Changes to the Law on Foreigners 2025

New Visa, Temporary Residence, and Employment Rules in Montenegro: What You Need to Know

Montenegro has officially adopted amendments to the Law on Foreigners, significantly changing the rules for obtaining visas, temporary residence permits (TRP) and permanent residence (PR). Below is a clear and structured overview of the key updates that affect foreigners planning to live, work, or invest in Montenegro.

Online Applications for Visas and Residence Permits

For the first time, Montenegro is introducing a Visa Information System (VIS) that allows applicants to:

• submit visa and temporary residence permit applications online;

• pay government fees remotely;

• upload scanned copies of required documents.

After entering Montenegro, the applicant must visit the migration police within 10 days at their place of registration to complete biometric data collection.

National Visas: What Has Changed

The law now clearly distinguishes between:

• Short-stay Visa C

• Long-stay Visa D

Previously, Visa D was mainly issued for employment and business purposes, while Visa C covered tourism, property ownership, and family-related stays. Under the new law, grounds for issuing Visa D are listed separately, with clearly defined documentary requirements.

Application deadlines:

• Visa C — no later than 15 days before entry

• Visa D — no later than 60 days before entry

Biometric data collection is mandatory for all visa categories.

Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) Renewal: New Deadlines and Rules

• Applications for TRP renewal must be submitted no earlier than 60 days and no later than 30 days before the current permit expires.

• TRP renewal is allowed only on the same legal grounds under which the existing permit was issued.

Exception: family reunification with a Montenegrin citizen or a foreigner holding permanent residence.

Additional clarifications:

• Power of attorney may be issued to a legal representative.

• Permitted absence from Montenegro exceeding 30 days (but not more than 90 days per year) is allowed only for justified reasons such as illness, humanitarian circumstances, or force majeure, with supporting evidence.

• Special procedures are introduced for stateless persons and refugees.

• A mobile migration service is предусмотрена for elderly, disabled, or seriously ill applicants.

Temporary Residence Permit Based on Property Ownership

A minimum property value of 150,000€ is introduced for obtaining a temporary residence permit based on real estate ownership. Previously, the suggested minimum property value had been 200,00€.

Applicants must also provide documentation from the tax authorities confirming the assessed value of the property, based on paid property transfer tax.

Important:

• This rule does not apply to EU citizens, as well as citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

• Foreigners who obtained a property-based TRP before the law came into force may renew it regardless of property value.

• Proof of paid annual property tax is mandatory for TRP renewal.

Employment Quotas

The list of foreigners exempt from employment quotas has been expanded and now includes:

• leased (outsourced) employees;

• IT specialists;

• EU citizens and their family members, as well as citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Temporary Residence Permit for Family Reunification

The list of eligible family members has been expanded to include same-sex partners.

Additionally:

• first-time applicants are no longer required to prove financial means;

• medical insurance requirements have been clarified.

Temporary Residence Permit for Education

The validity of a student or school-based TRP is now strictly limited to the academic year and is always less than one year.

This amendment aims to prevent parents from obtaining permanent residence through a child’s temporary residence permit.

Temporary Residence Permits for Specific Professions

New dedicated residence grounds are introduced for:

• IT specialists;

• medical professionals;

• domestic workers.

IT specialists and medical professionals:

• employment contract for at least 1 year;

• TRP issued for 3 years, with the possibility of extension for up to another 3 years;

• eligibility for permanent residence.

Domestic workers:

• employment contract for at least 12 months;

• TRP issued for up to 1 year, extendable to a maximum of 2 years.

Temporary Residence via Personnel Leasing

A new basis for TRP is introduced for foreign personnel hired through licensed temporary employment agencies.

Required documentation includes:

• a contract between the agency and the employer;

• proof of employment;

• social insurance coverage;

• confirmed work experience (minimum 1 year);

• recognition of educational diplomas (if required).

Temporary Residence Based on Employment: Renewal Rules

The most significant change affects company owners and directors, making the path to permanent residence more restrictive.

For annual TRP renewal:

• a director or sole trader owning more than 51% of a company must prove payment of at least €5,000 per year in taxes and social contributions;

• the previous requirement to employ three local workers has been abolished.

Important:

If this condition is not met, the TRP cannot be renewed and must be re-applied for from scratch. This breaks continuity of residence and eliminates eligibility for permanent residence.

Additional changes:

• TRP renewal based on employment is only possible with full-time employment (except for directors);

• the maximum age limit for employment-based TRP has been reduced from 67 to 66 years.