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North Macedonia · Relocation guide

Moving to North Macedonia: a practical relocation guide

North Macedonia uses a long-stay D visa after temporary-residence approval for many moves; the visa is not the residence decision itself. Host reporting, work authorisation and local service registration must then be completed separately.

Content updated 12 September 2026. Individual source-check dates are listed below.

Put temporary residence before the D visa

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a D visa is issued to a foreigner who has already received a temporary-residence decision. Work, study and family purposes therefore require the substantive residence approval rather than a short-stay C visa.

For employment, confirm the Employment Agency opinion and Ministry of Interior process before agreeing a start date. A property-owner route supports residence only within its own conditions and should not be treated as general work permission.

Put temporary residence before the D visa
PurposeRoute to examineBoundary
Local jobLong-Stay D Visa for Work Temporary ResidenceTemporary residence and work clearance precede the D visa.
StudyLong-Stay D Visa for Study Temporary ResidenceUse enrolment as the residence ground; confirm work separately.
FamilyLong-Stay D Visa for Family ReunionEach dependant needs approved residence and a D visa where required.

Make the host report the stay

Paid accommodation providers must report a foreign guest within 12 hours. Other hosts must report within 48 hours to the police station responsible for the address; the electronic form does not remove the in-person confirmation requirement stated for private hosts.

Obtain the stamped confirmation and use an actual lease or owner evidence for longer-term residence. Ask the Ministry of Interior how a later address change must be recorded.

Confirm work and housing before moving

Do not begin local employment on a short-stay visa or a pending residence file. Obtain the employer-side approval and the document that states when work can start.

Ask the landlord to support police and residence registration before paying a long deposit. Record the inventory, utilities and correspondence address at handover.

Activate health, payroll and tax records

Employees should verify payroll and Health Insurance Fund registration; non-workers and dependants need their own documented medical-cover basis. Keep interim insurance until coverage is active.

Tax residence is distinct from immigration. Obtain the applicable Public Revenue Office identifier, keep a day count and seek advice for foreign income or business.

Set up family, banking and driving

Bring authenticated civil and school records with translations requested locally. Ask the municipality or school to confirm placement and language support.

Banks set identity, address, tax-residence and source-of-funds checks. Check licence recognition and vehicle registration with the Ministry of Interior by issuing country.

Renew the residence ground, not just the visa

Calendar temporary-residence expiry and obtain the current renewal checklist early. Keep the employer, accommodation, insurance and family basis current.

Recheck regional and border conditions before travel and preserve host-registration evidence for departure or inspections.

Your moving checklist

Tick off the tasks that apply to you. The timing is a planning order, not a substitute for the deadlines on your permission or an official instruction.

0 of 13 tasks completed

Before you move
On arrival
Your first month
Later and before renewal

Sources and checks

The linked authorities set the rules. VisaAtlas explains how the steps fit together; planning suggestions are not a decision on your immigration status, tax residence or entitlement to services.

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