Obtaining a residence permit and permanent residence in Montenegro

Pros and cons of emigration from Russia to Montenegro

Moving to Montenegro for permanent residence has advantages and disadvantages. Before deciding to take such an important step in your life, you need to weigh all the pros and cons, because emigrating from your native land can end in disappointment.

pros

Montenegro as a country for relocation has several advantages.

Excellent climate and environmental conditions

Montenegro is one of the most environmentally friendly countries, which is why it is called a European nature reserve. In terms of air purity, it ranks first in all of Europe. The fact is that there are no industrial enterprises or factories here that pollute the environment; people are busy in other fields of activity. Excellent ecology influences the overall life expectancy in Montenegro – 78 years. For comparison, the Russian figure is 73 years. In addition to ecology, Montenegro is famous for its beautiful landscape - mountains, access to the clear Adriatic Sea, lakes and canyons. The climate is mild: winters are short, there are up to 290 sunny days a year.

Low, almost zero crime rate

By leaving your car unlocked on Montenegrin streets, you don’t have to worry about it being stolen. Many people leave their keys in the car. It is rare to see protective metal structures on buildings - local residents are not afraid to live in their country. The crime rate is extremely low, mainly criminal elements conduct their activities in the capital, without affecting small towns and villages. The population has confidence in the police. The latter are quite polite and courteous.

Friendliness and openness of the local population

At first, the Montenegrin mentality seems strange to emigrants from Russia: here people visit each other without any reason or special invitation, bringing home-baked goods. If Montenegrins fall in love with a person, they begin to sincerely trust him. For example, in a store they allow you to take the item you need and pay later. In this case, no written receipts or other confirmations are required. The most amazing thing is that no one is trying to deceive anyone - trusting relationships are important here.

Minuses

Such a beautiful country as Montenegro also has its drawbacks:

• high humidity in many regions, which causes mold to appear in homes;
• lack of central heating - houses are heated individually;
• unhurried rhythm of life.

The main disadvantages of Montenegro include its status as a candidate for accession to the European Union. Accession is projected to take place in 2025, while it is not a participating country. Therefore, citizens of Montenegro must apply for Schengen to enter the EU. On the other hand, when Montenegro becomes part of the EU, migration rules will become more complicated and entry into the country will become more inaccessible. In 2021, the rules for accepting migrants are not too strict, so those wishing to move for permanent residence have a better chance of obtaining a permanent residence permit than after Montenegro joined the EU, and after 2025 they will have the opportunity to visa-free entry and residence in any EU country.

Peculiarities of life of Russian migrants in Montenegro

Is emigration to Montenegro included in your plans? To begin with, it won’t hurt to find out who lives in Montenegro, how many immigrants from Russia are here. It is not typical for Montenegro to have places where “Russians” meet; there are no national restaurants, publishing houses, discos, like in any other country where Russian society is represented by a large number of members.

Businessmen who have moved to the country, pensioners and families of wealthy investors do not need the support of their compatriots and prefer to lead a detached lifestyle. Their need to unite and spend leisure time together is minimized.

Despite the fact that relations between Europe and the Russian Federation have recently gone wrong, this direction has become quite popular, primarily because the legalization process is much simpler: it is not difficult to obtain a visa, it is enough to buy real estate to gain the right to obtain a residence permit, and the territory is suitable for investment quite promising.

Entrepreneurs from Russia are actively exploring the Montenegrin market, actively investing their funds in the service and tourism sectors. And yet, even businessmen cannot count on particularly large incomes.

Russian investors are building here so-called “Russian” houses, inhabited by migrants with Russian roots. Montenegro is most favorable for freelancers who do not need local employers who are not dependent on the local economy.

And for ordinary Russian migrants, jobs are provided mainly by tourism and their own fellow countrymen-employers.

Not too expensive grocery basket is a big plus. It makes life much easier for our compatriots, and besides, the authorities have quite high control over the quality of products entering store shelves.

If the food here is good, then clothing in this country is clearly expensive. Prices are much higher than in other European countries. Many of “ours” prefer to update their wardrobe in Serbia.

But utility bills for Russian people are, according to reviews, a real danger and a big disadvantage of life in Montenegro. Due to the lack of central heating, you have to actively use heating devices, which is very expensive, and your electricity bills will not make you happy. Warmth here is a real luxury. Internet is also not free - almost 20-30 euros per month.

Local schools cannot even compare with ordinary Russian ones. All parents say that the level of education here will be lower.

If you choose where it is best to settle, then let it be Budva - a resort that attracts both tourists and emigrants.

Attitude towards Russian migrants

There is nothing to please here. This is one of the biggest disadvantages of living in this country. A negative attitude towards “Russian” business has been recorded - more than one of our compatriots has had to experience provocations and unfounded, for rather dubious reasons, detentions.

And they themselves, or more precisely, some of their representatives, do not behave in the best way. Therefore, it is quite understandable that the Montenegrins, who are considered a very hospitable people, do not particularly favor individual “ours”. Anyone who treats local traditions, laws, and the local residents with respect and interest will never have to complain about being treated poorly. Remember this constantly.

Finally

Emigration is not an exciting journey with the goal of basking in the local sun and enjoying life. Before emigrating from Russia to Montenegro, it is worth taking into account many factors, including conflicts with Russians. All this will become thoroughly integrated into your daily life. And you won't like everything you encounter here.

Your life in a new place in a foreign country will depend on you, on your attitude to your newfound reality. Only after living for some time will you begin to understand the locals better. I would like this article to make someone think once again about whether it is worth going to Montenegro for permanent residence.

Standard of living in Montenegro

Montenegro is a state with a developed and stable economy. Despite the fact that wages among the population are below the European average, prices for food, housing rent, and utilities are also low. The food is not only cheap (even by Moscow standards), but also of high quality, since it is produced within the country and not imported from abroad.

The average salary in the country is less than 500 €. In some areas, earnings may be higher. Particularly popular destinations are:

• tourism;
• Agriculture;
• construction;
• real estate trade.

Medicine is free (but there are also private medical centers with paid services) at an average level. There are few hospitals, and not every one has the necessary doctor. This is due to the fact that highly qualified specialists in the field of medicine prefer to emigrate from Montenegro to other countries where higher salaries are provided. By the way, higher education here is at a good level, there are 3 universities in the state (all in Podgorica), but many of them have opened branches in other cities.

Read more about the standard of living in Montenegro

Methods of emigration to Montenegro for Russians

In order to go to this small but very beautiful state, which has access to the Adriatic Sea, you don’t need to strain yourself too much. Residents of Russia will only need to find out for themselves the intentions of immigration to Montenegro. The purposes of the move could be:

• Training, specialization or qualification;
• Seasonal work;
• Carrying out your own commercial activities;
• Uniting with family;
• Immigration when purchasing real estate;
• Refugee;
• Relocation for humanitarian reasons.

These are not all the methods of emigration from Russia to Montenegro, there are many more of them and they are defined in laws and international treaties. However, the most popular are the points described above.

How to move to Montenegro for permanent residence

The stages of moving to a permanent place of residence in Montenegro are quite standard and do not differ much from the migration procedure in other countries.

1. Arrival in Montenegro and registration. Registration represents payment for each day of stay as a tourist (for adults – 1 €, for children from 3 to 12 years – 0.5 €). The receipt for payment of the tourist tax is a small thick piece of paper that indicates the address where the visitor is staying, personal information and the paid period of stay. Payment is made at the travel agency during the first day of stay.
2. Obtaining a type D visa, which can serve as a prerequisite for obtaining a residence permit. Without it, immigration to Montenegro is impossible - despite the fact that Russian citizens can stay on its territory for 30 years without a visa, they do not have the right to work.
3. Registration of a permanent residence permit.
4. Acceptance of citizenship of Montenegro.

The entire integration process from the moment of obtaining a temporary residence permit (visa) to acquiring Montenegrin citizenship takes 10 years. In special cases - investments, marriage - this period is halved.

Procedure and requirements for obtaining a residence permit in Montenegro

Having a reason is not the only thing required to obtain a residence permit in Montenegro. You can apply for a residence permit only if the following conditions are met:

1. availability of sufficient means of subsistence;
2. availability of a place to stay;
3. availability of health insurance;
4. possession of a current foreign travel document or identity card issued to him by the competent authority of another country, the validity of which must be at least 3 months longer than the period for which he is permitted to reside in the country;
5. no ban on entry and stay in Montenegro;
6. no criminal record;
7. absence of disturbance for reasons of national or internal security or public health;
8. confirmation of registration of a legal entity (in case of opening a company);
9. payment of administrative fees and duties.

The candidate’s compliance with all the above conditions must be confirmed by evidence, which, along with the application, the foreign citizen submits personally to the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence in the prescribed form.

All necessary evidence of compliance with the conditions above must be provided.

This application is considered, as a general rule, within 6 months, after which the candidate is notified of the decision.

Methods for obtaining a residence permit

To obtain a temporary and then permanent residence permit, you must have grounds. You can go to Montenegro for a long-term stay on the basis of working, investing in the country’s economy, doing business, marrying a local resident, or getting an education.

Job

When moving for the purpose of work, it is important to know one rule - you cannot obtain a work visa in the country of origin, this must be done on the territory of Montenegro. To do this, after arriving under a visa-free regime, you must obtain a work permit and submit it to the local office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The paper is drawn up in the following order:

• find a suitable position;
• receive an invitation from an employer;
• pay the state fee;
• submit all documents to the employment agency.

A visa-free period (30 days) may not be enough to find a job and an employer, so before leaving, some apply for a short-term Montenegrin visa category C, which allows a stay of up to 3 months.

Investments

The economy of Montenegro is considered stable and one of the most developed compared to other Balkan countries. Russians with sufficient financial resources are showing great interest in Montenegro, investing in its economy and buying real estate. In addition, there is now an investor program through which you can buy Montenegrin citizenship. To do this, you need to choose one of the more acceptable investment methods:

• donate 100,000 € to the state fund;
• invest in real estate on the coast (from 450,000 €);
• invest in real estate in ski resorts (from €250,000).

Not every property is suitable for investment in order to obtain citizenship. The government puts forward a number of specific demands. They are shown in the table.

The investor must provide a certificate of good conduct (the maximum permitted period of arrest is 1 year), and also undergo a security check (that is, confirm the legal origin of the funds).

Business

Montenegro is open to the development of new business, so business immigration is considered one of the most popular destinations. Moreover, the direction and scale of the new company do not play any role - the main thing is that all taxes are paid and the financial statements are submitted on time. The time frame for registering a legal entity varies from 10 to 15 working days.

Marriage and family reunion

Entering into legal relations with a citizen of Montenegro makes it possible to obtain a residence permit. The main document confirming the basis is a marriage certificate issued by the local civil registry office. A citizen or holder of a residence permit can take advantage of the family reunification program and organize the relocation of immediate relatives from another country - a spouse and/or minor children. It is extremely rare for other relatives to obtain a Montenegrin residence permit – very compelling reasons are required for this.

Education

A student visa is issued upon arrival in Montenegro. Graduates of any age can receive it. The only difference is that adults need to provide a certificate of no criminal record in their home country, and minors need the consent of both parents, certified by a notary. In addition, in both cases it is necessary to provide proof of admission to a Montenegrin university. Temporary residence permits are issued to students for a period of 1 year, after which it must be renewed. It will not be possible to immigrate for permanent residence in this way, but having a local higher education will allow you to quickly get a job.

Residence permit in Montenegro: grounds, conditions and procedure for obtaining, documents

To legally stay in the country, an emigrant needs to obtain a temporary residence permit. It is issued on the following grounds:

• refugee;
• admission to an educational institution;
• entrepreneurial activity;
• family reunion;
• marriage with a citizen of the country;
• long-term treatment;
• research work;
• buying a property;
• apparatus employed;
• religious activity.

To obtain a residence permit, the applicant needs the following documents:

• international passport and a copy of all its pages;
• registration;
• a certificate from the bank confirming the availability of the required amount to live in the country;
• paper confirming no criminal record;
• health insurance;
• rental or purchase agreement for housing;
• employment contract/marriage certificate/certificate of admission to a university/certificate from a medical institution.

These papers are submitted to the police station at the place of residence for verification and registration. Photos are taken on the spot. If registration is successful, the applicant must personally submit documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Here they are considered for up to 40 days. A foreigner may be invited to an interview to ask clarifying questions. The price of a Montenegrin residence permit is 25 euros.

Residence permit for Montenegro

The process of obtaining a residence permit

So, obtaining a residence permit begins with preparing all the necessary documents and submitting them to the local Ministry of Internal Affairs (abbreviation in Montenegrin MUP). It is worth considering that consideration of the application involves payment of a state fee, which can be paid at the post office.

Package of documents for obtaining a residence permit

The standard package of documents looks like this.

1. Completed application.
2. Photos.
3. Information about registration on the territory of Montenegro.
4. Certificate of financial solvency (the account must have an amount corresponding to the period of stay at the rate of 10 € per day).
5. Registration, rental agreement or ownership of housing.
6. Medical insurance.
7. Certificate of good conduct (issued before departure to the territory of the Russian Federation or upon arrival at the Russian consulate).
8. International passport with copies of pages.

Additional documents that may be required depend on the grounds for the residence permit. They are shown in the table.

All documents in Russian must have a certified translation into Montenegrin.

Cost of registration and renewal

The cost of processing the document is 25 €. The price is quite affordable and much lower than the average cost in other European countries.

Residence permit registration period

Consideration of an application for a temporary residence permit lasts from 20 to 40 days. Applications for permanent residence permits are considered much longer – up to six months.

Validity

A temporary residence permit is issued for a period of 1 year, after which the document must be renewed. Permanent residence is valid for 5 years.

How to obtain a residence permit for pensioners

Russian pensioners have a real chance to move to Montenegro. But this requires some financial investment. You can choose from only two possible options - either buy some real estate or open your own business. Moreover, the second option is considered cheaper. A pensioner registers a legal entity (registration cost is 350 €) and simply pays tax at a rate of 35 € every month. After receiving a permanent residence permit, the company can simply be liquidated.

When purchasing real estate (no matter for what amount), a temporary residence permit is issued in a simplified manner and is renewed annually while the property is owned. However, owning real estate is not considered a basis for obtaining a permanent residence permit.

Obtaining permanent residence

In order to have permanent residence in Montenegro, you need to meet one important condition - live in this country for 5 years. After this period, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

The basis for obtaining permanent residence in a country washed by the Adriatic Sea is:

• Permanent residence in Montenegro for 5 years with the status of a residence permit;
• An official three-year union with a subject of this Balkan republic;
• If the alien is: A refugee;
• Montenegrin by origin;
• A close relative of a citizen of Montenegro or a foreigner with permanent residence.

  Residence permit stamp in Montenegro

If a person decides to move to this Balkan state and he has already received permanent residence, he must comply with all the rules and laws of the country.

Registration of citizenship of Montenegro

Citizenship of Montenegro can be obtained after 10 years of continuous stay on its territory: 5 years on a temporary residence permit and 5 years on a permanent basis. For persons married to a citizen of Montenegro, the period is halved. Citizenship gives the right to receive government benefits, participate in elections, and also provides the opportunity for visa-free stay in the Schengen countries for up to 3 months.

The only disadvantage of acquiring Montenegrin citizenship for Russians is the need to leave Russian citizenship. The candidate must be prepared for the fact that he will have to go through the procedure for renouncing Russian citizenship at the consulate and provide the appropriate certificate. If you want to become a citizen of the Russian Federation again after receiving Montenegrin citizenship, you will have to move to Russia and go through the procedure for admission to citizenship (obtaining a residence permit, permanent residence, etc.).

If you have decided to become a citizen of Montenegro, you must provide the following documents:

• completed application;
• certificate of good conduct;
• income certificate;
• certificate from the place of work;
• certificate of continuous residence in Montenegro (from the police at the place of registration);
• certificate of renunciation of Russian citizenship.

The candidate must pass a test of knowledge of the Montenegrin language, which phonetically, although it seems close to Russian, but the spelling and grammar have many nuances and features. The test exam has a written and oral part.

Foreign investors who have been recognized as trustworthy and have been able to confirm that the funds were acquired legally are granted citizenship through an accelerated procedure, and they do not need to pass language tests or continuously reside on Montenegrin soil. But only the investor himself receives this opportunity; members of his family are not granted citizenship through an accelerated procedure. But the investor’s parents (up to 65 years old), children (up to 26 years old) and spouses receive a residence permit.

Features of status design

When obtaining a residence permit in the Republic of Montenegro, there is no need to confirm your knowledge of the official language of this country.

The duration of obtaining a residence permit directly depends only on the correctness of the selection of documents and the availability of grounds for its request. The legislation defines the period for consideration of an application as one month. Usually the issue is resolved within two weeks. The state fee for obtaining temporary resident status will be 200 euros. The residence permit is renewed annually. Holders of the EU Blue Card have a certain priority in Montenegro, so for them the validity of the residence permit will immediately be two years, and then it can be extended. To renew a residence permit you must pay 75 euros. The application must be submitted a maximum of 30 days before the expiration date of the current status.

An additional document must be the basis for extending the residence permit. Property owners can renew their status automatically based on property rights, migrant workers - based on the extension of a work contract, students - when moving to a senior year. Also, when renewing, you must provide a certificate from the tax authorities stating that there is no debt to the country’s budget and all necessary contributions to it have been paid on time. Business owners will need a positive opinion from the authorities based on the results of an audit of the company’s activities for the previous financial year.

If the basis for extending the status of a temporary resident does not correspond to the basis for its original issuance, then the status is unlikely to be extended. You can get it again, but the previous period of residence will no longer be included in the residency requirement.

After five years with a residence permit, you can apply for permanent residence. And after another five years with permanent residence - citizenship. Dual citizenship is not allowed in Montenegro.

A Montenegrin passport can only be the only document of citizenship

All ways: how to get it?

Based on the Montenegrin Law “On Foreign Citizens”, he can obtain a residence permit on the following grounds:

• employment;
• obtaining education in institutions of the country;
• participation in exchange programs between students and students of different countries;
• taking advanced training courses;
• conducting scientific research;
• undergoing treatment;
• assignment of refugee status;
• family reunification;
• acquisition of real estate;
• humanitarian and other purposes provided for by law or international agreements.

Buying real estate in the country

Attention. Obtaining a residence permit in Montenegro for a period of 1 year by purchasing real estate became possible in 2015, from the moment the Golden Visa program began.

In accordance with it, a foreign citizen receives the right to a residence permit when purchasing any real estate, regardless of its cost.

To register it, a certain condition must be met - the absence of any encumbrances on the purchased object:

• availability of a mortgage;
• litigation;
• lack of building permits;
• tax debts.

The sale of real estate is a legal reason for revocation of a residence permit.

The peculiarities of this method of obtaining a residence permit are the absence of the following rights:

• for free medical care;
• for free preschool education;
• to conduct business activities;
• for employment.

This is due to the fact that tax revenues do not go to the country’s budget, because this type of residence permit does not give the right to work.

Investments

Attention. Since 2021, the state has been operating the “Montenegro Citizenship by Investment” program.

It involves issuing a citizen’s passport to the investor and his family members:

• spouse;
• children under 26 years of age;
• parents over 65 years old.

The period for preparing supporting documents is no more than six months, with different options for participation in the program.

1. The first option involves a gratuitous contribution to a special government fund in the amount of 100 thousand euros, the purchase of real estate in the northern or central regions of the country in the amount of 250 thousand euros, as well as the payment of administrative fees for the applicant and each member of his family. Funds are allocated for the development of government structures in the least developed areas of the country.
2. The second option is a gratuitous contribution to a special government fund in the amount of 100 thousand euros, investment in real estate in the capital Podgorica or the coastal region in the amount of 450 thousand euros, as well as payment of administrative fees for the applicant and each member of his family.

Stages of participation in the program:

1. documents for obtaining citizenship are submitted in advance;
2. after submitting the documents, the applicant and his family members receive a residence permit;
3. after a few months (up to six months), an application for a due diligence check is received;
4. if the check is passed, then the government of Montenegro makes a positive decision;
5. issuance of a naturalization certificate;
6. issuance of a passport of a citizen of Montenegro.

Citizenship is issued for life.

Important. The program is valid only for 3 years from the date of launch and has a quota of 2000 places.

Family reunification or marriage with a citizen of the country

Obtaining a residence permit during family reunification is possible in case of moving:

• close relative – spouse, children under 18 years of age;
• other relatives, if there is evidence of the need for such a move (for example, the need for care during illness).

Marriage to a citizen or holder of a residence permit of Montenegro also makes it possible to obtain a residence permit.

Basic requirements for the candidate:

• age over 18 years;
• valid international passport;
• marriage on the territory of the state of Montenegro;
• providing documentary evidence of financial security obtained honestly;
• availability of a place to live.

Reference. Knowledge of the Montenegrin language is not required.

Education

To enter a university in Montenegro for a bachelor's degree, you must come to take exams. This cannot be done remotely. The difficulty of studying in Montenegrin educational institutions lies in the fact that almost everywhere knowledge of the Serbian language is required - studying and passing exams takes place in it. This is also an advantage of studying here - there is no need to undergo year-long language training.

The positive aspects of training here include:

• low competition for most specialties;
• the cost of training is significantly lower than in many European countries, approximately the same as in Russia.

After passing the entrance exams and receiving the admission paper, the process of obtaining a residence permit begins.

Requirements for candidates for a student visa:

• no criminal record;
• opening a bank account with a minimum amount of 3,650 euros.

Important. Studying in secondary school is also the basis for obtaining a residence permit.

Work activity

The main requirement for obtaining a residence permit for employment is the existence of an employment contract with a local employer. A foreign applicant can obtain the right to sign such a contract only if there are no applicants in the Employment Bureau database who meet the requirements of the vacancy.

The work permit is issued for a period of 6 months, with the right of subsequent extension.

It is issued by:

• seasonal worker;
• permanently busy workers.

An employee can carry out labor activities only in the specialty stated in the documents. Within up to 8 days, the employer is obliged to notify the Ministry of Labor of the termination of the employment relationship.

Starting a business

This type of obtaining a residence permit is characterized by the following qualities:

• rapidity;
• simplicity;
• low cost.

Government requirements for a newly created business:

• any form of ownership, preferably DOO (a type of Russian LLC);
• authorized capital from 1 euro;
• the minimum number of places created is 1 (represented by the director);
• timely submission of financial statements and payment of taxes.

Attention. A newly created company may not conduct business activities at all, the main condition is the payment of the necessary tax burden in the amount of 1,500 to 2,500 euros per year. The period for registering a legal entity is 10-15 days.

This type of residence permit gives the right to free medical care to both the applicant and his family members, and the right to send children to preschool and school institutions.

Yacht Ownership

The beautiful Montenegrin landscapes attract tourists not only from land, but also from the sea, on yachts.
Living on a yacht involves a minimum of costs, since expenses for housing are excluded. The government of the country is loyal to such foreign citizens and provides them with a residence permit. The captain at the marina issues a document giving the right to register and live on his own yacht in Montenegro.

Additional reasons

In addition to the main reasons - employment, buying real estate, investing, etc., there are several other, less popular, reasons to apply for a residence permit in the country. These include:

• long-term treatment – ​​a confirmation certificate indicating the time of all procedures is required;
• religious activities - suitable for clergy operating in the country;
• scientific research, etc.;
• absence of any citizenship - provided upon proof of residence in the country for at least 3 years, financial security, absence of a criminal record and the ability to obtain citizenship of any other state.

Residence permit for yacht owners and crew members

Also, the new law on foreigners in Montenegro gave the green light to the corresponding changes to the law on yachts of 2021. Now the possibility of obtaining a residence permit is provided for owners of yachts and their crews. To do this, you must have a service agreement for a period of more than 90 days with one of the yacht marinas in Montenegro. It is important to note that the sanctions provided for by law will not be applied to owners of a “yacht boat” if they are absent from Montenegro for more than 3 months a year.

Guidelines for entry into Montenegro: visas

Montenegro provides short-term and long-term visas to foreign citizens. With a short-term visa you are allowed to stay in the country for no more than three months, and with a long-term visa - up to a year. Russians who expect to stay in Montenegro for no more than a month in the period from April 15 to October 31 do not need a visa. The country has a visa-free regime with many countries, but this only applies to tourists. In order to work or study in Montenegro, you need permission to cross the border.

Montenegro issues tourist, transit visas, as well as national category D visas for long stays in the country. To obtain them, you must contact the Montenegrin Embassy in Moscow or visa centers in other regions of Russia with the prepared documents.