2.5 Cross-border mobility programmes
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EU programmes
Erasmus + Programme
The primary EU initiative facilitating youth engagement in voluntary activities abroad, particularly for individuals residing in North Macedonia, is the European Solidarity Corps programme. This program serves as the principal avenue for supporting young people's participation in volunteering endeavors overseas, distinct from the Erasmus+ Programme which primarily focuses on youth mobility projects and other opportunities.
The decentralized actions of the programme are implemented by the National Agency for European Education Programmes and Mobility.
In May 2014, the Republic of North Macedonia became a Programme Country of the Erasmus+ Programme, enabling access to various actions including:
- Key Action 1 – Learning through individuals mobility
- Key Action 2 - Collaborating on Innovation and Sharing Good Practices
- Key Action 3 - Supporting Policy Reform
- Jean Monnet Activities
- Sport
According to the Erasmus + Project Results webpage, by the moment, 1,231 Erasmus + project involved Macedonian entities, as coordinator / beneficiary either as partner. Of those 926 are Key Action 1 - Learning mobility of individuals, 260 are KA2 Projects - Partnership for cooperation and exchange of practices, 3 are Jean Monnet, 23 are KA3 Support for policy reform, and 19 are for sport.
At the moment 28 organizations form North Macedonia are accredited to the European Union Volunteering Programme (last checked February 2024).
The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), particularly under IPA II (2014-2020), has made significant contributions to youth volunteerism and youth activities in North Macedonia. As part of the EU Support for Education, Employment, and Social Policy, the program explicitly targeted youth employment and social inclusion, providing financial support to strengthen the capacity for evidence-based policy-making in these areas. A key goal was to enhance youth employability through skills development, vocational training, and integration into the labor market.
IPA also contributed to youth volunteerism through its support for the Western Balkans Youth Window, a sub-program under the Youth in Action program. This initiative specifically focused on fostering transnational non-formal learning mobility for young people, encouraging them to participate in cooperative projects across the region and Europe. The program's activities, including volunteer exchanges, capacity-building events, and leadership development, were aimed at empowering young people by providing them opportunities for volunteering and enhancing their social engagement. Through these initiatives, IPA helped facilitate the development of young people’s personal and professional skills while promoting active citizenship and social inclusion.
In the new IPA III (2021-2027), youth volunteerism continues to be an integral part of the EU’s support for the region. The overarching goal of the program remains to assist in the alignment of North Macedonia’s political, legal, and social structures with EU standards. The program further encourages youth engagement and supports youth mobility and volunteering by promoting projects and initiatives that enhance democratic participation, social inclusion, and active citizenship.
Through these mechanisms, IPA strengthens the capacities of local and regional youth organizations, enabling them to engage young people in volunteer work and other socially impactful activities. By funding projects that involve youth in volunteering, the IPA fosters a sense of responsibility, civic engagement, and social contribution, which is essential in the development of a democratic society.
Other Programmes
Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) is an international organization financed by the governments of the region and it is supported by the EU and other donors. They are supporting different youth mobility programmes which can be found on their web page.
In this light, RYCO implements the ROUTE WB6 project, which is a significant regional initiative supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project aims to promote volunteering as a key tool for peace and reconciliation in the Western Balkans. By fostering volunteerism, ROUTE WB6 works to improve the infrastructure for volunteering in the region, while also developing a regional volunteering program that connects youth from different backgrounds.
A major component of this project is its focus on mobilizing youth to use volunteering as a means to enhance inter-ethnic collaboration, especially in communities with a history of conflict. Volunteering is seen as a way to bridge divides, build trust, and foster mutual understanding among youth from different ethnicities.
Through this project, RYCO is helping to foster the values of peace, cooperation, and solidarity, contributing to the broader goals of reconciliation, stability, and prosperity in the Western Balkans.
RYCO also works closely with youth organizations and local communities to ensure that volunteering activities are meaningful and impactful. These efforts provide young people with opportunities for personal and professional growth, while also contributing to positive change in their societies. By supporting these regional volunteering initiatives, RYCO is not only promoting active citizenship but also empowering youth to become agents of change and leaders in their communities.
Another previous RYCO project is “Supporting the Western Balkan's Collective Leadership on Reconciliation: Building Capacity and Momentum for RYCO”. The overall goal of the project was to foster social cohesion and reconciliation, enhance attitudes of tolerance and reduce prejudice and discrimination among youth in the Western Balkans, through supporting RYCO in building its institutional capacity and partnerships with civil society, education institutions (schools) grassroots youth organizations and youth in general. The project strengthens RYCO as a regionally owned mechanism with the mandate to promote reconciliation, mobility, diversity, democratic values, participation, active citizenship and intercultural learning.
As for the ongoing projects carried out by RYCO, is the “RYCO Superschools Western Balkans School Exchange Scheme” which aims to support the peacebuilding and reconciliation process and intercultural learning and dialogue among schools, students and their communities. It aims at providing the ground for creating strong and sustainable bonds between secondary schools within the region and building long-term partnerships. By participating in this initiative, secondary schools will have the chance to apply and, if selected, implement school to school exchanges as well as to participate in the scheme’s activities dedicated to their capacity building, networking and cooperation.
Legal framework applying to foreign volunteers
Foreign volunteers are subject to the Law on Volunteering as well. Thus, the Law determines the possibilities and conditions for volunteering for foreigners. A foreign individual may volunteer in North Macedonia upon issued Consent for volunteering by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and regulated residence in the Republic of North Macedonia (article 8, par. 2).
After the Consent for volunteering is being issued, the organizer of the voluntary service has an obligation to inform the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy about the start of the volunteering activity, within 60 days. The procedures related to the issuing of Consent for volunteering are explained in the Regulation of the manner, procedure and evidence for issuing of Consent for volunteering of foreign (non-residential) individual in the Republic of Macedonia.
Visas
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia updated their website recently, and here is a list of every country in the world with information about the visa requirements.
These are the visa requirements for entering the Republic of North Macedonia:
Visa Requirements for Volunteering in North Macedonia:
- Nationals of EU Member States and Schengen Agreement Signatories: No visa is required to enter North Macedonia. A valid national identity card suffices.
- Third-country Nationals with Temporary Residence: Those with temporary residence in an EU Member State or a Schengen Agreement signatory can stay for up to 15 days per entry, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Third-country Nationals with Permanent Residence: Similarly, those with permanent residence in an EU Member State or a Schengen Agreement signatory can stay for up to 15 days per entry, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Third-country Nationals with Multiple-entry Schengen Visa: Holding a multiple-entry Schengen visa (type C) valid for at least 5 days beyond the intended stay allows for a 15-day stay per entry, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Visa Exemption for Certain Nationals: Until December 31, 2020, holders of valid British, Canadian, or U.S. visas are exempt from visas for stays of up to 15 days. The validity of the visa should exceed the planned stay by 5 days.
Registration Requirements
Regardless of visa requirements, all foreign citizens must register at the nearest police station within 24 hours of entry. For foreign volunteers, the hosting organization can assist in this process.
Customs Guide
No specific customs rules apply to volunteers. General customs procedures apply as outlined by the Republic of North Macedonia.
Residency Permit
Long-stay visas are available for various purposes, including volunteering. Applicants should submit documents corresponding to the visa type, and temporary residence permits are granted for volunteering purposes among others, by the Ministry of Interior.