Ultimate Guide to Getting Montenegrin Citizenship

Why choose Montenegro?

If you’re wondering why Montenegrin citizenship is desirable, here are some of the perks to note:

Montenegro is known as the undiscovered jewel of the Mediterranean, with its beautiful sandy beaches along the coast and stunning mountain ranges in the North.
Very attractive 9% tax on personal and corporate income. The VAT is currently at 21%.
Montenegro is the newest NATO member, strengthening its security.
Candidate country to join the EU, Montenegro is expected to join the European Union within the next 7 years. Therefore holders of the Montenegrin passport have the possibility of gaining an EU passport in the future.
Montenegro is part of the Schengen Zone and the Montenegrin passport allows traveling to 142 countries visa-free.
Generally considered to be a very safe country, especially for families with children.
There is a growing expat community, mainly in the capital Podgorica and coastal towns such as Budva, Kotor and Tivat.

Montenegrin Passport — Montenegrin passport

So how do you become a Montenegrin citizen?

Investment

UPDATE: The program has been extended for another year, from the previous deadline of 31st December 2021, to the end of 2022. The previous €100,000 government donation has now increased to €200,000.

Montenegro is accepting 2000 applicants through its citizenship by investment program. Applicants need to fulfill the following criteria:

Be a citizen of a non-EU country.
Possess a valid passport or another document for foreign travel.
Provide all documents and information needed under the program and pass the due diligence and background verification successfully, including those related to the source of funds used to make the qualified donation and investment.
Hold no criminal record.
For additional information on how to apply contact us!

What does the citizenship through investment entail?

€200,000 donation to the government of Montenegro, which will be used to fund development projects.
Investment in a government approved project, either €250,000 investment in the north of the country,
- Or €450,000 investment in the south of the country. The north of Montenegro is generally underdeveloped when compared to the southern region.

In addition to the government donation you will need to pay application processing fees which amount to approximately:

€15,000 for the main applicant.
€10,000 for each extra family member, up to four members.
€50,000 for the fifth and every extra family member.

Due diligence fees:

€7,000 for the main applicant.
€10,000 for each extra family member, up to four members.
€1,500 for the fifth and every extra family member.

Processing fees from the provider:

€30,000 for a family of 4.
€5,000 for every extra family member.

Other expenses:

€5,000 which is an estimate for translation, bank transfer, notary etc.

Currently, projects approved by the Government are:

Condo Hotel ,”Kolasin Resort & Spa’’, Kolasin
Condo Hotel ,”Breza’’, Kolasin
Hotel ,”Kraljicina plaza’’, Milocer – Budva
Hotel ,”Durmitor Hotel & Villas’’, Zabljak

According to the Montenegrin Citizenship Act, a person (18+ years old) can be granted citizenship by admission without release from current citizenship, in this case double citizenship is recognized. If both parents have acquired Montenegrin citizenship by admission and provide release from current citizenship, children under the age of 18 can get Montenegrin passport.

Descent

To be eligible for Montenegrin citizenship by descent one needs to fulfill one of the following criteria:

Both parents are Montenegrin citizens at the time of the child’s birth.
Child is born in Montenegro and one of the parents is a Montenegrin citizen.
Child is born outside of Montenegro, but one parent is a Montenegrin citizen, while the other is stateless or of an unknown citizenship.
Child is born outside of Montenegro and is in danger of losing current citizenship, while one parent is a Montenegrin citizen or was at the time of the child’s birth.
Child is born outside of Montenegro, one parent is a Montenegrin citizen or was at the time of the child’s birth, if, by the age of 18, an application for entry into the birth registry and register of Montenegrin nationals is submitted and the child does not have the citizenship of the other parent; Note that in this case, if the child is over 14 years of age, it needs to sign an approval to be registered as a Montenegrin citizen.
A person of 18+ years, whose one parent is a Montenegrin citizen and the other is a citizen of another country, if by the age of 23 he/she submits an application to the register of Montenegrin citizens, without having the citizenship of the other parent.
Child in case of full adoption, if one of the adoptive parents is a Montenegrin citizen and the child does not have the citizenship of the other adoptive parent.

Birth

A child born or found in the territory of Montenegro, acquires Montenegrin citizenship if both parents are unknown or of an unknown citizenship or stateless or if the child remains stateless.
They may lose Montenegrin citizenship if it is established by the age of 18 that both of their parents are nationals of another state or that the child has acquired, on any grounds, citizenship of another state.
Child referred to can also lose Montenegrin citizenship at the request of both parents. If the child is over 14 years of age, their consent is required for the loss of Montenegrin citizenship.

apart hotel swimming pool becici — Swimming pool in Budva

Admission

Montenegrin citizenship may be granted to a person, in accordance with the interests of Montenegro, if they apply for the citizenship and fulfill the following requirements:

- They are 18+ years of age.
- They were released from citizenship of another country.
- They have a legal and uninterrupted residence in Montenegro over a period of 10 years, prior to applying for Montenegrin citizenship.
- They have a proof of accommodation and guaranteed source of income in Montenegro, in the amount that guarantees financial and social security.
- They never received a prison sentence, either in Montenegro or in another country, exceeding one year, for criminal offence which is subject of ex officio prosecution, or if the legal consequences of his or her conviction no longer apply.
- They have knowledge of Montenegrin language and can make basic communication in the language.
- They have settled all tax and other legal obligations.

Marriage

A person who has been married to a Montenegrin citizen for at least three years and who takes up lawful and uninterrupted residence in Montenegro for at least five years prior to applying for Montenegrin citizenship, may be granted Montenegrin citizenship if the aforementioned conditions 1, 4 and 5 are met.
These provisions of also apply to a person who was married to a Montenegrin citizen for at least three years, and the marriage has ended with the death of a spouse.

What about dual citizenship?

Montenegrin citizenship act has often been deemed rigorous for not allowing dual citizenship for those who tried to obtain it after 2006, when Montenegro became an independent state.
To this day Montenegro has only signed a reciprocal bilateral agreement allowing this with North Macedonia.
However, the government publicly stated that those applying for citizenship through investment will be allowed to keep their other passport.

Application process

Depending on which basis you are applying for Montenegrin citizenship, you will either apply through the local branch of the Ministry of Interior or through other appropriate channels.
If you are applying through investment contact us.