How to obtain a residence permit in Montenegro?

Moving to Montenegro for permanent residence from Russia is a difficult step that not everyone dares to take. Emigration involves a lot of paperwork and significant financial expenses. Montenegro is quite willing to accept new citizens. It is easier to move there than to European countries.

Resorts of Montenegro.

Features of entry into Montenegro

The country's authorities are more loyal to migrants than some European countries. The government is committed to developing the economy, so it uses different ways to attract foreign investors.

Tax reductions and support for entrepreneurs are practiced.

Persons making a contribution to the economy are offered simplified conditions for obtaining a residence permit (RP). The country also needs migrants who want to work on construction sites.

Requirements for those wishing to move

Citizenship can be obtained by a person who has legally lived in the country for at least 10 years.

The following persons can also move for permanent residence to Montenegro:

• classified as refugees;
• who are close relatives of residents of Montenegro;
• married to a Montenegrin for 3 or more years;
• who are former residents of Yugoslavia;
• purchasing real estate in the country;
• those wishing to start a large business in the state;
• having Montenegrin origin.

Types of visas for Russians

The state issues tourist, transit and special residence permits. For a holiday trip of less than 30 days, a visa is not required. The mark is not needed for entrepreneurs staying in the country for no more than 90 days.

In other cases, a visa is required, for which Moscow residents contact the Montenegrin Embassy. Persons registered in the regions can submit documents to the visa department.

List of documents and duration of consideration

To obtain a visa you will need:

• foreign passport (original and copy of the main page);
• questionnaire;
• application for a residence permit in Montenegro;
• an invitation from the host citizen (requires certification from the local police department, can be replaced by a rental agreement or room reservation).

A decision on the application is made within 14 days. If it is necessary to provide additional documents, this period is extended.

Temporary residence permit in Montenegro - borawak.

Validity periods and possibility of extension

The visa is valid for 30 or 90 days.

To extend it, contact the migration department and provide the following documents:

• document justifying the need for extension;
• medical insurance policy;
• bank account statement confirming the availability of the required amount of funds;
• certificate of no criminal record.

A tourist visa can be extended for a year. However, it does not allow you to find a job in a new country. Category D marks are valid from 3 to 12 months.

Cost of obtaining a visa

The fee for a tourist visa is 35 euros. When obtaining a long-term residence permit, you will have to pay 70 euros. When processing a document through the visa department, an additional fee of 1,600 rubles is paid.

How to get a residence permit in Montenegro

Regulation of some issues of residence, opening of a residence permit or work permit is carried out through the “Law of Montenegro on Foreigners”.

Ways to obtain a residence permit in Montenegro:

1. The right of ownership of real estate, according to which a residence permit can be obtained by persons who own real estate in the country, as well as their spouses and children. The cost of the object does not matter. The condition for submitting documents for a residence permit is the absence of litigation, tax arrears, mortgages, and the presence of a construction permit). When selling real estate, the residence permit is canceled. A residence permit based on the right to own real estate does not give the right to employment, running a business, free medical care and preschool education, or obtaining permanent residence.
2. Marriage with a Montenegrin or family reunification. To apply for a residence permit through marriage with a citizen or a person who has a residence permit, you must be over 18 years of age, have the marriage in the country, and have a valid foreign passport. It is also necessary to provide documents confirming financial security and residence. To apply for a marriage, you must provide the following documents:
   • copies of birth certificates, passports,

   divorce certificate or certificate of absence of marriage,

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3. copies of passports of two witnesses,
4. the statement itself (a week before the wedding).

Obtaining a residence permit is possible when joining a family in the event of a close relative moving - a spouse, children under 18 years of age, or other relatives for good reasons (for example, disability). In this case, as in marriage, there is no need to know the language.

5. Education. The advantage of getting an education in Montenegro is the relatively small competition for most specialties, the low cost of education compared to other European universities (at the level of Russian educational institutions). The condition for admission is knowledge of the Serbian language (exams are taken in it), no criminal record, and a bank account of at least 3,650 euros. Studying at universities and secondary schools is the basis for applying for a residence permit.
6. Employment. Obtaining a residence permit is possible by concluding a contract with an employer. The permit is issued to both permanent and seasonal workers, as well as business travelers. The condition for a residence permit is that there are no other Montenegrin candidates for this job in the Employment Bureau’s database. A foreigner has the right to work only in the specialty for which the contract has been concluded. The permit is issued for six months with the right of subsequent extension. If an employee is dismissed, the employer notifies the Ministry of Labor within up to 8 days.
7. Business registration. Registration of a company gives the founder and his close relatives the right to a residence permit. A business may not carry out any activities, the main thing is the need to pay taxes and maintain accounting records. The authorized capital starts from 1 euro, and to maintain the company you will need up to 2.5 thousand euros per year. The most common form of ownership is LLC; registration takes 15 days.
8. Owning a yacht. The right to a residence permit is given by a document issued by the captaincy. You need to spend 3 months in the ports of Montenegro on your own ship, and the same amount outside.

Other grounds for obtaining a residence permit in Montenegro may be, for example, religious activity - for priests, humanitarian assistance - for refugees, research work - for scientists, and others in accordance with the laws of the state and international agreements.

What to do without knowing the language

Before emigrating to Montenegro from Russia, you will have to learn the language and pass an exam. Despite the fact that Montenegrin is vaguely reminiscent of Russian, written speech has many features. The exam also includes an oral part.

Special conditions are offered to bona fide foreign investors who have confirmed the legality of their acquired material wealth.

Such persons receive a residence permit in a simplified manner. They do not have to take a language proficiency test or continuously reside in the country. The opportunity is provided only to the investor himself. His spouse, parents and children receive a residence permit according to the standard scheme.

Take language courses.

What documents will be needed

To obtain a temporary residence permit, collect a package of documents. It includes, in particular:

• foreign passport (and a blueprint of all its pages);
• previously issued certificate of registration;
• 4 photos (standard and only color);
• a certificate of availability of funds from any bank (minimum - 3,650 per applicant and one thousand euros for each family member) or paper from work indicating the amount of earnings;
• lease agreement for residential premises (otherwise you will have to provide a certificate of the owner of the property);
• health insurance;
• the result of an examination by a local doctor;
• certificate of good conduct;
• application for a residence permit.

In some situations, you are asked to present other documents. An important point is that papers must be translated into Montenegrin.

Pros and cons of moving to Montenegro

Before moving to a country, it is worth considering the main aspects of life in it. This will help identify the pros and cons of immigration.

Country visa regime

Montenegro may join the European Union in 2025. On the one hand, this action will eliminate the need for a visa when entering EU countries.

On the other hand, the rules for emigration to Montenegro will become stricter. It will become more difficult to move to the country for permanent residence. Russians wishing to obtain citizenship have a better chance now than in the future. After 2025, they will be able to visit any European country without a visa.

Mentality and complexity of language

Montenegrin traditions may seem strange to Russian emigrants. Locals love to visit each other for no reason. A trustworthy person can buy something on credit. No supporting documents are required.

The police are quite polite, the population trusts them. The crime rate in the country is low.

Criminal elements are common in the capital; in small towns and villages they are practically absent. Bars on windows are rare. People safely leave their cars unlocked without fear of theft.

The language is somewhat difficult, but it can be learned. It belongs to the Slavic group. This makes relocation attractive for Russians and residents of other CIS countries. Communication with native speakers helps you quickly master the Montenegrin language.

Social Security

This aspect is poorly developed in the country. Regarding issues of medical support, it is worth considering the main drawback - the low level of service provision.

In addition, specialized specialists see patients in different cities. For example, you have to visit a therapist in one locality, and an ophthalmologist in another.

Residents suffering from complex diseases are forced to go to foreign clinics. The level of education in Montenegro does not reach European levels. Utility prices are high, especially for electricity.

Medicine in Montenegro is not developed at the proper level.

Jobs and salaries

Russian emigrants are advised to look for a place of employment in advance. Without an invitation from the company, you will not be able to obtain a visa. Job vacancies are viewed on the Internet.

You can contact a recruitment agency operating internationally. The Russian diploma is valid in Montenegro. Therefore, a migrant has the opportunity to work in his specialty. However, for this you will have to learn the Montenegrin language.

There are vacancies in different industries in the country:

• economy;
• medicine;
• advertising and marketing;
• tourism;
• food industry;
• construction;
• Internet technologies;
• energy.

There is a constant recruitment of sellers, waiters, service personnel, and general workers. The level of wages for a European country is quite low (on average 500 euros). This should be taken into account by persons wishing to go to Montenegro for work.

Food supply

The economy in Montenegro is stable, so food prices are low. The food is high quality because it is produced locally. A small part of the products is imported from other countries.

Prices can be studied using the table:

Name	Average cost, euro
Bread	0,4
Hard cheese	4-5
Milk, 1 l	0,6
Rice, 1 kg	2
Buckwheat, 800 g	5
Pasta, 0.5 kg	0,5
Beef	6
Pork	3,5
Poultry meat	3
Leaf tea, 100 g	0,6
Sugar, 1 kg	0,7
Still water, 5 l	0,95
Chicken egg, 10 pcs.	1,25
Fish	8

Some complain about the poor selection of goods, which means they have to travel to neighboring countries to shop

Sale of fish in Montenegro.

Communication and Internet

Such services are considered expensive in the country. For example, you have to pay at least 30 euros for the Internet. However, the quality of communication cannot be called high. 4G networks operate in large cities.

There may be problems with calls in the summer. Due to network congestion, many residents prefer to communicate using instant messengers such as Viber.

You can purchase a local SIM card, but prices for communication services are constantly changing. Therefore, before purchasing, you have to carefully study the terms of service.

The most popular operators are:

1. Telenor. It is characterized by good coverage and the presence of its own application for viewing tariff information. For 15 euros, the client receives 10 GB of traffic, valid for a month.
2. T-Mobile. It is considered the operator with the highest quality communications. A SIM card can be purchased at a tobacco kiosk, but registration at the office is mandatory. 20 GB of internet costs 20 euros.
3. M-Tel. The new operator does not have 4G, but offers more favorable tariffs. There is a website in English. For 5 euros 4 GB of Internet is provided.

You shouldn't rely on free Wi-Fi in hotels and airports. In summer it works intermittently. There are no guest networks in cafes and restaurants.

Restaurants and cafes

There are few similar establishments here. Most of them are located in Budva and Podgorica. Cafes and restaurants serve dishes of Russian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Turkish cuisine.

The national menu of Montenegro includes sausages, spicy beef chops (hangers), vegetable moussaka, and prosciutto. A traditional alcoholic drink is a fruit liqueur - rakia.

National dishes.

Climate of Montenegro

The country is characterized by a favorable environmental situation. It is often called a European nature reserve. Montenegro ranks first in terms of air purity.

There are no industrial enterprises in the country that emit harmful substances into the atmosphere. The climate is favorable, winter lasts no more than 3 months. The number of sunny days reaches 290 per year. Montenegro attracts tourists and emigrants with its mountains, clear sea, lakes and canyons.

Summer in Montenegro is long and hot. The average air temperature during this period is +28°C, the amount of precipitation is 50 mm. The rains begin in November and continue until January.

During this time, up to 260 mm of precipitation falls. Negative temperatures are rarely observed in Montenegro. During the day in January the thermometer rises to +11°C. The water temperature in summer reaches +28°C, the average wave height in the sea is 50 cm, and storms are rare.

It's a hot summer in Montenegro.

Features of mentality or carelessness?

Montenegrins are somewhat similar to Russians, but we still have more differences. What is striking is their non-binding nature and easy attitude towards any agreements. And while in personal relationships you can somehow come to terms with this, in business communication it’s simply infuriating. Did you call a plumber for a specific time, and he arrived a week later without tools, shook his head and promised to come in a couple of days? An absolutely normal situation. They also like to express dissatisfaction with their lives and do nothing at the same time - and that’s fine.

Prices in Montenegro: for holidays, food and excursions.

January 18, 2021

Methods for obtaining residence permit and permanent residence

You can move to the country for several reasons, for example, to conduct business or employment, to reunite with parents, spouse or children.

In the first 5 years, the migrant receives the right to stay in the country on the basis of a residence permit. After this period, it becomes possible to apply for permanent residence.

Investment program

You can obtain citizenship by investing at least 500 million euros in the economy. This option is rarely used. Not every major businessman wants to invest in the economy of a country with a fairly low standard of living.

A foreigner who purchases any property receives a residence permit for 12 months. It is possible to extend the visa while maintaining ownership rights. Prices for commercial and residential real estate are lower than in other European countries.

The cost of a 1-room apartment is about 2.5 million rubles. However, the owner of the home cannot use the services of free medical insurance, enroll his child in kindergarten, or obtain citizenship under a simplified scheme.

Conclusion of an employment contract

In Montenegro you can get a permanent or temporary job. In the first case, companies enter into a long-term contract with employees and undertake to pay taxes and wages.

Employment is official. Seasonal workers are accepted for a period of 1 to 9 months. At the end of this period, the employee has the opportunity to enter into a long-term contract.

After dismissal, a person is obliged to leave the country. The residence permit is cancelled. It can be restored only after employment in a new place.

Opening your own business

Starting your own business is considered the best way to emigrate to Montenegro. There are no strict requirements for a foreign company. The actual size of the authorized capital can be any. It is enough to go through the enterprise registration procedure.

Since the main industries in the country are tourism and personal services, it is worth considering the following ideas:

• car rental;
• rental of sports equipment;
• rental of water transport;
• opening of a small hotel;
• cafe or restaurant;
• beauty salon or hairdresser;
• private kindergarten.

The procedure for opening a company in Montenegro includes:

1. Contacting an accounting firm.
2. Choosing a legal form (the most common are LLC and individual entrepreneur);
3. Drawing up constituent documentation.
4. Submission of papers to the Commercial Court, where information about the company is entered into the register of legal entities.
5. Registered with statistics and accounting authorities.
6. Order stamps.
7. Open a bank account.

Opening a business in Montenegro.

Marriage

You can immigrate to Montenegro by becoming the spouse of a resident of the country. However, the state monitors and suppresses fictitious marriages. Family checks here are less stringent than in Sweden or Germany.

After marriage, the migrant receives a temporary residence permit. You can apply for citizenship after 3 years.

Family reunification

You can also move to the country if relatives live here: spouses, parents. The child will receive a residence permit, even if only the father or mother is Montenegrin.

Both children born in marriage and adopted children have the right to reside. Relatives in Montenegro must send an invitation certified at the police station.

Education in Montenegro

Today, foreigners are showing great interest in studying in this country. The cost of education here is lower than in Germany or France, but it provides a chance for employment in Europe.

To enter a university, a good knowledge of the language is required. All exams are conducted in Montenegrin. Anyone entering a university receives a residence permit for 12 months, which is subsequently extended.

The cost of education in the country is not quite high.

Procedure for obtaining a residence permit

The process begins with the collection of documents, which are then submitted to the local police department (MUP - in Montenegrin). Consideration of the application begins only after payment of a state fee of 25 euros. You can deposit funds by postal order.

Depending on the grounds for obtaining a residence permit, additional documents may be required:

• bank account statement confirming financial solvency;
• rental agreement or purchase and sale of housing in Montenegro;
• medical certificate (when traveling for treatment);
• marriage certificate with a resident of the country.

All papers written in Russian must be translated into Montenegrin. The application is processed within 3-5 weeks. After receiving a residence permit, you can leave Montenegro for no more than 30 days a year.

Residence permit in Montenegro.

Temporary resolution

According to legislative acts of 2021, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Russians have the right to enter and stay in Montenegro for 30 days. They do not need to obtain visa documents to enter. Even if you need to extend your stay on the Adriatic coast, you can simply cross the border. In other words, you can stay in Montenegro without a visa for 90 days, but every 30 days you need to cross the border, that is, re-enter. Those who, for any reason, want to stay in this republic longer, must first obtain a visa in their home country.

Entry stamp to the capital of Montenegro

If a period of 3 months is not enough, then the only solution is to issue a temporary residence permit. To obtain this document, you must come to Montenegro and submit a corresponding application to the internal affairs authorities.

It is worth considering that obtaining a residence permit is not so easy. A person who wants to have a residence permit must meet certain requirements:

• availability of sufficient funds in any form (cash or bank account);
• presence of compelling reasons for issuing a residence permit;
• availability of a health insurance policy;
• absence of criminal records and problems with the legal system both in the territory of their home country and in the territory of Montenegro.

To obtain a residence permit to live in Montenegro, you will need to submit a certificate confirming your financial situation. This document indicates that a person is able to provide for himself while staying in this country.

Example of a residence permit in Montenegro

Reasons for staying on the Adriatic coast may include:

• employment in Montenegro (you must remember that you cannot work without a work permit);
• seasonal work (the most common way to obtain a residence permit);
• training in educational institutions of Montenegro;
• participation in student or schoolchild exchange programs;
• undergoing practical training for the purpose of improving skills or obtaining education;
• undergoing treatment in medical centers and hospitals in Montenegro;
• family reunion;
• marriage with a resident of Montenegro;
• accompanying a minor child who was born on the territory of Montenegro.

It must be remembered that for each of the above proposed situations, a basic package of documentation will be required, supplemented by documents based directly on the reason for staying in the country.

The main package of documentation in 2021:

1. Copy and original passport of your home country. Copies must be certified by the court.
2. Translation of passport into local language. The translation must also be carried out in court and must be certified.
3. Medical insurance. Its validity period must be at least 30 days.
4. Certificate of financial position.
5. Certificate of availability of property: own or rented. This document confirms that the migrant has a place to live for the duration of the residence permit. If you have your own real estate, documents of ownership of the property must be submitted. If the property is rented, a rental agreement is provided.
6. Certificate of no criminal record.
7. A valid foreign passport.

If a person wants to obtain a residence permit in Montenegro for employment, then he will need to attach a work permit to the internal affairs bodies along with the main package of documents. It can be obtained by contacting the State Employment Bureau .

If the migrant is a private entrepreneur, he must additionally submit documents on renting work premises. This list will also need to be accompanied by a permit from the Municipality.

If the basis for obtaining a residence permit is marriage, then the required document will be a marriage certificate. If a residence permit is necessary to undergo training, then you will need to contact the educational institution and obtain a certificate from it confirming that the migrant is a student of this university or another institution.

A temporary residence permit is issued for a period of 1 year. It can be extended for 2 years. But it is necessary to take into account that in order to extend a residence permit in Montenegro, you must contact the internal affairs authorities no later than 3 months before the expected expiration of the permit.

Houses in Montenegro

A temporary residence permit is a stamp that is affixed to a migrant’s foreign passport. It must be remembered that obtaining a residence permit is not free. If a foreign national is applying for a residence permit for the first time, the procedure will cost him about 350 euros . If the residence permit is issued for the second time, then its price will be 300 euros.

Features of registration of permanent residence

A residence permit is issued 5 years after immigration. During this period, the foreigner must pay taxes on time, work continuously, and leave the country for no more than 10 months.

Refugees or people from Montenegro receive permanent residence under a simplified scheme. When marrying a citizen of the state, the right to permanent residence is granted after 3 years (subject to staying in the country for at least 5 years).

The grounds for refusal of permanent residence are:

• serving a sentence in MLS;
• refusal to purchase insurance;
• lack of funds for living;
• submission of false information or forged documents;
• lack of rented or own housing.

Permanent residence in Montenegro

If your residence in Montenegro has exceeded 5 years, you can apply for permanent residence.

Important! During this period, you cannot leave the country for 90 days in a row or for 10 months in total.

Other reasons for changing status will be:

• marital status with a citizen of the country for 3 years;
• Montenegrin roots, but currently no citizenship;
• staying in the republic with refugee status;
• close relationship with a citizen of the republic or the holder of permanent residence.

The holder of permanent residence receives the right to work without obtaining a permit, and can apply for a local pension and other social benefits. He does not acquire only the right to vote and the opportunity to take out a mortgage on himself.

A refusal to grant permanent residence may occur if the applicant had problems complying with the laws of the country. Subsequently, it is possible to obtain Montenegrin citizenship, but for this you need to renounce Russian citizenship, since dual citizenship is prohibited. If you don’t want to give up your Russian passport, you can think about a more loyal country, such as the Czech Republic, France, or Italy.

Entrepreneurial activity

Registering your own company gives you the right to obtain a residence permit in the Balkan republic. This is much easier to do than in other European countries. The authorized capital of a company can only be €1.

Additionally, there will be additional costs for paperwork. The applicant must have €3,650 in his bank account, per family. A residence permit is issued for a year with subsequent renewal.

How to cancel a residence permit

A similar action is carried out by the government of the country.

A foreigner may be deprived of a residence permit in the following cases:

1. If the emigrant does not reside in Montenegro for 12 months. If you need to travel abroad for a long period of time, you must notify the migration department.
2. When the government decides to deport a foreign citizen.
3. If a person is engaged in prohibited business or violates other laws of the country.

The status is automatically canceled after the visa expires.

Features of accommodation for pensioners

Montenegro is attractive for older people due to the following advantages:

• low cost and simplicity of the process of obtaining a residence permit;
• favorable environmental conditions;
• increased life expectancy of people;
• good attitude of local residents towards Russians;
• opportunities to visit interesting places.

A pensioner can immigrate to the country on a general basis, for example by opening a business or buying an apartment.

Obtaining the status of a citizen of Montenegro

An internal passport is issued after 10 years of residence in the country: 5 years for a residence permit, another 5 for permanent residence. For persons married to Montenegrins, this period is halved.

Before obtaining citizenship of the country, a person must renounce Russian citizenship and provide the appropriate certificate.

After completing these steps, the following documents are collected:

• statement;
• salary certificate;
• employment contract;
• certificate of no criminal record;
• a document confirming the fact of continuous residence in the country (issued at the local police station);
• certificate of renunciation of Russian citizenship.

Opinion of Russian immigrants about the country

Olga, 58 years old, Kolasin: “My husband and I left to live in Montenegro at the beginning of 2021. To do this, we purchased an apartment in Kolasin and issued a residence permit according to the standard scheme.

We decided to celebrate old age in a calm country with a good environmental situation. I like reasonable prices for products, good quality food.

However, there are problems with buying clothes. We have to travel to border Serbia. We heard that there are many centenarians here. We hope that we too will be able to live here happily ever after.”

Anton, 43 years old, Podgorica: “Life in the capital of Montenegro is different from that in Moscow. There is no unnecessary rush and bustle here. Podgorica is not considered an attractive place for tourists, so there is no noise in the city.

However, there are attractions that you can leisurely explore when you move here. The sea coast is an hour's drive away. The level of service and education in the capital is quite high, but Montenegro should not be considered for traveling to earn money.”