Starting a Business · North Macedonia
Starting a business in North Macedonia: foreigner's guide (2026)
North Macedonia shaded by its starting a business status
North Macedonia offers a streamlined, one-stop-shop company registration process that can be completed in as little as four hours electronically through the Central Registry, with no foreign-ownership restrictions on most entity types. Foreign investors receive the same rights and privileges as domestic investors under the Law on Trade Companies, which is harmonized with EU directives. The most common structure is the limited liability company (DOO), requiring a minimum share capital of EUR 5,000 with a one-year deposit grace period.
Key points
No restrictions on foreign ownership percentage. Foreign nationals and foreign legal entities may fully own and manage a Macedonian LLC (DOO) without any residency requirement, with rights equal to domestic investors as guaranteed by the Law on Trade Companies and the Constitution.
Standard LLC (DOO) requires a minimum share capital of EUR 5,000, which does not need to be deposited immediately — founders have up to one year from incorporation to contribute it. A simplified LLC variant introduced by 2021 amendments allows a symbolic minimum of EUR 1, subject to mandatory reserve accumulation rules.
The Central Registry's one-stop-shop (OSS) system officially processes registrations within four hours; in practice, the full procedure including tax identification number issuance takes 2–3 business days. The electronic portal operates 24/7 for submissions, reviewed Monday–Friday 08:30–16:30.
Key steps are: (1) reserve company name with the Central Registry; (2) prepare Articles of Association and gather founder ID documents (passport copies for individuals; current trade-register extract for corporate founders); (3) submit registration application electronically via the Central Registry OSS — this simultaneously issues a tax ID; (4) obtain company seal; (5) open a corporate bank account; (6) register for VAT if applicable.
Physical presence in North Macedonia is not required. A foreign founder may appoint a local authorized representative acting under a notarized power of attorney, enabling the entire incorporation to be handled remotely.
Corporate income tax is a flat 10%, applying equally to resident companies and branches. Standard VAT rate is 18%. North Macedonia's tax regime is administered by the Ministry of Finance and is cited as one of the most competitive flat-rate systems in the Western Balkans.
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Last verified 5/24/2026 · Orientation, not legal advice - verify against the primary sources linked above. Explore the full world map →