Opening a company in North Macedonia: locals, foreigners, freelancers and digital nomads

At a glance: DOOEL or DOO with 5,000 euros capital paid in denars, Central Registry one-stop shop in 1 to 3 working days, electronic filing through a registration agent free of state fees, 10 percent corporate and personal tax, 18 percent VAT from MKD 2 million (about 32,500 euros), no digital nomad visa. Legal forms. Sole proprietor (trgovec poedinec, TP): no capital, personal liability. Limited liability company (drustvo so ogranicena odgovornost, DOO; single-member DOOEL): minimum capital 5,000 euros in denar equivalent (about MKD 307,000). Joint-stock company (akcionersko drustvo, AD): 25,000 euros, 50,000 with a public offer. Companies in the Technological Industrial Development Zones get ten-year tax holidays for manufacturing and export activities. Registration. The Central Registry of the Republic of North Macedonia (Centralen registar) runs the one-stop shop: founding act or articles, director's statement, bank confirmation of the paid capital, proof of address; electronic filing only through a licensed registration agent and free of state fees; the decision in 1 to 3 working days comes with the tax number. Notary only for foreign founders' powers of attorney and apostilled translations. Agent or lawyer 300 to 700 euros, accountant 100 to 200 euros a month. Total excluding capital 300 to 900 euros. Taxes 2026. Corporate income tax 10 percent. Companies with total annual income up to MKD 3 million (about 48,800 euros) are exempt; between MKD 3 and 6 million they may pay 1 percent of total income instead. Dividends 10 percent withholding to foreign companies, treaties reduce; individuals pay 10 percent. VAT 18 percent, reduced 10 and 5 percent; registration from MKD 2 million (about 32,500 euros) turnover. Personal income tax flat 10 percent. Social contributions 28 percent of gross salary on at least half the average salary. Freelancers and the self-employed. A sole proprietor registers at the Central Registry through an agent and pays 10 percent on net profit plus contributions of 28 percent on at least half the average salary, roughly MKD 9,000 to 10,000 a month (about 150 to 160 euros) at the minimum. Individuals without a registration may work under service contracts (dogovor na delo) and pay 10 percent tax after a 10 percent deemed-cost deduction; foreign client income is self-reported through the Public Revenue Office e-PDD portal. Foreigners. 100 percent foreign ownership, restrictions only in defence, media and some concessions; no resident director rule. A foreign founder who works in the company needs a temporary residence permit for self-employment from the Ministry of Interior with the company extract, a lease, health insurance and proof of funds; one year, renewable, with the work permit from the Employment Agency; fees under 100 euros per step. Registration by power of attorney is normal; the bank account needs the director in person. Branch of a foreign company. A branch (podruznica) registers at the Central Registry with the parent's extract, articles, resolution, representative appointment and apostilled translations; no capital, taxed as a permanent establishment at 10 percent, and after-tax profit transferred to the head office is free of withholding tax. The parent is fully liable, so a DOOEL subsidiary is the usual choice. A representative office (pretstavnistvo) may not trade. Digital nomads. No digital nomad visa. Visa-free entry for 90 days in any 180 for EU, UK, US and most European and OECD citizens; remote work for foreign clients during that stay is not policed, but a longer stay needs temporary residence on another ground (own company, employment, family, study, property). Residents of more than 183 days are taxed on worldwide income at 10 percent with credit for foreign tax. Changed recently. Progressive personal tax permanently repealed, flat 10 percent (2023); one-off solidarity tax on large companies (2023); foreign providers of digital services obliged to register for VAT (January 2024); Pillar Two minimum tax law for large groups, retroactive to 2024 (December 2024); transfer-pricing documentation filed only on request (2025); minimum wage raised to about MKD 24,500 net (March 2025). Figures checked October 2026 from the Central Registry of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Public Revenue Office, the Ministry of Interior, PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries and Macedonian accounting firms; thresholds and fees change yearly. Confirm with a licensed adviser in North Macedonia before you file.