Republic of North Macedonia
Last update 23 May 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 2: Increased attention (please be informed in detail about the current situation in the country)
2
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Republic of North Macedonia
Diplomatic representations of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of North Macedonia
Embassy of Bulgaria in the Republic of North Macedonia
Office hours:
9:00 - 17:30, every working day
Address: 3, Zlatko Snajder str., Skopje,Republic of North Macedonia
Telephone:
+389 2 3246 491
+389 2 3229 444
Fax: +389 2 3246 493
GSM: +389 75 280 013
Оut-of-hours hotlines:
+389 75 280 013
+389 2 32 29 444
+389 2 32 46 491
Consular service:
Working with citizens:
09:30 - 12:00 h, every working day
Call centre for appointments: 058 058 555
E-mail: [email protected]
Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of North Macedonia
Address: 53, Prvi Mai Blvd., 7000 Bitola, Republic of North Macedonia
Telephone:+389 47 202 963/4 +389 47 202 893/4
Fax: +389 47 202 947
Оut-of-hours hotline:
+389 75 282 724
Opening hours: 09:30 - 12:00
E-mail: [email protected]
Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia in Sofia
Address: Frederic Joliot-Curie 17 block 2, floor 3, Suite 5 1113 Sofia
Telephone: + 359 2 870 15 60 + 359 2 870 50 98
Fax:+ 359 2 971 28 32
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
General information
Local currency
Macedonian Denar (MKD)
1 BGN = 31 MKD
1 EUR = 61 MKD
Crime and security
There have been cases of car theft in the big cities of the country. Petty theft is common in busy places - markets, bus-stops and train stations. Besides money and valuables, Bulgarian ID documents are of interest to thieves.
Legislation specifics
Remember that in Republic of North Macedonia you should follow national laws and customs. During your stay there you fall under Macedonian jurisdiction.
Customs requirements
Local law provides that upon entry into the country items for personal use are not liable for duty, but there is no definition of size.
This allows customs officials alone to decide what is subject to duty and what the amount should be. A refusal to pay the requested amount may lead you to be taken to court where you may receive a summary penalty.
Road traffic
Violation of the requirement for mandatory day and night use of vehicle headlights on all roads in the country is punishable by a fine of 45 EUR.
Restrictions on the speed of vehicles in the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia, in the absence of other restrictive signs, are as follows: on motorways - 120 km/h, on other main roads - 80 km/h, in residential areas - 50 km/h. Violation of these restrictions is punishable by a fine of 45 to 300 EUR, depending on the degree of violation. Given the existing practice in the regulation of traffic, the Embassy recommends that Bulgarian citizens visiting Macedonia should drive at a maximum speed of at least 10 km/h lower than the speed limit.
It is forbidden to throw or leave paper, cigarette ends, chewing gum, packaging, plant waste, soil, sand and other waste anywhere else but in the places designated for this purpose. Leaving pet waste is prohibited. Car parking at a distance less than 10 metres from a waste container is prohibited. Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of 50 EUR.
In Republic of North Macedonia the use of seatbelts is compulsory for all passengers and all seats in vehicles where seat belts are fitted. Violation of this requirement shall be punished by a fine of 20 EUR.
In case of a violation of any requirement of the Highway Code and where a fine has been imposed, the fine must be paid at the nearest bank or post office. Payment of the fine on the spot, directly to the uniformed police officer who has imposed the sanction, is not allowed.
In the event that a police officer requests a direct cash payment to him, when fining you, you should go to the nearest police station and inform them of the situation.
The limit for the allowable blood alcohol level for drivers is 0.5 ‰. This limit does not apply to professional drivers, who are strictly prohibited from driving with the presence of any alcohol in the blood. Violation of the prohibition is punishable by a fine of 250 to 400 EUR, depending on the degree of violation. In addition to the imposition of a fine, a driver who has alcohol in their blood above the permitted limit is removed from the road.
For security and safety of travel, the Embassy strongly recommends that Bulgarian citizens visiting Republic of North Macedonia avoid driving after drinking alcohol, even if they are within the limits for non-professional drivers (0.5 ‰).
People under the age of 12 and people under the influence of alcohol are not allowed to travel in the front seat, next to the driver. Violation of this requirement shall be punished by a fine of 45 EUR.
The use of a mobile phone by the driver while driving is forbidden. Violation of this requirement shall be punished by a fine of 45 EUR.
The carrying of winter auto accessories in the vehicle is mandatory from 15 November to 15 March. Violation of this requirement shall be punished by a fine of 15 EUR.
Important telephone numbers in Republic of North Macedonia:
- Road assistance - 196 or 9159
- Information Centre of the Macedonian Automobile Union - 9801
- Police - 192
- Ambulance - 194
- Fire Services - 193
- Regional Centre for Crisis Management - 195
- Customs - 197
- Reports on police corruption - 199
Travel papers and visas
From 1 January 2007 all Bulgarian citizens may enter and reside in the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia without visas for up to ninety (90) days within 6 months from the date of first entry. Entering the country requires a Bulgarian passport, valid for at least six months after the end of the intended stay of the person in Republic of North Macedonia, or with a valid ID card, without the need to provide medical insurance. Due to a number of administrative procedures relating to foreigners, Macedonian law requires the presentation of a passport. It is therefore recommended that foreign (including Bulgarian) citizens entering the country should do so with a passport.
For cases in which Bulgarian citizens have to stay long-term in Republic of North Macedonia (training, job specialisation, etc.), they must first obtain the relevant type of visa as per the laws of the country. The procedure for obtaining the specific type of visa involves submitting an application for a long-stay visa to the Embassy of Republic of North Macedonia in Sofia. After obtaining a visa and arriving in the Republic of North Macedonia, the foreigner must apply for a permit for temporary or permanent stay from the Foreigners Police Department at the Macedonian Ministry of Interior.
Any foreign citizen, who has entered the territory of Republic of North Macedonia and has resided in the country for more than 24 hours, must register at the police station where they are staying. If the visitor is staying at a hotel, that registration is carried out independently by the management of the hotel. A foreigner who has not registered their stay and has not signed out when leaving their place of residence in the Republic of North Macedonia, shall be punished by a fine of 600 to 1,000 EUR by the Ministry of Interior and may receive a ban on entry into the country for five years.
According to Macedonian legislation, a foreign citizen, entering the Republic of North Macedonia, must have sufficient funds to cover their stay in the country - an amount that varies from 25 to 50 EUR per day. Failure to show this amount will result in Bulgarian citizens being refused entry.
In such cases the authorities sometimes put a so-called ‘thin stamp’ in the passport, which prohibits entry into the country for 24 hours.
Competitive service
Issuing of ID documents
The Consular Office at the Embassy in Skopje has a biometric data system and therefore is accepting applications for the issuance of passports, identity cards, and temporary passports. Applications for driving licenses are not accepted.
Certifications and legalisations
Bulgaria has concluded a bilateral contract with Republic of North Macedonia. According to this contract, documents issued by designated authorities in the contract, in each of the two countries, do not need the further legalisation of the other country. They must bear the original stamp.