Travel Consideration: Macedonia

Macedonia is a developing nation undergoing economic change. Conditions in tourist facilities vary considerably and may not be up to Western standards.

U.S. citizens need a passport and visa. Visas for Macedonia are issued at airports, border crossings and at Macedonian embassies abroad. Visas obtained at the airport or border crossings are valid for 30 days and are free of charge. Persons wishing to stay in Macedonia longer than 30 days must apply for visas as temporary residents at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Skopje. Additional information on visa requirements may be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia, 3050 K Street N.W., Suite 210, Washington, D.C., 20007, telephone (202) 337-3063. Additional information on Macedonian visa procedures is also available on the U.S. Embassy's Internet web site, located at: http://usembassy.mpt.com.mk.

Travelers are required to complete an entry/exit document when they enter the country. The exit portion of this document must be retained for presentation to officials upon departure. Loss of this form may result in departure delays. Persons who overstay their visas should contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Skopje to obtain an exit visa; failure to do so may result in denial of permission to depart the country.

Travelers who also intend to visit Kosovo in Serbia should note that there are no immigration requirements for entry into Kosovo. (Travelers should also consult the Department's Travel Warning and Consular Information Sheet for Serbia-Montenegro before traveling there.) However, travelers will need passports to re-enter Macedonia. U.S. passport holders should be aware that Macedonian border authorities are authorized to issue one-entry visas only. There is no charge for this visa; however, it consists of a paper stamp pasted in the passport that rapidly fills up empty passport pages. Travelers who plan to be in the region for an extended period and make multiple trips to Macedonia may wish to contact the Embassy of Macedonia in Washington or the Consulate General in New York regarding the requirements for a multiple-entry visa. The addresses and phone numbers are: Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia, 3050 K Street N.W., Suite 210, Washington, D.C., 20007, telephone (202) 337-3063; Consulate General of the Republic of Macedonia, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 4018, New York, New York 10017; phone: (212) 317-1727.


Visitors should exercise caution when traveling in areas of Macedonia near the border with Serbia. Travelers should be aware that the immediate border area, apart from designated border crossing points, is a military restricted zone; travel in this zone is not permitted without permission, which can be obtained from the nearest police station. People unfamiliar with the border area risk stumbling into minefields on the Serb side of the border in the Kosovo region. There have also been reports of people being shot in these areas for refusing to stop when challenged.

Military operations or patrols may also be occurring in Serbia near the border with Macedonia, and most border areas are not marked. Border crossing points into some areas of Serbia, particularly the Blace crossing, are likely to be extremely congested due to the large number of travelers using Skopje as a transit point to Kosovo and freight forwarders shipping freight to Kosovo via Macedonia. It is not uncommon for border crossings to take several hours. Travelers should consult the Travel Warning on Serbia-Montenegro for further information. Travelers considering trips to Albania should consult the Travel Warning for that country.

Visitors should also be aware that political demonstrations sometimes occur in Skopje and other towns of Macedonia. Since the ending of the NATO military action in Kosovo, these demonstrations have been neither violent nor anti-Western. However, visitors may find it prudent to avoid them.


Crime in Macedonia is low by U.S. standards; however, incidents of theft and other petty crimes do occur, and travelers should take the same precautions they would take in any unfamiliar environment. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling overseas is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad, available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 20402.

Health facilities are limited. Medical facilities are rarely up to Western standards. Patients may have to undergo medical procedures without the benefit of anesthetic. Medicines may be in short supply. Maternity hospital facilities are considered less than adequate. Women may wish to consult their physicians about the advisability of traveling to and in Macedonia after the fourth month of pregnancy. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Macedonia is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Safety of Public Transportation: Good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor

Most major highways are in good repair, but secondary roads are poorly maintained and lighted and frequently are used by horse-drawn carts and livestock. Many vehicles are old and lack standard front or rear lights. Secondary mountain roads can be narrow, are often poorly marked, lack guard rails, and quickly become dangerous in inclement weather. Military convoys may cause traffic delays on roads approaching Skopje's Petrovec Airport.


In the aftermath of the NATO military action in Kosovo, a large number of international humanitarian organizations have established offices in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. As a result, travelers to Macedonia may find hotel rooms and rental cars extremely difficult to obtain. Travelers to Skopje, Ohrid and other locations in Macedonia should confirm hotel bookings before commencing travel.

Macedonian customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation or export from Macedonia of certain items. Regulations require that non-Macedonian citizens make a Customs declaration upon entry to Macedonia when they bring more than 300 German marks in cash or cash equivalents (about $167) into the country. Failure to complete such a declaration may result in the confiscation of any cash over that amount upon leaving the country.

Casual, non-business travelers with expensive lap-top computers, video cameras, extensive amounts of personal jewelry, etc., are advised that they should declare those items with Macedonian Customs upon entry to avoid problems and delays upon departure. Personal importation of duty-free liquor is limited to one liter. 200 cigarettes may also be imported without duty. Pets should have appropriate vaccinations and/or health certificates. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Macedonia in Washington or Macedonia's Consulate General in New York for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Macedonian Customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, an/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States. For additional information call 212-354-4480, send an e-mail to atacarnet@uscib.org, or visit http://www.uscib.org for details.


Americans living in or visiting Macedonia are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy in Skopje and obtain updated information on travel and security for both Macedonia and bordering countries. The U.S. Embassy is located at Ilindenska bb, 91000 Skopje, tel. (389)(91) 116-180, fax (389)(91) 213-767. Registration forms are available on the Embassy's website, located at: http://usembassy.mpt.com.mk.

As there is no direct commercial air service by local carriers at present, or economic authority to operate such service, between the United States and Macedonia, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Macedonia's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Macedonia's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet Home Page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact DOD at (618) 229-4801.