Nationality of North Macedonia: all obtaining pathways
North Macedonia requires eight years of legal residence for ordinary naturalisation; a citizen’s spouse must show ten years of marriage if living in the country —eight if permanently abroad with effective links. Citizenship at birth passes by ius sanguinis, and stateless persons and refugees have a six-year route.
1Naturalization by residence
Naturalization by residence
Requirements
- Personal application for admission to citizenship (Law on Citizenship 67/92, art. 7, as amended 2004)
- Aged ≥18 (art. 7(1).1)
- LEGAL AND PERMANENT residence in North Macedonia ≥8 YEARS before the application (art. 7(1).2)
- An abode and a permanent source of means of subsistence affording material and social security (art. 7(1).3)
- Not punished in North Macedonia or in the state of nationality by imprisonment ≥1 year for ex-officio-prosecuted acts punishable under Macedonian regulations (art. 7(1).4)
- No ongoing criminal proceedings for such acts (art. 7(1).5)
- Acceptance of integration, command of the language... (art. 7(1) items 6-8)
- Signature of the oath of allegiance (art. 7-b: loyalty to the State, respect for the Constitution and laws, fulfilment of duties)
- A GUARANTEE of admission is issued where the 1-9 requirements are met (art. 7-c)
- STATELESS PERSONS AND REFUGEES (art. 7-a): legal and permanent residence ≥6 YEARS from status determination + art. 7(1) items 1, 3-10
- Naturalisation also possible under art. 11 (persons of interest to the Republic) and by Government decree (art. 12)
- No discrimination by gender, race, national and social origin, conviction (art. 1(2))
Documentation
- Application to the Ministry of the Interior
- 8-year legal residence certificate
- Macedonian language command certificate
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of means of subsistence
- Declaration renouncing the previous citizenship
- Valid passport
- Birth certificate
2Naturalisation of the spouse of a citizen (Law on Citizenship, art. 9, as amended 2004)
Naturalisation of the spouse of a citizen (Law on Citizenship, art. 9, as amended 2004)
Requirements
- The 2004 amendment replaced the art. 9 marriage term: from 8 to 10 YEARS for a spouse RESIDENT in North Macedonia
- Spouse legally and permanently LIVING ABROAD: married ≥8 YEARS to a citizen + a STRONG AND EFFECTIVE LINK with North Macedonia — EXEMPT from art. 7(1) items 2, 6 and 10 (art. 9(2), added 2004)
- The marriage must subsist at the time of the decision
- The previous entry (“3 years of marriage + 1 of residence”) did NOT match the Macedonian Law on Citizenship — corrected against the legal text
- The decision is by Government decree (art. 12)
Documentation
- Marriage certificate
- Passport of the Macedonian spouse
- Legal residence certificate
- Macedonian language command certificate
- Criminal record certificate
3Citizenship by birth (ius sanguinis)
Citizenship by birth (ius sanguinis)
Requirements
- At least one parent is a citizen of North Macedonia
- Born in North Macedonia to stateless parents or those of unknown nationality
- Citizenship is transmitted with no generational limit
Documentation
- Birth certificate
- Parents' passports
- Proof of the parents' citizenship
4Citizenship by special origin
Citizenship by special origin
Requirements
- Person of Macedonian origin belonging to the Macedonian people
- Member of the Macedonian diaspora
- May acquire the citizenship without waiving the previous one
Documentation
- Proof of Macedonian origin
- Birth certificate
- Documents proving membership in the Macedonian people
Frequently asked questions about the nationality of North Macedonia
How many years of residence does North Macedonia require to naturalize?
According to the main pathway of North Macedonia (Naturalization by residence), the term is 8 years. The complete details of requirements and exceptions appear in the fact sheet.
Can the nationality of North Macedonia be obtained by marriage?
Yes, through the Naturalisation of the spouse of a citizen pathway (Spouse resident in Macedonia: ≥10 years of marriage; spouse living ABROAD: ≥8 years of marriage + strong effective link (art. 9, 2004 amendment)). The complete requirements appear in the fact sheet of that pathway.
What documentation does naturalization in North Macedonia require?
The Naturalization by residence pathway requires: Application to the Ministry of the Interior; 8-year legal residence certificate; Macedonian language command certificate; Criminal record certificate; Proof of means of subsistence; among 3 more documents.
What pathways exist to obtain the nationality of North Macedonia?
North Macedonia provides 4 pathways: Naturalization by residence, Naturalisation of the spouse of a citizen, Citizenship by birth, Citizenship by special origin.
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