Is It Safe to Travel to North Macedonia in 2026?

North Macedonia - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State

North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the north.

Is It Safe to Travel to North Macedonia in 2026?

North Macedonia is currently rated Level 1Exercise Normal Precautions by the U.S. Department of State. Travelers to North Macedonia should review current conditions and exercise standard precautions.

Traveler Impact

Solo Travelerslow

Solo travelers may encounter minor street crime in urban areas, particularly in Skopje, so basic awareness and caution are advised.

Business Travelerslow

Business travelers can expect reliable infrastructure in major cities, but should remain aware of potential bureaucratic delays and corruption in some sectors.

Familiesmoderate

Families with children may face limited healthcare access outside urban areas, and should ensure safe drinking water to avoid health risks.

Remote Workerslow

Remote workers can find good connectivity in urban centers like Skopje, but should be cautious of sporadic internet issues in rural regions.

Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for North Macedonia.

Safety and Stability Ratings

Threat Severity (0-10 scale)

Overall
Crime
Terrorism
Kidnapping

North Macedonia has an overall threat severity of 1.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 3.5/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.

Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)

Political Stability

Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.

40%
Rule of Law

Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.

37%
Control of Corruption

Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.

28%
Government Effectiveness

Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.

32%
Regulatory Quality

Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.

52%
Voice & Accountability

Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.

45%

Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).

Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 67/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →

Entry Requirements and Health

Entry Information

Visa

Check embassy for details

Currency

Macedonian Denar (MKD)

Language

Macedonian

Vaccinations

Recommended:

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
COVID-19

Active health notices:

  • watch
    Global Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.

Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.

Common Questions About Traveling to North Macedonia

What is the current travel advisory level for North Macedonia?
North Macedonia is rated Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions by the U.S. Department of State as of 2026.
Is it safe to travel to North Macedonia right now?
North Macedonia is generally considered safe for travelers, with a Level 1 advisory. Standard precautions apply.
Do I need a visa to visit North Macedonia?
Visa requirements for North Macedonia vary by nationality and purpose of travel. Check with the embassy for current entry requirements.
What vaccines do I need for North Macedonia?
Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, COVID-19. Consult a travel health professional at least 4-6 weeks before departure.
Is North Macedonia safe for solo travelers?
low
How bad is crime in North Macedonia?
North Macedonia has a crime severity rating of 3.5 out of 10. Petty crime and theft are common in tourist areas. Take standard precautions.

More North Macedonia Data

North Macedonia Freedom Score

Partly Free — 67/100 on the Freedom House index.

North Macedonia Political Stability

Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.

Interactive Advisory Map

View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.

Official State Dept. Page →

Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.

Travel Advisory API

Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.

Travel Risk Reports

On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.