Visa to Montenegro in 2021: required papers, deadlines and cost of registration

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From March 13, 2021, Montenegro has relaxed entry rules for foreign tourists, including Russian citizens. And at the end of April 2021, the Montenegrin authorities lifted the requirement for a PCR test for COVID-19 for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and North Macedonia.

Some airlines are still asking for a PCR test to board a flight to Montenegro. We recommend contacting the airline before departure to clarify the rules.

Do I need a hotel reservation in Montenegro?

It is not necessary to book a hotel, you can stay with friends, relatives or in your own apartment, but the situation may change, so a backup option is always useful. You can book accommodation at a favorable price on Booking.com or other hotel aggregators.

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Documents for a visa to Montenegro

Necessary documents for obtaining a visa at the consulate:

1. International passport
   Valid for at least 3 months at the end of the trip, with at least two blank pages.
2. Copy of passport
   Copy of the first page of the international passport with the applicant’s data.
3. Application form
   An application form filled out in Russian or English and signed by the applicant. The form must be filled out on a computer or by hand in clear, legible handwriting, blue or black pen.
4. Application
   An application addressed to the consul with a request for a visa. It indicates the dates and purposes of the trip, and the applicant’s place of residence for the entire period of stay. When submitting an application for a child, you must indicate who is accompanying him. The application for a business travel visa must contain the contact details of the inviting party and the address of the hotel where you plan to stay.
5. Invitation
   A copy of the invitation from the host (or a private person), certified by the local police department, or a copy of the apartment/villa rental agreement, or a confirmation from the hotel indicating its details and the name of the person responsible for the reservation.
6. Air ticket reservation
   Copy of air ticket reservation
7. Evidence of solvency
   Certificate of employment, bank account statement with a minimum amount of 20 EUR per day. Pensioners can provide information from their savings book; minors do not need confirmation.
8. 2 color photographs
   3 x 4 cm, background does not matter.
9. Additionally,
   a receipt for payment of the visa fee.
10. Certificate of employment
    Certificate of employment with the stated position and salary;
11. Bank account statement
    The statement must be recent and not older than 6 months;
12. Sponsorship letter for a visa
    Sponsorship letter for a visa.

There is no need to submit fingerprints. When driving a car, international insurance is required, but at worst a Russian driver's license will do, although an international one is preferable. Pets are allowed in with a passport and a veterinary certificate issued no earlier than 3 days before the trip.

If one of the parents travels to Montenegro with a child, the consent of the other is not required. If the young traveler is accompanied by other relatives or third parties, the notarized consent of one of the parents is required. The child must have his own passport or, for children under 14 years of age, a stamp in the parent’s passport with a photograph (if there is no photograph, a separate document with a “portrait” will be required for identification).

Rules for traveling from Montenegro to Russia

If you are flying with a transfer from Montenegro to Russia, then Russian citizens do not require a PCR test in case of transit through Serbia for no more than 12 hours, through Belarus for no more than 24 hours, transit through Turkey is not limited in time.

You can get to Belgrade Airport without a PCR test by ground transport or order a transfer, but the departure time should be no more than 12 hours from the moment you cross the border of Montenegro with Serbia. When boarding a plane to Moscow at Belgrade Airport, Russians do not need a PCR test.

From Minsk you can get to Russia by ground transport (train tickets from Minsk, by bus) without a PCR test, but no more than 24 hours should pass from the time of crossing the border at Minsk airport to crossing the border with Russia.

Starting from April 15, 2021, general rules for the entry of Russian citizens from the territory of foreign states into the territory of the Russian Federation came into force:

Before departure

from Montenegro to Russia, you must fill out a form arriving in the Russian Federation on the State Services website, which indicates personal data and symptoms (cough, temperature, etc.). It must be filled out before boarding the plane and presented upon arrival at the control point.

Upon returning to Russia

after Montenegro, you must do a PCR test for the presence of coronavirus infection COVID-19 within 3 days and upload the result to State Services. An express test can be done at Moscow airports upon arrival or in any laboratory recommended by Rospotrebnadzor.

According to the new rules, which come into force on July 7, 2021, upon arrival in Russia from any country in the world: • for vaccinated

during the year and citizens who have been ill for six months - PCR testing is cancelled;
• for unvaccinated
citizens - the re-take of the PCR test is canceled; the first and only test must be taken within 3 days upon arrival.
Until the results of the study are received, self-isolation is required. The rule of taking a PCR test twice upon arrival from abroad, which was in force until 07/06/2021, has been cancelled.

Do Russians need a visa to Montenegro?

The period of validity of the visa-free regime for Russians holidaying in Montenegro is established annually.
In 2021, from April 1 to October 31, you can freely enter and stay in the country for up to 90 days, and from November 1 to May 31 - up to 30 days in a row. Holders of a Schengen “cartoon” and valid US and UK visas can also enter without additional delays. Tourists staying in Montenegro without a visa have the right to travel and relax, but work or study is prohibited, the fine is 200-1200 EUR.

What are the customs regulations in Montenegro?

As in any other country, Montenegro has certain rules that are some restrictions for all persons who are going to visit the country. To complete them, you will at least need the following documents:

• international or Russian driver's license, as well as international insurance, which is called “green cardboard”. This is necessary if the tourist enters the country in his own car;
• return ticket;
• if it is necessary to transport animals, then all vaccination certificates must be present, as well as a veterinary passport;
• a foreign passport, the validity of which should not expire less than 14 days after the end of your stay in the state.

When going through customs, officials may require you to have a hotel reservation or travel voucher. But this is not necessary if the tourist comes on vacation for no more than 30 days. It is prohibited to import any food products into Montenegro.

Speaking about the limit on the import of money, there are no restrictions here. Alcoholic drinks can be imported in a volume of 2 liters if it is wine, and 1 liter if it is vodka or other strong drinks. There should be no more than 50 cigars per person, and no more than 200 cigarettes.

Conclusion

Whether a Russian citizen needs a visa when entering Montenegro in 2021 or not depends on the goals and period of stay in the country. Loyal conditions are provided for tourists here, allowing them to stay in the state for 30 days without a visa.

The need to register foreigners in Montenegro

The rules of stay in Montenegro state that every foreigner must go through the registration procedure with the relevant authorities within 24 hours, with the exception of Budva, where this period is longer - up to 72 hours.

You can register at your place of residence or in case of change of residence only on working days.

Registration takes place in the offices of tourist organizations or in the state. authorities for work with foreigners. If you have booked a room in a hotel or hostel, then this work is taken over by the administration. Living with friends or acquaintances also requires registration; this procedure can be performed by the owner of the property.

It is necessary to purchase and fill out “white cardboard” - this is the name of the form that is sold in bookstores and tour organizations. Go to a bank branch to pay the fee (approximately 0.8 Euro per day). After this, provide your passport, form and payment receipt to the police or travel agency.

Do I need a passport to travel?

A mandatory requirement is to have a valid passport. You won’t be able to go on vacation to Montenegro with a Russian passport.

The passport must be valid for at least 3 months from the date of entry into the country.

If the trip to the country is less than 30 days in winter and 90 in summer, then a visa to Montenegro for Russians in 2021 is not needed .

If the expected period of stay in the republic is more than 30 days, then obtaining a visa permit is mandatory.

But for vacationers in 2021, during the peak holiday period - from April 15 to October 31 - you can stay in the country for 90 days. This is great news for all Montenegro lovers.

According to the law and the concluded agreement, individual entrepreneurs and businessmen who have their own business in this state can also stay in Montenegro for 90 days without a visa.

The right to visa-free entry for 90 days can only be used by those entrepreneurs who regularly visit Montenegro for business or business matters.

The climate of Montenegro is perfect for holidays all year round

Application documentation

The list of basic documentation includes:

• a foreign passport valid for 3 months from the date of departure from Montenegro, which has 2 blank pages,
• a copy of the passport page with photo and personal data,
• a completed application form in Russian or English,
• proof of residence (hotel reservation, rental agreement or purchase and sale of real estate),
• an application addressed to the consul in free form, filled out in Russian, requesting a visa for a certain period indicating the reasons for the visit,
• photocopy of ticket reservation or driver's license, vehicle passport and car insurance,
• a certificate from the employer indicating the position and salary or an extract from a bank account or passbook for pensioners (the amount should be based on 20 euros per day per person),
• 2 color photographs.

Translation of documents is not necessary. Additional documents may be required at the consul's request. Their list and the need for submission can be clarified at the Embassy of Montenegro.

Photos must meet the following requirements:

1. Size 30 × 40 mm.
2. The background is plain.
3. The face is completely open, there are no headdresses or accessories.
4. The line from the chin to the crown is 28–32 mm.
5. There is no retouching.
6. The photograph was taken on thin glossy white paper.

The parents or guardians must submit documents for a visa, fill out and sign the visa application form for the child. Additionally, you must provide a copy of your birth certificate. If a child is traveling with one of the parents or with a third party, notarized consent for the minor to travel abroad will be required from the second parent or from both, respectively.

The visa photo must be taken on white glossy photo paper

Refusal of a visa

The diplomatic mission is loyal to tourists, so refusals of short-term visas are rare.

Possible reasons for refusal to issue a short-term visa:

• Providing false papers.
• Indication of incorrect data in the application form.
• Unconfirmed purpose of visit.
• Unconfirmed place of residence on the territory of Montenegro.
• Insufficient funds.
• The applicant is under investigation.
• The applicant has a criminal record.
• Precarious migration status.
• The applicant, according to employees of the diplomatic mission, may pose a threat to the population of Montenegro.

Refusal to issue a long-term visa is more common due to the fact that a category D visa is the basis for obtaining permanent residence in Montenegro, therefore the diplomatic mission carefully studies all applications. If the purpose of the application for a long-term visa is not specified, then the applicant will be refused.

Which countries most often deny visas to Russian citizens?

It is worth understanding that such permission is difficult to obtain. To complete it, you will need to submit a lot of documents to prove that the person really needs a long-term stay in the territory of Montenegro. For example, if a visa is requested for training, then the Russian citizen will have to present documents that confirm that the applicant is already enrolled in an educational institution.

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Find out how to obtain Montenegrin citizenship on our website.

How to legally travel with a child?

If you are planning a vacation in Montenegro with your child, be prepared for the fact that completing some documents will take a little more time. For example, if children are traveling alone, then it is necessary to draw up two permits from mom and dad. The same conditions apply to accompanying children by other relatives. If you are taking a child on vacation alone, you must have written permission from the other parent (if the children have not reached the age of majority). Documents must have legal force - be drawn up by a notary.

See also: Visa to Azerbaijan for citizens of the Russian Federation in 2021

Visa application procedure

Documents can be submitted to the consulate only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. local time. In this case, there is no preliminary registration and the documents are submitted through a proxy (if there are documents certified by a notary), or independently.

The visa processing time ranges from one to two weeks. The period begins from the moment the application is submitted and all documents are provided. A visa is issued no earlier than a week before the start of the trip.

You will have to pay a consular fee of 62 Euros; if a child (under 14 years old) also needs a visa, then the fee will be 32 Euros. Payment is made exclusively in foreign currency.

In what cases does Montenegro refuse to issue a visa?

Montenegro is one of those countries that are loyal to almost all citizens who wish to obtain a holiday visa. But even here failures occur quite often. The main reasons leading to this situation include the following:

1. Inappropriate tourist behavior.
2. Forgery of documents submitted for consideration.
3. Having a criminal record.
4. Attempts to deceive Consulate employees.
5. Lack of mandatory vaccinations.

Traveling to Montenegro with a child

To enter the territory of Montenegro with your child, the presence of both father and mother is desirable; If this is not possible, permission will be required in the name of the accompanying parent. If this accompanying person is one of the parents, he will need to provide a notarized power of attorney from the other.

When a minor child travels with another relative, teacher, coach or medical personnel, such permission must be issued on behalf of the father and mother. The country's authorities allow children under 14 years of age to enter without their own Russian passport, but only if the child is registered with the parent's passport. In all other cases, a child passport will be required.