Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa

Updated on Tuesday 15th March 2022

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Foreign citizens who want to move to Montenegro can apply for several types of visas. However, the number of people interested in flexible options that enable them to live in one country and work for employers or clients in other parts of the world. Persons interested in becoming digital nomads have several countries they can choose from when it comes to fining a balance between a relaxed lifestyle and costs associated with working. One of the countries to be added to the list of remote workers is Montenegro.

In 2022, the Montenegro digital nomad visa is expected to be launched by this country’s government. Until then, our lawyers in Montenegro can provide support for those who want to relocate here through traditional types of residence permits.

Options for digital nomads in Montenegro

While the Montenegro digital nomad visa is a project underway, foreign citizens who want to live and work from here can apply for residence permits. Considering Montenegro is not an EU member state yet implies for citizens from member states to apply for short or long-term residence permits if they want to live here.

One of the most appealing facts relocating to Montenegro is obtaining tax residency, as the country’s taxation system is one of the most attractive in Europe. With a corporate tax rate of only 9%, freelancers can work from here for clients all over the world, which is why a digital nomad visa can be a great solution for them.

Here are the main types of permits one can acquire and immigrate to Montenegro as a digital nomad:

temporary residence permits for persons who want to stay in Montenegro for more than 3 months;
long-term residence permits for those who want to live here for indefinite timespans;
residence permits based on investment which come with various advantages.
employees of foreign companies operating in Montenegro can also move here based on intra-company transfers.

With these options, however, it cannot be said that a person has obtained a Montenegro digital nomad visa.

Our Montenegrin lawyers can explain the differences between an ordinary residence permit and a digital nomad visa.

Montenegro to follow Croatia’s footsteps on digital nomad residency

According to the Investment Agency in Montenegro, the government will work with the same team that created the Croatian digital nomad visa which was released at the beginning of 2021.

The Montenegro digital nomad visa is expected to follow the same guidelines which imply:

the duration of the visa to be limited;
for those applying for it to meet certain requirements, among which the employer to be a non-Montenegro based company;
for the applicant to have sufficient funds to sustain him/herself during the stay here.

These requirements can also be met in other European countries that have already enabled such schemes.

Our law firm in Montenegro is at the service of people who want to move here and set up businesses as sole traders until the digital nomad visa is enabled.

What is the difference between a digital nomad visa and residence permit?

One of the most important questions related to the digital nomad visa and an ordinary residence permit is “what is the difference between them?”. There are several differences between them, and among these, our Montenegrin lawyers present the following:

the digital nomad visa is a limited-time visa for people who want to live here while working for companies or clients located in other countries;
the digital nomad visa can be obtained by people who have flexible work schedules and who have the possibility of moving around a lot without wanting to establish themselves in a specific country;
the digital nomad visa enables the holder to retain his/her tax residency in the country of origin.

By comparison, a Montenegrin residence permit requires a foreign citizen to live here at a specific address and to pay taxes here after a specific period of time. However, a digital nomad can apply for residency if he or she finds that Montenegro meets his/her living requirements.

Until the Montenegro digital nomad visa becomes a reality, we invite you to discover what living here implies with the help of a temporary residence permit that can be obtained with the help of our lawyers.

New digital nomad visa program adopted in Montenegro

While at the middle of 2021, the remote work visa for Montenegro was a discussion, at the end of the year it became a reality. The new program will be open and available for all foreign citizens, employees and/or entrepreneurs by 2025. These categories of applicants will be able to perform their activities from Montenegro if they have permission from the foreign employers or if the operations of their businesses allow it.

The program is expected to receive applications starting with 2022. The visas will be available for one year and there will also be an extension option for those interested in prolonging their stays. Other important developments aim at offering tax breaks for foreign citizens working from Montenegro, as well as the introduction of a new electronic visa system.

According to information made available by the government, it will be possible for people to come to Montenegro alone or with their families. However, those moving to Montenegro with families may be subject to more stringent requirements from an income point of view.

The digital nomad visa for Montenegro is one of the most advanced changes the government intends to make in order to make the country an appealing destination for foreign tourists and workers.

If you are interested in obtaining a digital nomad visa, we kindly invite you to get in touch with our Montenegrin lawyers for updated information.

How much will one need to earn to obtain a Montenegrin digital nomad visa?

At the moment, no specific income threshold has been forwarded by the government, however, it is expected for the minimum income to allow the Montenegrin digital nomad visa holder to sustain him/herself while living here. In order to make a comparison, at the level of 2022, the minimum wage is a little over 500 euros, while the average was nearly 900 euros at the end of December 2021.

It is expected for the digital nomad visa for Montenegro to provide for higher income in order to ensure a sustainable and comfortable way of life for the foreign citizen moving here.

The main options for those who want to remotely from Montenegro

First of all, all foreign citizens must apply for a visa for entering Montenegro. The easiest to obtain is the tourist visa which enables one to stay for up to 90 days in a period of 180 days per year. This is the closest type of visa to the digital nomad one.

The second option is the temporary residence permit for Montenegro which comes with a duration of stay of one year. Such a permit can usually be obtained by employment or by entrepreneurship. However, this will also attract tax implications, meaning that a digital nomad will become a Montenegro taxpayer which is not the purpose of the 2022 Digital Nomad Visa Scheme. By comparison, a remote worker will pay employment levies in home country.

If you want to apply for a digital nomad visa for Montenegro, our lawyers will help you as soon as the program is enabled.

The simplest option for foreign citizens coming to Montenegro

At the moment, the simplest alternative to the Montenegrin digital nomad visa is to register a company here and thus acquire a temporary residence permit. This way, they will enjoy various benefits, among which the low corporate and personal income taxes are the most important. In terms of employment, the foreign citizen can become the director of the company, thus gaining residency.

Setting up a company in Montenegro is fairly simple and can be completed with the help of our law firm that can handle the incorporation procedure.

Montenegro’s population

According to statistics:

Montenegro’s population is 628,178 inhabitants at the level of 2021;
its median age is 38.8 years, thus, quite young;
67.6 % of the population (more than 427,000) lived in urban areas in 2020.

If you are interested in the Montenegro digital nomad visa, you can contact our local law firm who can provide you with updated information on the program.