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Short-stay Schengen visas for 90 days and less (C visas)
A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa allowing its holder to circulate in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
- General information
- How do I submit an application?
- When should I submit the application?
- What documents do I need?
- How long does the processing take?
- Visa fees
- Travelling with minors
- Decision on the application and further procedure
- Your visa application has been rejected and you disagree with this decision?
- Have a good journey! Advice for visa holders
- You were not satisfied?
- Additional information: What kind of a visa do I need?
General information
Citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia do not require a Schengen visa if their stay does not exceed 90 days within a period of 180 days.
If you are a citizen of another country, please check whether you need a Schengen visa.
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in North Macedonia can process your application if Germany is your main travel destination and you are a third-country national with a residence permit in the Republic of North Macedonia, or if you require a transit visa (for certain nationals) for a flight via a German airport.
The requirements for the issue of Schengen visas for short stays can be found here.
How do I submit an application?
You can submit your application without booking an appointment Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 09:00 am.
When should I submit the application?
You may apply up to six months before the start of the intended visit. The Embassy strongly recommends submitting applications at least four weeks before the start of the planned trip, as processing may take longer in individual cases.
What documents do I need?
Regardless of whether you are applying for a
• Student Holiday Work visa,
• Visit/tourism visa,
• Business visa or
• Medical treatment visa
the following documents are required in all cases:
- Application form: Fill in the form online and bring a duly signed hard copy to your appointment.
- Additional information on availability and representation: Bring a duly signed hard copy to your appointment.
- Declaration: Bring a duly signed hard copy to your appointment.
- 1 current biometric passport photo, not older than 6 months, in front of a white background, size 45 х 35 millimeters.
- Valid passport (original and one copy): The passport must contain at least 2 blank pages and be valid for 3 months beyond the duration of the visa
- Residence permit of North Macedonia (original and 1 copy): The residence permit must be valid at least one month after the intended return to North Macedonia.
- Travel Health insurance with coverage of at least 30.000 € valid in all Schengen countries (original and 1 ccopy)
Additional documents required depending on the purpose:
- agreement of the Federal Employment Agency (Vermittlungsbestätigung einer Ferienbeschäftigung) - your employer can apply for the agreement online (original and 1 copy),
- employment contract with details of the employer, job description, type of employment, gross salary and period of employment (original and 1 copy),
- certificate of enrollment including information concerning the dates of semester break (original and 1 copy),
- declaration of Certificate of Enrolment of the Federal Employment Agency (Erklärung zur Immatrikulationsbescheinigung der Bundesagentur für Arbeit)
- proof of finances (e.g., bank statement with sufficient funds for subsistence for at least one month) (original and 1 copy),
- proof of accommodation: rental agreement or confirmation of the provision of accommodation) (original and 1 copy).
- if you intend to visit close relatives (e.g., parents, children, siblings): proof of relation between you and the family member, who is inviting you (e. g. birth certificates, marriage certificates etc.), original and 1 copy each,
- original invitation/formal obligation by your host in Germany according to §§ 66-68 of the German Residence Act confirmed by the local German Aliens Authority („Verpflichtungserklärung“) or: invitation letter written by your host and proof of sufficient funds for your stay,
For employees:
- your last three pay slips (original and 1 copy each),
- proof of employment issued by the authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia („M1/M2 form“) (original and 1 copy).
For self-employed workers / freelance workers:
- entry in the Central Registry of the Republic of Macedonia (original and 1 copy),
proof that your company paid taxes (original and 1 copy).
- original invitation letter written by your host company in Germany / fair company that states your name and the purpose of the intended visit in German or English,
- hotel booking for the whole duration of your trip,
- original invitation/formal obligation by your host in Germany according to §§ 66 the German Residence Act confirmed by the local German Aliens Authority (Verpflichtungserklärung„) or: other proof that you can provide sufficient funds for your stay (e.g., bank statements, pay slips etc.),
For employees:
- your last three pay slips (original and 1 copy each),
- proof of employment issued by the authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia (“M1/M2 form„) (original and 1 copy),
- original confirmation of your intended business trip written by your employer.
For self-employed workers / freelance workers:
- entry in the Central Registry of the Republic of North Macedonia (original and 1 copy),
proof that your company paid taxes (original and 1 copy).
- medical certificate stating your illness and the necessary treatment,
- letter of confirmation by the German hospital stating how long the patient will be treated and that all the costs for the treatment are covered,
- original invitation/formal obligation by your host in Germany according to §§ 66 the German Residence Act confirmed by the local German Aliens Authority (Verpflichtungserklärung“) or: other proof that you can provide sufficient funds for your stay (e.g., bank statements, pay slips etc.),
If your family lives in the Republic of North Macedonia:
- proof of relation (e. g. birth certificates, marriage certificates etc.) (original and 1 copy each),
If you work in the Republic of North Macedonia:
- your last three pay slips (original and 1 copy each),
- proof of employment issued by the authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia („M1/M2 form“) (original and 1 copy).
If you are self-employed workers / freelance workers in the Republic of North Macedonia:
- entry in the Central Registry of the Republic of North Macedonia (original and 1 copy),
- proof that your company paid taxes (original and 1 copy).
If you study in the Republic of North Macedonia:
- leave letter from the University
How long does the processing take?
The processing time for a Schengen visa is approx. 15 working days from the application date. A further 2-3 working days should be allowed for the return of your passport. Please understand that questions about the processing status cannot be answered during the regular processing time. For reasons of data protection, information about individual visa applications may only be provided to the applicant personally or to a person whom the applicant has authorized in writing to receive such information.
Visa fees
The visa fee is 90 € for adults and 45 € for children between 6 and 12 years. Children from 0-6 are free of charge. If you are a spouse of an EU citizen, your application will be processed free of charge.
Important notice: All other services provided by the Embassy to process your application and the application form are free of charge.
Travelling with minors
In addition to the required documents for the different types of visas, every minor applicant (0-18 years of age) has to fill out an individual application. The application must be signed by both parents unless one parent has the sole custody or a residence order for the minor. In this case, please provide a proof of the sole custody (e.g., birth certificate of child, adoption papers, court decision on custody).
In cases where either one or both legal guardians are not able to accompany the applicant to the visa appointment or during the travel, please additionally provide the following documents:
- Signed and notarized letter of travel consent issued by parents/guardians (original)
- copies of the parents’ passports
Decision on the application and further procedure
If the visa is granted, it is your duty to verify whether the information printed on the visa sticker is correct and complete and to report any errors to the consulate immediately. The embassy is not liable for financial damage caused by corrections not reported in good time.
In case of visa refusal, a notification will be sent to the applicant stating not only that the visa application has been unsuccessful, but also gives the grounds on which it was rejected and information on the applicant's right to appeal the decision.
For reasons of data protection, information about individual visa applications may only be provided to the applicant personally or to a person whom the applicant has authorized in writing to receive such information.
Your visa application has been rejected and you disagree with this decision?
Changes as of 1 July 2025 – ending of the remonstration procedure
We would like to inform you that remonstrations against visa rejections dated 1 July 2025 or later will no longer be possible.
Remonstrations submitted to this embassy have no legal effect whatsoever and will no longer be processed. You will not receive confirmation of receipt, nor will any status enquiries regarding remonstrations against rejection notices dated 1 July 2025 or later be answered.
The only exception: remonstrations against visa rejections will still be processed if the rejection notice is dated before 1 July 2025.
Options after a visa application has been rejected
After a visa application has been rejected, you have two options:
- You may submit a new visa application at any time, which will be subject to the usual fee.
For this new visa application, you will again have to present all relevant documents and documentary proof. The application will be reviewed neutrally on the basis of the current legal situation. - You may appeal against the visa rejection by filing an action with the Administrative Court in Berlin at your own expense.
You can appoint a lawyer for this purpose. However, there is no obligation to do so. It should be noted that separate lawyers’ fees may be incurred.
The court fees will be determined by the court. They will be based on the number of requested visas.
Further information is available on the website of the Administrative Court in Berlin.
Information on legal action
Once you have been informed that your visa application has been rejected, you may file an action with the Administrative Court in Berlin.
Information regarding legal remedies can be found on your visa rejection notice. Please refer to this information regarding legal remedies, which is binding, for further details.
Normally, the deadline for filing an action is one (1) month from the date on which the respective notice is deemed served.
Furthermore, we would like to point out that the official language of the court is German (section 184 of the Courts Constitution Act – Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz)
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any information on the duration of court proceedings. The court determines the exact duration of the proceedings and how they are conducted.
This overview is for your information only. It is not binding and does not claim to be complete. If necessary, please ensure that you do your own research on the information presented here.
Have a good journey! Advice for visa holders
If all the information on your visa label is correct, nothing stands in the way of your journey. Please check this as soon as you have your passport back in your hands. Please inform us immediately of any errors so that we can issue you with a new visa if necessary.
Your visa will show your full name, passport number and photo. The period of validity of the visa is indicated. This is the period of time during which your trip can take place. You will also see the number of days you can stay. This is the maximum number of days you are allowed to stay in the Schengen area during the period of validity.
The issuance of a Schengen visa does not constitute a right of entry. The final decision is made by the border police upon entry into the Schengen area. It is possible that, in addition to your passport with the valid visa, the border police will also ask you to present documents upon entry that provide information about your financial means, the duration and purpose of your stay and health insurance cover. You should therefore take a set of your visa documents (including invitation from Germany, hotel reservation, travel health insurance) with you on your trip.
You were not satisfied?
Schengen visa applicants can submit complaints about the behaviour of consular staff or the visa application process via the contact form. To do so, please select the addressee „Complaint about the Schengen visa process“ in the contact form.
We will investigate your complaint as soon as we receive it.
Additional information: What kind of a visa do I need?
Which visa do I need for Germany?