Residence Permits
Your Guide to Montenegro Residence Permits
Montenegro Residency Permits
Citizens from the EU and several other nations have the privilege to visit, transit, and remain in Montenegro without needing a visa for a duration of 90 days by presenting only their passport. Additionally, EU nationals can enter for a period of up to 30 days using just a government-issued ID.
Should your stay in Montenegro exceed 90 days, securing a temporary residence permit becomes necessary. Typically, individuals achieve this by establishing a company within Montenegro. The temporary residence permit remains valid for a calendar year and necessitates yearly renewal. After successfully renewing the permit five times, one becomes eligible for a permanent residence permit.
Upon being granted permanent residency, it remains valid for an additional five years. During this period, individuals enjoy the majority of rights accorded to Montenegrin citizens, with the exception of holding a Montenegro passport and voting privileges. Following five years of temporary residency and an additional five years of permanent residency, individuals gain eligibility to directly apply for Montenegro citizenship.
Residency by Company Formation
The Process
The initial step towards acquiring temporary residency in Montenegro involves setting up a local company. This necessitates a certified and apostilled Power of Attorney if sent from abroad. Our company will draft the PoA upon receipt of your passport copy and the desired company name. Should you opt to incorporate while present in Montenegro, we will also prepare a PoA requiring certification by a local notary.
Once the company is established, you, as its director, must proceed to apply for a Montenegrin temporary residence permit. If you do not require a tourist visa to enter Montenegro, you can promptly commence the residency permit application process. Please refer to the provided list of required documents.
Document Requirements
- A passport valid for at least 15 months.
- An original Criminal Record Certificate from your country of citizenship, dated within the last 6 months, and apostilled.
- Evidence of Accommodation, such as a certified rental agreement spanning at least one year.
- A school diploma accompanied by a transcript of grades and subjects, equivalent to a minimum of 8 years of education; apostillation not required.
- For married applicants, a Marriage Certificate for their spouse, issued within the past 6 months and apostilled.
- For minor children, a Birth Certificate dated within the last 6 months and apostilled; the biological father must be present or provide written consent.
Once you've assembled all necessary documents, it's time to proceed with your residency permit application. This involves submitting your application and collecting your newly issued government ID card after 14 days, requiring your presence in Montenegro. There's no requirement to remain in Montenegro during the period between submitting your application and receiving your residency card.
Following this, the subsequent step involves opening a business bank account for your company and a personal bank account for yourself. Additionally, once your residency and work permit are processed, your spouse and children can then apply for their Montenegro residence permits. Their residency permits will be granted within a timeframe of 4-5 weeks.
If you're not legally married to your partner, they are ineligible for a residence permit via family reunification. In such cases, they would need to either establish their own company or secure employment within your company as a regular employee.
Additional Requirements if you need a visa for Montenegro
If you need a visa to enter Montenegro, the immigration procedure becomes more intricate as you must initially apply for a business visa type D. This application is submitted at a Montenegrin embassy, typically the one nearest to your place of residence. Along with other requirements, you will be asked to provide an invitation letter from a business or individual based in Montenegro.
Residency by Buying Property
In addition to the previously mentioned residency program, foreign citizens can also acquire residency by investing in real estate in Montenegro. The Montenegrin government has few requirements for this option. Applicants need to demonstrate ownership of at least 50% of a residential or commercial property (holiday homes qualify, but land ownership does not). This must be evidenced by a recently-updated property title. Additionally, similar to other temporary residence permits, applicants must show proof of sufficient funds in a Montenegrin bank account (currently 3650,00 Euros) and provide a clean criminal record certificate from their home country.
However, there is a notable drawback compared to residency permits obtained through company formation. Specifically, authorities will not permit the extension of temporary residency beyond one year if the individual has spent more than 90 days out of the country within a single calendar year. In such cases, reapplication with all required documents is necessary, making it a less favorable option for those aiming for permanent residency in Montenegro, which requires five years of holding one of the temporary residence permits.
For citizens from countries without visa-free access to Montenegro, obtaining a Type-D Business Visa is the first step before applying for residency. Typically, this involves applying at the nearest Montenegrin embassy or, in some cases, a Serbian embassy that processes Montenegrin visas due to Montenegro's limited consular presence worldwide.
Here's a concise checklist of documents required for obtaining a residence permit in Montenegro through real estate investment:
- Valid passport (with expiration not exceeding 15 months)
- Property Title (issued within the last 7 days)
- Proof of sufficient funds (minimum 3,650 Euros deposited in a Montenegrin bank)
- Medical Insurance Policy from a local insurer in Montenegro
- Apostilled Criminal Record Certificate from the applicant's home country (issued within the last 6 months)
- Marriage Certificate for the spouse (issued within the last 6 months, apostilled)
- Birth Certificate for underage children (issued within the last 6 months, apostilled), with the biological father's presence or written approval if applicable.
Residency by Investment
For individuals from non-European Union countries, acquiring citizenship in Montenegro is possible through investment in a government-approved real estate project. There are two options available, beginning with the more economical variant.
Minimum investment of 472,000 Euros
By investing 472,000 Euros, you can acquire a share or distinct unit in a new hotel development situated in one of Montenegro's ski resorts. During the mandatory minimum holding period of 5 years, you are prohibited from transferring or selling your unit to another purchaser.
Montenegrin passport for 672,000 Euros
In addition to opportunities in the northern region, there are investment options available along the coastal area of Montenegro. For an investment of 672,000 Euros, you can acquire a hotel unit within the Boka Place project located in Porto Montenegro or in one of the other designated 5-star hotels.
Through the Citizenship by Investment program, Montenegrin citizenship is extended to the primary applicant and their family members within 6 months of application. A significant advantage of this program is its allowance for dual citizenship, permitting you and your family to retain your existing citizenships.
Criteria
- Non-EU citizenship
- Clear criminal record
- Evidence of fund source
All program benefits include
- Visa-free access to 124 countries
- Upon EU accession, travel to Schengen countries
- No mandatory proficiency in Montenegrin language
- Citizenship extended to eligible family members
- Option for dual citizenship