Travelers / Rules and limitations concerning the traffic of passengers
GOODS WHICH YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DECLARE AND WHICH ARE RELIEVED FROM IMPORT DUTIES
Macedonian and foreign citizens are granted relief from import duties (customs duties, VAT and excise) for:• Goods for personal use during the stay (personal luggage)*• Tobacco products:
– 200 cigarettes, or
– 100 cigarillos (cigarettes with maximum weight of 3 grams per item), or
– 50 cigars, or
– 250 grams of smoking tobacco, or
– equivalent amount of different tobacco products
• Alcohol and alcoholic beverages:
– distilled alcoholic and spirituous beverages with alcohol percentage over 22%: 1 liter or
– distilled alcoholic and spirituous beverages and aperitifs of wine or alcohol base, the alcohol percentage of which does not exceed 22%: 2 liters and
– wine: 2 liters and
• Perfumes: 50 ml
• Eau de toilette: 250 ml.
Passengers less than 18 years of age are not granted relief from import duty payment for tobacco products, alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
The passengers from the country are granted relief from import duties on goods of non-commercial nature the value of which does not exceed EUR 350. However, the relief for goods of EUR 350 value does not apply for alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, perfumes and eau de toilette.
* Use not related to any business of professional or commercial nature, goods in personal luggage of the passenger means items for personal use, necessary for the journey.
IMPORTATION OF EFFECTIVE FOREIGN CURRENCIES
RESIDENTS*
(1) The residents can freely import effective foreign currencies and cheques denominated in foreign currencies which total aggregate value amounts up to equivalent amount of 10,000 Euros.
(2) The residents may import effective foreign currencies and cheques denominated in foreign currencies into the Republic of Macedonia in equivalent amount of 10,000 Euros or in amount exceeding 10,000 Euros, only if the amount of the imported effective foreign currencies and cheques is reported to the competent customs authorities at the moment of crossing the border.
(3)When crossing the border, the residents can report to the competent customs authorities foreign currencies and cheques denominated in foreign currencies which total aggregate value is lower than the value of the paragraph (2) of this article.
(4)The reporting of the amount of the effective foreign currencies and cheques of the paragraphs (2) and (3) of this article is made by using the Form for declaration of effective foreign and national currencies and cheques that the residents and non-residents import in or take out from the Republic of Macedonia, prescribed by the Rulebook on the Form for declaration of effective foreign and national currencies and cheques that the residents and non-residents import in or take out from the Republic of Macedonia.
NON-RESIDENTS **
(1) The non-residents can freely import effective foreign currencies and cheques denominated in foreign currencies which total aggregate value amounts up to equivalent amount of 10,000 Euros.
(2) The non-residents may import effective foreign currencies and cheques denominated in foreign currencies into the Republic of Macedonia in equivalent amount of 10,000 Euros or in amount exceeding 10,000 Euros, only if the amount of the imported effective foreign currencies and cheques is reported to the competent customs authorities at the moment of crossing the border.
(3)When crossing the border, the non- residents can report to the competent customs authorities foreign currencies and cheques denominated in foreign currencies which total aggregate value is lower than the value of the paragraph (2) of this article.
(4)The reporting of the amount of the effective foreign currencies and cheques of the paragraphs (2) and (3) of this article is made by using obligatorily the Form for declaration of effective foreign and national currencies and cheques that the residents and non-residents import in or take out from the Republic of Macedonia, prescribed by the Rule-book on the Form for declaration of effective foreign and national currencies and cheques that the residents and non-residents import in or take out from the Republic of Macedonia.
TAKING OUT EFFECTIVE FOREIGN CURRENCIES
RESIDENTS
(1) The residents can freely take out effective foreign currencies and cheques denominated in foreign currencies which total aggregate value amounts up to equivalent amount of 2,000 Euros.
(2) The residents may take out effective foreign currencies and cheques denominated in foreign currencies from the Republic of Macedonia in equivalent amount of 2,000-10,000 Euros, only if the amount of the exported effective foreign currencies and cheques denominated in foreign currencies is reported to the competent customs authorities at the moment of crossing the border.
(3) The effective foreign currencies of paragraph (2) of this article are taken out by the residents on the basis of receipt of authorized bank or exchange office acknowledging the buying of effective foreign currencies or receipt of bank acknowledging withdrawal of effective foreign currencies from personal foreign currency account.
(4) The receipt of the paragraph (3) of this article is valid until the first crossing of the border, but not later than 90 days from the day of its issuance.
(5) Effective foreign currencies of the paragraph (2) of this article are taken out by residents on business trip abroad in amount indicated in the execution order with foreign remittance (form 1450), regulated on the basis of the Act on business trip abroad.
(6) Residents are not allowed to take out effective foreign currencies and cheques denominated in foreign currencies which value exceeds equivalent amount of 10,000 Euros.
NON-RESIDENTS
The amount of effective foreign currencies and cheques denominatedin foreign currencies which the non-residents take out from the Republic of Macedonia cannot exceed the amount that they reported to the competent customs authorities at the moment of crossing the border, in conformity with the Article 3 paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Decision.
Cash and checks declaration form
* Legal entities established in Macedonia and their representatives offices abroad, branches of foreign legal entities registered in Macedonia, natural entities-domiciled in Macedonia, natural entities holders of temporary residence permit to stay in Macedonia and Macedonian diplomatic and consular representatives abroad.
** All other legal and natural entities not having a status of residents.
. LIVE ANIMALS, PETS, ANIMAL AND PLANT PRODUCTS
Special licenses and permits are required for pets, live animals, animal and plant products and plants.PETS
When travelling with pets, both within and outside Macedonia, the owner, i.e. person responsible must have documentation for identification
• Veterinary – health certificate issued by an authorized vet from the country of departure
• Passport issued by an authorized vet from the country of departure, which is mandatory for all dogs, cats and ferrets, or
• Statement given by the owner or person responsible , mandatory for all birds, provided they come from a country member of the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE).Customs shall allow import of pets in the Republic of Macedonia that are not intended for trade, no matter their number, provided the Veterinary Inspectorate, following previous examination and health check, gives consent for import, i.e. issues a Veterinary Entry Document – VED.
ANIMAL PRODUCTS
Passengers are entitled to bring in products of animal origin (white and yellow cheese, delicatessen) in total quantity of 1 kg.
Products of animal origin, the total amount of which exceeds 1 kg, cannot be brought in Macedonia without a certificate confirming
that they have been inspected by the Veterinary and Sanitary Inspectorate.
PLANTS, FLOWERS, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
If you bring plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables into Macedonia, you will need an
authorization issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy – Phytosanitary Agency confirming that these products are healthy and free from diseases. In addition, these products must be inspected by phytosanitary inspection services.
MEDICINES
1. The import of medicines is subject to special license issued by the Bureau for Drugs (Ministry of Health of the Republic of Macedonia). This import prohibition is not applicable if you bring in medicines intended for your own use.
2. If the medicines are intended for personal use, you need to have:
• Certificate issued by your health institution identifying the medicine and the patient, type of health condition, and
• A signature of your general practitioner which is proof that the medicines you are carrying with you are for your own use.
3. Medicines containing narcotics and psychotropic substances are subject to a special license issued by the Bureau for Drugs (Ministry of Health of the Republic of Macedonia).
4. Failure to observe the regulations on import of medicines, medical aids and psychotropic substances is punishable.
WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION
1. No fire arms or other weapons and ammunition may enter or cross the border of Macedonia. These include:
• fire arms
• collector weapons
• pneumatic weapons
• gas weapons
• explosive weapons
• cold weapons (for example, knives, knuckle dusters, swords etc.)
• archery weapons
• weapons for audio-visual signalization
• electrical paralysers
• ammunition
2. You may only bring weapons and ammunition into Macedonia if you are in possession of a special permit/authorisation issued by the Macedonian Ministry of Interior. This applies to weapons used for hunting or shooting.
3. The following are not considered weapons:
• Decorative weapons
• Weapons imitations
• Vintage weaponry
• Permanently disabled weapons
• Replicas of antique weapons
• Weapons for industrial use and
• Harpoons for underwater
• Harpoons for underwater fishing.
4. Failure to observe the Law is punishable.
GOODS THAT VIOLATE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Import, export, transit and storage of counterfeit products and pirated goods is prohibited by law.
Counterfeits and pirated goods are hazardous for the health and safety of people and they contribute to lower budget revenues and increase of shadow economy.
They are recognizable by the low price, poor quality, bad look of the package, technical errors in the text of the labels and markings.Counterfeits may include a sign, logo, letters, numbers, pictures, labels, user manuals or warranty document even if they are imported or exported separately from or together with the goods.Pirated goods are goods which are or embody copies made without the consent of the holder of the copyright r the related rights. Customs shall seize counterfeits and pirated goods, and following confirmation of their counterfeit nature, they will be destroyed.
Exception from the above-mentioned are goods which are part of the personal luggage of the passenger, objects of non¬commercial nature with low value which are occasionally received form abroad, and which are relieved from import duties. Perpetrators shall be sanctioned.
For the achievements in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy, in competition with 174 Customs Administrations, members of the WCO, in 2009 the Customs Administration of the Republic of Macedonia received the prestigious award of the World Customs Organisation – Yolanda Benitez WCO Trophy 2009 Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND PLANTS
No endangered animal and plant species or products derived from them may be brought to or taken out from Macedonia. In line with CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), the import and export of endangered animal and plant species and their products is prohibited by Law.Trade in endangered and protected wild plants, fungi and animals and product derived from them is subject to appropriate document – license issued by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning. This license must be obtained in advance. Illegally imported animals and plants are often infected with dangerous diseases and parasites. Examples of protected animal and plant species and products derived from them:• Brown bear, grey hawk, Hipparchia semele butterfly (critically endangered), wolves, snakes, lizards and tropical animals,
• corals and shells,
• exotic plants such as orchids and cactus’s etc,
• all products and articles derived from endangered plant and animal species,
such as:
› musical instruments
› coral or ivory artifacts
› clothing, footwear and accessories etc.
Customs and police officers or inspectors will confiscate any illegal shipment. Besides paying fines, perpetrators shall cover all other expenses for the care or storage of such shipments.
Be a careful buyer and protect nature and species!
OBJECTS OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL WORTH
1. The following objects and goods of cultural and historical worth are subject to regime of special licenses and certificates for export or temporary export from Macedonia:• Archaeological objects (dug out from land or taken out from water, originating from a certain period),
• Ethnological objects (object witnesses of a life-style, tradition, customs etc.),
• Historical objects (originating from certain historical events or were used by historical persons, as well as old coins– money),
• Objects of art (paintings, drawings, sculptures, etching, engravings and other artistic pieces),
• Technical objects (machines, tools, instruments, equipment etc. originating from a certain stage of technical progress),
• Archive materials (selected, original or reproduced documented materials of permanent worth),
• Library goods (old manuscripts produced up to the end of XIXth century, old and rare books and other publications),
• Cinematographic goods (recorded cinematographic pieces, films – cartoons documentaries, scientific and popular films etc.),
• Audio-visual goods (original materials and sound copies of scripts, photographs, slides, posters etc.) and
• Objects from sound archives (original materials of recorded sounds, i.e. original musical and other type of sound recordings).
2. Cultural heritage of particular significance (such as protected museum collections) must not be exported.
3. Cultural heritage which is not under general prohibition for export, as well as goods which are considered as national treasure may only be exported with a license issued by the Cultural Heritage Protection Office.
CULTURAL GOODS WHICH ARE NOT SUBJECT TO SPECIAL REGIME OF PROTECTION
1. Passengers may freely take out objects and goods such as:
• reproductions
• copies of museum exhibits (antiquities and other museum objects), accompanied with a certificate, acknowledging the copy, the origin of the original and the institution – issuer.
