Macedonian passport

[Jankovska]

I just found out that there is a new law in Macedonia that states that if you are a Macedonian citizzen living abroad you still must posses a Macedonian passport. If you are visiting you can enter with any passport however when leaving the country you must present the Macedonian passport. For example if I go to Macedonia with my British passport I still must have a Macedonian passport to be able to leave the country to return to Britain. Does anyone know anything about this?
In my view this is a money making programme if true. I for example don't want a Macedonian passport because I will not deal with the people who sort out passports in Kriva Palanka but now if I don't have one I can't visit Macedonia. How much money will the gov make from everyone having a passport and will they not loose from the people who simply don't have one and can't travel to Macedonia to spend their money. For example, even if I am bullied into getting a passport (which I don't want to) I still need to book at least 2-3 weeks of work to go and have everything sorted. I will need a new lichna karta, the waiting lists are unbelievable and I will be stuck in Macedonia in danger of loosing my job here. So I don't really have a choice but not to travel. My husband is going for a week next month and I can't go because I don't trust administracija in Macedonia to issue me with documents in 5 days. Now I wonder when will I be able to go? I am really disappointed and want to find out more about this law.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Jankovska, are you a citizen of Macedonia or dual citizen?

[Jankovska]

Jankovska, are you a citizen of Macedonia or dual citizen?

Dual citizen, both Macedonian and British

[Daniel the Great]

I must admit that is a pretty silly law if it is true, they want tourists but this law will not do Macedonia any good in that sector if it is true, i have a Macedonian passport so i don't have to worry about that but i still think its a stupid law if it is true.




______________________
Macedonian and proud

[fyrOM]

HaHa. Im Aussie and can travel anywhere anytime.

[julie]

So, as a child of a miggrant, apparently I could apply for macedonian citizenship.
Now, with these laws I would be really stupid to contemplate that.
Will stay Aussie , sounds like a real money spinner. from RoM, I think they have not considered the repercussions, ie people applying for citizenship would be dissuaded from doing so with these stupid laws.
jankovska, it sounds like it would apply to dual citizenship too, there has been people with no insight in making that stupid law up

[Soldier of Macedon]

Perhaps I am not looking at this properly, but I can't see the great negative with the government introducing such a requirement, except that it forces emigrant citizens to retain passports which will therefore generate some funds from renewal fees every few (or whatever it is) years. How much money can they possibly make off passports? What other purpose is it supposed to serve, according to the government?

I will need a new lichna karta, the waiting lists are unbelievable and I will be stuck in Macedonia in danger of loosing my job here. So I don't really have a choice but not to travel. My husband is going for a week next month and I can't go because I don't trust administracija in Macedonia to issue me with documents in 5 days. Now I wonder when will I be able to go?

You have no faith in the system due to past experiences on a personal level, I can't argue with you there.

[julie]

There is nothing wrong with generating funds from renewals of passports, the issue would be in the delays jankovska is concerned about in the administration side of things, that would be a nightmare

[Jankovska]

Perhaps I am not looking at this properly, but I can't see the great negative with the government introducing such a requirement, except that it forces emigrant citizens to retain passports which will therefore generate some funds from renewal fees every few (or whatever it is) years. How much money can they possibly make off passports? What other purpose is it supposed to serve, according to the government?

You have no faith in the system due to past experiences on a personal level, I can't argue with you there.

If there was a speady process to get it than fine, but my parents in law are still waiting. Most things you need to be there to sign. The great negative is that most Macedonians can not afford to take long time off work and go get their passports. Macedonians from OZ do go to Macedonia on longer periods but I have been for like a weekend etc. Now I can't do that until my passport is sorted. No one is giving me straight answers, the waiting list for new passports is months long so I actually can not go if I wish to return to Britain. I went to Macedonia 5 times last year, this year I won't be able to because of this problem. I can't take such long time off work so I can't go. They are loosing out on me spending money there and every other Macedonian who can't take a long time off work and their lifes in the Diaspora to get the passport. I am just quite sad I can't go home this year, it's never been this long.

[Soldier of Macedon]

I understand your concerns completely, it is a great shame that these services aren't managed and administered properly and efficiently.

Do you know sho mu tekna sega da go pocnat ova?

[Jankovska]

I understand your concerns completely, it is a great shame that these services aren't managed and administered properly and efficiently.

Do you know sho mu tekna sega da go pocnat ova?

I have no idea sto im tekna, my friend with a British passport was told she can not leave due to the new law. She is really panicking now coz she is expected to reutrn to work. She is trying to sort it out via the British embassay which is a shame, having to invlove a different country. She wasnt told about it when she entered Macedonia but when she was leaving.
I understand making money and everything and be it, I will get the passport and pay the nekolku iljadi denari, not a big deal. But if I can't be sure of the time frame I can not go. Last time I went was last year and I used all my holiday for my wedding.I was looking forward to a new year holiday so I can go and now I can't. My husband is going and my brother and I am just sad. Boo

[Prolet]

When i was leaving Stari Kraj i left with my Aussie Passport then i was told to take out my Macedonian one and i gave it to them and it wasnt a problem. It was a bit strange that they asked me, but at the same time i entered Macedonia with a Macedonian Passport.

Its no money making scheme at all, it costs 2000 denars for a 10 year passport which is not even $60 AUS and even less in British Pounds. They are actually going to loose money by having these teams go out all over Australia,North America and Europe trying to give Macedonians Passports. In North America alone they are only expecting only 3000 passports to be issued which is next to nothing and it will bring a loss.

Its true that there is a long waiting list to get a passport or an ID Card, i got my Biometric passport in three days (They told me 10 days) i didnt pay for a hitna postapka. But now that we got the Visa Liberalization everybody is getting one, because without a new biometric passport they cant travel abroad,, they have to go to the embassy and line up for a visa. I think they only have two passport machines, they are ordering more from Germany.

[Warrior]

I just found out that there is a new law in Macedonia that states that if you are a Macedonian citizzen living abroad you still must posses a Macedonian passport. If you are visiting you can enter with any passport however when leaving the country you must present the Macedonian passport. For example if I go to Macedonia with my British passport I still must have a Macedonian passport to be able to leave the country to return to Britain. Does anyone know anything about this?
In my view this is a money making programme if true. I for example don't want a Macedonian passport because I will not deal with the people who sort out passports in Kriva Palanka but now if I don't have one I can't visit Macedonia. How much money will the gov make from everyone having a passport and will they not loose from the people who simply don't have one and can't travel to Macedonia to spend their money. For example, even if I am bullied into getting a passport (which I don't want to) I still need to book at least 2-3 weeks of work to go and have everything sorted. I will need a new lichna karta, the waiting lists are unbelievable and I will be stuck in Macedonia in danger of loosing my job here. So I don't really have a choice but not to travel. My husband is going for a week next month and I can't go because I don't trust administracija in Macedonia to issue me with documents in 5 days. Now I wonder when will I be able to go? I am really disappointed and want to find out more about this law.

I am not sure of the relationship between UK and Maco, but i would have assumed its very similar as Oz with Maco. Get rid of the Maco passport and you wont have a problem in the short term. When things change in the future for the better and you still want the Maco passport, i am sure you can re-apply and receive it. Besides nostalgia of having a Maco passport i dont see the benefit of having a Maco passport versus a Oz, UK or US passport. I travel there few times a year with the Oz passport and there is no issues. In and out! Unless you rent a Europcar whicch has the massive sticker on the bonnet that it is rental, usually the cops on the exit of Skopje will stop you for some stupid reason!!! Idiots....That is the only hassle i get when i travel in Maco...

[Prolet]

Believe it or not Warrior giving up your citizenship is actually a difficult process in Stari Kraj, i got friends in Germany who had to give up their Macedonian Citizenship in order to gain a German one and they had to wait for years and they had to write letters to MVR why they are giving up their citizenship and then they do check ups and investigations before approval and it took over two years. I cant say the same about everyone, maybe the procedure is quicker now but its going to take months at the earliest never the less.

I've also heard a similar story from a friend in Bitola, a group of friends went to Egejska Makedonija and one of them had an American Passport and the Macedonian Border guard wouldnt let them pass through without a Macedonian Passport (This was at the Medzitlija Border Crossing) and it was a bit odd at the start but when i heard the same story in another example this time with an Australian Passport i do think that Jankovska might have a case here. Im not sure why they are doing this, its not doing anybody any good and if somebody has dual citizenship they should be able to choose which passport they will use, this is mainly when they are exiting Macedonia not when coming in.

[Warrior]

Believe it or not Warrior giving up your citizenship is actually a difficult process in Stari Kraj, i got friends in Germany who had to give up their Macedonian Citizenship in order to gain a German one and they had to wait for years and they had to write letters to MVR why they are giving up their citizenship and then they do check ups and investigations before approval and it took over two years. I cant say the same about everyone, maybe the procedure is quicker now but its going to take months at the earliest never the less.

I've also heard a similar story from a friend in Bitola, a group of friends went to Egejska Makedonija and one of them had an American Passport and the Macedonian Border guard wouldnt let them pass through without a Macedonian Passport (This was at the Medzitlija Border Crossing) and it was a bit odd at the start but when i heard the same story in another example this time with an Australian Passport i do think that Jankovska might have a case here. Im not sure why they are doing this, its not doing anybody any good and if somebody has dual citizenship they should be able to choose which passport they will use, this is mainly when they are exiting Macedonia not when coming in.

If you already have a British citizenship i dont think it will take that long to toss the maco one away. If you are giving up the maco to take up another citizenship, then it might be a difficult process.....