How much North Macedonian citizenship costs in 2026

6 min read · Published 6 October 2026 · Updated 8 October 2026

A passport with visa-free Schengen for a fund investment from $224,500 looks attractive, but one person received it in 2025. We break down what the path costs and why you should count the risks, not just the amount.

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Key point	2026 figures
Minimum investment	a private fund from $224,500 for at least 2 years
Other option	business from $448,400 and 10 jobs
Fees	no official price list
Timeline	no set timeline
Approvals	2 in 2024, 1 in 2025
Passport	127 visa-free destinations including Schengen
Risk	the EU demands abolition

Amounts checked: 2026-10-06

North Macedonia has granted citizenship for special economic interest since 2005, but the programme barely works: two people received a passport in 2024 and one in 2025. In June 2026 the interior ministry published amendments removing the fixed amounts, and the European Commission demands scrapping the scheme entirely under threat of suspending visa-free Schengen travel.

Below are the cost items for both options, what the family gets, timelines and what happens to the money. Before investing, we assess the odds for your application.

What the cost is made of

Cost item	Amount	Who pays
Private fund investment for 2 years	from $224,500	main applicant
Business investment instead of the fund	from €400,000, ~$448,400, and 10 employees	main applicant
Due diligence	check rates	once per application
Notary and translations	per document	each family member
Trips to Skopje	per filing plan	main applicant

The fund option is €200,000, about $224,500, in a government-approved private investment fund. The fund must have capital of at least €5 million, about $5.6 million, does not invest in property and accepts no more than 500 investors. It is not a deposit or a government bond: returns and repayment depend on the fund's results.

The business option is at least €400,000, about $448,400, in new manufacturing or services, excluding catering and retail, with at least 10 citizen employees on permanent contracts of at least a year. Payroll for the whole term comes on top.

Approvals are in single digits, and the EU demands closure

The main risk of the Macedonian programme is not the amount but the chance of its abolition and the handful of approvals: two people received a passport in 2024 and one in 2025. Murblz checks the fund and business options before any transfer, assesses the odds given the 2026 amendments and offers a fallback route if the programme closes.

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How much it costs for a family of 2, 3 and 4

Family	Minimum
Two adults	from $224,500 (spouse after 3 years of marriage and a year in the country)
Two adults and a child	from $224,500 (child by the parents' application, spouse later)
Two adults and two children	from $224,500 (children by the parents' application, spouse later)

The investor's spouse gets citizenship after at least three years of marriage and a year of legal residence in the country. Children under 18 are included by the parents' application. Other family members need their own procedure.

We will calculate online the full cost for your family: the contribution, fees for each member and due diligence.

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What the cost does not include

salaries and contributions for 10 employees on the business option;
due diligence, notary and translations;
flights and accommodation during filing;
fund losses if it does not preserve capital;
support: we quote it after reviewing the documents.

Timeline by step

Step	Time
Assessing the odds, choosing the fund or business	1-2 months
Investment and confirmation	several weeks
Filing with the interior ministry	after the investment
Review and government decision	no set timeline

The procedure has no set timeline, and approvals have been in single digits in recent years, so timing cannot be predicted.

Is money refunded if you are refused

The fund contribution is an investment for at least 2 years, not a payment to the state: it can be returned after 2 years if the fund has not lost money. Business investment remains yours.

Due diligence, notary, translations and trips are not refunded on refusal. If the programme is abolished before your decision, the fund investment remains yours, but no passport is issued.

Comparison with neighbouring programmes

Country	Route	Minimum for one	Time	Dual citizenship
Turkey	Real estate from $400,000	from $408,310	A few months after the purchase, no fixed deadline	allowed
Egypt	Contribution from $250,000	from $260,000	6-12 months, often longer	allowed
Jordan	New project outside the capital and 10 jobs	from $705,220	About 3 years: a temporary passport, then citizenship	allowed

Turkey and Egypt issue passports reliably, but without visa-free Schengen. Jordan requires a project and jobs. The Macedonian passport is stronger than all three for travel, but the chance of getting it now is minimal.

What will happen to the programme

Amendments removing the fixed €200,000 and €400,000 thresholds have been published, and the European Commission demands abolishing the special economic interest article entirely: under the updated visa suspension mechanism the programme itself may become grounds for suspending visa-free travel for all the country's citizens. For those who need a passport with visa-free Europe, we suggest comparing other routes, including citizenship by descent.

This topic in other countries

Citizenship cost in other countries:

More about the country:

All programmes and a family calculator - how much citizenship costs in different countries.

FAQ

How much does North Macedonian citizenship cost in 2026?

At minimum €200,000, about $224,500, in a private fund for at least 2 years or €400,000, about $448,400, in a business with 10 jobs. Due diligence, notary and translations come on top.

Does the North Macedonian citizenship programme work?

Formally yes, but two people received a passport in 2024 and one in 2025, and the EU demands closure.

Is the fund investment returned?

After 2 years, if the fund has not lost money. Due diligence, notary and translation costs are not refunded.

Does the family get North Macedonian citizenship?

Children under 18 by the parents' application, the spouse after three years of marriage and a year in the country.

Does the North Macedonian passport give visa-free Schengen?

Yes, it opens 127 visa-free destinations, including Schengen for 90 days in any 180.

How long does North Macedonian citizenship take?

There is no set timeline, and approvals are rare, so timing cannot be predicted.

Are there other routes to a North Macedonian passport?

Yes: naturalisation after 7 years with the language and renunciation of previous citizenship, marriage after 3 years of marriage and a year in the country, and emigrants and their children naturalise without a residence period.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.

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