These two routes sit at opposite ends of the European spectrum. One is a residence permit in a small principality. The other is a citizenship programme whose investment vehicles are reported as not currently operating. Read both positions before you act.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
Monaco offers residence, not citizenship. You obtain a carte de sejour, the residence card, and you keep it through renewals. North Macedonia, by contrast, is structured to grant citizenship and a passport in exchange for investment, but the practical investment vehicles are reported as not operating. The table below sets out the headline differences.
Monaco does not publish a fixed legal investment minimum. In practice, the banks that issue the reference letter for a residence application commonly ask for a deposit in the region of EUR 500,000, and some ask for more. North Macedonia publishes two figures for its citizenship route: EUR 200,000 placed in an approved private investment fund for at least two years, or EUR 400,000 as a direct business investment that employs at least ten people. Confirm every figure with the relevant authority, because the North Macedonia route is contested.
Monaco residence applications are generally decided within about two to five months once the bank reference, housing proof and police clearance are in place. North Macedonia historically quoted roughly six to eight months when the route was active, but with the investment vehicles reported as suspended no reliable current timeline exists.
A Monaco residence permit does not give you a passport. Travel rights stay tied to your existing nationality. North Macedonia citizenship would, in principle, provide a passport, and the country is an European Union candidate state, but you cannot weigh that benefit while the route is not delivering approvals.
Monaco tends to suit people who want a base in a low tax principality and can show substantial liquid funds, and who do not need a second passport. The North Macedonia citizenship idea suits people seeking a second nationality, but at present there is no dependable way to complete it. If a second passport is your goal, compare programmes that are confirmed open.
| Item | Monaco Residence | North Macedonia Citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Residence permit (carte de sejour) | Citizenship and passport |
| Official authority | Prince's Government of Monaco | Government of North Macedonia |
| Indicative financial requirement | Bank deposit commonly around EUR 500,000, no fixed legal minimum | EUR 200,000 investment fund or EUR 400,000 direct business investment |
| Indicative timeline | About 2 to 5 months | About 6 to 8 months when active |
| Current status | Open | Reported suspended or not practically available |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Prince's Government of Monaco (Residents Section) and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. Monaco residence gives you a residence card, not citizenship. Naturalisation in Monaco is rare, separate and at the discretion of the Sovereign Prince. Verify the current rules with the Prince's Government of Monaco.
Reporting indicates the investment vehicles are not operating and no approvals have been confirmed under the investment category. Treat it as not currently available and confirm the position with the Government of North Macedonia before paying anyone.
When both are active, Monaco residence is generally quicker at about two to five months. With the North Macedonia route contested, no reliable timeline can be given.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
We introduce you to vetted, independent advisors, in confidence and at no obligation. Your topic is noted for you below.
Independent and paid by the people we help, never by a government and never by a firm.
One short email when a programme rule changes, with the official source named so you can verify it. No hype, unsubscribe anytime.
Related programmes and comparisons, each dated and sourced to the official authority.