How long can you stay in Montenegro as a tourist?

How much time can you spend in Montenegro as a tourist?

It is possible for citizens of Russia and Belarus to come to Montenegro for 30 days without a visa. In some years it was decided to have 90 days visa-free stay in the summer period, but no such decision was made in 2023.

Rules for visa-free stay

Citizens of EU countries, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Israel, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are granted the 90/180 rule. Foreigners holding citizenship from these countries can stay in Montenegro for up to three months without a visa, but after that, they must leave the country for six months. Having a Schengen visa, as well as a visa for the USA, the UK, or a residence permit in the listed countries, allows them to stay in Montenegro for up to 30 days without a visa.

Special rules for certain countries

Every year the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro introduces a special rule of visa-free entry for 30 days for citizens of certain countries. In 2023, this rule is open for Kazakhstanis and Armenians. For citizens of certain countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, India and South Africa, a visa is required to visit Montenegro.

Legalization in Montenegro

There are several ways to obtain legal residency in Montenegro. One of the simplest methods is to get a residence permit through property purchase. The advantages of this approach include the absence of a minimum property value threshold, as well as the possibility of acquiring an apartment or house that is already ready for occupancy. In coastal areas, real estate can be quite expensive, starting from 100,000 euros, but in more remote areas, you can find a studio for 30,000 to 40,000 euros.

Other ways to legalize in Montenegro include registering a company, employment, education, medical treatment, family reunification, as well as working for a foreign company as a digital nomad. All these methods provide the opportunity to obtain a residence permit with the right to extend it for a year.

Obtaining a residence permit in Montenegro: what you need to know

To obtain a residence permit in Montenegro, you need to provide a minimum set of required documents. Among them, it is important to have:

• Certification of title to real estate;
• Tourist registration;
• Health insurance;
• Certificate of no criminal record;
• Confirmation of payment of the state duty;
• Statement of available financial resources.

For citizens of Russia and Belarus, opening a bank account in Montenegro can be challenging, but it is feasible with legal sources of income and without being on sanctions lists.

Buying real estate and citizenship

The legislation does not establish minimum requirements for the area of the real estate being purchased, and it can be acquired jointly with another person. Obtaining Montenegrin citizenship through naturalization is only possible after ten years of residence in the country.

When applying for a residence permit, it is important to have property registered in the cadastre. The complete set of documents must be submitted in person to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro, where biometric data will also be required.

Residence permit through starting a business

Another way to obtain residency in Montenegro is by starting a business. In this case, both the company director and its employees can receive a residence permit with the right to extend it.

Entrepreneurs and company owners

It is necessary to meet a number of formal requirements by providing certain documents: passports, identity cards, certificates of criminal record status, diplomas, as well as information about real estate or long-term rental housing. The process of registering a company can be conducted remotely through immigration consultants directly in Montenegro.

Program for digital nomads

Last year, a new program for digital nomads was launched in Montenegro, following the steps of other countries. A digital nomad is a foreign citizen who works online for foreign companies or their own business outside of Montenegro. The government aims to attract such specialists and create suitable living and working conditions for them.

Residence permit

According to the "Law on Foreigners", digital nomads can obtain a residence permit for 2 years with their family, with the possibility to extend it for another 2 years. But after four years of stay, they will have to wait for six months to reapply on the same grounds.

Recommendations for temporary stay in Montenegro

For citizens who need a visa to visit Montenegro, a national visa D is also required, which can be obtained at the Montenegrin consulate in their home country. Those who have the right to visa-free entry are advised to apply for temporary stay already on the spot. One of the frequent mistakes of applicants is the lack of tourist registration. Every foreigner arriving in Montenegro must register at the municipal tourist office and pay the relevant tourist tax within the first 24 hours.

It is important to have proof of payment for this tax when submitting documents for temporary residence. It is not recommended to postpone the submission of documents until the last day of tourist registration. It is advisable to submit documents 3-5 days before the end of the allowed stay as a tourist. There is a set deadline for submitting documents for temporary residence.

It is necessary to avoid abusing the visa regime (frequent exits and entries to reset the stay period), as this may violate the visa rules. If you stay in Montenegro for more than 30 days and plan to travel abroad, it is important to obtain an exit and entry stamp for accurate tracking of your stay duration.

Failure to meet the deadlines for submitting and receiving documents can also cause problems. When accepting documents for temporary residence, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' migration service may require additional documents or certificates with updated information. It is important to adhere to the established deadlines for providing additional documents and obtaining temporary residency.

Confirmation of residence and additional documents

Normally, providing proof of rent-free residence in the accommodation replaces the rental agreement. However, according to recent changes in Montenegrin legislation, a notarized rental contract or property certificate is required to prove the place of residence. Immigration specialists advise future applicants for a residence permit to prepare all necessary documents in advance.

Conclusion:

In my opinion, it is possible to stay in Montenegro legally with a residence permit (RP), which can be obtained in several ways. Among them are registering a company as a director, employment, owning real estate, studying, and others. One of the simplest and most advantageous ways remains purchasing real estate, which opens the path to obtaining a resident card. It is also possible to obtain a residence permit by opening a business in the country. It is important to remember the minimum requirements for residential properties and the submission of biometric data when applying for a residence permit. Overall, Montenegro offers various ways for tourists and investors to legalize their stay, making it an attractive country for living and entrepreneurial activities.