Law on Foreigners in North Macedonia 2026 Update

The Law on Foreigners regulates the entry, stay, work-related residence, departure and return of foreign nationals in the Republic of North Macedonia. For employers and foreign workers, the most important practical changes concern temporary residence for work, supporting documents, renewal timing and special rules for strategic projects.

The latest Law Amending the Law on Foreigners was adopted on 12 September 2025, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia No. 193/2025 on 18 September 2025 and entered into force on 26 September 2025. This 2026 guide explains the rules currently in force. It should not be described as a law adopted in 2026. This page is part of immigration practice.

1. Updated General Conditions for Temporary Residence

Article 72 now requires evidence that the applicant has accommodation. The foreign national must also, as a rule, show means of subsistence, health insurance, fulfilment of the conditions for the chosen residence ground, absence of a threat to public order, national security, public health or international relations, and a clean criminal-status record.

The criminal-status evidence must relate to the country in which the foreign national stayed during the year before the application and must show both that the person has not been convicted and that no criminal proceedings are pending. The form of proof depends on the issuing country.

The requirements concerning means of subsistence and health insurance do not apply to an immediate family member of a Macedonian citizen, an applicant for employment-based temporary residence, or an immediate family member of a sponsor. Ground-specific documentation may still be required.

2. Earlier Renewal Window and Final Filing Deadline

Under Article 79, an application to extend temporary residence may be submitted no earlier than 90 days before expiry and no later than five days before expiry. Each extension may be granted for the period needed to fulfil the purpose of residence, but generally for no more than one year.

A foreign national who files within the statutory period may remain in North Macedonia until a final decision is issued and may obtain a special certificate from the Ministry of Interior. Employers should calendar the 90-day opening date and the five-day final deadline rather than waiting for the permit to expire.

3. Employer Filing and Mandatory Notarised Guarantee

Article 83 allows the application for temporary residence for work to be filed by the foreign national, the legal entity that concluded the employment contract, or an authorised representative. The application may also be submitted directly to the Ministry of Interior.

A legal entity must submit a notarised guarantee for the foreign national. Through the guarantee, it undertakes to bear the foreign national’s stay and accommodation costs and, if they cannot be recovered from the foreign national, the costs of forced removal from North Macedonia. The guarantee must identify the foreign national and the legal entity and state the reason for the invitation.

If the file is incomplete, the Ministry of Interior notifies the applicant and allows seven days to complete it. Failure to provide the requested documents within that period results in refusal. Failure to submit the guarantee is also listed as a misdemeanour under Article 213.

4. Special Route for Workers on Strategic Projects

New Article 83-a creates a special route for a foreign national working on a strategic project determined by a separate law. Residence for work may be approved regardless of quota usage or current labour-market needs and without an opinion from the Employment Agency.

The applicant must still satisfy the general conditions in Article 72. The Ministry of Economy and Labour issues confirmation that the employing entity has strategic-partner status. For employment, Article 86 allows the application to rely on the employment contract with that strategic partner and an explanation of the need and suitability of the foreign worker for the position.

Special renewal rules also apply. Depending on whether the person is employed or posted, the file includes the strategic-partner confirmation, social-insurance evidence and proof of work or the posting instrument. A posted worker engaged by a strategic partner may remain for the project implementation period, for up to one year at a time, with the possibility of extension.

5. Registration of the Start of Work

The responsible persons in the employing entity must register the start of work no later than 30 days after the temporary-residence permit is prepared. The Ministry of Interior reports prepared permits to the Employment Agency monthly, while the Agency reports cases in which work was not registered in time or the worker was deregistered before the permit expired.

If the employment or contractual relationship is not established, ends early, or a self-employed person ceases the activity before the permit expires, the issuing authority must be notified. Employers should therefore align the immigration file, employment registration and payroll or social-insurance records.

6. Employment and Renewal Documentation

For an ordinary employment case, the Employment Agency opinion procedure continues to require proof of the employer’s registration, the foreign national’s identity, an explanation of the need for employment, a signed employment contract and evidence of appropriate education or specific professional competence. The former proof of a recently submitted request for employment mediation is no longer included in Article 87.

For renewal, the request for the Employment Agency’s positive opinion may be initiated during the validity of the previous opinion, but not earlier than 90 days before it expires. The Agency checks whether work was registered and whether social-insurance obligations were paid or, for posted workers, whether the required social and health-insurance evidence was supplied.

7. Posted Workers and Social Insurance Evidence

A foreign legal entity may post workers to North Macedonia to provide services under a contract with a North Macedonian client for a period not exceeding 180 days. Other statutory limits and any applicable ratified bilateral social-security agreement must also be checked.

The supporting file includes the posting instrument, the service contract, and the applicable bilingual social or health-insurance form. Article 91 now expressly requires the social-insurance or health-insurance evidence to cover the period for which the worker is posted.

Practical Checklist for Employers

• identify the correct residence ground before signing or implementing the engagement;
• confirm whether the ordinary Employment Agency route or the strategic-project exception applies;
• prepare the notarised employer guarantee and verify the authorised signatory;
• obtain criminal-status documents from the correct country and check legalisation and translation requirements;
• file renewals within the 90-day to five-day statutory window;
• respond to any incompleteness notice within seven days;
• register the start of work within 30 days after the permit is prepared; and
• retain employment, posting and social-insurance evidence for the full authorised period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Were these amendments adopted in 2026?

No. The latest supplied amendments were published in Official Gazette No. 193/2025 and entered into force on 26 September 2025. This is a 2026 update describing the law currently in force.

Who may file an employment-based temporary-residence application?

The foreign national, the employing legal entity or its authorised representative may file. Article 83 also permits submission to the Ministry of Interior.

Does the employer guarantee need notarisation?

Yes. The guarantee required by Article 83 must be notarised and must contain the prescribed information and cost undertaking.

When can temporary residence be renewed?

The application may be filed no earlier than 90 days before expiry and no later than five days before expiry.

Is an Employment Agency opinion always required?

It is generally required for ordinary work-based cases, but the special route for workers on statutory strategic projects operates without that opinion.

How long does an applicant have to complete an incomplete file?

Seven days from notification by the Ministry of Interior.

Does a permit allow a foreign national to perform any work?

No. A foreign national with work-based temporary residence may perform only the work for which the residence was approved.

Need Legal Guidance

If you are employing, posting or relocating a foreign national to North Macedonia, Lalicic & Partners can assist with the residence strategy, document review, employer guarantee, Employment Agency procedure and renewal timetable. Contact us before filing so that the immigration and employment documents are aligned.

Last updated: September 2026

Note: The above does not constitute legal advice and in no way can be accepted or understood as an instruction to act in a specific case. Each legal situation has its own characteristics that should be reviewed at separately, and for that reason we recommend that you contact a professional – a lawyer – for legal advice.