Montenegro's Temporary Residence and Work Permit enables foreign nationals to establish and operate a business in Montenegro by registering a company and serving as its executive director. Governed by the Law on Foreigners (Zakon o strancima), the program is administered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for residence and the Employment Bureau for work permits. Company founders and executive directors are exempt from annual work permit quotas, making permits available regardless of foreign worker limits. Amendments adopted in January 2026 introduced a minimum tax and contributions threshold for permit renewals.
The process involves several steps: register a company with the Central Register of the Commercial Court in Podgorica, obtain a work permit from the Employment Bureau, then submit the residence application in person at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in your municipality. Biometric data is collected during submission. Citizens of visa-exempt countries can enter Montenegro visa-free for up to 90 days and apply during that period. Those requiring a visa must first obtain a Type D long-stay visa.
Processing typically takes 15 to 20 days from submission of a complete application, with a legal maximum of 40 days. The total timeline from company registration to receiving the residence permit is usually 3 to 6 weeks.
Corporate income tax is 9% on annual profits up to €100,000 and 15% on profits above that threshold. Tax residency is generally established after 183 days of presence in Montenegro. The permit holder must pay standard payroll taxes and social contributions on their director's salary.
The permit is renewable annually, with the extension application submitted before the current permit expires. As of January 2026, the company must demonstrate at least €5,000 in taxes and contributions paid in the previous year for renewal eligibility. After 5 years of continuous temporary residence, holders may apply for permanent residence. Citizenship may be pursued after 10 years of continuous residence.
The permit authorizes the holder to work as executive director of their own registered company. Holders may not work for other employers unless a separate work permit is obtained. The permit is tied to the specific company — if it becomes inactive or is deregistered, the basis for residence is lost.
Spouses and minor children (including adopted children up to age 18) may obtain temporary residence through family reunification. Each family member submits a separate application with their own documentation. Family permits cannot exceed the duration of the main holder's permit.