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Residence PermitOctober 26, 2026

Visas to Montenegro from November 1, 2026: What owners and buyers should do, residence permit instead of visa, and the new law after EU accession

From November 1, 2026, citizens of Russia, Belarus, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia will need a visa to enter Montenegro. We analyze what this means for property owners and buyers based on the text of the decree and the Law on Foreigners, why an apartment does not replace a visa while a residence permit does, and what is known about the draft new law that will only take effect after Montenegro's accession to the EU.

From November 1, 2026, citizens of Russia, Belarus, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia will need a visa to enter Montenegro. The first question we are asked by apartment owners: does property ownership exempt them from this? No. Only a valid Montenegrin temporary residence permit (TRP) or permanent residence permit (PRP) exempts one from the visa requirement.

Below — without media paraphrasing: exactly what is written in the government decree and the Law on Foreigners, with references to articles and official texts. Where there is no official clarity, we state it as 'not confirmed'.

Relevant as of October 19, 2026. Not legal advice.

In short

  1. FromNovember 1, 2026 citizens ofRussia, Belarus, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia need a visa. Visa-free travel under the government decree of July 23, 2026, is valid «do 31. oktobra 2026» — until October 31, 2026 [6][7][8]. ForChina the same applies to those who traveled visa-free in organized tourist groups or holding diplomatic passports (Art. 6) [6][8].
  2. An apartment in Montenegro does not exempt you from a visa. There is no such exemption in the decree [6]. Exemption is granted bya valid TRP or PRP — Article 9, Part 1 of the Law on Foreigners [5].
  3. For citizens ofUkraine nothing changes: visa-free for up to 90 days (Art. 1 of the Regulation on Visa Regime) [8].
  4. Current TRP based on real estate: the tax base for the real estate turnover tax isfrom €150,000 (Art. 56) [4]. More details in ourguide: all grounds for TRP, documents, and timelines.
  5. The new Law on Foreigners is currentlya draft (EPA 1219). It will come into effectonly upon Montenegro's accession to the EU (Art. 278) [1][2][3].

1. What happened: decree of July 23, 2026

On July 23, 2026, the Government of Montenegro adopted amendments to the Uredbe o viznom režimu — the Regulation on Visa Regime. The decision was formalized as Conclusion No. 11-011/26-3016 and adopted without a government meeting [7].

Changes by article of the decree [6]:

  • Article 1a. Citizens of Turkey and Saudi Arabia may stay in Montenegro visa-free for up to 30 days — now with the caveat «do 31. oktobra 2026. godine», i.e., until October 31, 2026.
  • New Article 3a. Citizens of Russia and Belarus are moved to a separate article. They «mogu do 31. oktobra 2026. godine … boraviti u Crnoj Gori do 30 dana» — may stay in Montenegro for up to 30 days until October 31, 2026, in accordance with international agreements on mutual travel of citizens.
  • Article 6. For China, the deadline «do 31. oktobra 2026» is added to exceptions for organized tourist groups and holders of diplomatic passports.
  • New Article 12c. From October 31, 2026, visa exemptions «ne može se uređivati posebnim aktima Vlade» — cannot be established by separate government acts. This prohibition already applies to seasonal exemptions since October 1, 2026.
  • Entry into force. The decree enters into force the day following its publication in the 'Official Gazette of Montenegro' (Službeni list Crne Gore).

Two key provisions verbatim. Article 3a:

"Državljani Republike Bjelorusije i Ruske Federacije mogu do 31. oktobra 2026. godine, saglasno zaključenim međunarodnim ugovorima o uzajamnim putovanjima državljana, ulaziti, prelaziti preko teritorije i boraviti u Crnoj Gori do 30 dana, sa važećom putnom ispravom izdatom od nadležnih organa tih država."

Translation: citizens of Belarus and Russia may, until October 31, 2026, in accordance with concluded international agreements on mutual travel of citizens, enter, transit through the territory, and stay in Montenegro for up to 30 days with a valid travel document issued by the competent authorities of those states [6].

Article 12c:

"Oslobađanje od obaveze pribavljanja viza ne može se uređivati posebnim aktima Vlade Crne Gore od 31. oktobra 2026. godine, kao i od 1. oktobra 2026. godine za sezonska oslobađanja."

Translation: the exemption from the obligation to obtain a visa cannot be established by separate acts of the Government of Montenegro starting from October 31, 2026, and for seasonal exemptions — from October 1, 2026 [6].

In simple terms.Until October 31 inclusive, citizens of these countries enter under the previous rules. From November 1 — only with a visa or with Montenegrin temporary residence permit (TRP)/permanent residence permit (PRP). Article 12c, judging by its wording, closes the possibility of introducing visa-free entry via separate government decisions — including seasonal ones. We are clarifying what practical consequences it has with a lawyer.

Why November 1, not October 1

In the summer, media outlets, including our July note, cited the date October 1. The text of the decree states the last day of visa-free entry is 'do 31. oktobra 2026'. This means a visa is required starting November 1. The date October 1 also appears in the decree, but it refers to seasonal exemptions from visas (Art. 12c), not to citizens of the listed countries.

2. Who it affects, from which date, and what is needed

Summary by citizenships. "TRP/PRP" here and further on refers to Montenegrin permits for temporary or permanent stay: privremeni boravak and stalni boravak.

CitizenshipUntil 31.10.2026From 01.11.2026What is needed for entryLegal basis
Russiavisa-free for up to 30 days (Art. 3a)visa-free — novisaor valid TRP/PRP of MontenegroUredba Art. 3a [6]; Law on Foreigners Art. 9 part 1 [5]
Belarusvisa-free for up to 30 days (Art. 3a)visa-free — novisaor valid TRP/PRPUredba Art. 3a [6]; Art. 9 part 1 [5]
Turkeyvisa-free for up to 30 days (Art. 1a)visa-free — novisaor valid TRP/PRPUredba Art. 1a [6]; Art. 9 part 1 [5]
Saudi Arabiavisa-free for up to 30 days (Art. 1a)visa-free — novisaor valid TRP/PRPUredba Art. 1a [6]; Art. 9 part 1 [5]
Chinavisa-free only for organized tourist groups and holders of business passports (Art. 6)these exceptions — novisaor valid TRP/PRPUredba Art. 6 [6]; Art. 9 part 1 [5]
Ukrainevisa-free for up to 90 days (Art. 1)unchangedpassport; temporary protection — until 04.03.2027Uredba Art. 1 [8]; "Sl. list CG" 27/2026 [13]
Cost, place of application, and processing time for the visa — unconfirmed

The cost of the visa, where to apply, and how long to wait for a decision are not specified in the official sources we have verified. Clarify with the Consulate of Montenegro or the Ministry of Internal Affairs. We do not provide figures that are not present in official documents.

3. An apartment is not a visa. A TRP is yes

An apartment in Montenegro gives you keys to the door, but not the right to enter without a visa.

The right of entry is determined by Article 9 of the Law on Foreigners. Part 1 of it [5]:

"A foreigner may enter, move around, and stay in Montenegro with a valid foreign travel document and a valid visa — or with a valid travel document to which they have a permit for temporary stay, a permit for temporary stay and work, or a permit for permanent stay, unless otherwise provided by this law or an international agreement."

Translation: a foreigner may enter Montenegro, move around, and stay there with a valid foreign passport and a valid visa — or with a valid passport to which they have a permit for temporary stay, a permit for temporary stay and work, or a permit for permanent stay, if this law or an international agreement does not stipulate otherwise.

In simple terms.A visa or a Montenegrin temporary residence permit (TRP)/permanent residence permit (PRP) — the article does not provide for a third option. Ownership of real estate in Montenegro itself does not grant the right to enter without a visa: there is no exception for property owners in the regulation [6]. It is the TRP that grants this right, including the TRP based on real estate [4].

After entering with a visa, everything remains as before: you need to register your stay. How this relates to the tourist tax, we discussed in the articleon registration of stay and tourist tax. Having a Montenegrin TRP already implies that you have registration, so separate registration of stay is not required.

Family

Is a visa required for a spouse or child who do not have their own Montenegrin TRP, if you have one? Yes, it is. Once inside the country, you can apply for a TRP for your family members (spouse/partner, children). How to apply for a TRP for family members is covered in the hub, in the section"Family Reunification".

4. Your scenario

Four typical situations. In each — what changes, what to do now, and where to find details.

For TRP based on real estate, the tax base is determined by the decision of the tax authority, not the price listed in the advertisement.

I have an apartment, no TRP

  • What changes. From November 1, 2026, a visa is required for entry [6]. An apartment does not exempt you from this requirement.
  • What to do now. Find the tax decision regarding real estate turnover tax for your purchase and check the tax base. If it is at least €150,000, you have grounds for a TRP based on real estate (Art. 56) [4]. If it is less, the apartment does not serve as grounds for a TRP: you will need a visa or another basis.
  • Where to read more. Check if you qualify — takes two minutes, no contact information is required. All grounds and documents are in theTRP guide.

Buying now

I have a valid TRP

  • What changes. For entry — nothing: passport and TRP (Art. 9 para. 1) [5]. The issued document remains valid until the end of the period for which it was issued (Art. 218a) [4].
  • What to do now. Keep track of days spent abroad. Under the current Art. 65, a temporary TRP ceases to be valid if, during its term, the foreigner "boravi van Crne Gore duže od 30 dana" — stays outside Montenegro for more than 30 days (para. 3 part 1) [5]. Important: days are counted cumulatively over the year, not consecutively. There is also a rule of "up to 90 days with police notification" — you must notify the police in writingbefore leaving Montenegro if you intend to be absent from the country for more than 30 days but less than 90 days in a year. Therefore, plan your trips in advance.
  • Where to read more. Requirements for renewal are in the hub section"How to Apply and Renew".

My TRP is expiring

  • What changes. If the TRP based on real estate was issued before the 3/26 amendments, it is renewed under the law in its previous version (Art. 217b) [4]. To renew based on real estate, you must confirm that taxes were paid during the period of the TRP (Art. 64 in the 3/26 version) [4]. For business owners and directors with a share greater than 51%, renewal requires paid taxes and contributions of €5,000 per year (Art. 70 para. 4) [4].
  • What to do now. Gather proof of tax payments in advance and do not miss the renewal window — submission deadlines are detailed in the hub. If the TRP expires, from November 1 you will need to enter again using a visa.
  • Where to read more. How to Apply and Renew TRP.

5. Timeline

Chronology

From amendments 3/26 to November 1

Only dates from official documents.

  1. 12/31/2025

    The Parliament adopted amendments to the Law on Foreigners.

    Law on amendments 3/26

  2. 01/09/2026

    Amendments published in "Sl. list CG" 3/26.

    Enter into force on the eighth day after publication

  3. 03/04/2026

    Temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens — until 03/04/2027.

    "Sl. list CG" 27/2026

  4. 03/10/2026

    "Sl. list CG" 33/26: Article 175a of the Law on Foreigners renamed.

  5. 07/23/2026

    The Government adopted changes to the Regulation on Visa Regime.

    Opinion No. 11-011/26-3016

  6. 09/01/2026

    Project EPA 1181 submitted to Parliament: Residence permits for EU citizens investing at least €250,000.

  7. 09/15/2026

    Parliamentary committees reviewed project EPA 1181.

    No plenary vote

  8. 10/01/2026

    Seasonal visa exemptions can no longer be introduced via separate government acts.

    Regulation, Art. 12c

  9. 10/08/2026

    The Government approved the draft new Law on Foreigners.

    EPA 1219, in procedure

  10. 10/31/2026

    Last day visa-free entry for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and for Chinese exceptions under Article 6.

  11. 11/01/2026

    A visa or Montenegrin residence permit (temporary or permanent) is required for entry.

  12. Day of accession to the EU

    The new Law on Foreigners will begin to apply from this date, if adopted.

    No date yet; we do not forecast it

6. What will change after EU accession: Project EPA 1219

This is still a draft

The Government approved it on October 8, 2026; it is currently in parliamentary procedure (EPA 1219). The text may change. The law will only start applying from the day Montenegro joins the EU (Art. 278). Until then, the current law remains in effect.

Podgorica. The new Law on Foreigners will only start applying from the day Montenegro joins the EU.

When it will come into effect

"Ovaj zakon stupa na snagu osmog dana od dana objavljivanja u „Službenom listu Crne Gore", a primjenjivaće se danom pristupanja Crne Gore Evropskoj uniji."

Translation: the law enters into force on the eighth day after publication in the "Official Gazette of Montenegro", and applies from the day of Montenegro's accession to the European Union (Art. 278) [3].

In simple terms. Even if Parliament adopts the law tomorrow, people will only start living under it after joining the EU. We do not predict when that will happen.

What happens to already issued residence permits

There are no transitional provisions regarding issued residence permits, crediting years of residence, or repeal of the old law in the draft: Chapter XVI (final provisions) consists of a single Article 278 [3]. How old residence permits and years of residence will transition into the new regime is not specified in the draft, and we will not speculate on its behalf. Under the current law, already issued permits remain valid until the end of their issued term (Art. 218a) [4].

Now and in the draft

TopicNow (current law)In the draft (EPA 1219)
30 days abroadtemporary residence permit ceases (Art. 65) — exception: "rule up to 90 days with notification to police before leaving Montenegro"no such ground exists (Art. 88)
Single permit for stay and work—up to 1 year, renewable for up to 2 years with full employment (Art. 89)
Loss of employment—the permit is not revoked in case of unemployment for up to 3 months, or up to 6 months if the foreigner has been in the country for at least 2 years (Art. 87 para. 2)
Permanent Residence Permit (PRP)5 years; absences no more than 10 months in total or 6 months consecutively (Art. 86)5 years; absences shorter than 6 months consecutively and no more than 10 months in total (Art. 158, 160)
Real estate threshold€150,000 tax base (Art. 56)€150,000 (Art. 70)
Digital Nomad2 years + extension for up to 2 years, new permit after 6 months (Art. 60a)same (Art. 80)
Short-term stay—90 days within any 180-day period (Art. 41)
Entry with Temporary Residence Permit (TRP)passport and TRP (Art. 9)same (Art. 9); entry may be denied if a valid TRP or D visa is held, unless there is no valid passport (Art. 8)

A dash indicates that we do not compare this topic: there is no provision in verified sources against which a comparison would be correct. The comparison is based on texts [3], [4], and [5].

The most noticeable aspect for owners is that the draft lacks the rule about 30 days abroad. However, until the draft comes into force, this rule applies in full. We analyzed how the reform has already affected the market in the article on how the law impacted the market.

Separately: Project EPA 1181 and '€250,000'

There is another project in the Skupština — EPA 1181. It introduces a TRP with work rights for EU citizens, who invest from €250,000 (Art. 70g) [9]. The project was submitted on September 1, 2026, committees reviewed it on September 15, and there was no plenary vote [10][11]. It does not apply to citizens of Russia, Belarus, and Turkey: 'TRP for €250k for everyone' is not about this.

7. Pitfalls

Nine mistakes we see in client questions and news retellings.

  1. 'An apartment grants visa-free entry.' No. Entry is via visa or with TRP/PRP (Art. 9); there are no exceptions for owners in the decree [5][6].
  2. 'The threshold is calculated based on the contract price.' No, it is based on the tax base in the decision on real estate turnover tax (Art. 56) [4].
  3. '30 days outside Montenegro is not a problem' or 'I can notify the police afterwards and be absent for 90 days.' Under the current Article 65, temporary TRP terminates in this case [5]. The exception 'up to 90 days with notification to the police before the trip outside Montenegro'.
  4. 'The draft has no 30-day rule, so it's already possible.' No: the draft does not come into force until EU accession (Art. 278) [3].
  5. 'The new law will save my old TRP.' There are no transitional provisions in the draft [3].
  6. 'China is now entirely visa-required' or 'China is unaffected.' Only the exceptions of Article 6 are affected — organized tourist groups and business passports [6].
  7. 'I'll renew under a different basis.' You cannot change the basis upon renewal as a general rule — details in the TRP hub.
  8. Director-owner without €5,000 in taxes and contributions per year. Renewal will not pass (Art. 70 para. 4) [4].
  9. 'TRP expired, but the apartment remains.' From November 1, you must enter on a visa — this is derived from Article 9 [5].

8. What to do before October 31

  1. Check the validity period of your TRP, if you have one.
  2. Calculate the days you have spent outside Montenegro.
  3. Find the decision on real estate turnover tax for your purchase and check the tax base in it.
  4. Gather proof of tax payments during the period of your TRP.
  5. If you don't have a TRP, decide what suits you: a visa or grounds for a TRP.
  6. Go through the checklist for readiness for TRP based on real estate.
  7. Ask a lawyer or us.

9. Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ
From what date do Russian citizens need a visa for Montenegro?

From November 1, 2026: the visa-free regime for up to 30 days applies until October 31, 2026 (Regulation on Visa Regime, Art. 3a).

What about Belarusian citizens?

The same as for Russian citizens: from November 1, 2026, a visa or Montenegrin residence permit (temporary or permanent) is required (Regulation, Art. 3a).

Is a visa required for Turkish citizens?

Yes, from November 1, 2026: the term 'until October 31, 2026' has been added to Art. 1a of the Regulation. This also applies to citizens of Saudi Arabia.

Does this affect China?

Yes, but only regarding exceptions under Art. 6 of the Regulation: after October 31, 2026, the visa-free regime for organized tourist groups and holders of diplomatic passports will no longer apply.

Is anything changing for Ukrainian citizens?

No: visa-free entry for up to 90 days applies (Art. 1 of the Regulation). Temporary protection is valid until March 4, 2027 ('Sl. list CG' 27/2026).

I have an apartment in Montenegro. Do I need a visa?

Yes, if you do not have a Montenegrin residence permit (temporary or permanent). There are no exceptions for property owners in the regulation; entry is permitted with a visa or a residence permit (Art. 9 of the Law on Foreigners).

Does a residence permit replace a visa?

Yes. According to Art. 9(1) of the Law on Foreigners, entry is permitted with a passport bearing a permit for temporary stay, stay and work, or permanent stay. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not yet issued separate clarifications.

What is the threshold for obtaining a residence permit based on real estate?

The tax base for the real estate turnover tax must be at least €150,000 (Art. 56 of the Law on Foreigners). This is not the contract price, but the amount specified in the tax decision.

My residence permit based on real estate was issued by the end of 2026 inclusive. Under which rules will it be renewed?

Under the law as amended prior to the 3/26 amendments (Art. 217b). Confirmation of the €150,000 threshold is not required.

Can I leave Montenegro for more than 30 days?

Under the current Art. 65, temporary residence ceases in such cases. An exception exists for stays of 'up to 90 days with notification to the police before traveling outside Montenegro'.

When will the new Law on Foreigners come into force?

This is a draft bill (EPA 1219). According to its Art. 278, it applies from the day Montenegro joins the EU. We do not forecast the accession date.

What happens to my residence permit after joining the EU?

There are no transitional provisions in the draft. Under the current law, issued permits remain valid until their expiration date (Art. 218a).

What's next

Visas starting November 1 are not a reason for panic, but a reason to check your documents. If you already have a residence permit, the main thing is not to miss the renewal deadline and keep track of days spent abroad. If you don't have one, decide in advance what suits you best: a visa for short trips or grounds for a residence permit. We check official sources every week and will update the article as soon as there is a publication number for the regulation, clarifications from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or news regarding the draft law.

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Sources

The material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legislation and its application practice are subject to change; please consult a lawyer and the Ministry of Internal Affairs before traveling or making a deal.