VISA REGIME
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For holders of diplomatic and official passports: |
Visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days |
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For holders of national passports and other travel documents: |
Visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days |
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Note: |
Visa is not required for holders of an emergency travel document in transit |
ENTERING AND LEAVING THE COUNTRY
Serbian citizens are not required to obtain a visa to enter and stay up to 90 days in North Macedonia. They can enter the country also with a valid biometric ID card.
To regulate their stay in North Macedonia (on the basis of employment, study or marriage), Serbian citizens are not required to obtain the type D (long stay) visa, which is issued at the Embassy of North Macedonia in Belgrade. For this purpose, Serbian citizens should contact this country’s Ministry of the Interior – Department for Foreigners.
All foreign citizens, regardless of whether they are required to have a visa to enter North Macedonia, must report to and register with the nearest police station within 24 hours of entering this country.
GOODS NOT SUBJECT TO IMPORT DUTIES – Foreign nationals are exempt from import (customs, VAT and excise) duties on: personal luggage; 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (cigarettes with a maximum weight of 3 grams per piece) or 50 cigars or 250 grams of smoking tobacco or an equivalent amount of different tobacco products; 1 litre of spirits with more than 22% of alcoholic content or 2 litres of alcoholic beverages and wine- or alcohol-based aperitifs, with alcoholic content not exceeding 22%; 2 litres of wine; 50 ml of perfume; 250 ml of eau de toilette.
The exemptions from import duties on tobacco and alcohol products do not apply to travellers under the age of 18.
Excise goods may only be transported through major border crossing points. There are veterinary and phytosanitary control services present at such crossing points.
When entering North Macedonia, a foreign citizen may bring into the country, without declaration, various foreign currencies in the amount of up to 10,000 in euro equivalent. Any sum exceeding 10,000 euros must be declared to the customs officer. Visitors are required to furnish a statement serving as proof of origin of declared foreign currency. When taking foreign currency in the amount exceeding 10,000 euros out of the country, visitors need to present to the customs officer a certificate of bringing that currency into the country. Such certificate must not be older than 30 days from the date of issuance.
Medicines – To bring medicines into North Macedonia, travellers are required to obtain a special permit issued by the Bureau for Drugs of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of North Macedonia. Bringing medicines without the permit is allowed only if the medicines are intended for personal use. In that case, the traveller is required to have a certificate issued by his/her home country healthcare institution containing information about the medicine, the patient and the type of disease, signed by the chosen doctor.
For medicines containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, an appropriate certificate issued by the Bureau for Drugs is required.
Weapons and ammunition – Weapons and ammunition of all types may not be brought into or carried through the territory of North Macedonia. Bringing in hunting weapons and ammunition is allowed only with the approval/permit of North Macedonia’s Ministry of the Interior.
The import and transit of products of animal origin (cheese, cured meat products, etc.) in the quantity not exceeding 1 kg is allowed. Larger quantities require carrying out veterinary and sanitary control at the border crossing point. The import of plants and seed material requires phytosanitary control at the point of entry.
Pets – An owner or responsible person bringing a pet to North Macedonia should have the appropriate pet identifying documents, namely:
- a veterinary health certificate issued by an official veterinarian;
- a pet passport issued by an official veterinarian, which is mandatory for all types of dogs, cats and ferrets; or
- a statement issued by the owner or responsible person, which is mandatory for all types of birds, provided that they are coming from a member country of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Endangered flora and fauna – Subject to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), bringing in and taking out endangered flora and fauna and their products to/from the territory of North Macedonia is strictly prohibited by law. To trade in endangered and protected wild species of plants, fungi and animals and their products, it is necessary to furnish an appropriate document i.e. a permit issued by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of the Republic of North Macedonia, which must be obtained in advance.
Protected animal species and their products are:
- brown bear, peregrine falcon, Grayling butterfly (lat. Hipparchia semele);
- wolf, snake, lizard and tropical animals;
- corals and shellfish;
- exotic plants (orchids, cacti), etc.;
- all types of products made of endangered plant or animal species, such as: musical instruments, coral and ivory artefacts, clothing, footwear, fashion accessories, etc.
A customs officer, police officer or inspector will confiscate such items, and the offender will, in addition to paying a fine, reimburse all other costs incurred for the temporary care or storage of such animal species or products.
Items and goods of cultural and historical heritage subject to obtaining certificates for (temporary) export from the territory of North Macedonia are:
- archaeological artefacts (excavated from the ground or taken out from water, originating from a certain period);
- ethnographic artefacts (testifying to the way of life, tradition, customs, etc.);
- historical artefacts (related to certain historical events or used by historical figures, including old coins and banknotes);
- works of art (paintings, drawings, sculptures, copper and other engravings and other artistic pieces);
- technical items (machines, tools, instruments, equipment, etc. originating from a specific period of technical progress);
- archive material (original or reproduced documentary material of lasting value);
- library material (old manuscripts, rare books and other publications);
- cinematographic goods (cinematographic works, different types of films – cartoons, documentaries, popular science films, etc.);
- audio-visual material (original materials and audio copies of feature or animated films, scripts, photographs, slides, posters, etc.), and
- library of audio recordings (original music and other sound recordings).
Cultural heritage of special importance (such as protected museum collections) may not be taken out of the country. Cultural heritage not subject to the general export ban regime, as well as goods treated as national treasure, may be exported only with the permission of the Cultural Protection Heritage Office of the Republic of North Macedonia.
Cultural goods not subject to the protection regime are those which do not have the character of cultural heritage and may be freely taken out of the country, such as reproductions and copies of museum exhibits (antiquities and other museum items). They should, however, be accompanied with an appropriate certificate confirming the item to be a copy and stating the origin of the original item and the certificate issuing institution.
SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
There is a social security agreement between Serbia and North Macedonia in place (signed in 2002 between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia). It regulates the provision, free of charge, of healthcare services during a temporary stay of visitors and tourists in North Macedonia. Such services include only urgent and immediate medical interventions.
Serbian visitors are required to have a certificate of the right to health care, issued by the relevant branch of Serbia’s National Health Insurance Fund. If the visitor is not in possession of this certificate, it can be issued afterwards, at the request of the relevant branch of the Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of North Macedonia.
USEFUL INFORMATION
SECURITY SITUATION – The current situation in North Macedonia is stable. Serbian citizens who intend to travel there are recommended not to leave their documents, personal belongings and valuables inside their cars due to the risk of theft.
TRANSPORT – There are two airports in North Macedonia: Skopje International Airport (contact telephone number: 00 389 2 3148 333) and Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport (contact telephone numbers: 00 389 46 252 821 and 00 389 46 252 321).
In the winter, flights from Belgrade to Skopje and vice versa are operated four times a week.
There are two highways connecting cities on the Kumanovo–Veles–Negotino–Demir Hisar–Valandovo–Gevgelija and Kumanovo–Skopje–Tetovo–Gostivar routes.
The authorities of North Macedonia recognise the national (Serbian) driving licence. If the driver operating the vehicle is not its owner, he/she is required to obtain an authorisation to drive another person’s vehicle abroad. The international motor insurance card (the Green Card) is mandatory. A foreigner temporarily staying in North Macedonia may operate a motor vehicle in its territory during temporary stay with his/her national driving licence, subject to the principle of reciprocity.
The use of headlights while driving is mandatory at all times of the day and night on all types of roads (main, regional and local) as well as in settlements.
Traffic violation fines imposed by a police officer are paid at the bank. It is not allowed to pay a fine in cash to a uniformed police officer. If the uniformed police officer insists on such method of payment, such conduct should be reported at the nearest police station. A fine should be paid within eight days from receiving it. In accordance with the provisions of the Law on Road Traffic Safety of the Republic of North Macedonia, a police officer may temporarily confiscate the travel document and the driving licence until proof of payment of fine is provided.
The use of seat belts is mandatory in North Macedonia for all passengers in all seats. The blood alcohol concentration limit when driving a vehicle is 0.5‰. Professional (commercial) drivers are not allowed to have any alcohol in their blood.
Children under the age of 12 and passengers under the influence of alcohol may not be seated in the front. Drivers may not use mobile phones while driving.
Winter equipment is mandatory between 15 November and 15 March.
During the holiday season, there is a higher risk of fatigue-related traffic accidents caused by drivers travelling from Serbia to Greece and Turkey. More frequent stops while driving are recommended.
The road border crossing points between Serbia and North Macedonia are:
- Preševo – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 381 17 7666 001; Tabanovce – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 31 416 244; Tabanovce Customs contact telephone number: 00 389 31 467 610;
- Prohor Pčinjski/Pelince – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 31 800 000;
- Globočnica/Jažince (K&M) – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 44 363 092;
- Đeneral Janković/Dolno Blace (K&M) – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 2 321 4018.
The railway border crossing point between Serbia and North Macedonia is:
- Preševo/Tabanovce – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 31 467 511.
The road border crossing points between North Macedonia and Greece are:
- Bogorodica – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 34 230 130;
- Bogorodica – Customs contact telephone number: 00 389 34 230 100;
- Stari Dorjan – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 34 225 330;
- Medžitlija (near Bitola) – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 47 231 258.
The border crossing points between North Macedonia and Bulgaria are:
- Novo Selo (near Strumica) – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 34 363 350;
- Deve Bair (near Kriva Palanka) – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 31 387 022;
- Delčevo – Border Police contact telephone number: 00 389 33 412 101.
OTHER INFORMATION – Important telephone numbers are: Police – 192, Ambulance – 194, Fire brigade – 193; Аuto-Moto Association of Macedonia Info Centre – 9801; Roadside assistance – 196; Crisis Management Centre – 195; National Market Inspection – 975; To report smuggling and corruption anonymously and free of charge – 197; To report corruption within law enforcement – 199; Skopje International Airport border crossing point – 00 389 2 3222 850; Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport border crossing point – 00 389 46 260 073.
Contact information
For consular assistance and protection while in North Macedonia, please contact the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in this country (address: Pitu Guli 8, Skopje, North Macedonia), at the following telephone numbers: 00 389 2 3129 298, 00 389 2 3131 299, 00 389 2 3128 422, and 00 389 2 3130 421, or e-mail addresses: srbamb@unet.com.mk and konzularno@srbija.com.mk. You may also contact the honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia in Bitola Siljan Micevski (address: Vienska 2/4, Bitola, North Macedonia), at the telephone number: 00 389 47 242 222, mobile phone number: 00 389 70 207 000, or e-mail address: siljan@gppelister.com.mk.