Individuals can become residents of Montenegro within approximately 1-2 months and can apply through a few different avenues: from owning a business or a property to being employed by a Montenegrin company or studying at a university in Montenegro. Here, we will go through some of the basics for each.
Requirements for obtaining residency
To obtain residency, individuals must choose which of the routes they want to apply through:
- The purchase of real estate
- Opening a company in Montenegro
- Having a contract of employment with a Montenegrin company
- Proof of studying in Montenegro
How to get a residency permit
- Apply for temporary residency and then renew this annually for five years
- Apply for permanent residency after 5 years of having a temporary permit
- After 10 years – 5 with temporary and 5 with permanent residency - you can apply for citizenship.
Time frame for receiving a residency permit
All applicants will need to submit a completed application form along with the fees and all supporting documentation that is required and listed in the section below. Successful applicants will receive their permit within approximately 1-2 months of applying. The permit is valid for one year and will need to be renewed annually, however after five years of having a temporary permit applicants will be eligible to apply for permanent residency.
What documents will you need for temporary residency permit application?
- Proof of having somewhere where you will live while in Montenegro, either to show you own a property or a contract with a landlord for a period of at least 1 year
- Criminal record check from your home country which is not older than 6 months
- Proof of employment in a Montenegro or that you have founded a company
- Proof of education – a degree or similar
- A photocopy of your valid passport
- Proof of having at least €3,000 deposited in a Montenegrin bank account.
- A copy of birth certificate
- Health insurance in Montenegro
Please also note that any documents that are issued in a country outside of Montenegro and are written in a language other than Montenegrin will need to be translated in Montenegro by a licensed translator and stamped.
To summarize, the basic documents and proof you will need are either proof of owning a company/real estate, or that you have been hired by a company in Montenegro, or proof that you will be studying in Montenegro.
Permanent Residency
When you apply for a permanent residency permit, after 5 years of having a temporary one, a few things will change however the process for application is almost the same. Once you become a permanent resident you can:
- Keep the same permit for 5 years without needing to renew
- Have the right to leave Montenegro for more than 1 month at a time
Residency for company owners
To gain residency through the founding of a company, the individual opening the business must appoint themselves as director and also pay themselves a monthly wage. There will also need to be proof of owning or renting office space and having a personal/business bank account open in Montenegro. Along with a few more requirements and a fee, individuals can fairly easily and quickly gain residency this way.
The following are some basics applicants will need for residency as a business owner:
- Open a company Montenegro
- Appoint yourself as director
- Open a personal/business Montenegrin bank account
- Rent/buy office space from which you will do your business – this cannot be the same as your personal living space.
The yearly costs related to having a company in Montenegro start from around 3,000€ and increase depending on yearly income.
Whichever route you choose, we always recommend seeking guidance and help in obtaining permits through a lawyer or a specialised agency as this can not only speed up the process but also guarantee you peace of mind whilst you move to Montenegro.