To stay in Montenegro for more than 90 days, you need a temporary residence permit.
How can I get this permit?
A foreigner can obtain a temporary residence permit for the purpose of:
Family reunification
Obtaining secondary education or training
Participation in international student exchange programs or other youth programs
Specialization, professional training and practical training
Research work
Treatment
Humanitarian reasons
Obtaining the right to dispose of real estate belonging to Montenegro
Conducting religious services
Work.
What is the validity period of the permit?
This permit is valid for up to a year, subject to the fulfillment of requirements (e.g., employment, education, property ownership). It can be renewed every year, which can lead to permanent residency after 5 years.
A foreigner may be issued a temporary residence permit if they:
Have means to support themselves
Have accommodation
Have a health insurance
Provided evidence justifying the application for the issuance of a permit;
Have a valid foreign travel document or identity card issued by a competent authority of another state
Did not have a ban on entry and residence in Montenegro
Have not been sentenced to imprisonment for more than six months for a criminal offense, or the legal consequences of the conviction have been suspended
Have not been sentenced in the country of origin to imprisonment for more than six months for a criminal offense prosecuted ex officio, or the legal consequences of the conviction have been suspended
Have no restrictions for reasons of national security, public order or public health
Provided evidence of the validity of the permit application.
Extension of the term of temporary residence
The application for the extension of the period of temporary residence of foreigners is submitted in person to the Ministry at the place of residence no later than 30 days before the end of the period of temporary residence. A valid foreign travel document or identity card issued by a competent authority of another state and evidence justifying the application for the issuance of a temporary residence permit are attached to the application; if five years have passed since the date of collection of the specified data, the foreigner will also be asked for these data again. If the application for extension of the temporary residence permit is approved, the permit is issued with a new validity period of one year.
To be able to continuously reside on Montenegro you need to obtain a permanent residence permit.
Who can get a permit?
A foreigner who has legally stayed in Montenegro for five consecutive years before submitting an application for a temporary residence permit or approved additional protection in accordance with the legislation governing the granting of asylum.
As an exception, permanent residence may be granted to a foreigner who has been granted temporary residence in Montenegro for a period of less than five years continuously before submitting an application, if humanitarian reasons require it ,or it would be in the interest of Montenegro.
How to obtain a permanent residence permit for a child?
A permanent residence permit can be issued to a child under the condition that:
Both parents obtained permanent residence at the time of his/her birth
One of the parents at the time of his birth is a citizen of Montenegro and permanently resides in Montenegro or a foreigner who has a permanent place of residence, with the consent of the other parent
One of the parents has a permanent residence permit at the time of his birth, and the other parent is unknown or deceased.
What are the conditions for issuing a permanent residence permit?
A foreigner may be granted a permanent residence permit if they:
Have a valid foreign travel document
Have not been sentenced to imprisonment for more than six months for a criminal offense, or the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased
Have not been sentenced to imprisonment for more than six months in the country of origin for a criminal offense, or the legal consequences of the conviction have been suspended
Have the means to support themselves
Have health insurance
Have accommodation
There are no restrictions for reasons of national security, public order or public health.
Submission of an application for a permanent residence permit
An application for a permanent residence permit is submitted by a foreigner in person to the Ministry at his place of residence using the prescribed form.
At the time of submitting an application for a permanent residence permit, a foreigner must have a temporary residence permit.
What is the deadline for accepting a permit application?
An application for the issuance of a permanent residence permit is accepted within six months from the moment of submission of a complete application.
What is the validity period of a permanent residence permit?
A permanent residence permit is issued for five years.
A foreigner under the age of four is issued a permanent residence permit for two years. Within eight days after the expiration of the permit, you can apply for replacement of the permit for permanent residence.
What rights will you have with permanent residence?
A foreigner granted permanent residence in Montenegro has the right to:
Work
Education and professional training
Recognition of diplomas and certificates
Social, medical and pension insurance
Tax benefits
Access to the market of goods and services
Freedom of association, membership in organizations representing the interests of workers or employers.
A foreigner can fulfill their right in accordance with the laws regulating the manner of exercising these rights.
Montenegrin citizenship is issued for the following reasons:
Citizenship by origin
A child acquires Montenegrin citizenship by birth:
Whose both parents are citizens of Montenegro at the time of the child's birth
One of whose parents is a citizen of Montenegro at the time of the child's birth, and the child was born in Montenegro
One of whose parents is a citizen of Montenegro at the time of the child's birth, the other parent has no citizenship or is unknown, and the child was born on the territory of another state
One of whose parents at the time of the child's birth is a citizen of Montenegro, and the child was born on the territory of another state, if the child is to remain stateless
Born on the territory of another state, one of whose parents is a citizen of Montenegro at the time of the child's birth, if the application for entry into the Book of Births and the Register of Citizens of Montenegro is submitted before the child reaches the age of 18, if the child does not have the citizenship of another state
A person who has turned 18 years old, one of whose parents is a citizen of Montenegro, and the other is a citizen of another state, if the application for entry into the Register of Citizens of Montenegro is submitted before the child reaches 23 years of age
In case of full adoption, if one of the adopters is a citizen of Montenegro.
Citizenship by birth
Montenegrin citizenship by birth on the territory of Montenegro is acquired by a child born or found on the territory of Montenegro, if both parents are unknown or unknown by nationality or stateless, or if the child remains stateless.
Citizenship by naturalization
A person acquires Montenegrin citizenship through admission:
Who has been granted permanent residence in Montenegro in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Foreigners
Who has been married to a citizen of Montenegro for at least 3 years
Has a permanent residence in Montenegro
Whose citizenship would be of particular interest to Montenegro.
A Montenegrin emigrant and a member of their family in the third degree of kinship in the direct line can obtain Montenegrin citizenship by admission if they have legally and permanently resided in Montenegro for at least two years and meet the conditions of the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship: https://www.imidaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Montenegrin-Citizenship-Act.pdf.
A person who has been married to a Montenegrin citizen for at least three years and has lived in Montenegro legally and continuously for at least five years can obtain Montenegrin citizenship through naturalization and if the conditions specified in paragraphs 1 of Article 8: 1, 4, 5 and 7 of this Law has been fulfilled.
A child acquires Montenegrin citizenship through admission if:
Both parents acquired Montenegrin citizenship through admission
One of the parents acquired Montenegrin citizenship through admission and if he/she legally and permanently resides in Montenegro with the child
Legally and permanently resides in Montenegro with the adoptive parent, who is a Citizen of Montenegro, in case of incomplete adoption.
What are the conditions for obtaining citizenship?
You can get Montenegrin citizenship if:
You are over 18 years old
You are released from the citizenship of another state
You have lived continuously in Montenegro for 10 years before applying for citizenship
You have housing and a guaranteed source of income in Montenegro, which is sufficient for social and material security
You have a clean criminal record
You have basic knowledge of the Montenegrin language
You have settled all legal obligations such as taxes before applying.
Citizenship based on international treaties
Montenegrin citizenship can be obtained on the basis of ratified international treaties or agreements signed by Montenegro.
What is the procedure for obtaining citizenship in Montenegro?
In order to successfully apply, you will need to provide some personal documents for yourself and your family members:
Citizenship application form
A notarized copy of the passport (certified by an apostille is an international stamp, standard in design, which confirms the legality of a certain document)
Original birth certificate/extract
Original marriage certificate/extract
Medical insurance policy valid in Montenegro
Medical opinion with an assessment of the state of health for the presence of infectious diseases
A document confirming the origin of funds for your investments and fees.
After you apply, a government official will assess and determine whether you are a suitable candidate for Montenegrin citizenship.
In order to obtain a residence permit, digital nomads need:
- Prove a monthly income from an overseas company for the previous year of at least 1,350 euros per month (3 minimum wages).
- Provide a rental agreement with a company, entrepreneur, registered to provide accommodation services or have your own property in Montenegro.
- To obtain health insurance, it is possible to provide international medical insurance for travelers.
A digital nomad will be able to enter Montenegro on the basis of a long-term visa (D visa), after which the digital nomad will be entitled to apply for a residence permit.
The digital nomad visa to Montenegro allows the digital nomad to stay in the Balkans for up to 2 years, doing remote work legally.
