More than 65,000 foreigners received temporary and permanent residence permits in Montenegro in 2024
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro (MUP), 65,895 residence permits for temporary and permanent residence were issued to foreign citizens in the first 11 months of 2024. The statistics include permits for temporary and permanent residence, as well as tempor...
According tothe Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro (MUP), during the first 11 months of 2024,65,895 residence and permanent residence permitswere issued to foreign nationals. The statistics include temporary and permanent residence permits, as well as temporary residence permits with the right to work.
What permits foreigners receive in Montenegro
According to official data, the structure of the documents issuedisas follows:
A total of65,895 permitsfor temporary and permanent residence were issued:
25,301— temporary residence permit (38% of the total number of permits);
39,563— temporary residence and work permits (60%);
1,031— permanent residence permit (1.5%).
Thus, the most in-demand category wastemporary residence with the right to work, which indicates a growing number of people coming to the country not only for tourism or investment purposes, but also for employment.
Temporary residence permit (without work)
Issued to those who obtain the right to residewithout the right to workin Montenegro.
The main purpose of such a residence permit is legal residence in the country, but without the possibility of official employment.
Temporary residence and work permit (with the right to work)
Issued to those who want tonot only live, but also work officiallyin Montenegro.
The grounds for application include:
an employment contract with an employer in Montenegro;
opening your own company (director / business owner);
remote work for a foreign employer (Digital Nomad Visa).
Such a residence permit allows you to legally earn income and pay taxes in Montenegro.
Read the detailed guide on how to obtain residence and permanent residence in Montenegro in 2025.
Russians and Turks lead in the number of permits issued
The largest number of documents issued went to Russian citizens. In total,
20,018 permitswere issued to Russians, of which:
11,002
— temporary residence permit;
8,737
— temporary residence and work permit;
279
— permanent residence permit.
Turkish citizens came second —
10,098 permitswere issued to them. These include:
1,805
— temporary residence permit;
31
— permanent residence permit;
the rest — temporary residence and work permits.
Citizens of Serbia, traditionally closely connected with Montenegro historically and culturally, took third place. In total,
13,489 permitswere issued to Serbians, including4,873 temporary,8,277 temporary residence and work permits, as well as339 permanent.
Citizens of Albania also ranked among the leaders, receiving
2,054 temporary residence and work permits.
Where foreigners work in Montenegro
Another important aspect of the statistics is the sectors in which foreigners find employment. According to MUP, the leading fields are:
8,958
— other service activities;
8,539
— construction;
7,132
— hotel and restaurant business;
3,976
— wholesale and retail trade, repair of cars and motorcycles;
2,553
— professional, scientific and innovative activities;
2,381
— information technology and communications;
1,164
— administrative and support services.
As can be seen, foreigners in Montenegro are actively employed both in services and tourism, as well as in construction and trade. Special attention should be paid to the growing number of specialists in IT and innovative fields, which confirms the gradual development of the country’s digital economy.
Why foreigners choose Montenegro
Montenegro is a small but dynamically developing country in the Balkans that combines a mild climate, a favorable geographic location, and relatively liberal migration legislation. Among the key reasons why foreigners obtain residence and work permits here are:
Low taxes
— a flat tax rate and the absence of inheritance and gift taxes make the country attractive to wealthy individuals.
— the combination of the Adriatic coast and mountain climate makes the country comfortable for permanent residence.
Prospects for integration into the EU
— Montenegro has candidate status for membership in the European Union, which makes it interesting for long-term investment and migration.
Trends in 2024 and forecast for 2025
Analyzing MUP data, it can be concluded that
the number of foreigners in Montenegro continues to grow. And this refers not only to seasonal workers in tourism and construction, but also to specialists in scientific, technical, and IT fields.
The greatest growth was seen among Russians and Turks — due to the geopolitical situation and the search for new labor markets and safe jurisdictions for residence. Serbs traditionally remain the largest group of migrants, given the proximity and historical ties.
Experts predict that in 2025 the number of applications for residence permits and work permits may exceed
70,000, and in the long term Montenegro will become one of the centers of labor migration in the Balkans.
Conclusion
MUP statistics for 2024 show that Montenegro is steadily strengthening its position as a country attractive for foreigners to live and work in. The greatest interest comes from citizens of Russia, Turkey, and Serbia, but the presence of people from other countries is also growing.
At the same time, foreigners are actively involved in key sectors of the economy — construction, tourism, trade, and IT. All this suggests that migration has become one of the factors in the development of modern Montenegro, and the number of residence and work permits issued will only continue to grow in the future.
При этом иностранцы активно вовлечены в ключевые отрасли экономики — строительство, туризм, торговлю и IT. Все это говорит о том, что миграция стала одним из факторов развития современной Черногории, а число выданных разрешений на проживание и работу в будущем будет только расти.
More than 65,000 foreigners received temporary and perman...
