North Macedonia
Located in Eastern Europe, UN Member State of North Macedonia is currently not part of the European Union but shares part of its is borders with two EU Member Countries.
The proximity between North Macedonia and the so-called political Europe although, is not merely geographical.
The two parties share common beliefs and projects both on the trading and on the diplomatic side.
ETIAS for Citizens of North Macedonia: Key Facts
North Macedonia Nationals can submit ETIAS applications from early year 2025
ETIAS petitioners must hold a valid Republic of North Macedonia biometric passport
ETIAS application enabled only through digital channel
ETIAS necessary for business, leisure/family visit, transit and medical treatment trips towards and across each of the 34 ETIAS Member and de facto Member Countries
Duration of stay in the ETIAS Area shall not pass 90 out of every 180 days.
North Macedonia’s ties to Europe
Located in Eastern Europe, UN Member State of North Macedonia is currently not part of the European Union but shares part of its is borders with two EU Member Countries Greece and Bulgaria.
The proximity between North Macedonia and the so-called political Europe although, is not merely geographical.
The two parties share common beliefs and projects both on the trading and on the diplomatic side.
These strong connections between North Macedonia and the EU / Schengen Area Countries have surely supported the acquisition of Visa Waiver Rights for Macedonians coming to many destinations in Europe granted several years ago.
On the edge of ETIAS System coming to its inception the diplomatic, cultural and trading ties between the two sides are expected to become even more strong and promise indeed to be mutually beneficial.ETIAS eligibility for Macedonians
North Macedonia Nationals will indeed from 2024 be eligible for ETIAS for their travels to the EU for either tourism, business, transit or medical treatment and with a stay of maximum ninety days out of every six months. For more details about what activities are allowed with ETIAS click here.
It is very important to notice that applicants from North Macedonia must be in possession of a valid biometric passport in order to submit an ETIAS application.
Those who do not hold such kind of passport are required to apply for a Visa at the relevant Consulate of the Schengen Country they wish to visit.
Upon each travel on this Visa Waiver, the biometric passport must have no less than 90 days of remaining validity for the entire stay in the ETIAS Area.Nations where ETIAS is required
ETIAS is only valid for journeys to the thirty-four European countries that are current or future Members of the Schengen Area. As a matter of fact, up to this very day there are 2 EU Nations that are not part of Schengen. These countries are: Republic of Ireland (EIRE)and Cyprus. Among these only Ireland is free to decide whether to become one day part of the border free European travel area and, because of this, it is currently not linked to ETIAS system that will hence not be a requirement to access its territory. Cyprus instead, even if currently part of EU and not yet of the border-free travel zone, is bound to become Schengen Member and therefore will enforce, from its very inception, the obligation to hold a valid ETIAS to all legitimate Visa Waiver visitors.
ETIAS use while traveling
Once issued the ETIAS Visa Waiver issued to North Macedonia citizens will be valid for a maximum of three years and will permit multiple entries in the EU/Schengen Area through air, land or sea borders and regardless of the Nation of commencement of the journey.
In case of application made with a passport with less of 3 years of remaining validity the ETIAS will cease to be valid on the same date as the passport.
Upon reaching the ETIAS Area Borders short-term visitors from Macedonia coming to EU / Schengen Area might always be required to provide further documents to prove the purpose and scheduled duration of their trips such as:- return ticket to origin or residence country
- onwards ticket to a non-ETIAS Member Country
- proof of sufficient funds to support the whole travel
ETIAS is digitally linked to the biometric passport used to the application; as a consequence, it is not strictly necessary to hold a hard copy of the granted Visa Waiver.