The best eSIM for Macedonia is a data plan sized to your days there and installed before you fly. North Macedonia is not in the EU, so EU "roam like at home" does not cover it and roaming on your home plan can cost a lot. A SimOptions Macedonia eSIM runs on 4G/LTE, activates when you arrive and comes in sizes from 1 GB for 3 days to 100 GB for 180 days. It has no Macedonian number, so you call through WhatsApp, Viber or FaceTime. A Macedonia eSIM works in North Macedonia only.
Which is the best eSIM for Macedonia?
Short on time? These Macedonia plans are data-only, 4G/LTE and can be topped up. Pick the size from the days you stay.
SimOptions Macedonia eSIMs · data only · 4G/LTE · See all eSIMs for Macedonia · All destinations
Why you need an eSIM in North Macedonia
North Macedonia is in Europe, but it is not in the EU. The EU's "roam like at home" rules cover the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Moldova and Ukraine. Other countries are not covered, although some operators choose to include them in their offers (Your Europe: mobile roaming costs). So check your plan before you go.
This may change. On 25 February 2026 the European Commission proposed to open negotiations to bring North Macedonia and the other Western Balkan countries into "roam like at home". It only applies once each agreement is finalised (European Commission: roam like at home for the Western Balkans). Your plan is from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro or Serbia? Then you already roam in North Macedonia at home prices: the Western Balkans have been a roam like at home zone since 1 July 2021 (Regional Cooperation Council: Roaming Free Western Balkans).
Coming from the US, the UK, Canada or Australia? Your carrier sets its own roaming prices for North Macedonia. A travel eSIM gives you data at a fixed prepaid price, and your home line stays on your phone for texts and security codes. Our guide to international roaming vs travel eSIM compares the two.
What to look for in an eSIM for Macedonia
- Coverage: check that North Macedonia is on the plan's country list. Not every regional plan includes it, so a Macedonia plan is the safe choice.
- Data and days: both are on the plan page. A small plan fits a weekend in Skopje. For two weeks with maps, bus and booking apps and video calls, look at a bigger one.
- Speed: the plan details say which speed you get. Our Macedonia plans run on 4G/LTE.
- A local number: our plans are data-only. If you need a Macedonian number, you need a line from a local operator (see below).
- Setup before you fly: you get a QR code by email and install it on Wi-Fi at home. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked (see how to check eSIM compatibility).
How much data do you need in North Macedonia?
These are the sizes on our Macedonia eSIM page, with what each one suits:
- Macedonia 1GB and 3GB: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days. A stopover or a weekend in Skopje with maps, messages and tickets.
- Macedonia 5GB and 10GB: 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days. A week with maps, messages and photos.
- Macedonia 20GB: 20 GB for 15 days. Two weeks, for example Skopje, Ohrid and Bitola, with some video.
- Macedonia 50GB: 50 GB for 30 days. A month, or if you work from your phone.
- Macedonia 60GB and 100GB: 60 GB for 90 days or 100 GB for 180 days. A long stay or a semester.
If you run out of data, top-ups are available. Not sure how much you need? Pick the bigger size, and go a size up if you share your connection with a laptop. Our guide to eSIM data plans shows how to estimate it.
Local Macedonian eSIM or travel eSIM?
Makedonski Telekom and A1 Macedonia both offer eSIM. Here is the short version, from the operators' own pages:
- Makedonski Telekom offers eSIM for all new and existing postpaid customers. You can swap a SIM card for an eSIM in a Telekom store or by calling its contact centre, and you get the QR code by email. It also sells a prepaid eSIM online (Makedonski Telekom: eSIM, in Macedonian).
- A1 Macedonia offers eSIM to postpaid customers. You ask for it when you order a phone on its website or at an A1 store, and you activate it by scanning a QR code (A1 Macedonia: eSIM, in Macedonian).
Prepaid lines need registration. A1 says that under the Law on Electronic Communications, every prepaid SIM stays locked until you submit your name, ID number and address and these are verified (A1 Macedonia: prepaid registration, in Macedonian). A SimOptions travel eSIM is different: you buy it online, scan a QR code at home and there is no local registration step.
Choose a local eSIM if you live in North Macedonia, stay for months or need a Macedonian number. Choose a travel eSIM if you want data the moment you land and a plan you can compare and pay for before the trip. You can keep your home number active next to it, see how to set up a dual eSIM. To call with a data-only eSIM, read how to make calls with a data eSIM.
Which eSIM for Skopje, Ohrid or Matka Canyon?
You don't need a different eSIM for each place. A Macedonia plan covers the whole country, from Skopje to Ohrid, Bitola and the national parks. On a city break or a lake holiday, the usual data uses are maps, ride-hailing and booking apps, translation and photos. These need little data, so a 5 GB or 10 GB plan may be enough for a week.
Signal can be weaker in canyons and in the mountains, whichever network you use. Before a hike or a drive on mountain roads, download offline maps while you still have a good connection.
Visiting Greece or Bulgaria too?
A Macedonia eSIM covers North Macedonia only and stops working when you cross the border. For each extra country, add its own plan: phones that support eSIM can usually hold several, and you switch the data line in settings. Our guides to the best eSIM for Greece and the best eSIM for Bulgaria show the plans for those countries. Check the country list of any regional plan before you buy, as not all of them include North Macedonia.
How do you get an eSIM for Macedonia?
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and look for "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (Apple: Unlock your iPhone).
- Buy and install on Wi-Fi: you get a QR code by email. Our install guide walks you through it.
- Turn on data for the eSIM when you arrive: it activates in North Macedonia. If you keep your home line on too, Apple notes you might still pay roaming fees on it, so switch off its data roaming (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling).
No signal after you land? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating helps. New to buying one? Read how to buy an eSIM online. Not sure what an eSIM is? See what is an eSIM.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for Macedonia?
It depends on your trip. For data only, a Macedonia eSIM sized to your days is a simple choice. If you need a Macedonian number, get a line from Makedonski Telekom or A1.
Does EU roaming work in North Macedonia?
No. North Macedonia is not part of the EU's "roam like at home" area yet. Some operators include it anyway, so check your plan before you travel.
Can I get an eSIM for Macedonia before I travel?
Yes. Buy it online, install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home, and it activates when you reach North Macedonia.
Does a travel eSIM for Macedonia include calls or a local number?
No. SimOptions Macedonia plans are data-only. Use WhatsApp, Viber or FaceTime over data, including to call home to the US or the UK.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for Macedonia?
Not as a Macedonia plan: those go up to 100 GB for 180 days. If you run out, top-ups are available.
Does a Macedonia eSIM work in Greece or Bulgaria?
No. The Macedonia plans only work in North Macedonia. For Greece or Bulgaria, add a plan for that country.
Does my phone need to be unlocked?
Yes. A carrier-locked phone may not accept an eSIM from another provider. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.
How long is a Macedonia eSIM valid before I use it?
The plan details say the eSIM becomes invalid if you don't use it within 1 year.
