North Macedonia Revises Citizenship Law Amid EU Criticism of Golden Passport Scheme

In June, North Macedonia’s cabinet put forward a set of amendments to its Law on Citizenship aimed at addressing EU worries about the nation’s “golden passport” scheme. The draft removes the €400,000 investment floor and the requirement that applicants create ten jobs, measures that were previously central to the program. However, the revised text still permits the government to grant citizenship to individuals considered of special interest—whether for economic, cultural, or sporting reasons—mirroring practices in several other countries.

The European Union has publicly criticized the changes, arguing they fall short of fully abolishing a system it deems prone to abuse. While the amendments signal a partial tightening of the rules, the EU maintains that more comprehensive reforms are needed. The debate highlights the tension between attracting foreign capital and meeting EU standards on migration and governance.