Republic of North Macedonia

Recommended Vaccinations For Republic of North Macedonia

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country. The vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country. The vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Recommended Medications For Republic of North Macedonia

There are no recommendations for Republic of North Macedonia at this time.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Republic of North Macedonia

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A

There is a risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Macedonia through contaminated food or water.

Hepatitis B

There is a risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Macedonia.

For Some Travellers

Leishmaniasis

There is a risk of acquiring Leishmaniasis in this country through sand fly bites, particularly between dusk to dawn. Adventure tourists, outdoor athletes, or humanitarian aid workers are at a higher risk.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the healthcare field, or having close prolonged contact with an infected person.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Measles

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in this country. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Safety & Security in Republic of North Macedonia

Personal Safety

North Macedonia carries a low to moderate risk of petty crime for visitors. Pickpocketing and bag snatching occur mainly in crowded tourist areas, particularly in Skopje’s downtown pedestrian zone, the Old Bazaar, shopping districts, and public transportation hubs. Groups of children sometimes work together to distract and pickpocket victims. Attacks against foreign nationals are extremely rare. Organized crime groups operate in the country, especially in northern areas near the Kosovo border, and occasional shooting incidents occur including in Skopje. These incidents typically involve criminal disputes and are not aimed at tourists. People sometimes fire guns during celebrations, and injuries from stray bullets have occurred. Bomb threats have been reported since late 2022, though all have been false alarms. Residential break-ins may occur in main cities. Credit card and ATM fraud happens. The risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time exists, but violent crime targeting travelers remains minimal.

Extreme Violence

There were no terrorist incidents reported in North Macedonia in 2021, 2022, or 2023. The country faces a medium-low to medium terrorist threat level. Authorities assess the main risk stems from previously repatriated foreign terrorist fighters from Syria and Iraq, with an estimated 143 citizens having traveled to join terrorist groups in recent years. As of 2023, only four adults were believed to remain in a displaced persons camp in northeast Syria. The National Committee estimated that 38 of those who traveled were killed, and 79 returned to North Macedonia. Authorities have conducted raids against suspected terrorists and sentenced returned fighters to prison terms, with the longest combined sentence being 18 years imposed in 2023. In 2020, authorities arrested individuals suspected of planning domestic terrorist attacks. Some of those arrested were recidivist offenders who had previously served sentences for terrorism-related crimes. While the risk exists, terrorist attacks remain a theoretical concern rather than a current reality for travelers.

Political Unrest

Protests occur occasionally in North Macedonia and can cause disruption. Recent major protests erupted in March 2025 following a nightclub fire in Kocani that killed 59 people and injured over 150, sparking nationwide demonstrations demanding accountability, transparency, and systemic reform to address corruption and safety negligence. Thousands marched in Skopje and other cities. Earlier in 2025, protests followed a fatal traffic accident involving a young woman, with demonstrators forming the Who’s Next movement to demand judicial reforms and an end to impunity for dangerous drivers. In 2024, tensions rose over ethnic dynamics after the main Albanian party was relegated to opposition, with incidents on Albanian Flag Day in November including flag burnings and gunshots heard in Skopje. In 2022, protests occurred over EU accession negotiations with Bulgaria. Violent protests have occurred in Skopje and other major cities in the past, including clashes in 2021 over a terrorism verdict and major anti-government demonstrations in 2016. Inter-ethnic violence could happen anywhere, particularly in areas bordering Kosovo where tensions exist between ethnic Macedonian and Albanian communities. Security in these border areas remains volatile. Politically motivated civil unrest with the potential to turn violent can occur.

Areas To Avoid

Avoid areas along the border with Kosovo, where security is volatile and tensions exist between ethnic Macedonian and ethnic Albanian communities. Organized crime groups are particularly active in northern areas near the Kosovo border, and smuggling and other criminal activities occur in areas bordering Kosovo and Albania. Although rare, inter-ethnic violence may take place in certain areas of the country. Exercise caution in Skopje’s downtown pedestrian zone, the Old Bazaar, the Trgovski Center Mall, the riverfront, and the Old Town, where pickpockets and bag snatchers are particularly active. Groups of street children sometimes gather in crowded public areas and tourist destinations to pickpocket visitors. In Skopje, the stretch of land along the north side of the river between Blvd Krste Petkov Misirkov and Belasitsa is better avoided. At Lake Ohrid, petty thefts often happen at the beach after sunset. Mountain trails are not always marked and weather conditions can change rapidly, creating risks for hikers. Avoid areas where wildfires are present from April to October, and avoid isolated or poorly lit areas at night.