The government of North Macedonia has approved the establishment of a "One Stop Shop" joint border control system with Albania, a measure aimed at facilitating the movement of citizens between the two countries.
With this decision, Skopje concludes the process of implementing this system with the three neighboring countries that are not part of the Schengen area, as the model is already in operation with Serbia and Kosovo. For the full entry into force of the system, only the signing of the relevant agreement between the Ministries of Interior of the two countries remains.
The first phase of implementation will begin at the Qafë Thana border crossing, while the system is expected to be extended to other border crossings between Albania and North Macedonia.
According to Macedonian government spokeswoman Venera Azizi, the system will enable faster, simpler and safer procedures for travelers, especially during the tourist season, when the flow at the border increases significantly.
"This will enable simpler, faster and safer crossing of the state border, especially during the summer season when the frequency of travelers increases significantly and when in the past citizens have often raised concerns about long waits at border points," announced the Government Spokesperson, Venera Azizi, at a press conference.
Azizi emphasized that the need for this mechanism is also reflected in the high number of border crossings. During 2025 alone, over 4.5 million travelers were registered at the border points with Albania, while more than 2.3 million of them passed through Qafë Thana. Authorities estimate that the "One Stop Shop" system will significantly reduce waiting times and make the circulation of citizens at the border more efficient.