Country Guide
North Macedonia
Travel to North Macedonia safely and compliantly
Planning a workation in Ohrid? Or a business trip to Skopje or Bitola? Learn the essential information you and your employees need to work safely and compliantly while traveling in North Macedonia, including working conditions, safety and health regulations, tax treaties, social security, and more.
Capital city
Skopje
Telephone code
+389
Official language
Macedonian
Currency
Macedonian Denar (MKD)
Time zone
UTC+1
Social security compliance
When working remotely abroad, your employees may become subject to the social security scheme of the destination country, which means you, as an employer, would need to pay social security premiums accordingly. North Macedonia has social security agreements with several countries, available here, to prevent the payment of double social security premiums or non-insurance.
To ensure your employees remain compliant with these treaties, they must possess a valid Certificate of Coverage (CoC) obtained from the relevant local authorities. For WorkFlex users, the CoC is issued automatically after a trip request is submitted. Discover our solution for efficient social security risk mitigation here.
Tax compliance
North Macedonia has signed bilateral tax treaties with numerous countries that specify the steps to take to avoid double taxation, available here. These treaties generally follow international standards and provide guidelines for various types of income, including employment income.
Despite the existence of tax treaties, the issue of Permanent Establishment remains a significant compliance concern for employers with employees temporarily working in North Macedonia. If a traveling employee is deemed to constitute a Permanent Establishment in North Macedonia, the employer may be required to:
- Register the company locally
- Allocate profits to the local business (branch)
- File corporate taxes
- Comply with various local regulations
To avoid this scenario, follow the guidelines mentioned in the "Working" section.
Overriding local employment provisions
Employees traveling to North Macedonia are expected to comply with some basic local employment provisions that may be qualified as overriding, such as minimum salary standards. See the recent information on minimum wage in North Macedonia here.
Visa
To work legally while in another country, employees generally need a valid work title. It's important to keep in mind that the consequences of entering without the proper documentation can be significant for both the employee and the employer.
For those planning work-from-anywhere trips to North Macedonia, here's a quick overview:
- Visa-Free Entry: Many nationalities can enter North Macedonia without a visa
- Standard Visa: Applications must be submitted in person at diplomatic missions
- E-Visa: Not available
- Visa on Arrival: Not available
- Digital Nomad Visa: North Macedonia does not currently offer a digital nomad visa program.
Need trip-specific visa information? Check out WorkFlex Visa Navigator.
For those planning business trips to North Macedonia:
- Visa-Free Entry: Many nationalities can conduct business visits without a visa
- Standard Visa: Must be obtained in person at diplomatic missions
- E-Visa: Not available
- Visa on Arrival: Not available
Need trip-specific visa information? Check out WorkFlex Visa Navigator.
Working hours
Most employees in North Macedonia work from Monday to Friday, with a standard workweek consisting of 40 hours. The workday is typically running from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a lunch break of 30 minutes in between.
To remain compliant during your trip abroad, here are some suggestions to follow:
- Avoid working overtime: Regulations regarding overtime can differ significantly and may be much stricter compared to those in your home country.
- Refrain from working outside regular hours: The rules surrounding working outside regular hours may vary and could be stricter than in your home country.
- Do not work on weekends: If the weekend days differ from those in your home country, please avoid working on both your regular weekend days and the local weekend days.
Public holidays
- January 1: New Year's Day
- January 7: Orthodox Christmas
- April: Orthodox Easter (dates vary)
- May 1: Labor Day
- May 24: Saints Cyril and Methodius Day
- Eid al-Fitr (dates vary)
- August 2: Republic Day
- September 8: Independence Day
- October 11: Day of People's Uprising
- October 23: Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle
Depending on the region you're visiting, there may be additional region-specific public holidays. For more information about these holidays, please check here.
To comply with labor laws, please refrain from working on national or regional holidays during your trip. These days hold significant importance for locals and provide a great opportunity for you to blend in and celebrate with the community.
Working activities
When considering travel for work purposes—whether for a workation or a business trip—it is crucial to understand the implications of Permanent Establishment (PE) and associated tax risks. PE is a significant compliance concern for companies and can become costly due to the administrative burden if the compliance requirements for employees working abroad are not properly managed. To help mitigate these risks, here are a few guidelines to follow.
If you are traveling for a workation, please:
- Refrain from negotiating or signing sales contracts during your trip.
- Avoid visiting clients or any office, including your employer's local office in the destination country.
Following these guidelines will help mitigate the important compliance risks related to Permanent Establishment for your employer.
If you are a business traveler, it may be difficult to avoid the activities mentioned above. In this case, please ensure you inform your employer's compliance department about this matter. If you and your organization are WorkFlex users, this topic is addressed through the WorkFlex platform.
Data protection
Data protection is fundamentally about keeping our information safe from unauthorized access, breaches, theft, or damage. This responsibility is important for everyone, regardless of where they are working.
When employees work temporarily from abroad, data protection involves ensuring continued coverage and compliance with the data protection regulations of both, the home country and the destination country. North Macedonia has implemented the Law on Personal Data Protection. Its level of regulation and enforcement is characterized as robust. That means the data protection laws are well-established with strong safeguards and regulatory mechanisms. While comprehensive, enforcement may be less stringent in certain areas compared to "heavy" regimes, learn more about it here.
For WorkFlex users, a comprehensive list of data protection activities is available in the profile, but here are some general data protection guidelines to keep your data safe:
- Adhere to Your Company's Internal Data Policies: Familiarize yourself with and follow your organization’s specific data protection protocols.
- Use Secure Network Connections: Always connect through secure networks, especially when accessing sensitive information.
- Be Aware of Phishing: Stay vigilant against phishing attempts by verifying the authenticity of emails and messages before clicking on any links.
- Utilize Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication: Create complex passwords and enable multi-factor authentication for an added layer of security.
- Keep Your Devices in a Secure Location: Always store your devices in safe places to prevent unauthorized access.
- Lock Your Screen Whenever Applicable: Ensure your screen is locked when you're away from your device to protect your information.
Travel health insurance
When traveling to North Macedonia for work—whether for a short business trip or an extended workation—it's essential to have comprehensive health insurance coverage to ensure access to medical care.
For business trips, the employer typically arranges the employee's travel health insurance. However, for workations, these responsibilities can be less clear. WorkFlex takes care of travel health insurance for trips worldwide to ensure there are no costly consequences for either the employee or the employer if accidents occur while working abroad.
For travelers using WorkFlex
If you’re traveling with WorkFlex, comprehensive health insurance is automatically included if your employer has activated this feature. For more details, please refer to your trip request on the WorkFlex platform.
For other travelers
Ensure you have travel health insurance with worldwide coverage, whether for a workation or business trip, so that you can receive adequate medical treatment in case of an emergency.
Urgent safety information
For travelers using WorkFlex:
Please refer to your trip's risk assessment under the "Health and Security" dimension to review any urgent security information relevant to your travel.
For other travelers:
Please visit official authority websites to check for any current threats or urgent security advisories:
Terrorism
Follow the general cautionary measures.
Domestic situation
The overall situation in North Macedonia remains calm, but protests and demonstrations can occur, especially near the government and parliament buildings in Skopje, as well as occasionally in other cities. The authorities face some challenges in providing timely assistance and access in certain regions of the country.
Recommendations:
- Exercise caution, particularly when traveling in northern and northwestern border areas with Kosovo and Serbia, especially away from main roads.
- Avoid protests and large gatherings as these can escalate.
- Follow the instructions of local security forces to stay safe.
Crime
While the overall crime rate is low, there are risks, particularly in urban areas like downtown Skopje. Pickpocketing, handbag theft, and occasional car break-ins (often by youth gangs) have been reported. Credit card fraud is also a concern.
Safety tips:
- Keep your money, IDs, driver’s licenses, and important documents secure; storing electronic copies/photos of them is a good backup in case of theft.
- Prefer cashless payments and carry only the cash needed for the day, leaving unnecessary valuables behind.
- Be particularly alert in crowded areas, such as airports, train stations, and downtown Skopje. Keep an eye on your belongings.
- Never leave valuables in vehicles, even for a short period.
- Be cautious of unfamiliar emails, phone calls, prize notifications, offers, or requests for help from unknown sources. Always verify their legitimacy or contact local authorities if in doubt.
Skopje valley:
- Temperature ranges: Summer: 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F), Winter: -1°C to 5°C (30°F to 41°F)
- Continental climate
- Hot summers
- Cold winters
- Occasional smog in winter
Mountain regions:
- Temperature ranges: Summer: 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F), Winter: -5°C to 0°C (23°F to 32°F)
- Alpine climate
- Significant snowfall in winter
- Cool summers
Lake Ohrid region:
- Temperature ranges: Summer: 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F), Winter: 0°C to 10°C (32°F to 50°F)
- Mediterranean influence
- Milder winters
- Moderate summers
Airports
Skopje International Airport (SKP)
- Location: Skopje
- When to use: Main international hub, primary entry point
St. Paul the Apostle Airport (OHD)
- Location: Ohrid
- When to use: Tourist destinations, seasonal flights
Train stations
Skopje Railway Station
Main connections:
- Services to Belgrade (Serbia)
- Trains to Thessaloniki (Greece)
- Domestic routes to Bitola
- Local connections
Bitola Railway Station
Main connections:
- Services to Skopje
- Regional connections
- Local transport links
Additional Services:
- International connections to Serbia and Greece
- Domestic routes between major cities
- Modern trains on main routes
Ride-hailing services
- Bolt
- Next
- Local taxi apps
- TaxiMe
Public transportation
Inter-city services
Bus network
- Primary mode of inter-city transport
- Regular services between major cities
- Modern fleet on main routes
- Frequent connections
Urban networks
Skopje
- Public bus system
- Double-decker buses
- Extensive taxi services
- Walking-friendly city center
Bitola
- Local bus network
- Taxi services
- City center easily walkable