In recent weeks our office has received a growing number of enquiries from foreign entrepreneurs, from Pakistan and Bangladesh to Vietnam and the Gulf states, who want to open a company here and ask the same questions: can they come in person, do they need a visa, and which documents should they prepare while still in their home country. Company registration can be completed entirely without their presence, but bank identification, signing contracts and meeting partners often call for at least one short visit. That is why entry rules are the first step of every investment, and mistakes here are the most expensive to fix.
Who can enter North Macedonia without a visa?
Visa-free entry applies to citizens of the European Union and the Schengen area, the United States, the United Kingdom and a number of other countries, who may stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period with a valid passport only. Citizens of countries not covered by the visa-free regime, which include most Asian and African states, need a visa obtained before travelling from the competent diplomatic or consular mission. The current list of countries under a visa regime is published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and should be checked for each specific passport, because the status changes with international agreements.
What is a C visa and when is it needed for a business visit?
The C visa is a short-stay visa: it allows entry and stay of up to 90 days within 180 days and is the standard instrument for business meetings, negotiations, signing contracts and preparing an investment. It is required when the traveller comes from a country under a visa regime and the purpose of the trip is not employment or permanent residence. The application is filed in person at the diplomatic or consular mission competent for the country of residence, and experience dictates planning the application at least several weeks before travel, because the procedure includes checks that do not depend on the applicant.
Which documents are prepared for a business visa?
The documentation is prepared in the country of residence, and the key document from the Macedonian side is the letter of guarantee: an invitation from a domestic legal or natural person, certified before a notary, by which the host undertakes to cover the costs of the stay. Typically required are:
- a valid passport with sufficient validity beyond the planned departure,
- a completed application form and a photograph,
- a letter of guarantee from the Macedonian host, stating the purpose and duration of the visit,
- proof of financial means for the stay and the return journey,
- travel health insurance,
- accommodation booking and a return ticket.
For investors who also want to see the location, open a bank account or sign the founding acts, the letter of guarantee is usually drafted by the attorney or the domestic business partner, with a precisely defined purpose that matches the real programme of the trip.
| Visa-free entry | C visa | D visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For whom | Citizens of visa-free countries | Citizens of visa-regime countries, for a short visit | Foreign nationals planning a longer stay on a specific ground |
| Duration | Up to 90 days within 180 days | Up to 90 days within 180 days | Longer stay, as a basis for temporary residence |
| Where obtained | No visa needed | Diplomatic or consular mission | Diplomatic or consular mission |
| Allows work? | No | No | Only with a work permit and regulated residence |
What is mandatory in the first days after entry?
Every foreign national must register their stay with the Ministry of Interior within a short deadline after entry, and for hotel guests the hotel does this automatically at check-in. Those staying with private hosts or in a rented apartment must register themselves, and a missed registration is punishable and can complicate every subsequent visa procedure. When leaving the country, border control compares the stay with the permitted duration, so exceeding the 90 days carries a fine and the risk of a ban on re-entry.
Can you work in North Macedonia on a business visa?
No. The business C visa and visa-free entry allow meetings, negotiations, founding a company and signing documents, but not an employment relationship or de facto work. Working for a Macedonian employer requires a work permit and regulated temporary residence, which we covered in our analysis of the new quota for 2026. An investor who will manage their company day to day from Skopje should plan the residence procedure from the outset, rather than assuming the business visa covers that need.
Planning an investment or a business visit to North Macedonia?
Proper preparation of the letter of guarantee, the visa application and the timing of the trip against the company registration shorten the procedure by weeks.
We draft letters of guarantee, coordinate the visa documentation and run the entire process: from the first entry, through company formation, to regulating your residence.
Book a consultationRelated service: Foreign Investment Law
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia: visa regime and procedures.
This text is general legal information and does not constitute legal advice for a specific case. For advice tailored to your situation, consult an attorney.