Brief guide to North Macedonia visa

North Macedonia is a fantastic place to explore, with stunning natural scenery and a vibrant cultural heritage that will fascinate any tourist. With over two million people, the nation is located in southeastern Europe, in the southern portion of the Balkans. From the article, you will get all you need to know about the North Macedonia visa policy, North Macedonia visa application form for various nations across the world. To help you with the visa for North Macedonia, I will explain many details by answering these questions: How to get Macedonia visa? Is Macedonia in Schengen area? How to get a North Macedonia tourist visa? Which are the North Macedonia visa free countries? What are the North Macedonia visa requirements? What are the details of the North Macedonia visa policy?

I want to start the article with the most asked question: Is Macedonia in Schengen area? Here is the interesting fact that North Macedonia is not included in the Schengen area. Still, people living in those areas do not need to get a North Macedonia national visa to enter the country. They need just a valid national identity card to get a chance to enter the Republic of North Macedonia. Besides that, nationals of European Union Member States do not need to get the visa for North Macedonia. So, let's answer the main question: How to get Macedonia visa? 

Many nations throughout the world do not require a visa to visit North Macedonia. If your nation is not qualified for visa-free entrance to North Macedonia, you will need to apply for a visa and follow the following visa rules:

- The passport must be valid for at least three months after the estimated arrival date in North Macedonia

- Visa applications must be filed at least fifteen days prior to the planned trip's start date

- The passport must be at least 10 years old and have at least two blank pages

North Macedonia visa policy

Unless they come from one of the visa-exempt nations, visitors to North Macedonia must get a visa from one of the diplomatic missions in the country. North Macedonia's visa policy is comparable to that of the Schengen Area. All Schengen Annex II nations, except Dominica, Georgia (without a voucher), Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, and Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. are granted 90-day visa-free access. In addition, Azerbaijan, Botswana, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Russia, and Turkey are among the nations that are now visa-free.

• Foreigners holding a short-term Schengen visa are among those who can enter, transit, and remain in North Macedonia without a national entrance visa (Type C). In this situation, the maximum stay allowed is 15 DAYS each entry for a total of 180 DAYS
• Third-country citizens holding temporary residency in an EU Member State or a Schengen Agreement signatory may stay in the Republic of North Macedonia for no more than 15 days, as long as their total stay does not exceed 90 days in any period of 180 days
• Third-country citizens with permanent residency in an EU Member State or a Schengen Agreement signatory may stay in the Republic of North Macedonia for no more than 15 days at a time, as long as their total stay does not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period
• Third-country nationals with a multiple-entry Schengen visa (type C) valid for at least 5 (five) days beyond the intended stay in the Republic of North Macedonia may stay no more than 15 days on each entry into the Republic of North Macedonia's territory, as long as the total length of stay in any 180-day period does not exceed 90 days
• The Republic of North Macedonia has decided to extend the visa exemption for foreign persons with valid passports from third countries with a valid British, Canadian, or US visa until December 31, 2021. Their stay in the Republic of North Macedonia might last up to 15 days, and the validity of their British, Canadian, or American visa should be at least 5 days longer than their scheduled stay. In any 180 days before the days of the stay, the total duration of consecutive stays in the Republic of North Macedonia may not exceed (is restricted to) 90 days. You can see brief information in the picture below about the visa for North Macedonia, which countries have to get it, which ones are visa-free:

North Macedonia visa free countries

North Macedonia has several bilateral and multilateral visa arrangements with countries worldwide that eliminate the need for visas. Citizens of the following countries are allowed to reside in North Macedonia for up to 90 days in 180 days if they do not work:

All European Union citizens, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Honk Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Macao, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Seychelles, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela.

If you are from one of these North Macedonia visa free countries, you can visit North Macedonia as you wish within a specific period of time. A national ID card is required for these countries to enter for a stay of no more than 90 days within 180 days. Additionally, besides them, there are some rules for different nations to enter North Macedonia without a visa:

• For Belarusian and Georgian citizens with regular passports traveling as tourists, either individually with "vouchers" or in a group organized by travel firms
• Nationals of the following countries do not require a visa if their passports are endorsed "for public affairs": Belarus, China, Georgia, Mongolia
• Visas are not required for travel documents issued by the United Nations
• Nationals of Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Vietnam, and Yemen require authorization from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in addition to a visa
• Visas are not required for diplomatic and official passports from the following countries: Belarus, China, Georgia, India (diplomatic only), Iran, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Peru

North Macedonia tourist visa

If you want to get a visa for North Macedonia, first, you need to choose the type of visa. The most common form of visa for North Macedonia is a tourist visa, which is provided to international visitors wanting to visit the country for sightseeing purposes. North Macedonia tourist visa is available via consulates, approved visa businesses, and authorized travel firms.

North Macedonia visa requirements

It is important to be prepared and acquire all relevant information on your nationality and purpose before filling the North Macedonia visa application form. To get a visa for the country, you must go through the following North Macedonia visa requirements:

Schedule an Appointment

You must present original documents in person, it is usually good to prepare ahead and make an appointment with the relevant consulate through phone or email.

Complete and submit your application

At the relevant consulate, you will be interviewed to confirm your reason for stay and the requisite documentation.

Receive Your Visa

Your application will be examined when the processing time has passed, and you will be notified of the results. If your visa application is approved, you will be summoned to the embassy to pick up your visa, which will be attached to your passport.

North Macedonia visa application

If your nationality does not qualify for visa-free admission to North Macedonia, you must show the following documents:

• A valid passport
• A completely filled North Macedonia visa application form
• Proof of appropriate financial means
• A notarized letter of invitation from a person, entity, or institution if relevant
• Travel insurance documentation provided by a legitimate insurance entity in the country of residency
• A 3,5 x 4,5 cm white-background photograph with a visible face
• Receipts for visa costs paid

Certain candidates must also provide the following extra or supporting documents:

Employed:

• If relevant, proof of employment, such as a work contract
• The most recent six-month bank statement

Self-employed:

• A copy of the most recent income tax return, as well as any relevant bank statements or documentation
• Business proof, such as bank statements, invoices, and receipts

Student

• Proof of enrolment and a letter from the registered school stating that there are no objections
• Sponsorship documentation if the applicant will be unable to sustain himself or herself financially during the stay

Retired:

• Proof of pension for the last six months if retired