PayPal in North Macedonia
UnavailableHow to Receive PayPal Payments from North Macedonia (2026)
Opening an account is easy and largely beside the point. Macedonian accounts can send and shop but cannot be paid, which is usually the whole reason you wanted one.
Does PayPal work in North Macedonia?
Partly, and the distinction matters. You can register a PayPal account in North Macedonia and pay for things with it, but you cannot receive payments into it. You can open a PayPal account in North Macedonia and use it to pay for things, but you cannot receive payments into it. That is the part most guides skip. To be paid through PayPal you need an account registered in a supported country, which is what a US LLC gives you: form the company, get a federal tax number, open a US business account, and run a full PayPal Business account that can actually receive.
Can You Receive PayPal Payments in North Macedonia?
No. You can register a PayPal account with a Macedonian address and use it to pay for things online with a confirmed card, and guides that stop there are technically accurate. What you cannot do is receive money into it, which is the function a freelancer or business actually needs.
North Macedonia does not appear in PayPal’s own developer country-feature reference, which lists which countries can send, receive, and withdraw. The gap is longstanding: the National Bank of North Macedonia changed its rules in 2019 to allow residents to hold accounts with foreign payment providers, and PayPal has not enabled receiving since.
So the practical position is that clients abroad cannot pay you through PayPal, and there is no local workaround, because the restriction is on PayPal’s side rather than the bank’s.
Last verified: 2026-08-07
Step-by-Step Guide
The route that does work: a US LLC
A PayPal account registered to a US business is not restricted the way a Macedonian one is. Forming the company is what changes which country your account belongs to.
Form a US LLC from North Macedonia
Register a Wyoming or Delaware LLC through StartGlobal. The process is 100% remote and takes 3-7 business days. You do not need a US visa or SSN.
Learn moreGet a business tax number
We apply for your business tax number with the IRS. No SSN required. Your business tax number is typically issued within 2-4 weeks.
Open a US business bank account
Open a Mercury or Relay account online using your LLC documents and business tax number. No US visit required. Approval is at the provider’s discretion and timing varies.
Requirements
What Macedonian Founders Need
Valid Passport
Your North Macedonia passport for identity verification during LLC formation and bank account setup.
US LLC
A registered US LLC in any state. Wyoming is recommended for international founders due to low fees and strong privacy.
Business Tax Number
A business tax number from the IRS. This is your business tax number, required for banking and payment platforms.
US Business Bank Account
A US bank account connected to your LLC. Mercury is the most popular choice for non-resident founders.
Comparison
What Macedonians use instead, and where each falls short
Payoneer
Works for receiving from marketplaces and some clients, but it is not a card processor, so you cannot take payments on your own checkout.
Wise
Good for receiving transfers and holding currencies, but again not a way to charge a customer’s card.
Direct bank transfer
Works for large invoices, but slow, awkward for international clients, and impossible for small recurring payments.
US LLC + PayPal
A US LLC gives you a US business bank account, a full PayPal Business account that can receive, and a US Stripe account so you can charge cards directly. That is the difference between asking clients to find a way to pay you and simply sending them a checkout link.
Common Concerns
Questions Macedonian founders ask about PayPal
Is PayPal really unavailable in North Macedonia?
Yes. PayPal does not support North Macedonia as a business country. You cannot create a PayPal account with a North Macedonia address or bank account. A US LLC is the legitimate workaround used by thousands of founders worldwide.
Can I just use a friend or relative’s foreign account?
Do not. PayPal accounts are registered to a person or business and using someone else’s to receive your income risks the account being limited and the funds frozen, usually at the worst possible time. A company in your own name is both safer and cheaper than losing a balance.
Is it legal for Macedonian citizens to own a US LLC?
Yes. US LLCs are open to non-citizens and non-residents from North Macedonia. You do not need a US visa, Green Card, or Social Security Number. This is a standard business structure used by international entrepreneurs.
What is the total cost?
StartGlobal forms your LLC for a one-time $399 (all state and government fees included), which covers your registered agent for the first year, business tax number application, and bank account setup assistance. There are no hidden fees. Ongoing compliance, including the state annual report and registered agent renewal, is a la carte from $99/year, or you can have it all handled for you with Managed LLC ($149/month).
Simple pricing
Form your US LLC for one flat fee.
Everything to form your company, with all state and government fees included.
What's included
- Business name check
- State filing, all fees included
- Registered agent, first year
- Business tax number help
- US business bank account help
- Compliance calendar and reminders
One payment. All state and government fees included, no surprises at checkout.
Then stay compliant your way: from $99/year a la carte, or $149/month fully managed. Cancel anytime.
FAQ
PayPal in North Macedonia: Frequently Asked Questions
Everything Macedonian founders need to know about accessing PayPal
Partly, and the distinction matters. You can register a PayPal account in North Macedonia and pay for things with it, but you cannot receive payments into it. You can open a PayPal account in North Macedonia and use it to pay for things, but you cannot receive payments into it. That is the part most guides skip. To be paid through PayPal you need an account registered in a supported country, which is what a US LLC gives you: form the company, get a federal tax number, open a US business account, and run a full PayPal Business account that can actually receive.
You can register an account and use it to pay for things with a confirmed card. You cannot receive payments into it, which is the limitation that matters if you are freelancing or running a business.
Not directly. PayPal does not support North Macedonia as a business country. However, Macedonian founders can access PayPal by forming a US LLC, which gives them a legitimate US business entity to open an account with.
Yes. Forming a US LLC is a legitimate business practice used by international entrepreneurs worldwide. Your US LLC is a real US business entity, and PayPal accounts opened with valid US LLC credentials are fully compliant with their terms of service.
LLC formation takes 3-7 business days and your business tax number is typically issued within 2-4 weeks. After that you open a business bank account and sign up for PayPal directly. Approval timing for the bank account and for PayPal is set by those providers, so we do not quote a duration for either. StartGlobal handles the formation and business tax number steps.
PayPal typically requires your LLC Articles of Organization, business tax number confirmation letter (IRS Letter 147C or CP575), operating agreement, and a US bank account. All of these are included in the StartGlobal formation package.
Related Guides
Form Your US LLC from North Macedonia
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