Registration and Tourist Tax in Montenegro 2025: A Complete Guide for Tourists
When planning a trip to Montenegro in 2025, every tourist faces two mandatory procedures: registration at the place of stay (Prijava Boravka) and payment of the tourist tax (Boravišna Taksa), which are the key to a peaceful and ...
Planning a trip to Montenegro in 2025, every tourist faces two mandatory procedures:registration at the place of stay(Prijava Boravka) and payment of thetourist tax(Boravišna Taksa), which are the key to a calm and trouble-free holiday.
According to the country’s legislation, all foreign citizens are required to complete these requirementswithin 24 hours of entry. For citizens of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, who do not need a visa for short trips of up to 30 days, this procedure becomes the main administrative step during the visit.
Many travelers, especially those who have visited the Balkans before, remember the term “white card” (Beli karton). It is important to understand that in 2025 this concept is outdated. The registration process has been largely digitized, and instead of a cardboard card, the tourist receivesa receipt or slip (often pink in color), confirming registration in the electronic system.
Failure to comply with this seemingly simple rule can lead to unpleasant consequences. When leaving the country, border services may check for registration, and its absence carries afine, the amount of whichcan reach 240 euros, and in some cases even more, as well as delays and administrative proceedings. This guide provides comprehensive information on all steps, tax rates, and procedural nuances depending on the type of accommodation, so that your holiday in Montenegro leaves only positive impressions.
Tourist tax (Boravišna Taksa) in 2025: rates, rules, and exemptions
The tourist tax, or resort tax, is a municipal fee charged to each tourist for each day of stay. The funds collected are used to develop and maintain tourism infrastructure at the local level (80%) and to finance programs of the National Tourism Organization of Montenegro (20%). It is a fee for enjoying the benefits of resort towns, from clean beaches to the operation of information centers.
Registration and Tourist Tax in Montenegro 2025: A Comple...
Who pays and who is exempt
The rules for paying the tax are clearly regulated and provide exemptions for certain categories of visitors.
Standard rule: The tax is paid for each person for each day of stay in the country.
Full exemption (0% rate): The following are fully exempt from the tax:
Children under 12 years of age.
Persons with severe disabilities (sensory and physical impairments).
Property owners in Montenegro and members of their immediate family (father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister). To receive the exemption, a document confirming ownership (list nepokretnosti) must be presented.
Persons staying in the country on official humanitarian missions or sent for spa and health treatment by a medical commission’s decision.
Persons continuously staying in one registered accommodation facility for more than 30 days.
Reduced rate (50%): Teenagers aged 12 to 18 pay 50% of the standard tax rate.
Tax rates by municipality
The amount of the tourist tax is set independently by each municipality, so it may vary by region. In the most popular tourist areas, the rate is usually at the maximum.
Table 1: Tourist tax rates by municipality for 2025
Municipality
Adult rate (per day)
Rate for ages 12–18 (per day)
Budva (Budva)
1.00 euro
0.50 euro
Kotor (Kotor)
1.00 euro
0.50 euro
Tivat (Tivat)
1.00 euro
0.50 euro
Bar (Bar)
1.00 euro
0.50 euro
Herceg Novi (Herceg Novi)
0.90 euro
0.45 euro
Ulcinj (Ulcinj)
0.70 euro
0.35 euro
Podgorica (Podgorica)
~1.00 euro
~0.50 euro
Žabljak (Žabljak)
~1.00 euro
~0.50 euro
Note: Rates may change slightly. It is recommended to check the current information at the local tourist office upon arrival.
Registration process (Prijava Boravka): Step-by-step guide for independent travelers
The key rule to remember is that registration must be completed within 24 hours of crossing the border into Montenegro. If you arrive on a weekend or public holiday when offices are closed, the deadline is extended to the first following working day, but you should not delay the procedure.
Procedure for self-registration (if the accommodation owner does not do it)
This algorithm is intended for tourists staying in private accommodation (apartments, villas, houses with friends), where the host does not take responsibility for registration.
Step 1: Collect information from the host.
This is the first and most important stage, without which further action is impossible. You need to obtain the following details from theaccommodation owner(or friend/relative):
Full name and surname (Ime i prezime).
Personal identification number (JMBG or Matični broj).
It is strongly recommended to ask the host to write this information down on paper and to take a scan of the passport or other identity document to avoid mistakes when passing the information to the clerk.
Step 2: Registration with the tourist organization.
Entering your data into the unified state system.
With your passport and the host’s documents, go to the local tourist office (Turistička organizacija) or, in rare cases, to a police station.
Hand the clerk your documents and the host information obtained in Step 1. The clerk will enter the information into the system, which takes only a few minutes.
Next, the clerk will calculate the total amount due. Often you can pay on the spot (at the tourist office), but sometimes you will need to go to a bank branch or find the nearest post office (look for the yellow sign reading “Pošta”).
Once completed, you will be issued proof of registration.
This paper must be kept together with your passport until the moment you leave Montenegro, as border officers may request it.
Mobile apps for property owners
It is worth noting that the country is experiencing a gradual but uneven transition to digital technologies. In some municipalities, such as Tivat and Kotor,
Important: to register in the system, you must contact a tourist agency, where you will be registered and a user account will be created with a temporary password. The whole procedure takes only a few minutes. Then you need to log in with the temporary password and change it to your own.
However, this system is not nationwide. The convenience available in one city may not exist in the neighboring one. This means that a tourist cannot rely on digital registration being available everywhere. The most reliable strategy remains being prepared to go through the standard manual procedure via the post office and tourist office.
Registration depending on the type of accommodation: who does what and when
Registration responsibilities are distributed differently depending on where you are staying. Understanding this difference is key to avoiding misunderstandings and fines.
Hotels, resorts, and package tours
This is the simplest scenario for a tourist. By law, the hotel, tour operator, or any other officially registered accommodation provider is required to register you within 12 hours of check-in. Usually, your passport is taken briefly at reception for this purpose. In such cases, the tourist tax is often already included in the accommodation price under the item “local taxes.” Your role is minimal: provide your passport and, for your own peace of mind, verbally confirm with the receptionist that registration will be completed.
Private apartments and villas (Airbnb, Booking.com)
This is where the so-called “responsibility paradox” arises, which is the main cause of problems for independent travelers. The law requires the accommodation owner to register their guests, but full responsibility for the absence of registration, including payment of the fine, falls on the tourist.
Proactive communication strategy:
When booking or checking in
, ask the host directly: “Will you handle our registration and payment of the tourist tax?”
If the answer is “Yes”
: great. After the procedure is completed, ask for a copy of the receipt or a photo of the slip as proof. Most reputable landlords, especially in the accommodation segment priced from 60 euros per day, do this by default.
If the answer is “No” or “Do it yourself”
: immediately proceed with the self-registration algorithm described above. The accommodation owner is still obliged to provide you with all their details for filling out the forms.
In this situation, the tourist has a hidden but powerful leverage point. There is a huge difference in the size of the fines: the tourist faces a fine of 60–240 euros, while an unscrupulous landlord faces 500 to 3000 euros, and in some cases up to 3900 euros.
Owners who avoid registering guests most often do so to conceal income from taxation. Knowing this changes the balance of power. If the host refuses to provide their details, it is enough to politely but firmly mention the “Municipal Police” (Komunalna policija) and the potential consequences for them.
You can use the following phrase: “By law, you are required to provide me with your details for registration. If you refuse, I will have to contact the municipal police (Komunalna policija), as I do not want to receive a fine when leaving. As far as I know, the fine for accommodation owners is from 500 euros.” In the vast majority of cases, this resolves the issue immediately.
Staying with friends or relatives
This case is treated the same as staying in private apartments where the host does not handle registration. Responsibility lies entirely with you. You must go through the self-registration procedure, with your friend or relative acting as the “host” and providing their personal details.
Property owners
If you own property in Montenegro, you are still required to register your stay within 24 hours. However, you and members of your immediate family (spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters) are exempt from paying the tourist tax. To do this, when registering at the tourist office, you must present a proof of ownership document (list nepokretnosti) and an identity document (for you or your immediate family members).
Table 2: Registration by accommodation type: Who is responsible for what
Type of accommodation
Who registers
Your actions
Hotel / Package tour
Hotel / Tour operator
Confirm registration at reception.
Apartment (host registers)
Host
Ask for a copy of the receipt or a photo confirmation.
Apartment (host does NOT register)
You
Obtain the host’s details and follow the steps in Section 2.
Friends / Relatives
You
Obtain the host’s details and follow the steps in Section 2.
Own property
You
Register yourself, presenting proof of ownership.
Special cases: registration on the move
For travelers who do not stay in one place, there are special registration rules.
Arrival by yacht
Yacht travelers must complete the registration procedure at one of the official ports of entry (Bar, Zelenika, Tivat, Kotor). First, you need to purchase a
cruising vignette
(vignette) from the harbor master, the cost of which depends on the vessel’s length and the length of stay. After that, within 24 hours, you must pay the tourist tax for all persons on board without exception. Payment is made through the standard procedure — at a bank, post office, or tourist office.Traveling by motorhome/camper
When staying at an officially registered campsite, the administration takes responsibility for registering guests, just like a hotel. If you practice “wild camping,” which is officially prohibited in Montenegro but in practice often tolerated in remote areas, you are considered an independent traveler. In this case, you must complete the registration procedure yourself in the nearest settlement, indicating your camping location.
Traveling between several cities
This is one of the most common sources of violations. A single registration upon arrival in the country is not valid throughout its entire territory. The law requires the procedure to be repeated in each new municipality where you plan to stay for more than 24 hours. For example, registration in
Budva
will not be valid for a subsequent stay in Kotor.
Fines and how to avoid themFailure to comply with the registration requirement entails financial penalties. Checks are most likely when leaving the country at the airport or at a land border crossing.
Penalties for tourists
The fine for not having registration for a tourist ranges from 60 to 600 euros. In practice, the most common fine is in the 60–240 euro range, often 200 euros. If the violation is discovered at departure, you will have to pay the fine on the spot, which may cause you to miss your flight and experience significant stress. If you are stopped, it is recommended to remain polite, acknowledge the oversight (for example, by citing ignorance), and express your willingness to pay the fine immediately. Such behavior increases the likelihood of receiving the minimum fine of 60 euros.
Penalties for accommodation owners
As already mentioned, much harsher fines are предусмотрed for landlords who do not register their guests — from 500 to 3000 euros.
It is important to understand why Montenegrin authorities are paying increased attention to this issue in 2025. This is tied to the broader economic context. The government is actively looking for ways to replenish the state budget and combat the shadow economy. Tourism, which accounts for about 30% of the country’s GDP, is a key sector in these efforts. In 2025, decisive steps were taken: VAT on hotel services was more than doubled — from 7% to 15%. At the same time, the state is trying to combat the huge “black market” of private rentals, which is estimated to cost the budget around 86 million euros annually.
In this system, the tourist registration process is not just a way to collect 1 euro per day. It is the main tool of state control over the rental market. Each registration is an official confirmation that a specific property was rented out and generated income. Thus, the government receives data to identify undeclared income. This means that in 2025 the authorities have a strong incentive to tighten enforcement of registration rules. Tourists should expect more thorough checks at the border, and excuses like “we didn’t know” are less likely to be accepted.
Your checklist for peace of mind in Montenegro
Compliance with the rules for registration and payment of the tourist tax in Montenegro is a simple procedure that guarantees no legal problems and allows you to focus fully on your holiday.
Short checklist for every traveler:
Within 24 hours of arrival
: find out who is registering you — you or the host (hotel, apartment owner).
If you are registering yourself
: obtain the host’s full details → find the nearest tourist organization office (
Turistička organizacija
) → complete the registration and pay the tourist tax.If the host registers you
: ask for and keep a copy of the receipt or a photo of the slip as proof.
Always keep the registration confirmation together with your passportuntil the moment you leave the country.
The trend toward digitalization of the process will continue, so before traveling it is a good idea to check the website of the tourist organization of the city you are heading to for updates. By following these simple steps, you can confidently complete all formalities and fully enjoy the incredible beauty and hospitality of Montenegro.
Всегда храните подтверждение регистрации вместе с паспортом до самого момента выезда из страны.
Тенденция к цифровизации процесса будет продолжаться, поэтому перед поездкой не лишним будет проверить сайт туристической организации того города, куда вы направляетесь, на предмет обновлений. Следуя этим простым шагам, вы сможете уверенно выполнить все формальности и в полной мере насладиться невероятной красотой и гостеприимством Черногории.
