Residence in Montenegro: reference guide

General conditions for every ground

Temporary residence may be granted if the foreigner meets these requirements (art. 43):

• sufficient means of subsistence;
• secured accommodation;
• health insurance;
• a valid passport or ID that stays valid at least three months beyond the requested stay;
• no ban on entry and stay in Montenegro;
• no final unconditional prison sentence over six months for an offence prosecuted ex officio, in Montenegro or the home country, unless its legal consequences have lapsed;
• no national-security, internal-security or public-health obstacle;
• proof that the request is justified.

Applying and deadlines

• A temporary residence request is filed in person with the Ministry of Interior in the place of stay.
• It comes with the general documents and those of the chosen ground, plus biometrics: a photo, two fingerprints and a digital signature (no fingerprints or signature for children under 12).
• A temporary residence permit is issued for up to one year.
• An extension must be requested in person at least 30 days before expiry.
• The Ministry must decide within 40 days of a complete application.
• If the application is filed before the 90-day stay ends, you may stay until the decision.
• The place of stay is registered with the police by the host (hotel, landlord) within 12 hours of arrival (art. 97).

Work and business

• A combined permit for stay and work is one document: valid up to one year and extendable, up to two years in total.
• A work application is decided within 20 days.
• If you enter on a D visa, file the work application within 10 days of the visa being issued.
• Employment needs a written job offer, proof of education and medical fitness, and an extract from the employer's job-classification act.
• Sole owners, entrepreneurs and executive directors holding more than 51% are exempt from the job-offer requirement and follow separate extension rules.
• The employer keeps a copy of the permit at the workplace, signs the contract and registers the worker for social insurance within eight days, and notifies the Ministry when work starts and ends.

Permanent residence

A permanent residence permit can be issued after five years of continuous lawful stay on a temporary permit (art. 86).

• Filed in person with the Ministry in the place of stay, on the prescribed form.
• Absences are tolerated: up to ten months in total, or a single absence of up to six months, within the five years.
• Time spent on study, specialisation and training counts at half.
• Required: a valid passport, stable and sufficient means, health insurance, accommodation and Montenegrin at a basic-communication level (not required for applicants over 65).
• In exceptional cases the period can be shorter: for humanitarian reasons or in Montenegro's interest.
• A security obstacle bars permanent residence.