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Dual citizenship of North Macedonia and Russia: can you keep both passports in 2026

9 min read ·

The answer depends on the route. An investor or a citizen's spouse keeps the Russian passport, while ordinary naturalisation after 7 years requires giving it up. We cover every route, the costs and obligations towards Russia.

In short

With conditions: investors, spouses of citizens and descendants of emigrants do not have to give up Russian citizenship, while ordinary naturalisation after 7 years in the country requires leaving the previous citizenship.

Previous passport on naturalisationWith conditions
Country ruleInvestors keep their passport. Ordinary naturalisation requires giving up your previous citizenship
Legal basisLaw on Citizenship of North Macedonia
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

North Macedonia's citizenship law divides applicants into those who must leave their previous citizenship and those who may keep it. Russia does not end its own citizenship: if the Macedonian law does not require renunciation, the person lawfully keeps both passports.

What North Macedonia requires on naturalisation

Ordinary naturalisation under Article 7 requires 7 years of continuous lawful residence, housing and a steady income, everyday Macedonian, no conviction with a sentence of a year or more, and leaving the previous citizenship. This is the route that forces a choice between passports.

Three groups get citizenship without renunciation. A citizen's spouse - after 3 years of marriage and 1 year of residence, or after 8 years of marriage while living abroad, with no language test. Emigrants and their children are naturalised with no residence period. An investor under Article 11 puts 200,000 euros, about $225,000, into an approved private fund for at least 2 years, or 400,000 euros, about $450,000, into a business with 10 jobs.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. Choose the route: it decides whether the Russian passport is kept.
  2. For investment - a source-of-funds check, the investment in an approved fund or business and a government decision.
  3. For marriage - 3 years of marriage and a year of residence on a family reunion permit.
  4. Translate documents into Macedonian and certify them: passports, certificates, police records.
  5. Receive the Interior Ministry decision, then the ID card and passport.
  6. Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

The investment route is at risk. In its report of 19 December 2025 the European Commission demanded that the scheme be abolished and data on issued passports disclosed. Since 2005, 124 people have obtained citizenship through it, and one in 2025. If the programme is cancelled before a decision, the fund investment remains yours, but there will be no passport.

What happens to children

Children under 18 obtain citizenship under Article 12 on their parents' application. If both parents became citizens, the child's residence does not matter; from 15 the child's consent is needed. A citizen's child born abroad is registered as a citizen before 18 or applies personally before 23. Russian citizenship for the child is arranged through the consulate.

Taxes and military service

Taxes depend on residence, not the passport: a resident pays a flat 10% income tax on salary, rent, dividends and capital gains. The double tax treaty with Russia has been partly suspended since August 2023 by Decree No. 585.

North Macedonia has had no compulsory conscription since 2006. Russian military service obligations remain for a Russian citizen.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing ordinary naturalisation without knowing that it requires leaving Russian citizenship.
  • Counting on a passport for the whole family at once. An investor's spouse gets citizenship only after 3 years of marriage and a year of residence.
  • Investing without taking into account the EU demand to abolish the programme.
  • Missing the notification to the Russian Interior Ministry. The deadline is 60 days after obtaining North Macedonian citizenship, and failure carries criminal liability.

How to get North Macedonia citizenship

The fast route is investment, but with a high risk of cancellation. The classic ones are marriage to a citizen, descent from an emigrant, or 7 years of residence with leaving Russian citizenship. The costs of each option are covered in the article on the cost of the country's citizenship.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page North Macedonia citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

A North Macedonian passport without losing the Russian one

The law does not stop you from applying for North Macedonian citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than fees: a route that requires leaving Russian citizenship, investing in a programme on the eve of cancellation, a missed notification to the Russian Interior Ministry. We choose the route that keeps your passport, check the fund and the application's chances, and handle the case with a licensed agent.

Our consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.

Get a support quote

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

More on this country:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold North Macedonia and Russian citizenship at the same time?
With conditions: investors, spouses of citizens and descendants of emigrants do not have to give up Russian citizenship, while ordinary naturalisation after 7 years in the country requires leaving the previous citizenship.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about North Macedonia citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Is dual citizenship allowed in North Macedonia?
With conditions. Investors, spouses of citizens and descendants of emigrants keep their previous passport. Ordinary naturalisation after 7 years requires leaving the previous citizenship.
Can you get North Macedonian citizenship by investment in 2026?
Formally yes: 200,000 euros, about $225,000, in an approved fund for 2 years, or 400,000 euros, about $450,000, in a business with 10 jobs. But the EU demands the programme be abolished, and in 2025 one person received a passport through it.
How many years must you live in North Macedonia before citizenship?
7 years of continuous lawful residence for ordinary naturalisation. For a citizen's spouse - 3 years of marriage and 1 year in the country.
Do you need to know Macedonian?
For ordinary naturalisation, at an everyday level. Investors and spouses of citizens do not need the language.
Does the family get citizenship with the investor?
Children under 18 do, on the parents' application. The spouse only after 3 years of marriage and a year of residence.
Do you have to tell the Russian Interior Ministry about North Macedonian citizenship?
Yes, within 60 days of obtaining citizenship, through a consulate or the Interior Ministry at your place of residence in Russia.

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