Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Skopje, North Macedonia (April 7, 2020)
Location: North Macedonia
Event: NEW: U.S. Embassy Skopje is aware of two potential flight options for U.S. citizens to depart North Macedonia and return to the United States on Friday, April 10, 2020.
NEW: There is an Air Prishtina flight departing from Pristina International Airport in Kosovo on Friday, April 10, 2020 at 11:50 a.m. and arriving in Zurich, Switzerland at 1:50 p.m. There is currently a direct connection from Zurich to Newark, New Jersey available on April 10, 2020. The Pristina to Zurich flight is available for public booking through the website www.airprishtina.com or by phone through the Air Prishtina Contact Center at +383 38 222 099.
The U.S. Embassies in Skopje and Pristina have coordinated with the governments of North Macedonia and Kosovo to enable the transit of U.S. citizens with confirmed tickets directly and solely to the Pristina airport, although the border between North Macedonia and Kosovo remains closed. Transportation from Skopje to Pristina will be arranged on a commercial vehicle. Each passenger will be responsible for payment for the vehicle transportation from Skopje to Pristina.
U.S. citizen and Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) travelers must email SkopjeACS@state.gov a copy of their purchased itinerary from Pristina to Zurich and onward to the United States before 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 in order to arrange permission to cross the border.
The most current information we have available, as of April 7, 2020, indicates that U.S. citizens and LPRs may transit Zurich en route to the United States, as long as they can show that they are booked on a confirmed onward itinerary with the United States as the final destination.
The below website from the government of Switzerland explains the transit requirements. We recommend you print a copy and bring it with you to show to boarding agents if asked.
https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/aktuell/aktuell/faq-einreiseverweigerung.html
NEW: U.S. Embassy Skopje is aware of a potential flight from Skopje to Brussels departing on Friday, April 10, 2020, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French Embassy. At this point we have no further details regarding the flight timing or price. U.S citizens interested in purchasing a ticket for the potential Skopje to Brussels flight on Friday, April 10, 2020 must email SkopjeACS@state.gov before 12p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. In your email, you must provide a telephone number where we can contact you once flight details are available. We advise you to monitor your email frequently for our communications.
All travelers are responsible for making their own onward flight arrangements from Brussels. There are no direct flights from Brussels to the United States, but according to our most current information, as of April 7, 2020, we understand U.S. citizens can transit from Brussels to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and London, where onward flights to the U.S. are available. The timing of the Skopje to Brussels flight and the cost are likely to be announced with little notice. Interested travelers should be prepared to make a quick decision.
REMINDER: Remember to book your trip all the way through to your final U.S. destination and check transit requirements for each leg of your trip, as restrictions change frequently. Individual travelers are responsible for verifying transit requirements for their entire itinerary. Keep in mind that unexpected flight cancellations, limited flight availability, and transit restrictions have affected many travelers worldwide. If your travel is disrupted en route, please contact your airline to reschedule.
REMINDER: Health screening at borders and before boarding, at transit locations and at final destinations are the responsibility of the airlines and local authorities and may vary. Travelers should be aware that they may be refused onward travel if they have symptoms of illness such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
U.S. Embassy Skopje has suspended routine consular services. For emergency American Citizens Services, including emergency passports, please visit our website for additional information.
The State Department issued a Level 4 Global Health Advisory on March 19, 2020, recommending U.S. citizens avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19 or prepare to remain abroad for an indefinite period.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Global Travel Alert to avoid nonessential travel due to coronavirus.
Actions to Take:
- Follow the instructions of North Macedonia’s authorities.
- Monitor local media and visit the websites of the Government of North Macedonia or Ministry of Health for updated information, including mandatory quarantine measures and travel restrictions which may be implemented with little or no notice.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 https://mk.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ for information on conditions in North Macedonia.
- Read the Centers for Disease Control’s and Prevention guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19 and information on health conditions in North Macedonia.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s websiteon the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
- Contact the local centers for public health by telephone, prior to visiting a hospital or clinic for medical care, if you believe you may have COVID-19 (or similar symptoms) or were exposed to someone who may have COVID-19 in the last six weeks. North Macedonia’s Institute of Public Health has provided contact numbers along with other advice for travelers on their website.
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Skopje
Str. “Samoilova” Nr.21
1000 Skopje
Republic of North Macedonia
+389 2 310-2000
SkopjeACS@state.gov
https://mk.usembassy.gov/ - State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 - North Macedonia Country Information
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