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U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS

Intercountry Adoption

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Country Information

North Macedonia

North Macedonia
Republic of North Macedonia
Exercise normal precautions in North Macedonia.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in North Macedonia.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to North Macedonia.

If you decide to travel to North Macedonia: 

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Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
Yes
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
Only intercountry adoptions from North Macedonia meeting certain criteria are possible.

Hague Convention Information

North Macedonia is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the Convention; the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); the IAA’s implementing regulations; and all applicable legislation and regulations of North Macedonia.

North Macedonian law contains a preference for domestic adoptions, and intercountry adoptions rarely occur unless one of the prospective adoptive parents is of Macedonian origin. Demand for domestic adoptions has increased during the past few years while the number of children that are available for adoption continues to be low. Only four children from North Macedonia have received a U.S. immigrant visa based on an intercountry adoption in the past five fiscal years. The information provided is intended primarily to assist in extremely rare adoption cases from North Macedonia, including adoptions of children from North Macedonia by relatives in the United States, as well as adoptions from third countries by U.S. citizens living in North Macedonia.

U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from North Macedonia should contact the Central Authority of North Macedonia to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in North Macedonia who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Macedonia’s Central Authority. See contact information below.

Please visit the Department of State’s country pages for more information on traveling to North Macedonia and the U.S. Embassy in Skopje’s website for information on consular services.

The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to Macedonia’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen adoptive parents and a child from North Macedonia if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform North Macedonia’s Central Authority that the parents are suitable and eligible to adopt, that the child appears eligible to enter and reside permanently in the United States, and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.

Warning: Do not attempt to adopt or obtain custody of a child in North Macedonia before USCIS has provisionally approved your Form I-800 petition AND a U.S. consular officer issues the “Article 5/17 Letter” for your adoption case.

Contact Information

North Macedonia’s Adoption Authority:
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
Dame Gruev Street No. 14
1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
Email:  mtsp@mtsp.gov.mk

U.S. Embassy in Skopje, North Macedonia
Str. "Samoilova" Nr.21
1000 Skopje
Republic of North Macedonia
Tel: +389 (0)2 310 2000
Fax: +389 (0)2 310 299
Email:  consularskopje@state.gov
Internet: https://mk.usembassy.gov/

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-17
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: Adoption@state.gov
Internet: http://adoption.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about filing a Form I-800A application or a Form I-800 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC):
Tel:  1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1- 913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For general questions about immigration procedures:
USCIS Contact Center
Tel:  1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet:  uscis.gov

Last Updated: September 28, 2023

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Skopje
Samoilova 21
1000 Skopje
Republic of North Macedonia
Telephone
+(389) (2) 310-2000
Emergency
+389-7041-5550
Fax
+(389) (2) 310-2499

North Macedonia Map