Citizenship in North Macedonia: Requirements, Naturalization and Application Procedure

The Citizenship Law of the Republic of North Macedonia regulates the acquisition and loss of citizenship, as well as the conditions and procedures applicable to different categories of applicants. Under the Law, citizenship may be acquired by origin, birth in the territory of North Macedonia, naturalization, or on the basis of international agreements. For foreign nationals, naturalization is one of the principal routes to acquiring citizenship. The Law establishes a general naturalization procedure but also provides specific and more favorable rules for certain categories, including emigrants and their descendants, spouses of Macedonian citizens, stateless persons and persons with recognized refugee status. This page is part of our practice in immigration law in North Macedonia. For related immigration matters, see our guides on temporary residence permits and work permits in North Macedonia.

How Can Citizenship Be Acquired in North Macedonia?

Under Article 3 of the Citizenship Law, citizenship of the Republic of North Macedonia may be acquired:

• by origin;
• by birth in the territory of North Macedonia;
• by naturalization; and
• on the basis of international agreements.

The applicable requirements depend on the legal basis under which citizenship is acquired and the applicant’s individual circumstances.

Citizenship by Origin

Citizenship by origin is primarily acquired on the basis of the citizenship of the child’s parents. Under Article 4, a child acquires citizenship by origin where:

• both parents are citizens of North Macedonia at the time of the child’s birth;
• one parent is a Macedonian citizen and the child is born in North Macedonia, subject to the conditions prescribed by law; or
• one parent is a Macedonian citizen and the other parent is unknown, has unknown citizenship or is stateless, where the child is born abroad.

A child may also acquire citizenship by origin through full adoption where both or one of the adoptive parents is a Macedonian citizen.

Children Born Abroad

Special rules apply to a child born abroad where one parent is a Macedonian citizen and the other parent is a foreign national. The child may acquire Macedonian citizenship by origin if, before reaching the age of 18, the child is registered for entry into the citizenship records or permanently settles in North Macedonia with the parent who is a Macedonian citizen. The Law also provides a specific procedure for persons who were not registered by both parents, allowing registration in the citizenship records under the conditions and within the age limits prescribed by law.

Citizenship by Birth in North Macedonia

Citizenship may also be acquired by birth in the territory of North Macedonia in specific circumstances. A child who is found or born in North Macedonia may acquire citizenship where the parents are unknown, of unknown citizenship or stateless. Citizenship acquired on this basis may cease if, before the child reaches the age of 15, it is established that the parents are foreign citizens, provided that the child will not become stateless.

Citizenship by Naturalization

Citizenship by naturalization is available to foreign nationals who satisfy the statutory requirements. Under Article 7, a foreign national must personally submit an application for admission to citizenship and fulfil the conditions prescribed by law.

General Requirements for Naturalization

For citizenship by naturalization, foreign nationals must generally meet the following conditions:

• Age: the applicant must be at least 18 years old;
• Residence: at least seven years of legal and continuous residence in North Macedonia are generally required;
• Financial stability: the applicant must have accommodation and a permanent source of income;
• Criminal record: the applicant must meet the legal requirements concerning criminal convictions and pending criminal proceedings;
• Language: the applicant must have sufficient knowledge of the Macedonian language to communicate easily with the surrounding community;
• Residence status: the applicant must not be subject to a prohibition on residence in North Macedonia;
• National security: admission to citizenship must not endanger the security and defense of North Macedonia;
• Loyalty: the applicant must take an oath of loyalty to the Republic of North Macedonia; and
• Previous citizenship: the applicant must generally be released from their previous citizenship or provide proof that this will occur upon acquiring Macedonian citizenship, subject to the exceptions provided by law.

The specific requirements may differ for certain categories of applicants, including spouses of Macedonian citizens, emigrants and their descendants, stateless persons and recognized refugees.

Citizenship for Emigrants and Their Descendants

The Law provides special rules for emigrants from North Macedonia and their descendants up to the first degree. An emigrant from North Macedonia, as well as a descendant up to the first degree, may acquire citizenship by naturalization even if certain general requirements for ordinary naturalization are not fulfilled.

In particular, the Law provides an exception from the requirements concerning: seven years of legal and continuous residence, knowledge of the Macedonian language and release from previous citizenship. This special naturalization regime may therefore be relevant to persons living abroad who have a qualifying family connection with North Macedonia.

Citizenship Through Marriage

Foreign nationals married to Macedonian citizens may qualify for citizenship under special naturalization provisions. A foreign national who has been married to a Macedonian citizen for at least three years and has legally resided continuously in North Macedonia for at least one year may acquire citizenship even without fulfilling certain general naturalization requirements. The exemptions include requirements concerning:

• seven years of residence;
• accommodation and a permanent source of income;
• knowledge of the Macedonian language; and
• release from previous citizenship.

Long-Term Marriage and Residence Abroad

The Law also provides a separate route for a foreign national who: has been married to a Macedonian citizen for at least eight years; legally and continuously resides abroad; and has a strong and effective connection with North Macedonia. Such a person may acquire citizenship by naturalization without fulfilling certain general requirements specified in Article 9 of the Law.

Does Marriage Automatically Grant Macedonian Citizenship?

No. Marriage to a Macedonian citizen does not automatically confer citizenship. The foreign spouse must meet the applicable statutory requirements and complete the prescribed naturalization procedure. The applicable conditions depend, among other things, on the duration of the marriage and whether the applicant resides in North Macedonia or abroad.

National Security and Defense

One of the requirements for ordinary naturalization is that the applicant’s admission to citizenship must not endanger the security and defense of the Republic of North Macedonia. The competent authority conducts the relevant assessment as part of the citizenship procedure. Where an application is refused on this ground, the competent authority must state the reasons for the decision, while taking into consideration the protection of the public interest.

How Is the Citizenship Application Processed?

The citizenship application is processed by the competent authorities in accordance with the applicable legal basis. For applications under Article 7, the applicant must personally submit the application for admission to citizenship. This procedure is intended to allow the competent authorities to verify the applicant’s eligibility before a decision is made.

Practical Checklist

For individuals considering citizenship in North Macedonia, the following should be addressed before starting the procedure: (1) Legal basis — determine whether citizenship may be acquired by origin, birth, naturalization or under a special provision of the Citizenship Law. (2) Eligibility — check the requirements applicable to your particular category, including residence, age, language, financial and other statutory requirements. (3) Special provisions — determine whether more favorable rules apply — for example, to spouses of Macedonian citizens or emigrants and their descendants. (4) Previous citizenship — establish whether release from existing citizenship is required or whether an exception under the Law may apply. (5) Documentation — identify and prepare the documents and evidence required for the specific procedure. (6) Procedure and timing — allow sufficient time for the administrative procedure; the overall process may take 1.5 to 2 years or longer depending on the circumstances and required administrative checks. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I acquire citizenship in North Macedonia?

Citizenship may be acquired by origin, birth in North Macedonia, naturalization or international agreement. The applicable requirements depend on the legal basis.

Can a foreigner obtain citizenship in North Macedonia?

Yes. A foreign national may acquire citizenship by naturalization if the applicable statutory requirements are fulfilled.

How long do I have to live in North Macedonia before applying for citizenship?

Under the general naturalization procedure, an applicant must have legally and continuously resided in North Macedonia for at least seven years before submitting the application.

Can I obtain Macedonian citizenship through marriage?

Yes. Foreign nationals married to Macedonian citizens may qualify for citizenship under special naturalization rules. The requirements depend on the duration of the marriage and the applicant’s place of residence.

Does marriage automatically give me Macedonian citizenship?

No. Marriage itself does not automatically confer citizenship. The applicant must satisfy the applicable statutory requirements and complete the naturalization procedure.

Can emigrants from North Macedonia obtain citizenship?

Yes. The Law provides special rules for emigrants from North Macedonia and their descendants up to the first degree, including exemptions from certain general naturalization requirements such as the seven-year residence requirement and the language requirement.

Is knowledge of the Macedonian language required?

Yes, under the general naturalization procedure. The applicant must know the Macedonian language sufficiently to communicate easily with the surrounding community. However, certain categories — including emigrants and their descendants covered by the special provisions — may be exempt from this requirement.

Is there a security check for citizenship applications?

Yes. One of the statutory requirements is that the applicant’s admission to citizenship must not endanger the security and defense of the Republic of North Macedonia. The competent authority conducts this assessment as part of the procedure.

How long does the citizenship procedure take?

The Citizenship Law provides specific deadlines for certain steps in the procedure. However, the overall process may take considerably longer due to its complexity, the involvement of several competent authorities and the number of administrative checks required. In practice, the procedure may take approximately one and a half to two years, or even longer, depending on the circumstances of each case.

What happens if my citizenship application is refused?

The applicant may have legal remedies available against the decision, depending on the legal basis for the refusal and the applicable procedural rules. The reasons for the refusal should be reviewed carefully to determine the appropriate next step. Legal assistance is recommended in such cases.

Last updated: August 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.