Montenegro will introduce visas for Russian citizens no later than September next year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Radio Free Europe.
Under the current Mutual Travel Agreement, Russian citizens can currently enter and stay in Montenegro for up to 30 days without a visa.
“It is necessary for Montenegro to harmonize its visa policy with the EU by the end of the third quarter of 2026, which, among other things, means establishing a visa regime for citizens of Russia.”
According to the Ministry, this measure is part of the obligations that the state has undertaken within the framework of the 2024-2027 Reform Agenda and harmonization with European rules from Chapter 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security.
"Harmonization with the EU visa policy is carried out gradually and with careful consideration of national and other economic interests, which are essential for maintaining the stability and long-term development of the country."
Currently, stay up to 30 days
Official data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs shows that more than 21,100 Russian citizens live in Montenegro, and the largest number of them live on the coast, especially in Budva.
Although they can stay in Montenegro for up to 30 days without a visa, in practice they leave Montenegro for a short time after this period, often only at the nearest border crossing, and upon return receive a new 30-day visa-free period.
The number of such 'entries-exits' is not limited.
The Police Directorate previously clarified that the Travel Agreement with Russia has no restrictions regarding the duration of the total stay in a given period, which in practice meant that the stay could be continuously extended.
Adaptation to EU policies
Earlier, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, announcing a tougher regime for Russian citizens, said that Montenegro fully follows the European Union's foreign and security policy, including measures against Russia.
Specifically, in 2022, Montenegro imposed sanctions against Moscow, but the European Commission constantly warns that visa policy is also essential for progress in negotiations and the use of funds from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
According to the latest report by the European Commission, Montenegro is still not in compliance with the EU visa regime, an issue that, according to them, is "a matter of urgent importance."
Especially due to the fact that it is the last condition in one of the two most important chapters of access.
9,000 Turkish citizens left Montenegro
Brussels expects to impose visas for nine countries that are not in line with the EU – Russia, China, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Turkey.
Montenegro recently introduced visas for Turkish citizens.
The case was an incident that occurred on October 25 in the Zabjelo neighborhood of Podgorica, when a man from Podgorica was stabbed.
Although the police claimed that a citizen of Turkey and Azerbaijan participated in the injury, it ultimately emerged that the woman from Podgorica was allegedly injured by two Azerbaijani citizens.
Since the end of October, when the Government temporarily introduced visas for citizens of Turkey, almost 9,000 of them have left Montenegro, while in the same period 194 visa applications for citizens of that country were approved.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs informed Vijesti that from October 27, when the executive authority introduced visas for Turkish citizens, to November 26, 8,935 Turkish citizens left Montenegro.
Economic aspects as justification
Incidentally, the Government justified the current practice of incomplete adherence to the EU visa policy with economic interests in tourism, which accounts for 26 percent of Montenegro's Gross Domestic Product.
In this context, they stated that 230,000 Russian citizens and 320,000 Turkish citizens visit Montenegro every year…
For China, they stated that it participates in infrastructure projects, and for the four Middle Eastern countries, increasing investments in Montenegro.
It has been repeatedly emphasized to Brussels that economic interests cannot take precedence over European rules and obligations from the accession process.
Montenegrin authorities expect full harmonisation of the visa regime with EU rules to be completed by the end of 2027.
The Montenegrin government aims to close all chapters by the end of next year and become an EU member in 2028.
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