How to Get North Macedonia CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 7 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Citizens abroad only
- Civic test
- Required, no test specified
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Partly accepted: for citizens who naturalise abroad onlyNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
For foreign nationals living in North Macedonia, this is the ordinary route based on residence. Citizenship must be granted under the law of North Macedonia once an application meets the legal conditions.
- Residence
- 7 years
Person has been permanently resident in Macedonia for at least 7 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation or automatic loss of citizenship of another country required.
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Knowledge of language of Macedonia required.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, no test specified
Oath of loyalty required.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
No convictions in Macedonia or another country of which the person is a national for committing a crime that carries a prison sentence of 1 year or more, no criminal procedure initiated in either of those countries, not sentenced to a measure prohibiting residence in Macedonia, no threat to national security or defense.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Housing and permanent source of income required.
Marriage or civil partnership
For spouses of citizens of North Macedonia, the rules below set out what this route requires. Citizenship must be granted under the law of North Macedonia once an application meets the legal conditions.
Person has been the spouse of a citizen for at least 3 years and has been resident in Macedonia for at least 1 year. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except language proficiency, renunciation requirement and income requirement). Or person has been the spouse of a citizen for at least 8 years, permanently resides abroad, and has a genuine bond with Macedonia. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except language proficiency, renunciation requirement and income requirement).
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of North Macedonia, subject to the conditions below.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Macedonia to a citizen (unless only one of the parents is a citizen and the parents decide that the child acquires the citizenship of another country).
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to two citizens, or to one parent who is a citizen and the other parent is unknown, stateless or of unknown citizenship.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen (registration by parent before the age of 18), or the person starts residing in Macedonia before the age of 18.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen (declaration between the age of 18 and 23).
Child of a new citizen
A parent acquiring citizenship of North Macedonia is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is a minor both whose parents are naturalising in Macedonia, or one parent is naturalising and requests citizenship for the child who is resident in Macedonia, or both parents request citizenship for the child irrespective of where the child resides. Consent is required if the child is over 15. The child's application must be submitted simultaneously with that of the parent(s).
Adoption
This route covers people adopted by a citizen of North Macedonia, subject to the conditions below. Citizenship arises directly under the law of North Macedonia, without any authority making a decision.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen.
Other family members of citizens
A family tie to a citizen, former citizen or new citizen of North Macedonia is the basis of this route. Citizenship must be granted under the law of North Macedonia once an application meets the legal conditions.
Person is a direct descendant of the 1st generation of a former citizen. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except renunciation requirement and 8 years of residence in Macedonia).
Former citizens (reacquisition)
Earlier citizenship of North Macedonia is the basis of this route. Citizenship must be granted under the law of North Macedonia once an application meets the legal conditions.
Person is a former citizen. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except renunciation requirement, 8 years of residence in Macedonia, and language requirement).
Person lost citizenship as a minor due to renunciation, and has uninterruptedly resided in Macedonia for at least 3 years before the age of 25.
Refugees
Refugee status in North Macedonia is the basis of this route. Citizenship must be granted under the law of North Macedonia once an application meets the legal conditions.
Person is a recognised refugee and has been permanently resident in Macedonia for at least 6 years since the recognition of refugee status. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Stateless persons
For people without any citizenship, the rules below show what the law of North Macedonia provides.
Foundlings
Person is found or born in Macedonia of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Macedonia to parents of unknown citizenship or without citizenship.
Stateless persons
Person is a stateless person and has been permanently resident in Macedonia for at least 6 years since the determination that he/she has no citizenship. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Special achievements
This route covers people recognised for special achievements or for contributions to North Macedonia, subject to the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is someone whose acquisition of citizenship would be in the special (scientific, economic, cultural, sports or other) national interest of Macedonia. Other conditions: no threat to security or defense of the country.
Investment
For applicants making a qualifying investment in North Macedonia, the rules below set out what applies. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person invested significant capital in Macedonia. Other conditions: no threat to security or defense of the country.
Not available in North Macedonia: Birth in the country, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Public or military service. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
North Macedonia accepts dual citizenship in one direction: citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Compare North Macedonia with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Croatia | 8 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
 Greece | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Kosovo | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Malta | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Portugal | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 7.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get North Macedonia Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/north-macedonia/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/north-macedonia/">How to Get North Macedonia Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a North Macedonian citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in North Macedonia takes 7 years of residence at minimum, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does North Macedonia allow dual citizenship?
In part. The law of North Macedonia accepts dual citizenship for its citizens who naturalise abroad, not generally for new citizens.
Do I need a language test for North Macedonian citizenship?
North Macedonia requires language skills without naming a particular test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for North Macedonian citizenship?
North Macedonia requires civic knowledge for naturalisation but does not specify a formal test.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get North Macedonian citizenship?
North Macedonia requires you to renounce your current citizenship for North Macedonian citizenship.
Can I get North Macedonia citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the law of North Macedonia has a route for spouses. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get North Macedonia citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of North Macedonia by descent. Procedure: automatic, discretionary, entitlement.
Can I get North Macedonia citizenship by investment?
An investment route is coded for North Macedonia. Confirm the current terms with the official authority.
Related pages
Also see: North Macedonia passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.