North Macedonia SIM Card for Tourists: Prices, Plans & Where to Buy

North Macedonia’s local prepaid SIMs offer substantial data allowances for short visits, while Roafly lets you prepare mobile data before departure without local SIM registration. The main decision is whether you need a Macedonian phone number and a larger short-term allowance, or a data-only eSIM with 30-day validity.

North Macedonia SIM card prices at a glance

The local offers below include the starter SIM or prepaid package, rather than a data add-on that requires buying a separate line.

Prices and terms checked on October 17, 2026. A1 rows use its new-customer offer introduced on October 1, 2026. Local prices are in Macedonian denars; Roafly prices are standard USD prices. Offers and availability may change.

Match the expiry date to your departure date. A1’s larger starting allowance lasts one week, while Telekom’s smaller package lasts ten days. An unused balance of gigabytes is little help after the package expires.

Roafly: prepare your mobile data before arrival

Roafly’s North Macedonia eSIM suits trips where maps, messaging, bookings and browsing matter more than a local phone number. You can install it before departure and keep your usual SIM in your phone.

Both selected packages include:

• 30-day validity, beginning when the eSIM connects to a supported network.

• 4G/5G access where available, subject to coverage and device compatibility.

• Hotspot support across the purchased allowance.

• Top-ups, with no automatic renewal.

• No ID verification.

The network is listed as vip, the legacy operator name associated with A1. These are data-only packages: they do not include a Macedonian number, ordinary voice minutes or SMS.

The 5 GB package is the lighter choice if you mainly use maps and messaging and leave video streaming to Wi-Fi. The 10 GB package gives more room for browsing, social media and occasional hotspot use; neither is unlimited.

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If you are still deciding which digital plan fits your trip, compare the options in our best eSIM for North Macedonia guide.

Which local prepaid SIM should you buy?

A1: a substantial allowance for a one-week visit

A1’s starter offer is useful for a short stay with frequent mobile-data use. Its 22 GB headline combines two separate allowances: 20 GB for North Macedonia and 2 GB for eligible Western Balkan destinations.

The starter also includes 49 MKD of credit and unlimited calls within the A1 network during the first week. Calls to other networks and international destinations should not be treated as included in that on-network benefit.

Renewal deserves attention before you add credit. Under the current A1 prepaid terms, the introductory data package renews for 399 MKD with 30-day validity if enough credit is available. The A1-network calling benefit renews separately for 79 MKD for seven days.

Ask staff to show you the renewal settings if you only want the initial package. Adding credit can fund an automatic renewal rather than simply leave money available for occasional calls.

A1 Duo is worth considering when two people each need their own connection. It supplies two SIMs with separate allowances, so you can split up without relying on one person’s hotspot. Its initial price is lower than buying two individual A1 starter SIMs.

Makedonski Telekom: a ten-day package with a local number

Telekom’s 15 GB starter package is a straightforward option for a visit lasting longer than a week but no more than ten days. Its prepaid offer includes a Macedonian mobile number, calls and SMS.

Foreign nationals can buy the prepaid service subject to registration. Telekom also offers online eSIM purchase before arrival, so buying from a local operator does not necessarily require a physical SIM or a shop visit.

Use the Telekom prepaid shop to select the current offer and review the call destinations, registration steps and activation conditions. The ten-day allowance starts with card activation, which matters if you complete setup before travelling.

Can tourists buy a SIM card, and what documents are needed?

Yes. Foreign visitors can obtain local prepaid service, but the registration route differs between operators.

A1 requires foreign nationals to register at an A1 sales outlet. Its general online registration form asks for a local personal identification number, so it is not the appropriate route for a visitor registering with a foreign passport. A1’s prepaid rules record a foreign customer’s travel-document number and residential address.

For an in-store purchase:

1. Bring your original, valid passport. Have your residential address available for the registration record.

2. Ask specifically for prepaid service. Name the starter offer you want and say whether you need a physical SIM or eSIM.

3. Confirm the total before paying. Separate the starter price from optional credit, extra bundles or retailer services.

4. Complete registration and test the connection. Turn off Wi-Fi and open a webpage before leaving.

5. Keep the packaging and receipt. Save the phone number, PUK and package-expiry information.

A1’s official tariff lists the one-time activation charge as zero. An additional payment should therefore have a clear purpose, such as optional credit or an extra package.

Telekom’s online eSIM route is available to foreign buyers, but registration still applies. Follow the document requirements shown during that process rather than assuming A1’s in-store procedure applies to both operators.

Your phone must also be carrier-unlocked. Check that it has the appropriate physical SIM slot or supports eSIM before choosing the format.

Where to buy a SIM card in North Macedonia

Official shops in Skopje and other cities

An official operator shop is a practical choice when you want help registering a foreign passport or setting up your phone.

A1 lists sales locations including East Gate, GTC, Diamond Mall and City Mall in Skopje, with other city options including Ohrid, Bitola and Tetovo. Use the A1 store locator to check the branch and opening hours before travelling there. A listed branch does not guarantee that every starter pack is in stock.

Buying a sealed SIM from another retailer does not by itself complete registration. This is particularly relevant for A1, whose foreign-customer procedure requires identification at an A1 sales outlet.

Arriving at Skopje Airport

Do not make your arrival plan depend on an assumed 24-hour SIM counter or a particular airport package. Current seller availability, opening hours and airport totals need confirmation for your arrival.

Skopje Airport provides free Wi-Fi through the TAV Airports network. Connect and follow the welcome page to get online without a password; this can help you retrieve accommodation details or arrange your onward journey.

If you need mobile data as soon as you leave the terminal, complete your eSIM preparation beforehand. Download an offline map and save your accommodation address as well.

Using your SIM beyond North Macedonia

A1’s initial roaming allowance applies to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. It is a separate 2 GB allowance, not permission to use the full domestic data balance abroad. Greece and Bulgaria are outside that listed group.

That distinction matters on an Ohrid–Albania journey or a longer Balkan itinerary. Compare the countries, roaming quota and expiry date against the whole route before choosing your package.

Roafly’s country packages in this guide cover North Macedonia. Continuing into another country requires a package that covers that destination.

Your home SIM needs a separate check too. Look for North Macedonia by name in your operator’s included destinations, and disable data roaming on that line if you intend to use your local SIM or Roafly for mobile data.

The right choice for your trip

• One week with substantial data use: consider A1’s starter offer, allowing time for in-store registration.

• Two people travelling together: A1 Duo provides separate connections at a lower initial cost than two individual starters.

• An eight-to-ten-day visit with a local number: Telekom’s ten-day package fits the trip without relying on a one-week introductory allowance.

• Mobile data prepared before departure: Roafly’s 5 GB and 10 GB packages provide 30-day validity without local ID registration.

• A multi-country journey: select by the full destination list and roaming allowance, not the largest domestic data headline.

North Macedonia’s local prepaid offers can be attractive for data volume and local calling. Roafly is useful when you want a straightforward data allowance prepared before arrival and do not need a Macedonian number.

Roafly publishes this guide and sells the travel eSIM packages discussed above.