Embassy
Embassy of France, Skopje
Skopje
ул. Тодор Александров 165
North Macedonia visa requirements for French citizens
French citizens do not need a visa for North Macedonia. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Passport
FRA
France
Going to
MKD
North Macedonia
No visa needed
People from EU or Schengen countries can visit without a visa.
- Visa
- Not required
- Max stay
- 90 days (3 months)
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in North Macedonia.
Ways into North Macedonia
Check if you need a visa for your short visit.
Visa not requiredEU and Schengen visitorsPeople from EU or Schengen countries can visit without a visa.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your country is in either group.
- Bring your valid passport or national ID card.
Documents required
- Valid passport or national ID card
- Stay no more than 90 days in any 180 days.
Visa not requiredEU or Schengen residencePeople with EU or Schengen residence can visit without a visa.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your residence is in a listed country.
- Bring your passport and proof of residence.
Documents required
- Passport
- EU or Schengen residence proof
- Stay up to 15 days per visit, with 90 days total in 180 days.
- UK, US and Canadian residence does not qualify for this route.
Visa not requiredSchengen visa exemptionPeople with a Schengen C visa allowing repeat entries can visit without another visa.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your Schengen visa is type C.
- Check that it allows multiple entries.
- Check that it expires at least 5 days after departure.
- Bring your passport and Schengen visa.
Documents required
- Passport
- Schengen C visa allowing multiple entries
- Stay up to 15 days per visit, with 90 days total in 180 days.
Visa not requiredUK, US or Canadian visaPeople with certain UK, US or Canadian visas can visit without another visa.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your visa allows multiple entries.
- Check that the visa is in your passport.
- Check that it expires at least 5 days after departure.
- Check that your trip falls within the 2026 scheme.
Documents required
- Valid travel document
- Qualifying visa in your passport
- This route runs from 1 January to 31 December 2026; 2027 is not confirmed.
- The guide does not confirm digital-only visas or residence cards.
Visa on arrivalRare border C visaBorder staff may grant this visa for urgent cases that meet special rules.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Entries
- Single
How to apply
- Show border staff proof of your special reason.
- Explain why an unexpected urgent event prevented applying earlier.
- Show proof that you can return.
- Meet the other entry rules.
Documents required
- Travel document
- Proof of special reason
- Proof of unexpected urgent event
- Proof of secured return
- Border staff decide whether to grant the visa.
Visa requiredShort visit C visaGet this visa before travel if your short visit needs one.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Valid for
- 365 days
- Fee
- €60
- Processing
- 15–60 days
How to apply
- Fill in and sign the form.
- Gather your documents and pay the fee.
- Apply in person at the embassy at least 15 days before travel.
- Attend an interview if asked.
Documents required
- Signed form
- Passport with 2 blank pages
- Colour photo, 35 × 45 mm
- Health cover for your whole stay
- Proof of visit purpose
- Invitation or guarantee, if needed
- Proof of accommodation and funds
- Return ticket or booking copy enclosed
- Hotel booking
- Travel insurance
- Interview
- Your approved stay cannot exceed 90 days in any 180 days.
- Visa length and entries vary; rare cases allow up to 730 days.
Sources (16)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Foreign ministry: foreign citizens visa information hub
- Foreign ministry: entry requirements and exemptions
- Foreign ministry: A, C and D visas
- Foreign ministry: application procedure
- Foreign ministry: Macedonian-language checklist and D visa fee
- Foreign ministry: temporary UK, US and Canadian visa exemption for 2026
- Official nationality lookup: Europe; Albania result read
- Official nationality lookup: North America; Canada result read
- Official nationality lookup: Antigua and Barbuda result read
- Official nationality lookup: Australia result read
- Ministry of Interior: foreigner procedures and responsible border and migration authority
- Ministry of Interior: official legislation index
- Official consolidated Law on Foreigners linked by the Ministry of Interior
- Government investment agency: visa requirements and procedure
- Government investment agency: work visas and permits
- Official aviation information: entry, transit and departure
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from France
- Plugs C FAdapter for some
- MoneyMKD den
- Time+11h
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageMacedonian
- Emergency192 or 112 police194 or 112 ambulance
Planning your North Macedonia trip
Best time to go: Summer and autumn are warm and dry. Winters are relatively cold with heavy snowfall, and Mavrovo is popular for winter sports.
- SkopjeVisit Kale Fortress, Sveti Spas Church, the old Ottoman bazaar and the Stone Bridge leading to the main square.
- OhridThe lakeside city has many Byzantine churches and an important collection of religious icons. The Church of St. John at Kaneo stands beside the lake.
- StrugaThis town on Lake Ohrid offers lakeside charm with fewer visitors than Ohrid.
- Pelister National ParkThe country's oldest national park is known for its plants, wildlife and mountain landscapes.
Scams to watch for in North Macedonia
- Taxi overchargingDrivers may ask tourists for higher fares, especially when they seem unsure of the price. In Ohrid, summer fares can reach three times the usual starting rate. Drivers outside Ohrid bus station have asked up to 400 denar for a trip to the centre. Some drivers may also try to persuade you to go somewhere you did not plan to visit.
- Pickpocketing during street approachesPickpockets may take unsecured valuables. In Skopje, some people who approach visitors to beg may also engage in pickpocketing. An approach alone does not mean someone intends to steal.
- Persistent bus-station ride toutsPeople approach arriving passengers and offer rides. They may be unprofessional drivers who do not know the destination well, take an inefficient route or provide poor value.
About North Macedonia
North Macedonia is a landlocked republic in the southern Balkans, directly north of Greece.
- Capital
- Skopje
- Money
- Macedonian denar (den)
- Languages
- Macedonian
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +389
Other Europe passports
Going to North Macedonia
Easier trips nearby
Places close to North Macedonia with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do french citizens need a visa for North Macedonia?
French citizens do not need a visa for North Macedonia. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
How long can french citizens stay in North Macedonia?
Up to 90 days each visit with the no visa needed rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Do macedonian citizens need a visa for France?
Macedonian citizens do not need a visa for France. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Do other Europe passports get easier entry to North Macedonia?
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near North Macedonia are easier for french citizens?
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro Serbia, and 3 more let french citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to North Macedonia?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in North Macedonia?
Macedonian denar (den). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in North Macedonia?
Macedonian.
How strong is the France passport?
It ranks #7 and reaches 155 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck