About Macedonia

North Macedonia, officially known as the Republic of North Macedonia, is a captivating landlocked country nestled in Southeast Europe. Bordered by Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west, North Macedonia boasts a rich tapestry of culture, history, and natural beauty.

Key Facts:

• Official Name: Republic of North Macedonia
• Capital: Skopje
• Location: Situated in Southeastern Europe, North Macedonia shares borders with Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania.
• Area: Covering an area of 25,713 square kilometers, North Macedonia offers diverse landscapes and scenic vistas.
• Population: With a population of approximately 2,084,367 people as of the 2017 census, North Macedonia is a country with a vibrant community and rich traditions.
• Official Language: The official language of North Macedonia is Macedonian, a Southern Slavic language known for its unique linguistic heritage.
• Weather: North Macedonia experiences a continental climate, characterized by warm summers with temperatures ranging from an average of 26º to 35ºC (with occasional peaks up to 40 ºC) and cold winters with temperatures averaging between -5º to 5ºC.

North Macedonia Permanent Residency

Supposing that you are looking for how to obtain North Macedonia permanent residency, here are answers to your concerns.

There are many ways to become a permanent resident of the Republic of North Macedonia. The most common way is to obtain a temporary residence permit and then qualify by staying in the country for at least three years. Being a permanent resident of North Macedonia gives several rights and benefits as citizenship. These include the privilege to move and reside anywhere in the country without restrictions and invite family members to join you from foreign countries.

Moreover, the Republic of North Macedonia has an immigration program that enables foreign nationals to move to the country as investors. This requires a minimum investment of US $500,000. Its entire application process takes about three weeks.

By reading this blog post, you’ll get to know all possible means to become a permanent resident of North Macedonia, including its eligibility criteria, requirements, and more.

Benefits of North Macedonia Permanent Residency

The following are some advantages of becoming a permanent resident of the Republic of North Macedonia.

• Permanent residents of North Macedonia can move freely within the country.
• Close relatives such as your spouse and dependent children can also become permanent residents by applying under family reunification.
• You will be eligible to apply for North Macedonian citizenship after eight years of becoming a permanent resident.
• North Macedonian permanent residents can get more government benefits compared to temporary residents.

Eligibility Criteria to Become a Permanent Resident of North Macedonia

To be eligible for North Macedonian permanent residency, you must meet the following conditions.

• You must have been a temporary resident permit holder of the Republic of North Macedonia. Moreover, you must have lived in North Macedonia for a minimum of three years.
• It is equally important to possess a valid passport.
• Furthermore, your purpose of applying for permanent residency must be to invest, work, get married to a North Macedonian national, undergo medical treatment, perform a professional duty, or acquire property in the Republic of North Macedonia.

Documents Required for North Macedonia Permanent Residency

During the North Macedonian permanent residency application process, you must submit the documents listed below to an embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

• Your original passport, which has to be valid
• A filled-out North Macedonia visa application form
• Passport-sized photos of 3 cm by 4 cm
• A valid medical insurance coverage
• Proof of reason to become a North Macedonian permanent resident
• Evidence of your means of subsistence
• Police clearance certificate to show that you’re clean of all kinds of criminal activities
• A letter of invitation from a North Macedonian employer/company, educational institution, a close relative or friend
• Employment contract and work permit (required by foreigners traveling to North Macedonia for employment purposes)
• A copy of your previous academic credentials, an acceptance letter from a North Macedonian educational institution, as well as a proof of language proficiencies (required by international students entering North Macedonia for study purposes)
• Proof of relationship with a Macedonian citizen (applicable to foreign nationals traveling for family reunification purposes)
• Written consent from the other parent (required by minors traveling to meet only one of their parents in North Macedonia)

How to Get a North Macedonian Permanent Residency

Here are the simplest steps a foreign national can take to become a permanent resident of North Macedonia.

1. Put together all required documents
2. Arrange a visa appointment with a Macedonian embassy or consulate
3. Apply for a North Macedonian visa
4. Submit required documents to an embassy or consulate
5. Expect the diplomatic mission’s decision on your visa application
6. Travel to North Macedonia and obtain your temporary residency permit
7. Apply for permanent residency three years afterward

Step 1: Put together all required documents

To obtain North Macedonia’s permanent residency, you must first assemble all the documents required by the diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) to determine your admissibility.

Step 2: Arrange a visa appointment with a Macedonian embassy or consulate

The second step toward becoming a North Macedonia permanent resident is to set an appointment with a North Macedonian embassy or consulate. The diplomatic mission has to be in a close location to you.

Step 3: Apply for a North Macedonian visa

Next, you must apply for a visa to the Republic of North Macedonia. Undoubtedly, the visa is the document that will grant you legal entry into the country before you can obtain a residence permit.

Step 4: Submit required documents to an embassy or consulate

The fourth step in becoming a permanent resident of North Macedonia requires you to give in all required documents at the embassy or consulate.

Step 5: Expect the diplomatic mission’s decision on your visa application

The next step to take involves waiting for the Macedonian embassy to decide on your visa application. It often takes up to a week to receive a decision from a Macedonian diplomatic mission.

Step 6: Travel to North Macedonia and obtain your temporary residency permit

Once approved by the Macedonian embassy, you can proceed to pay for your flight ticket to the Republic of Macedonia.

You must get your temporary residence permit from the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs upon arrival.

Step 7: Apply for permanent residency three years afterward

To eventually become a permanent resident of North Macedonia, you must live within the country for up to three years. This automatically qualifies you for a Macedonian permanent residency permit.

North Macedonian Investment Residency Program

Foreign nationals can become permanent residents of North Macedonia by investing in a Macedonia-based business or company. To qualify for this program, you need to invest at least $500,000 in the business.

Job vacancies in Macedonia

• IT
• Business development
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Medical and pharmaceutical

In St. Petersburg, there is a shortage of:

• Sales professionals
• Drivers
• Engineers
• Technical specialists

Professional job in Macedonia

The term professional refers to anyone who earns their living from performing an activity that requires a certain level of education, skill, or training. There is typically a required standard of competency, knowledge, or education that must be demonstrated (often in the form of an exam or credential), as well as adhering to codes of conduct and ethical standards.

Unskilled Labor

Unskilled labor refers to workers who possess no particular skills and likely have no formal education. This type of work usually involves simple duties that don’t require judgment. In some cases, unskilled labor requires physical strength and exertion. Unfortunately, unskilled labor jobs are dwindling due to technological advancements leaving fewer and fewer jobs for these types of workers. A few examples of these types of jobs still around include grocery clerks, maids, fast food workers, janitors, and parking lot attendants. Due to the increased demand for skills, workers in these industries are going to need to advance their skill set.

Semi-Skilled Labor

Semi-Skilled labor does not require advanced training or specialized skills, but it does require more skills than an unskilled labor job. People who perform semi-skilled labor usually have more than a high-school diploma, but less than a college degree. The types of skills necessary for this are not complex but usually include the ability to monitor and perform repetitive tasks. These types of skills are more likely to be transferable and useful in other jobs. A few examples of these types of jobs include truck drivers, retail salespersons, bartenders, flight attendants, taxi drivers, waiters, and security guards.

Skilled Labor

Skilled labor refers to workers who have specialized training or skills. These laborers are capable of exercising judgment and have knowledge of the particular trade or industry they work. People who perform skilled labor will most likely have a college degree. A few examples of these types of jobs include law enforcement officers, financial technicians, nurses, sales representative, and electricians. The demand for skilled labor jobs continues to grow as the need for specialized skills becomes more and more necessary. Individuals who possess an even higher degree of skills, such as doctors, would be put into a separate category of professionals.

Construction worker job in Macedonia

See below for an extensive list of construction-related job titles and occupations. Use this list to help power your job search.

Carpenter

• Apprentice
• Carpenter
• Framing Carpenter
• Dry Wall Finisher
• Dry Wall Installer
• Plasterer
• Joiner

Construction Laborers and Helpers

• Laborer
• General Laborer
• Painter
• Construction Worker
• Ceiling Tile Installer

Electrician

• Apprentice
• Electrician
• Journeyman Electrician
• Master Electrician

Elevator Mechanic

• Elevator Installer
• Elevator Repairer

Engineer

• Assistant Project Manager
• Building Inspector
• Civil Engineer
• Superintendent
• Surveyor
• Field Engineer
• Inspector
• Planner
• Construction Engineer

Equipment Operator

• Crane Operator
• Signal Worker
• Equipment Operator
• Heavy Equipment Operator

Exterior Installation

• Roofer
• Insulation Specialist
• Siding Contractor
• Solar Photovoltaic Installer

Masonry Worker

• Concrete Laborers
• Mason

Plumber

• Master Plumber
• Plumber
• Boilermaker
• Pipe Fitter

Site Management

• Purchasing Coordinator
• Project Assistant
• Project Manager
• Safety Director
• Safety Manager
• Scheduler
• Site Manager
• Construction Assistant
• Construction Coordinator
• Construction Foreman
• Construction Manager
• Construction Superintendent
• Construction Supervisor
• Contract Administrator
• Contract Manager
• Estimator

Welder

• Welder
• Ironworker

North Macedonia Visa Types

Here are all the North Macedonian visa types:

1. Airport transit (A) visa
2. Short-stay (C) visa.
3. Long-stay (D) visa.

Airport Transit (A) Visa

An airport transit visa is issued for 24 hours, and it allows a foreign citizen to transit in North Macedonia while flying to another country. However, the airport transit visa does not allow its holder to exit the airport area.

Short-Stay (C) Visa

A short-stay visa is issued for citizens who want to stay in North Macedonia for three months within 180 days. The short-stay visa is issued for different purposes, but mainly for:

• Tourism.
• Family visits.
• Business meetings.
• Political meetings.
• School trips.
• Medical checks, etc.

Long-Stay (D) Visa

A long-stay visa is issued for foreign citizens who want to stay for at least one year in North Macedonia. The Macedonian long-stay visa is issued for these purposes:

• Study.
• Work.
• Family reunion.
• Study exchange programs.
• Medical treatment.
• Volunteering (for different purposes).
• Humanitarian purposes.

After entering Macedonia with a long-stay visa, you must report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs within the first five days after joining, where the MIA shall issue you a temporary residence permit.

North Macedonia Visa Requirements

Here are the requested documents for a North Macedonia visa:

• Valid passport. The passport must be in good condition and have at least two blank pages.
• Application form. Fully complete the application form and sign it at the end.
• Fee payment. Attach the recipe of the finished payment for your visa application. The payment can be made at the embassy or consulate of North Macedonia.
• Health insurance. Valid health insurance that covers the expenses if you have any medical problems while staying in North Macedonia.
• Accommodation proof. Document proving that you have a place to stay in North Macedonia. This document could be a rental agreement, letter of invitation, hotel reservation, etc.
• Bank statement. The bank statement document is issued from your bank. It must prove that you are financially stable and can finance yourself while staying in North Macedonia.
• Two passport-sized photos. Make sure your pictures are recently taken within the last six months. 
• Letter of invitation. This letter is written by your host (friend or family member) in North Macedonia. This document is required only if applicable.
• Flight itinerary. The flight itinerary is a document issued by the airline you plan to travel with. It includes the date and flight time and everything describing your flight journey.

How to Obtain a Residence Permit for North Macedonia?

You can apply for a temporary residence permit at one of the consulates or embassies of North Macedonia in your home country if you are applying for these specific reasons.

• For work.
• For studies.
• For specialization.
• For medical treatment.
• For scientific research.

How do I obtain a residence permit in Macedonia?

• Evidence of accommodation in Macedonia.
• A valid passport.
• Bank statements.
• Health insurance.