How to go to live in Montenegro, methods of moving

Apply for a residence permit in Montenegro easily and in 14 days with International lawyers

A residence permit in Montenegro (borawak) is a document that allows its holder to stay in the state for 1 year and has an easy renewal procedure. The government of the country provides foreign citizens with the opportunity to obtain a residence permit on the basis of doing business and employment in their own enterprise. The immigrant must officially manage the company and own more than 51% of its capital. Resident status allows an entrepreneur to live and work in Montenegro, as well as receive medical and educational services for free.

Advantages of Montenegro residence permit for CIS citizens

In 2023, Montenegro may join the EU, according to the confirmed strategy of the European Council

Applicants have the opportunity to immigrate to Montenegro with their family

Low cost of maintaining residence permit status and company maintenance, and the newly created company may not be actively involved

Favorable taxation - on profit (9%) and VAT (21%)

Access to Bologna education with an internationally accredited diploma

Free healthcare in Montenegro at all levels of medical care (for non-residents, treatment in the country is expensive)

Pros and cons of immigration from the Russian Federation to Montenegro

Considering that the country has not yet been accepted into the EU and Schengen in 2021, the conditions for immigration to Montenegro are relatively simple, and the requirements for applicants are not so strict. In addition to the beauty of nature and the proximity of the sea, migrants should be interested in the main issues: employment, housing, and the level of medicine. There is a lot of information on thematic forums, where you can highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of living in the country.

Pros:

no crime. You can go for a walk at night fearlessly;
warm climate. On the coast in winter from +5 to +20 degrees;
the best ecology among European countries, which is due to the small population and small number of cars, the absence of hazardous industry;
friendly and cultured locals;
the mentality is very similar to Russian;
you have to pay low taxes;
there are growth prospects for business in various industries; most of the common niches in Russia are practically free here;
Due to the small area, all significant places, including resorts in the mountains and on the coast, are relatively close - you can get from one to the other in a couple of hours.

Minuses:

due to high humidity in many regions, mold is common in homes;
the rhythm of life of the local population is very slow;
There is no central heating system - each house has individual appliances.

According to the forecast, Montenegro could join the EU in 2025, and if it does decide to join, immigration rules into Montenegro from Russia and other countries will become stricter. Therefore, if there is a desire, you need to act now.

Who can apply for a residence permit in Montenegro

An applicant for residency can register a new company in Montenegro and work for it as a director. There are no requirements for the company’s activities, such as job creation or a positive impact on the country’s economy, and the authorized capital can be 300 EUR.

Mandatory conditions are the payment of taxes in the amount of 9% of profits and the submission of annual financial statements. Thus, for the operation of a business that will provide legal grounds for granting a residence permit to a foreign applicant, only a director is needed on staff. The residence permit is valid for 1 year, after which the resident has the right to extend the status.

Methods for obtaining a residence permit

There are 4 main ways to obtain a residence permit: marriage with a citizen of Montenegro, business, family reunification, investment in real estate. In addition to the most popular options, there are several other methods that are not so common. Regardless of the reasons for moving, there are a number of conditions that every immigrant must comply with:

Have no criminal record.
Open a bank account with a minimum amount of 3650 euros. The amount is the same for both one immigrant and the whole family. Once you receive your bank statement, you can withdraw the money and spend it as you wish.
The immigrant must have a place of residence (own or rented).
Paid health insurance.

Marriage with a citizen of Montenegro

Marriage to a citizen of Montenegro allows a foreigner to obtain residence permit status quickly and easily. To obtain a residence permit, a marriage certificate is added to the standard package of documents, which can be concluded both in Montenegro and in the immigrant’s homeland.

Despite the availability of the program, not many people use it. The reason for this is that Montenegrins highly respect their traditions, which do not allow mixing of blood with another nationality. Interethnic marriages are very rare.

Business

The most popular immigration option among Russians is opening or purchasing their own business. This is due to the speed and simplicity of the process.

The main advantages of registering a business in Montenegro:

The company may not be valid, the main thing is to pay monthly tax.
The established amount of the authorized capital is 1 euro. This is the lowest price both in Russia and in Europe.
The business tax is small, only 35 euros per month.
After the director of the company receives a residence permit, all family members can receive this status.
The businessman's children can receive free education and medical care.
Low competition in the business sphere allows small firms to develop.

Family reunification

A humanitarian program of its kind for family reunification, it allows you to obtain a residence permit, and at the same time the right to work in Montenegro. To move to the country on this basis, you must have close relatives in Montenegro.

This could be husband/wife, children, parents. The receiving party must document its agreement to accept you, as well as provide a place to stay and financial assistance for the first time. An adopted child automatically receives permanent residence status, bypassing the remaining stages.

Buying real estate

Another quite profitable way for foreigners to move to Montenegro is to buy real estate. With this action, the immigrant solves two problems at once: he receives housing and a residence permit. At the same time, the cost of real estate does not matter; you can buy a luxurious house on the shores of the Adriatic Sea or a small apartment on the outskirts of the city.

The disadvantage of the program is that a residence permit obtained in this way does not give the right to employment, free education, kindergarten, or medical services. You will have to pay additionally for some services due to the fact that the immigrant who bought the property is not a taxpayer of the country.

Real estate can also be purchased for the purpose of further renting out; in this case, the residence permit status is retained.

Other ways to come live in Montenegro

There are several additional ways to obtain a residence permit, which are not so popular.

International exchange programs. Most often used for leaving the country and rarely for entering.
Scientific activity. If a researcher or scientist wants to work in scientific centers in Montenegro, the government will allow obtaining a residence permit for the period of work. However, due to the lack of large research and scientific centers in the country, there is no immigration on this basis.
For medical reasons. The country has many medical institutions that are popular throughout Europe with really good specialists. If, for health reasons, a long stay in the country or in a clinic is necessary, you can apply for a residence permit. However, even with such grounds, it is easier to register your business in the country and receive medical services for free.
Residence permits can be obtained by clergy conducting their activities in Montenegro.
If you get into a program to recruit foreign volunteers.
According to the laws of the country, refugees can also obtain a residence permit. However, it is not as easy as it seems. First you need to document your refugee status. The candidate is carefully checked and, if the decision is positive, they receive social benefits and payments. Montenegro does not really favor refugees, seeing them as a source of crime in the country, so no more than 3-5 people are accepted per year on this basis.
Stateless persons can obtain a residence permit if, at the time of filing the application, they have lived in the country for 3 years and meet all the stated and standard requirements (housing, insurance, financial independence).

Requirements for the applicant

Age threshold: 18 years

Ownership of a company registered in Montenegro

Employment in the above company as a director

Availability of 3650 EUR in an account in a Montenegrin bank

No criminal record in the country of permanent residence

Availability of own or rented housing in Montenegro

Completed secondary, vocational or higher education

No ban on entry into Montenegro

Extension of residence permit, obtaining permanent residence and citizenship of Montenegro

Residence permit in Montenegro Issued for a period of 1 year with the possibility of multiple extensions for 1 year. To extend temporary residence status, it is also necessary to maintain the activity of the company by paying wages to at least one employee (director), maintaining a legal address and tax deductions.

Permanent residence in Montenegro Can be granted to residents who have been living in the country for 5 years, and the period of stay outside the state does not exceed 10 months for the entire period. During the year, you are allowed to leave the country for a total of up to 6 months.

Citizenship of Montenegro through naturalization According to Article 8 of the Law “On Citizenship”, it is available to persons who have permanently resided in the territory of the state for the last 10 years. A prerequisite for issuing a Montenegrin passport is the renunciation of previous citizenship.

What does a Montenegro passport give to its owner?

Montenegro has not yet joined the European Union, but this could happen as early as next year. If the state is included in the list of EU members, Montenegrin citizens will be able to live and work in any country of the association. Already, a Montenegro passport gives its owner the opportunity to visit many countries of the world, including the Schengen area, Israel, Turkey, and the UAE, visa-free.

The text was moderated by
Alexander Samoilov Leading migration specialist in the direction of “Immigration to the EU”
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Residence permit for pensioners in Montenegro

Well, if there is no money to buy real estate, then you need to obtain a residence permit on the basis of opening a company in Montenegro. How much does real estate cost in Montenegro, look at our website, here:. We edit the catalog every week, so all prices and properties are up to date.

Real estate in Montenegro is not cheap, prices are about the same as in Sochi... Usually, prices for new buildings of good quality in Montenegro are compared with new buildings of low quality in Russia.

In Montenegro, the average level of construction is much better, although, of course, not always.

As a rule, they compare new buildings with good finishing in Montenegro with new buildings in Russia, where renovations need to be done.

In Montenegro, after purchasing, you can import furniture and live; no repairs are required. They compare real estate within walking distance from the sea with real estate in a residential area of a Russian regional city.

Do you agree that it’s impossible to compare? You can compare something of equal value, for example, real estate on the coast of Montenegro with real estate prices in Sochi, the prices are approximately the same.

Do you need free medical care?

A residence permit in Montenegro on the basis of opening a company gives the right to free medical care for both the director of the company and his wife. A residence permit in Montenegro based on the purchase of real estate does not give the right to free medical care. How can pensioners obtain a residence permit in Montenegro?

Decide how you want to obtain a residence permit in Montenegro. Contact us for a consultation. If you want to obtain a residence permit in Montenegro based on opening a company in the country, you need to open a company and come to receive a residence permit. If you want to buy real estate in Montenegro, select real estate properties from our website, and welcome to Montenegro to view, select and purchase. How to obtain a residence permit in Montenegro is described in detail on our website, see the article “”.

Montenegro is the most popular country among retired immigrants from Russia.

Reasons for popularity: