Please find below the most commonly asked questions about economic citizenship by investment program in Montenegro.
Does Montenegro have EU membership?
No. Montenegro has currently candidate country status for EU membership. Likely to join European Union in 2025
What is the Legal Background for Montenegro citizenship scheme?
Montenegrin Citizenship by Admission scheme was published in Official Gazette of Montenegro 34/10, 40/16 and 62/18 which was adopted at the session of 22 November 2018
Is the citizenship by investment in Montenegro NOW OPEN ?
Yes, Currently open for applications from Oct 3, 2019, officially announced by Government
Why is Montenegro CItizenship by investment special?
This is because the special citizenship by admission scheme will only run for three years until Dec 31, 2021 and will be closed after that.
Does Montenegro has any quotas for investors to grant citizenship?
No yearly quotes, a total of 2000 investors and their family members will be admitted as citizens.
Are you an authorized agent?
We work with the trusted authorized agent appointed by the government.
Is Montenegro in Schengen?
No, but Montenegrin passport holders can travel to EU schengen countries without visa. Likely to join schengen area in 2025.
How much is the minimum investment amount?
EUR 250,000 or more is required
How to get permanent residency in Montenegro?
Permanent residency is issued within 3 weeks after investment
Can ti travel to United Kingdom and Ireland using Montenegro passport?
No. Montenegro passport holders including investors require a visa to travel to UK and Ireland.
Can i submit application directly to the Citizenship Unit (CIU)?
NO. The special citizenship program applications shall only be submitted by the applicant for himself and members of his family to the Competent Body through an intermediary agent.
Is dual citizenship allowed in Montenegro?
Yes. Please check your home country allows dual citizenship. Eg. China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE and other middle east countries may not allow becoming dual citizens. In this case we ask you to seek legal advice.
Where is the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) in Montenegro?
The Government of Montenegro has appointed Secretariat for Development Projects (srp.gov.me) responsible for administering and overseeing special citizenship by investment program. The office is located at Bulevar Revolucije 7, 81 000 Podgorica
What is currency used in Montenegro?
Euro
How is due diligence performed on applicants?
First the agent performs initial due diligence checks. Later the government appointed third party due diligence firms conduct a detailed vetting process on the applicants, who must be free from criminal record, must have no visa denials from EU schengen states, clear from sanctions and clear source of funds. Only passing these checks will be granted passport.
Applicants should not have been sentenced in Montenegro or another state by a final and binding court decision to an unconditional prison sentence of more than one year for a criminal offense prosecuted ex officio or the legal consequences of the conviction for such criminal offence have ceased
Who is eligible to apply as family member?
Family members shall be considered to be:
- a married spouse;
- applicant’s children who turned 18 years of age, who are dependent on the applicant
- applicant’s children under 18 years of age, who can acquire Montenegrin citizenship by coming of age.
What documents are required to apply?
– certified copies of passports and ID cards,
– birth certificates,
– marriage certificates,
– insurance policies valid in Montenegro, which cover health insurance,
– Health certificate from doctor confirmation that they do not suffer from contagious diseases, issued in accordance with the regulations of the country in which the applicant is a national.
Please note some documents need an apostille to be valid in Montenegro. Montenegro is a member of Hague convention of apostilles. You can check where to get apostille in your country here
Are there any restricted countries who cannot apply for Montenegro CIP?
North Korea, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan. The CIU may consider some cases. Please contact for more clarification and eligibility criteria.
Do i need a visa to enter Montenegro?
You can see here: http://www.mvpei.gov.me/ResourceManager/FileDownload.aspx?rId=242246&rType=2
To which countries Montenegrin citizens can travel without visa?
Montenegrin citizens can use their passport for visa free travel to about 105 countries. You can check here: http://www.mvpei.gov.me/en/sections/consular-affairs/visa-regimes-for-citizens-of-Montenegro/
How is the real estate market in Montenegro?
Montenegro real estate offers an excellent investment opportunity at currently prevailing low prices. Property prices of flats in new residential building in capital Podgorica, Montenegro is 1,200 EUR per square metre. Budva is coastal resort and Venetian port-city, with sandy beaches and a diverse nightlife, welcoming over half a million visitors annually.
Does Montenegro publish names of citizens public in Gazette?
This is not clear currently but we will update it once we have all information
Can i vote in elections as a Montenegro citizen
Yes
How is Montenegro cheaper than other CBI programs in Europe?
Montenegro has the cheapest citizenship by investment (CBI) program in Europe. It is a great future investment considering Montenegro joining EU and Schengen area in six years by 2025 giving you a chance to become EU citizen in the future. Once Montenegro joins EU prices will soar and also citizenship could be difficult to afford.
Here is the current prevailing prices for CBI schemes in Europe.
- Montenegro – EUR 250,000
- Malta – EUR 900,000
- Cyprus – EUR 2,150,000
- Bulgaria – EUR 1,000,000 (closed)
- Moldova – EUR 100,000 (suspended/closed)
Does Montenegro has donation option?
No, the CIP is a part of DONATION + INVESTMENT model. This means you have to invest in real estate plus pay a EUR 100,000 donation to fund to become eligible for citizenship.
Do Montenegro citizens require a visa to visit US and Canada
Yes
Will Montenegro revoke citizenship later?
Yes, the decision passed by Montenegro may revoke citizenship anytime for concealment, fraud, interpol wanted person and national security threat. If the citizenship is revoked, there will be no refund of the investment.
Can i invest in five star hotels and resorts?
Absolutely. Either you can fully develop a hotel yourself for 5 million euros or you can buy a limited share equity in other hotels starting from 250,000 euros. Some hotels also have an option to buy individual hotel rooms.
Does Montenegro has NATO membership?
Montenegro is a member of the UN, NATO, the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, and the Central European Free Trade Agreement. It is a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Where is Montenegro?
Montenegro is in south east europe near adriatic sea. Take a look in the map
Montenegro is a Balkan country with rugged mountains, medieval villages and a narrow strip of beaches along its Adriatic coastline. The Bay of Kotor, resembling a fjord, is dotted with coastal churches and fortified towns such as Kotor and Herceg Novi. Durmitor National Park, home to bears and wolves, encompasses limestone peaks, glacial lakes and 1,300m-deep Tara River Canyon.
What are some quick facts about Montenegro?
The name Mont + Negro means Black mountain. Hence Montenegro or Crna Gora as it’s called in Montenegrin
- Montenegro has 622,000 population of which 70% are christians and 20% are muslims
- Montenegro has GDP of $12 billion in 2019
- Montenegro’s beauty attracts close to 2 million visitor arrivals for tourism
- Montenegro has 117 of them along 293 kilometers of coastline.
- Montenegro’s Lake Skadar is one of the biggest bird reserves in Europe home to 270 bird species.
- Montenegro’s capital city Podgorica existed since 1326.
How to travel to Montenegro by Air?
a tiny country, there are two international airports: one in the capital, Podgorica, and one on the coast in Tivat. To save money on flights to Montenegro, consider flying into Dubrovnik airport in Croatia, which is just 20 minutes from the Montenegrin border
What are some of the popular banks in Montenegro?
Foreigners can open bank account in Montenegro. There are 15 commercial banks in Montenegro have the license to do financial business in Montenegro.
- Erste Bank,
- The First Bank of Montenegro
- Hipotekarna Bank
- Lovćen Bank
- NLB bank
- Societe Generale Bank of Montenegro
- ZIRAAT Bank
- Montenegro Commercial bank (CKB)
Is Montenegro listed in OECD list of CBI/RBI schemes for CRS?
NO, Montenegro is not blacklisted.
Does Montenegro participate in Interpol?
Yes, Montenegro is a Interpol member country
Does Montenegro banks exchange tax information with other countries?
Montenegro is the only country among CBI countries that does not participate in CRS.
Montenegro is not in the CRS list of tax exchange. Banks in Montenegro currently do not participate in the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) or Common Reporting Standards (CRS) schemes. It may happen in the future.
Does Montenegro have golden visa scheme?
No, there is no official golden visa scheme, only golden passport scheme. There is a possibility to obtain residence permit against investments. We dont assist with this process.
Do i have to make personal visit for citizenship?
Yes, once to receive residence permit, finalize investments, signing and biometric data process.
Are there any residence requirements?
None. There is no requirement to visit Montenegro after getting passport
What is the validity of montenegro passport?
All Montenegro passports issued to Investors are valid for 10 years.
Does Montenegro require any Military service?
NO for investors
Does Montenegro have golden visa scheme?
No, there is no official golden visa scheme, only golden passport scheme. There is a possibility to obtain residence permit against investments. We dont assist with this process.
Is Montenegro a Safe country?
Montenegro is generally a safe country
How much it costs to renew Montenegro passport?
EUR 25
Does Montenegro issue Biometric passport?
Yes, e-passport valid for 10 years.
Does Montenegro also issue diplomatic passport to investors?
No
Diplomatic passports are weaker than ordinary passports, only be used used for government duty.
- Diplomatic passport is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to diplomats, high-ranking officials, members of the Parliament and persons traveling on official state business, and in some cases to immediate family members of the above. Validity is determined by the nature of the position held – diplomats and officials will usually receive the passport covering their mandate in office.
- Official passport is identical in all aspects to the diplomatic passport, but lacks the privileges of diplomatic immunity. It is issued to mid and low-ranking officials, as well as to non-diplomatic staff at the embassies and consulates.