
Before traveling to the Republic of North Macedonia, employees will need to submit the following documents to obtain a Type D visa:
- A completed and signed visa application form.
- A valid travel document containing at least 2 consecutive blank pages, issued during the previous 10 years, and valid at least 3 months after the visa’s expiration date.
- 1 passport-sized photograph.
- Proof of a paid consular visa fee.
- Proof of provided accommodation, and sufficient means of subsistence.
- Proof of the applicant’s health insurance.
- Criminal background check.
To get a temporary residency permit, employees will need to provide additional documentation upon arrival in the Republic of North Macedonia:
- Approval of temporary residence from the Ministry of Interior.
- Evidence of accommodation in the Republic of North Macedonia.
- The original, certified copy of the employee’s work permit application.
- A valid passport and 1 passport photo.
- A criminal background check
- Proof of travel insurance.
Application process
Temporary residence for employment purposes will be granted to individuals based on a positive opinion issued by the Employment Service Agency, considering that the following requirements have been met:
– The employer fulfils the requirements established in the law.
– The quota for this type of employment has not yet been reached.
– The employment of the international worker does not have a negative effect on the labor market, especially not on the national unemployment status, on the employment structure, or on the regional needs for creating new vacancies in certain industries.
The main steps of the application process are as follows:
- The employer initiates the work permit application on behalf of the international employee by first obtaining a positive opinion from the Employment Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia confirming that the international employee meets the legal requirements.
- The employee submits an application for temporary residence either in North Macedonia as an accompanying document to the visa D application, to a diplomatic mission/consular post of North Macedonia or a country with which North Macedonia has signed an arrangement on consular representation in third countries, to external service providers or commercial intermediaries, or to the Ministry of Interior, as outlined in the law.
- Upon approval, the employee will receive a decision granting temporary residence along with a long-stay D visa.
- Within 5 days of arrival, the employee issued a D visa must personally appear at the Ministry of Interior, where within 25 days, a permit for temporary residence will be issued.
- The employer must register the start of the employment within a maximum of 90 days from the date of issuing the opinion by the Agency.
It typically takes around 45 days for a work permit to be issued. Upon the approval of this permit, the employee may begin working for your company in the Republic of North Macedonia.
Other important considerations
It’s important to note that country’s official name was changed to Republic of North Macedonia in 2019. Starting Feb. 12, 2024, travel documents containing the old name, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” will no longer be valid. Any employees affected will need to obtain new travel documents prior to this date.
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