Work Of Foreign Nationals Without A Residence Permit

Foreign nationals working in North Macedonia must generally hold a work permit and appropriate residence status. However, the Law on Employment and Work of Foreigners provides a targeted exception — the ‘registration of work’ regime — which allows short-term, project-based engagement without a permit, provided the work is duly registered with the Employment Agency. Understanding the scope and limits of this regime is essential for any company engaging foreign personnel in North Macedonia. This page is part of our practice as an immigration lawyer in Skopje. For related questions about work permits for foreign nationals, see our guide on work permits in North Macedonia.

The general rule under Macedonian legislation is clear: a foreign national working in the Republic of North Macedonia must hold an appropriate residence permit for employment purposes or a work permit. However, the Law on Employment and Work of Foreigners provides for an important exception: in certain situations, foreigners may work without such permits, provided that their work is duly registered with the Employment Agency.

This regime, commonly referred to as ‘registration of work’, represents a significant and practically useful instrument. It is relatively frequently used in business practice, yet often remains insufficiently understood and occasionally misinterpreted. Its purpose is not to circumvent or replace the legal requirements arising under immigration law, but rather to establish a simplified administrative procedure for specific situations where the engagement of the foreign national is limited in duration and clearly project-based.

In essence, the ‘registration of work’ regime introduces a degree of flexibility in organizing business activities, particularly in cases involving short-term engagements, technical support, project implementation, or similar activities that do not require long-term presence or the establishment of a formal employment relationship. Nevertheless, even under this simplified regime, the relevant entities remain obliged to comply with all applicable legal requirements, including labor, tax, and immigration regulations, depending on the specifics of each case.

Situations Where the Regime Applies

1. Equipment Delivery, Installation and Maintenance

The regime is frequently used for short-term services related to the delivery, installation, or maintenance of equipment. When a foreign supplier delivers machinery and sends personnel to install, test, or train local staff, no work permit is required. The same applies to servicing, diagnostics, or repair activities, provided that these services arise from the underlying purchase or supply agreement.

2. Trade Fairs and Exhibitions

The regime applies to participation of foreign nationals in trade fairs and exhibitions. Foreign workers who enter the country to assemble or present equipment at a trade fair are not required to obtain a work permit, provided that their engagement is limited to the duration of the event.

3. Short-Term Services Where Local Labor Is Unavailable

The law allows the engagement of foreign nationals for short-term services in situations where the domestic labor market cannot provide the required workforce. This possibility is subject to specific conditions, including the existence of an appropriate legal act governing the provision of such services and a prior determination of labor needs by the local entity. In practice, the local company must first notify the Employment Agency of its need for labor and obtain a written confirmation that such labor cannot be sourced locally. This confirmation must not be older than six months at the time of engagement.

4. Emergency Situations

Where immediate intervention is required — for example, due to a breakdown, technical failure, or risk of economic damage — foreign experts may be engaged without prior authorization. In such cases, the registration must be completed within three days of their arrival in the country.

5. Foreign Students

Foreign students residing in the country are permitted to perform limited work without a work permit, provided that such work is registered in advance and does not exceed ten working hours per week.

Registration Obligations and Time Limits

A common element across all these cases is the mandatory nature of registration. The law explicitly requires that the work of foreign nationals be registered as a condition for its legality. This obligation falls on the employer, the client, or the organizer of the service, depending on the specific circumstances. Registration must be carried out within strictly defined deadlines — typically before the commencement of work or immediately upon the foreign national’s arrival. There is also an obligation to deregister the work upon its completion.

This regime is subject to time limitations. In most cases, services may be provided for a maximum of 30 or 60 days within a calendar year. If the engagement exceeds this period, the foreign national must obtain an appropriate work permit and residence status, in line with the nature of the engagement.

Risks of Misuse

The registration of work should not be viewed as a substitute for long-term employment of foreign nationals. It serves as a targeted mechanism designed to provide flexibility for short-term, occasional, and clearly defined services. Any misuse or overly broad interpretation of this regime may lead to significant legal risks, including administrative offences and sanctions for both the engaging entity and the foreign national.

For companies engaging foreign nationals, it is therefore essential to properly assess the nature of each engagement. The key question is whether the activity falls within the scope of the ‘registration of work’ regime or whether it requires obtaining a work permit and residence authorization under the applicable legal framework.

Although this distinction may appear technical at first glance, it has direct implications for the legality of the entire engagement, including the immigration status of the foreign national, tax treatment, and compliance with labor regulations. A careful and well-informed approach, supported where necessary by legal advice, is strongly recommended.

Practical Checklist

Before engaging a foreign national under the ‘registration of work’ regime, verify the following: (1) Confirm the activity falls within a permitted category — equipment installation/maintenance from a supply agreement, trade fair participation, short-term services where local labor is unavailable, emergency intervention, or student work (max 10h/week). If the activity does not clearly fit one of these, a formal work permit is required. (2) Check the time limit — most categories allow a maximum of 30 or 60 days per calendar year. Verify the applicable limit for your specific category. If the engagement will exceed this, begin the work permit process immediately. (3) Register before work starts — registration with the Employment Agency must be completed before the foreign national commences work. For emergencies only, registration may be completed within 3 days of arrival. (4) For unavailable local labor: obtain confirmation first — if using the ‘unavailable local labor’ category, the company must notify the Employment Agency and obtain written confirmation that the required skills cannot be sourced locally. This confirmation must be no older than 6 months. (5) Deregister upon completion — once the work is finished, the engagement must be formally deregistered with the Employment Agency. (6) Assess tax and labor implications — even under this simplified regime, tax and labor law obligations may apply depending on the engagement’s nature and duration. Seek legal advice if in doubt. Contact our immigration lawyers for assistance with the registration procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ‘registration of work’ regime?

It is a simplified procedure under the Law on Employment and Work of Foreigners that allows foreign nationals to perform specific, short-term activities in North Macedonia without obtaining a full work permit or residence permit for employment. Instead, the work is registered with the Employment Agency before it begins (or within 3 days in emergencies).

Which situations are covered by the registration of work regime?

The main categories are: (1) equipment delivery, installation, testing, maintenance and repair arising from a supply agreement; (2) participation in trade fairs and exhibitions; (3) short-term services where local labor is genuinely unavailable, with prior Employment Agency confirmation; (4) emergency interventions (breakdown, technical failure, risk of economic damage); and (5) student work not exceeding 10 hours per week.

How long can a foreign national work under this regime?

In most categories, the maximum is 30 or 60 days within a calendar year, depending on the specific situation. Once this limit is reached, the foreign national must obtain a formal work permit and appropriate residence status. Exceeding the limit without a permit expose both the company and the individual to administrative sanctions.

What happens if the registration deadline is missed?

Failure to register before work starts (or within 3 days for emergencies) makes the engagement unlawful. Both the engaging company and the foreign national may face administrative offences and fines. The ‘registration of work’ regime provides no protection if the registration obligation is not fulfilled.

Can this regime be used as an alternative to a work permit for long-term engagements?

No. The registration of work regime is explicitly designed for short-term, project-specific situations. Using it as a substitute for a formal work permit — for example, by repeatedly re-registering the same person — constitutes misuse and carries significant legal risk for the company. If an engagement is ongoing or recurring, a work permit is required.

Last updated: July 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.