North Macedonia prepares citizens for new EU travel entry rules

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) of North Macedonia said it will timely and fully brief citizens on the new entry requirements for travel into the EU, scheduled to launch on October 12, so as to prevent delays at border points, CE Report quotes MIA.

Public Security Bureau Director Aleksandar Janev said in response to a reporter's question on Tuesday that communication is ongoing with European partners, adding that according to preliminary announcements and current European regulations, citizens will be filling out online applications.

"We discuss on a daily basis how to make all of this easier and more accessible for our citizens. I agree, the biggest problem may be the border crossings with our neighbours which are part of the European Union. Therefore, it is our obligation to fully brief citizens, what applications they need to submit. According to the current regulations, this application will be online, all of this will take a short time, but it will be valid for two years. These are the preliminary announcements, and when we receive official information from the EU, it will be shared with citizens. It is EU regulation, and we are required to observe it," said Janev who attended Tuesday's press conference on replacing the registration plates of official vehicles with distinct coloured plates.

According to the latest information, the EU is rolling out its Entry/Exit System (EES) on October 12, 2025. The system will be gradually introduced at the external borders of 29 European countries (including members of the Union, countries that are part of the Schengen area, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) within six months, with full implementation by April 10, 2026.