The country with the mysterious name Montenegro, known as Montenegro, is located in the west of the Balkan Peninsula and has access to the Adriatic Sea. Every year foreigners from all over the world come here for various purposes. But do citizens of the Russian Federation and the CIS need a visa to visit Montenegro? What nuances are important to consider when designing it?
In what cases is a visa to Montenegro required?
In 2008, the authorities of Montenegro and the Russian Federation entered into an agreement, according to which Russians received the right to visa-free stay in Montenegro for a 30-day period. Similar agreements have also been concluded with Belarus (up to 30 days) and Ukraine (up to 90 days). The only condition is that the passport must be valid for 90 days from the end of the trip. Persons planning to stay longer in Montenegro must have a visa. Upon arrival in the country, a foreigner must register at the police station within 24 hours.
Montenegro is not a member of the Schengen area, but in 2010 it became a candidate for EU membership.
Russians have the right to stay in Montenegro for up to 30 days without a visa
Table: visa regimes of Montenegro for immigrants from the CIS in 2018
| Citizenship | Visa regime |
| Azerbaijan | Up to 90 days without a visa |
| Armenia | Visa entry |
| Belarus | Up to 30 days without a visa |
| Georgia | Visa entry |
| Kazakhstan | Visa entry |
| Kyrgyzstan | Visa entry |
| Moldova | Up to 90 days without a visa |
| Russia | Up to 30 days without a visa |
| Tajikistan | Visa entry |
| Turkmenistan | Visa entry |
| Uzbekistan | Visa entry |
| Ukraine | Up to 90 days without a visa |
What restrictions apply to tourists in Montenegro?
Rules for visiting Montenegro in 2021 require compliance with antiviral measures. All catering buildings along the coastline are closed. All areas for walking and playing are closed. You can only move around your area; intercity traffic is prohibited, but the police are loyal to tourists. Grocery stores are open until 20.00, closed on Sundays, but food markets are open. Mass events and excursions are prohibited. The curfew is from 21:00 to 5:00. Wearing masks indoors and outdoors is mandatory for everyone over 5 years of age. Social distancing of 2 meters must also be maintained. No more than 2 people can gather. The Montenegrin authorities have made concessions to the regions of Tivat and Budva - clothing stores and beauty salons are open here.
Is there quarantine in Montenegro for arriving travelers?
New rules for entry into Montenegro for Russians in 2021 due to coronavirus no longer require mandatory quarantine. A tourist will be quarantined only if he does not have the necessary vaccination documents or a covid test result. Then the quarantine will last 14 days.
Types of entry permits
Montenegro visas are divided into 4 categories:
- A - airport transit (for transit through the country's airports during the day without the right to leave the sterile zone).
- B - transit (for transit through the territory of Montenegro with the right to stay in the country for no more than 5 days).
- C - short-term for business, guest, private and other visits.
- D - long-term.
It is important to note that in practice, type B visas are practically not issued, since travel to third countries is carried out mainly by plane.
Type D is issued for the following purposes of the visit:
- Conducting business or other economic activities.
- Investment.
- Work in diplomatic and consular offices of foreign states and branches of international organizations.
- Seasonal work.
- Obtaining secondary and higher education.
- Internship.
- Research activities.
- Treatment.
- Family reunification.
- Humanitarian assistance.
Categories A, B and C visas can be valid for one, two or more entries, while D visas always require multiple border crossings. Types B and C are collective, that is, issued for a group of travelers.
Foreigners with a valid Schengen visa have the right to stay in Montenegro without first obtaining a visa. However, the maximum period of stay in this case is 30 days.
Montenegro visa can be individual or collective
Reasons for visa refusal
Obtaining entry permission for tourists occurs according to a well-functioning system. But all information received is carefully checked. Therefore, you need to analyze extracts and certificates before submitting. If there is an error there, there is a high probability of refusal to obtain a visa to Montenegro.
Also, the embassy may not issue a permit for the following reasons:
- A falsification of a passport or other certificates has been detected.
- Deception of embassy workers.
- Unsealed criminal record.
- The behavior is suspicious.
- No vaccination.
If you correct the errors, you can apply for a visa again. The exception is deception or forgery of documents. For such cases, entry into the country is prohibited for several years. Information is stored at the embassy for 3-5 years.
Customs regulations
You can import into the country:
- Medicines needed for personal consumption for six months, with a mandatory supporting document (prescription).
- Any currency. If the amount is 2000 euros, it must be declared orally. In the case when more than 10,000 euros are transported, customs officers send a special notification to the department that deals with the fight against money laundering and other financial fraud.
- 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes (only for persons over 18 years of age).
- One liter of vodka and two liters of wine (for those over 18 years old).
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As for things that are classified as personal, you can import a laptop, camera, video camera, player, skis (one pair), tent, binoculars, and one bicycle.
You can take out no more than 2,000 euros from Montenegro (anything that exceeds this amount will be confiscated). Well, those things for individual use that were previously imported.
It is strictly prohibited to import into Montenegro:
- Weapons, ammunition, but an exception is made for sports and hunting weapons with special permission for them.
- Animals and plants that do not have a special certificate.
- Antiques without special permission.
- Native gold or gold dust, as well as coins made from this precious metal.
- Prohibited medications, poisons, substances with increased radioactivity.
It is worthwhile to fill out a special form on the plane, in which you indicate what items are being carried and how much currency you are taking with you. Those entering by car must pay an environmental fee of 10 euros at the border. After this, a special sticker will be placed on the windshield, with which you can drive around the country for 11 months and be sure that such a fee will not be required a second time.
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Where to apply for a visa
To apply for a visa, you need to submit documents to one of the diplomatic or consular offices of Montenegro . Russians and other residents of the CIS can apply at the Consular Section of the Montenegrin Embassy in Moscow. Citizens of Armenia have the right to request entry permits from the Bulgarian Embassy in Yerevan, and citizens of Kazakhstan from the Bulgarian Embassy in Astana.
Foreigners from other countries can also submit applications in Moscow, subject to legal stay in Russia. You can check the need to obtain a Montenegrin visa on the portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro.
Russians and other CIS citizens obtain a visa at the Montenegrin Embassy in Moscow
Registration procedure
The visa process consists of the following steps:
- Collection and preparation of documentation.
- Filing an application. No pre-registration required. In Moscow, reception is held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10-30 to 12-00.
- Receipt of a passport with a visa on a pre-arranged day.
The application can be submitted through a representative - an individual, official or legal entity, if the visa is issued:
- holders of diplomatic or service passports;
- on the basis of a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- a group of travelers whose purpose is a cultural, sports, scientific event;
- persons with disabilities;
- persons planning to undergo treatment in Montenegro;
- cultural and public figures.
The consul has the right to invite the applicant for an interview if there are doubts about the purpose of the trip or his intention to return to his homeland, and request additional documents.
You do not need to provide biometric data to obtain a visa.
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.
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Application documentation
The list of basic documentation includes:
- a foreign passport valid for 3 months from the date of departure from Montenegro, which contains 2 blank pages;
- a copy of the passport page with photo and personal data;
- a completed application form in Russian or English;
- confirmation 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 savings book 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:
- Size 30 × 40 mm.
- The background is plain.
- The face is completely open, there are no headdresses or accessories.
- The line from the chin to the crown is 28–32 mm.
- There is no retouching.
- 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
Documents for obtaining a visa
The official consulate of Montenegro in Moscow issues only category C visas, which allow you to stay in the country for up to 90 days. To do this, the applicant will need to collect the following package of documents:
- photocopy of the main page of the foreign passport;
- a correctly completed applicant application form .
- documents confirming the availability of a place to stay for the duration of your stay in the country;
- guarantees of financial security and confirmation of social status;
- application form completed by the traveler.
- photocopies of booked return tickets;
- two color photographs measuring 3x4 cm.
A foreign passport must meet certain requirements: contain at least two blank pages for stamping and be valid for the entire time you are in the country and for another 90 days after returning to your homeland. Passports are accepted both new and old, with biometric data.
The application form must be filled out in Russian or English. The data should be free of errors and corrections.
Documents confirming the availability of housing for the duration of your stay can serve as:
- hotel reservation;
- tourist voucher indicating the holiday destination;
- a drawn up lease agreement with a citizen of Montenegro;
- papers confirming ownership of real estate in the country;
- an invitation from the Montenegrin side indicating the address and details of the inviter.
For financial security, legislation has established a minimum amount of 20 euros per day per adult . There are no financial security requirements for minors. To confirm you can submit:
- a certificate from the place of work indicating the salary;
- bank account statement;
- a document confirming security from the receiving party, or a letter from the sponsor.
Important: Montenegro does not oblige applicants to take out health insurance, but experienced tourists still recommend taking out a policy.
Validity periods and renewal rules
Montenegrin visas have the following validity periods:
- type A - up to 5 days within a 30-day period;
- B - up to 5 days within six months;
- C - up to 90 days in a half-year;
- D - from 90 to 180 days a year.
During your stay in Montenegro, your visa can be extended under the following circumstances:
- The need for emergency medical care.
- Natural disasters.
- Disasters and unforeseen events related to relatives.
- The need to complete matters related to the purpose of the visit.
- Professional, personal, force majeure circumstances.
In these cases, the foreigner must contact the police department at the place of residence, from where the documents will be sent for consideration to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro. You need to have your passport and documents confirming unforeseen circumstances with you.
You can extend your visa at the Montenegro Police
Documents for entry to Montenegro
If when entering the territory of Montenegro you may not be asked about the presence of certain documents, and sometimes there is an opportunity to “slip through”, then in the case of submitting documents through the embassy there is no such opportunity, and it is better to make sure in advance that everything you need , you had with you. The standard list of documents is as follows:
- Questionnaire. To obtain a visa, you must submit a completed application form to the consular department of the embassy, which must contain all the basic information, from the purpose of the trip to the time and place of stay in the country. The application form can be downloaded from the official website of the embassy;
- International passport. This document is the most important. It is important that it is valid for the entire duration of your stay abroad;
- Two photos. The size of the photograph is 4 cm in height and 3 cm in width. There are no special requirements for the photo, the main thing is that the background is white and the face takes up most of the photo. There should be nothing superfluous both in clothing and in facial expressions;
- Confirmation of residence. In order to get to Montenegro, you need to convince the embassy staff that you have somewhere to stay for the entire time you are within the borders of the state. An example of a document is a travel voucher;
- Money. It is important to show that you are able to support yourself during your stay in the republic. There must be at least $50 per person per day (on an account, card, cash or income certificate);
- Other documents. Depending on the type of visa you choose, you will need to provide other documents, the list of which can be clarified by phone or on the embassy website.
If you are traveling under a visa-free regime, you also need to have enough money with you, confirmation of the purpose of the visit and, of course, a passport. In this case, you can do without photographs.
