Types of residence
According to article 33. Montenegro Foreigner Law, a foreign national may stay in Montenegro based on:
1. Short stay
A foreign national may stay in Montenegro for up to 90 days based on a short stay visa (C Visa) or without a visa, according to the visa regime regulation. A foreign national may stay in Montenegro for up to 90 days in 180-day period counted as of the day of his first entry, unless otherwise has been provided for by this Law or an international treaty. A foreign national who stayed in Montenegro for 90 days may re-enter and stay in Montenegro after a 180-day period expiration counted as of the day of the first entry. More details you can find in article 34 Foreigner Law.
2. Temporary residence
Temporary residence in Montenegro foreigner can get based on:
- 2.1. Work (Employee) status
- 2.2. Family connection
- 2.3. Real estate ownership status
- 2.4. Schooling
- 2.5. Medical reason
- 2.6. Humanitarian reasons;
- 2.7. Religious service
- 2.8. Participation in international student exchange programs or in other youth programs
- 2.9. Specialization, professional competence training or practical training of foreign nationals
- 2.10. Scientific research work
- 2.11. Volunteering in the European Voluntary Service Programme
- 2.12. A stateless person’s stay
- 2.13. Other events, according to the law and an international treaty.
2.1. Residence and work permit based on work (employee) status
It can be published to everyone who is employed in Montenegro company as executive director or just like regular employee.
Residence and work permit is published with one year validation and should be renewed every year before expiration date.
Residence and work permit can be published for seasonal works as well ( 6 months is maximum period for seasonal residence id card).
For every employee company should pay employee contributions each month (social care, health care, pension fund, economy chamber contribution).
Criminal record file, copy of any diploma (elementary, high school or university) notarized and apostiled and valid passport are mandatory documents foreigner should bring from country of origin to apply for residence and work permit. More details you can find in article 66 Foreigner Law.
2.2. Residence permit based on family connection
It can be published to everyone who has family connection with Montenegro citizen or with foreigner who already has valid residence or residence and work permit in Montenegro.
Residence based on family connection can be published to marriage partner and minority kid (younger than 18 years).
Residence is published with one year validation and should be renewed every year before expiration date.
Criminal record file and valid passport for wife and birth certificate and valid passport for kids are mandatory documents you should to bring from country of origin to apply for residence based on family connection. More details you can find in article 44 Foreigner Law.
2.3. Residence permit based on Real Estate
It can be published to everyone who has real estate in Montenegro (house, apartments, business space).
Residence based on real estate is published with one year validation and should be renewed every year before expiration date.
Criminal record file, property list and valid passport are mandatory documents you should bring if you want to apply for residence permit based on real estate.
Residence based on real estate ownership status minority kid can get but with both parents consent. More details you can find in article 56 Foreigner Law.
2.4. Residence permit based on Scholarship
It can be published to every foreigner who has scholarship in Montenegro.
Residence based on scholarship is published with one year validation and should be renewed every year before expiration date.
Scholarship prove, parents consent (for minority kids), and valid passport are mandatory documents you should bring if you want to apply for residence permit based on scholarship. More details you can find in article 47 Foreigner Law.
2.5. Residence permit based on Medical reason
It can be published to every foreigner who has confirmation from medical institution in Montenegro about necessary medical treatment.
Proof from Medical institution should emphasize exact time period of the therapy.
Residence permit based on Medical reason can be extended on time period which is approved in healing center.
Hospital permission, parents consent (for minority kids) and valid passport are mandatory documents you should bring if you want to apply for residence permit based on medical reason. More details you can find in article 51 Foreigner Law.
2.6. Residence permit based on Humanitarian reasons
More details you can find in article 52 Foreigner Law.
2.7. Residence permit based on Religious service
More details you can find in article 57 Foreigner Law.
2.8. Residence permit based on Participation in international student exchange programs or in other youth programs
More details you can find in article 48 Foreigner Law.
2.9. Residence permit based on Specialization, professional competence training or practical training of foreign nationals
More details you can find in article 49 Foreigner Law.
2.10. Residence permit based on Scientific research work
More details you can find in article 50 Foreigner Law.
2.11. Residence permit based on Volunteering in the European Voluntary Service Program
More details you can find in article 58 Foreigner Law.
2.12. Residence permit for a stateless person’s stay
More details you can find in article 60 Foreigner Law.
3. Permanent residence
A permanent residence permit may be issued to a foreign national who, until the date of filing the application for the permit issue, has legally resided in Montenegro, for uninterrupted five years, based on:
- granted temporary residence;
- recognized refugee status or granted additional protection in accordance with the Law on Asylum, or the granted asylum or subsidiary protection in accordance with the law governing international and temporary protection of foreign nationals.
A permanent residence permit shall be issued with the validity period of five years, with the obligation of extension. The application for extension of the permit shall be submitted within eight days from the date of expiry of permit validity. To a foreign national younger than four years of age, a permanent residence permit shall be issued with the validity period of two years. More details you can find in article 86 Foreigner Law.
Important notes
- Passport should be valid at least 3 month more than the period which is demanded for id card (if you apply for one year id, passport should be valid minim,um 3 months more).
- Any documents you bring from country of origin should not be older than six months. Original documents (not copies) are mandatory.
- During application and picking id processes presence is mandatory.
- Before first application date every foreigner should be registered in touristic info not later than 24 hours after arrival date.
- For kids application procedure both parents should be present. Otherwise missing parents should provide written consent notarized and apostiled.
- Residence and work permit can be published for seasonal works as well (6 months is minimum period for seasonal residence and work permit).
- Work permit together with residence (residence and work permit) foreigner can get only based on employee status. There is exception in case when foreigner has residence permit based on family connection more than one year, in that case foreigner can also work in Montenegro.
- Foreigner older than 67 years can NOT apply for residence neither for residence and work permit. There is an exception in case when foreigner (older than 67 year) is executive director of Montenegro company, than he/she can apply for residence and work permit under the same conditions like everyone else.