North Macedonia or Russia
Two countries side by side across the same rows as the full comparison. A dash means the value is missing: fields are not filled with guesses. about the data
| North Macedonia | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in IT | — | $ 25 036 |
| Citizenship | 7 years | 5 years |
| Partner can work | — | yes |
| Parents | — | difficult |
| Pets | no trouble | no trouble |
| Pet limit | 5 | 2 |
| Quarantine | — | no |
| Residence permit fee | — | — |
| Rent, 2 bedrooms | $ 489 · estimate | $ 1 024 |
| Basket | $ 25,7 | $ 28,3 |
| Life expectancy | 76.62 | 73.44 |
| Homicides/100k | 1.26 | 7.82 |
| Natural hazards, 0–10 | 2.9 | 5.1 |
How the two sets of routes differ
Long-stay routes in this reference: North Macedonia — 34, Russia — 36. Types present in both: work, study, family, investment and repatriation. North Macedonia adds: retirement. Russia adds: talent.
Fees, thresholds and deadlines
North Macedonia: fees range from 20 to 70 EUR. Routes stating an income threshold: 1; the lowest is 40,000 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 28; the shortest is 4 days. Russia: fees range from 1,920 to 6,000 RUB. Routes with a published decision deadline: 27; the shortest is 10 days.
Beyond the first permit
Permanent status: North Macedonia after 5 years, Russia after 1 year. Citizenship: North Macedonia after 7 years, Russia after 5 years. Both allow a second citizenship.
North Macedonia in brief
North Macedonia offers a short route to status — permanent residence after 5 years, citizenship after 7 — and allows not only employment but also self-employment. The constraint is the narrow range of routes: there are only three, permanent residence requires confirmed Macedonian, and dual citizenship is not permitted, so the previous one has to be given up.
Russia in brief
Russia is the largest country in the world by area; the main job market and the highest salaries are concentrated in Moscow and St. Petersburg. A temporary residence permit (RVP) is issued for three years; after at least a year of residence on it, a residence permit (VNZh) can be obtained, which has been valid indefinitely since 2019. Admission to citizenship under the general procedure requires five years of continuous residence on a VNZh, command of the Russian language and knowledge of the country's history; a simplified procedure for obtaining an RVP outside the quota applies to spouses of Russian citizens with three years of marriage or a shared child. Citizens of EAEU states work without a work permit or a patent. Bringing in up to two dogs or cats requires no permit and no quarantine, but, unlike several EAEU neighbours, laboratory confirmation of rabies antibody titre is mandatory. International sanctions and restrictions on cross-border payments and part of air travel are in force; the homicide rate is noticeably higher, and life expectancy noticeably lower, than the European average, and the World Bank's control-of-corruption score is negative.
Other comparisons
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This material is for reference and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax thresholds and prices change. Before deciding anything, check the official sources and consult a licensed professional in the relevant country.