Residency And Work Permit - Monexperts
Residency And Work Permit

Montenegro provides visa-free passes to Nationals of the Republic of Albania, Principality of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentine Republic, Aruba, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Commonwealth of Australia, the Republic of Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Kingdom of Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federative Republic of Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Chile, Kingdom of Denmark, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Finland, French Republic, the Republic of Georgia, the Republic of Guatemala, the Hellenic Republic, the Netherlands Antilles, the, Republic of Honduras, the Republic of Croatia the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of Iceland, the Republic of Italy, the State of Israel, Japan, Canada, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Cyprus, Kiribati, Columbia, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Kosovo, the Republic of Costa Rica, the State of Kuwait, the Republic of Latvia, Principality of Liechtenstein, the Republic of Lithuania, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, Hungary, the Republic of North Macedonia, Malaysia, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Mauritius the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, the United Mexican States, the Republic of Moldova, Principality of Monaco, the Republic of Nicaragua, the Kingdom of Norway, New Zealand, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of Panama, the Republic of Paraguay, Republic of Poland, Portuguese Republic, Romania, the Republic of El Salvador, the Independent State of Samoa, the Republic of San Marino, the Republic of Seychelles, the Republic of Singapore, the United States of America, Slovak Republic, the Republic of Slovenia, Solomon Islands, the Republic of Serbia, Saint Lucia, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Holy See, Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of Sweden, Swiss Confederation, Taiwan, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Kingdom of Tonga, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Turkey, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Vanuatu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Eastern Republic of Uruguay and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as well as holders of valid travel documents issued in the special administrative area of Hong Kong People’s Republic of China and Macao People’s Republic of China. People visiting Montenegro holding passports issued by above countries can stay visa-free in Montenegro for no more than 90 days.
Also Nationals of the Member States of the European Union, the Republic of Albania, Principality of Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Island, the Republic of Kosovo, Kingdom of Liechtenstein, the Republic of North Macedonia, Principality of Monaco, Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of San Marino, the Republic of Serbia, the Holy See and Swiss Confederation, may enter, pass through the territory of and stay in Montenegro up to 30 days, without a visa, with a valid identity card issued by the competent authority of those countries, or with the other document on the basis of which their identity and nationality can be determined.
‘Residence permit’ shall be obtained to stay for more than 90 days. If a commercial activity is to be carried out by establishing a company/branch in Montenegro, or if a foreigner starts a job in Montenegro, a ‘work permit’ must be obtained.

How to Obtain a Residence Permit in Montenegro?

Montenegro has two types of residence permits: ‘Temporary Residence Permit’ and ‘Permanent Residence Permit’. Temporary Residence Permit is obtained for one year periods and can be renewed with application each year as the reason for the residence permit continues. ‘Permanent Residence Permit’ is given to applicants who meet certain conditions (links).

Applications for Temporary Residence Permit are accepted via:

  • Family Reunification
  • Education
  • Participation in International Student Exchange Programs or Other Youth Programs
  • Activities for Specialization, Professional Qualification or Applied Training
  • Scientific Research
  • Medical Treatment
  • Humanitarian Cause
  • Buying Real Estate in Montenegro
  • Religious Service
  • Volunteering in the European Volunteering Service Program
  • Statelessness
  • Business
  • Other Events Based on the Law or an International Agreement

Persons who have obtained a temporary residence permit can only stay in Montenegro within the scope of the above-mentioned issues. For example, if a person who obtains a temporary residence permit by acquiring real estate starts to engage in paid job or start a business, they should reapply for the appropriate permits.

Applicants for Temporary Residence Permits are also expected to meet the following requirements:

  • Having enough money to support yourself
  • Ability to show a place for shelter
  • Have a valid health insurance
  • Passport with a validity period of at least three months longer than the residence permit period
    The applicant has not previously been banned from entering and/or staying in Montenegro
  • No final court decision has been made that sentences the applicant to more than six months in prison for a crime pursued in Montenegro (for those over 16 years of age)
  • No final court decision has been made that sentences the applicant to more than six months in prison for a crime pursued in their home country (for those over 16 years of age)
  • Does not pose a threat to national security or public health
  • To be able to certify these requirements at the time of application

Obtaining Temporary Residence Permit through Family Reunification.
A temporary residence permit with family reunification is issued to foreigners who meet the following condition:

  • To be a first-degree family member of a Montenegrin citizen
  • To be a first-degree family member of another foreign national with a temporary or permanent residence permit in Montenegro

Being a family member in the first degree means:

  • Spouses
  • Children born inside or outside marriage
  • Stepchildren and children adopted until the age of 18
  • Parents or adoptive parents
  • Models of family reunification for other different personal/cultural reasons

Some details:

  • In polygamous marriages, only one spouse can obtain a residence permit for family reunification
  • Family members of foreign nationals who are allowed to residency for seasonal work are not allowed to have their own residencies
  • Temporary residence permit for family reunification is granted not exceeding one year
  • A temporary residence permit for family reunification can be extended in the event of the death of a Montenegrin citizen, or if a marriage lasting at least 3 years ends.


Obtaining a Residence Permit by Purchasing Real Estate in Montenegro:

Passport holders of abovementioned countries can obtain a Temporary Residence Permit as a result of the acquisition of a house in Montenegro or the type of real estate defined in the law. Other nationals can also purchase a real estate, but in order to have a residency permit, they need to apply to D Visa in their respected country. According to the definition of real estate mentioned in the law, this real estate can be a house, village house, villa, apartment, accommodation/hospitality facility, office or workplace. No minimum value has been determined for the real estate.

Obtaining Work and Residence Permits by Working in Montenegro or Establishing a Company in Montenegro:

People who start as employees in a company established and accepted by the Commercial Court in Montenegro or who have established their own company by applying to the relevant court are entitled to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit for their initiative. The work and residence permit is renewed every year. These permissions are documented with a single session/work permit ID card.

By law, Temporary Residence Permit expires if:

  • Expiration of the residence permit period
  • Elimination of the situation that caused the residence permit
  • The person with the residence permit is traveled away from Montenegro for more than 30 days between the permitted dates (this does not apply to company shareholders of 51% or more)
  • Objection for the person with a residence permit to stay in Montenegro for any reason and/or refusal to enter the country
  • Applying protective measures to deport a person with a residence permit
  • The person with the residence permit does not use this permission for the purpose stated at the time of application
  • The person with the residence permit is entitled to a permanent residence permit

Who can get permanent residence permits in Montenegro?
Persons who have been legally resident in Montenegro for 5 years without interruption until the application date of permanent residence can apply providing one of the following conditions:

  • To have received a Temporary Residence Permit for 5 years
  • To have received Refugee Status or Additional Protection in accordance with the Asylum Law for 5 years

According to the law, the definition of ‘permanent residence for 5 years’ is as follows: to have obtained a temporary residence permit in Montenegro for 5 consecutive years, and plus,

– to be outside Montenegro for a maximum of 6 months with a single exit from the country during this 5-year period, or
– to be outside of the country more than 10 months in total (within 5 years) for multiple entry and exit periods.

For residents of Montenegro who have obtained temporary residence permits for subjects such as education, specialization, vocational training or applied education, permanent residence permits are granted by calculating half the duration of their stay. For example, the length of stay for a person studying at the university for 5 years is considered to be 2.5 years when calculating.
However, the Montenegrin government reserves the right to grant permanent residence permits to foreigners who have obtained consecutive temporary residence permits for less than 5 years, where it believes it is in the country’s interest.

Applicants applying for Permanent Residence Permit are expected to provide the following:

  • Valid travel document (Passport or Stateless Person Identification Document)
  • Source of income
  • Health Insurance
  • Accommodation for shelter
  • Basic knowledge of Montenegrin

Granting Permanent Residence Permits to Children:
Children can be granted Permanent Residence without waiting 5 years when the following conditions occur:

One of the child’s parents is a montenegrin citizen and resides in Montenegro at the time of birth
Both parents have Permanent Residence Permits at the time of the child’s birth
One parent has Permanent Residence Permit at the time of birth, the other is deceased or cannot be known

By obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit, foreigners have the following citizens’ rights:

  • Rights related to work, job placement and unemployment
  • Right to education and professional development
  • Right to recognition of previously obtained diplomas and certificates
  • Benefits, health and pension entitlement
  • Tax deduction rights
  • Full access to the goods and services market
  • The right to become a member in organizations representing the interests of workers or employers (trade unions, etc.)