Who can apply for the Montenegro digital nomad residence permit?

Any foreigner who is employed by, or performs work electronically for, a foreign company or their own company not registered in Montenegro, and who meets the general temporary-residence conditions (means of subsistence, accommodation, health insurance, valid passport, no serious criminal conviction). Setting up a Montenegrin company or registering as an entrepreneur ends digital-nomad status. Montenegro issues a temporary residence permit of up to two years to digital nomads, foreigners employed by or working electronically for a foreign company or their own company not registered in Montenegro. You apply in person at the Ministry of Interior in your town within your 90-day visa-free stay, the decision takes up to 40 days, and the permit can be extended once for two more years.

How much does the Digital nomad temporary residence permit cost and how long does it take?

The fee is about $53 (EUR 2 application, EUR 40 permit issuance, EUR 5 card (extension EUR 20)); Ministry of Interior fee list for temporary residence permits: EUR 2 for the request, EUR 40 administrative fee for issuing the permit, EUR 20 for an extension and EUR 5 for producing the card, so EUR 47 for a first permit. Converted at the ECB reference rate of 2026-10-02 (US$1.1225 per euro). Processing time: up to 6 weeks. The regional unit of the Ministry of Interior issues the permit within 40 days of a proper application. Filing a complete application before your 90-day stay ends lets you remain in Montenegro until the decision.

How long can I stay in Montenegro on the digital nomad permit?

Up to four years: a first permit of up to two years and one extension of up to two years. After that you must leave the status for six months before a new digital-nomad permit can be issued, unless you switch to another basis of residence.

Is there a Montenegro digital nomad visa as well as the permit?

Yes. The Law on Foreigners also lets consulates issue a type D long-stay visa to digital nomads who want to stay more than 90 but no more than 180 days in a year. It suits a single season; the residence permit is the route for longer stays.

Digital nomad visa · Europe

Montenegro digital nomad residence permit 2026: requirements and cost

Montenegro issues a temporary residence permit of up to two years to digital nomads, foreigners employed by or working electronically for a foreign company or their own company not registered in Montenegro. You apply in person at the Ministry of Interior in your town within your 90-day visa-free stay, the decision takes up to 40 days, and the permit can be extended once for two more years.

Official name: Dozvola za privremeni boravak digitalnog nomada (Zakon o strancima, član 60a). Facts updated 2026-10-04 · Not yet reviewed by a person · Dataset 2026.10.7.

Who can apply: Any nationality; Any foreigner who is employed by, or performs work electronically for, a foreign company or their own company not registered in Montenegro, and who meets the general temporary-residence conditions (means of subsistence, accommodation, health insurance, valid passport, no serious criminal conviction). Setting up a Montenegrin company or registering as an entrepreneur ends digital-nomad status.
Minimum income: Proof of means of subsistence; the general MUP rulebook deems EUR 10 per day of requested stay sufficient, the nomad-specific rulebook figure could not be retrieved
Fee: about $53; EUR 2 application, EUR 40 permit issuance, EUR 5 card (extension EUR 20)
Processing time: up to 6 weeks
Initial stay: 2 years, renewable up to 4 years
Where to apply: In the country; In person at the Ministry of Interior (MUP) regional unit or branch for civil status and personal documents in the municipality where you live, for example Podgorica or Kotor.

Not yet reviewed by a person

Compiled from the official pages listed below, last read on 2026-10-04. A named person has not yet re-checked it; treat it as a starting point and confirm with the source before you apply.

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Who can apply

Any foreigner who is employed by, or performs work electronically for, a foreign company or their own company not registered in Montenegro, and who meets the general temporary-residence conditions (means of subsistence, accommodation, health insurance, valid passport, no serious criminal conviction). Setting up a Montenegrin company or registering as an entrepreneur ends digital-nomad status.

What you need

Request form for a temporary residence permit, completed by the MUP officer at the counter and signed by you
Valid passport or national ID, valid at least three months beyond the permit period
Employment contract or other document proving you work electronically for a foreign company or your own company not registered in Montenegro
Proof of means of subsistence (bank statement, proof of income for the last three months)
Proof of accommodation (title deed, lease or host declaration)
Health insurance valid in Montenegro
Certificate that you have not been sentenced to more than six months' unconditional imprisonment in your country of origin, legalised and translated
Receipts for the EUR 2 request fee, EUR 40 permit fee and EUR 5 card fee

Income proof: The Law on Foreigners requires means of subsistence, accommodation and health insurance. The Ministry of Interior rulebook on temporary residence permits (Official Gazette 25/2019) accepts bank statements, three months of pay or other income and treats EUR 10 per day of stay as sufficient; the 2022 amendment (Official Gazette 145/2022) that added digital-nomad rules could not be read on gov.me. Third-party guides cite three times the minimum wage (about EUR 1,350 a month), which is unconfirmed, so no USD figure is scored.

Family: Close family members (spouse, minor children including a spouse's or adopted children under 18) can obtain temporary residence for family reunification with a digital nomad, under the same Ministry of Interior rulebook.

Cost and timeline

Minimum income	Proof of means of subsistence; the general MUP rulebook deems EUR 10 per day of requested stay sufficient, the nomad-specific rulebook figure could not be retrieved
Fee	about $53Ministry of Interior fee list for temporary residence permits: EUR 2 for the request, EUR 40 administrative fee for issuing the permit, EUR 20 for an extension and EUR 5 for producing the card, so EUR 47 for a first permit. Converted at the ECB reference rate of 2026-10-02 (US$1.1225 per euro).
Processing time	up to 6 weeksThe regional unit of the Ministry of Interior issues the permit within 40 days of a proper application. Filing a complete application before your 90-day stay ends lets you remain in Montenegro until the decision.
Stay	2 years, renewable up to 4 years

How to apply

In the country. In person at the Ministry of Interior (MUP) regional unit or branch for civil status and personal documents in the municipality where you live, for example Podgorica or Kotor.

Enter Montenegro (visa-free for most nationalities for 90 days, or on a type D long-stay visa) and arrange accommodation with a lease or host declaration.
Collect proof of remote work for a foreign or own company not registered in Montenegro, proof of funds, travel health insurance and a criminal-record certificate from your home country, with translations.
Go in person to the MUP office in your municipality; the officer fills the bilingual request form, takes your photo, two fingerprints and signature, and you pay the EUR 2 request fee.
Pay the EUR 40 permit fee and EUR 5 card fee and wait up to 40 days for the decision; collect the permit card in person.
To extend, apply in person at least 30 days before expiry; the extension runs up to two further years.

After you arrive

Renewal: Issued for up to two years and extendable for a maximum of two more years; after that a new permit can be issued only six months after the previous one expires. Extension requests go in person at least 30 days before expiry.

Residence: Permanent residence in Montenegro normally requires five years of continuous temporary residence, but the digital-nomad permit is capped at four years followed by a six-month break, and the Ministry's guidance does not say the years count; assume they do not.

Taxes

Montenegro taxes residents (183 days or centre of vital interests) on worldwide income at 9% and 15%; Montenegro's 2022 digital-nomad programme announced an income-tax exemption for nomads, but it is not stated on the Ministry's permit page, so confirm with the tax administration before relying on it.

In practice

The route is dedicated: Law on Foreigners amendments (Official Gazette 86/2022) define digital nomads, add a nomad purpose of stay and article 60a, and MUP has accepted applications since 2023, so it counts as a digital nomad visa.
The exact income figure is the main gap: the law delegates it to a Ministry rulebook we could not read, and MUP counters reportedly apply a multiple of the minimum wage; bring at least several months of statements showing income well above local costs.
A type D visa for digital nomads (90 to 180 days) also exists for people who do not want a residence permit; it is issued by consulates and does not lead to the permit.
Podgorica is the administrative base; Kotor and the coast host most nomads, and the Ministry office for the Bay of Kotor is in Kotor.

For your passport

Choose your passport in the ranker and the notes that apply to you move to the top.

EU, EEA, CH:Visa-free for 90 days in 180; EU citizens still need the residence permit to stay longer and apply at MUP like everyone else.
US, GB, CA, AU, NZ, JP:Visa-free for 90 days in 180, which is enough to arrive and lodge the permit application in person; no prior consular visa is required.
All other passports:Nationals who need a visa for Montenegro should obtain a type D visa for digital nomads from a Montenegrin consulate, then apply for the permit at MUP after arrival.

Cities in Montenegro on Nostos

Budva
Balanced score 64 · $1,230/month
Kotor
Balanced score 64 · $1,230/month
Podgorica
Balanced score 63 · $1,230/month

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Frequently asked

Who can apply for the Montenegro digital nomad residence permit?: Any foreigner who is employed by, or performs work electronically for, a foreign company or their own company not registered in Montenegro, and who meets the general temporary-residence conditions (means of subsistence, accommodation, health insurance, valid passport, no serious criminal conviction). Setting up a Montenegrin company or registering as an entrepreneur ends digital-nomad status. Montenegro issues a temporary residence permit of up to two years to digital nomads, foreigners employed by or working electronically for a foreign company or their own company not registered in Montenegro. You apply in person at the Ministry of Interior in your town within your 90-day visa-free stay, the decision takes up to 40 days, and the permit can be extended once for two more years.
How much income do you need for the Digital nomad temporary residence permit?: The Law on Foreigners requires means of subsistence, accommodation and health insurance. The Ministry of Interior rulebook on temporary residence permits (Official Gazette 25/2019) accepts bank statements, three months of pay or other income and treats EUR 10 per day of stay as sufficient; the 2022 amendment (Official Gazette 145/2022) that added digital-nomad rules could not be read on gov.me. Third-party guides cite three times the minimum wage (about EUR 1,350 a month), which is unconfirmed, so no USD figure is scored.
How much does the Digital nomad temporary residence permit cost and how long does it take?: The fee is about $53 (EUR 2 application, EUR 40 permit issuance, EUR 5 card (extension EUR 20)); Ministry of Interior fee list for temporary residence permits: EUR 2 for the request, EUR 40 administrative fee for issuing the permit, EUR 20 for an extension and EUR 5 for producing the card, so EUR 47 for a first permit. Converted at the ECB reference rate of 2026-10-02 (US$1.1225 per euro). Processing time: up to 6 weeks. The regional unit of the Ministry of Interior issues the permit within 40 days of a proper application. Filing a complete application before your 90-day stay ends lets you remain in Montenegro until the decision.
How long can you stay in Montenegro on the Digital nomad temporary residence permit, and can it be renewed?: 2 years, renewable up to 4 years. Issued for up to two years and extendable for a maximum of two more years; after that a new permit can be issued only six months after the previous one expires. Extension requests go in person at least 30 days before expiry.
Does the Digital nomad temporary residence permit lead to permanent residence in Montenegro?: Permanent residence in Montenegro normally requires five years of continuous temporary residence, but the digital-nomad permit is capped at four years followed by a six-month break, and the Ministry's guidance does not say the years count; assume they do not.
Can family members come with you on the Digital nomad temporary residence permit?: Close family members (spouse, minor children including a spouse's or adopted children under 18) can obtain temporary residence for family reunification with a digital nomad, under the same Ministry of Interior rulebook.
Do you pay tax in Montenegro on the Digital nomad temporary residence permit?: Montenegro taxes residents (183 days or centre of vital interests) on worldwide income at 9% and 15%; Montenegro's 2022 digital-nomad programme announced an income-tax exemption for nomads, but it is not stated on the Ministry's permit page, so confirm with the tax administration before relying on it.
Where do you apply for the Digital nomad temporary residence permit?: In the country: In person at the Ministry of Interior (MUP) regional unit or branch for civil status and personal documents in the municipality where you live, for example Podgorica or Kotor.
How long can I stay in Montenegro on the digital nomad permit?: Up to four years: a first permit of up to two years and one extension of up to two years. After that you must leave the status for six months before a new digital-nomad permit can be issued, unless you switch to another basis of residence.
Is there a Montenegro digital nomad visa as well as the permit?: Yes. The Law on Foreigners also lets consulates issue a type D long-stay visa to digital nomads who want to stay more than 90 but no more than 180 days in a year. It suits a single season; the residence permit is the route for longer stays.

Sources

How to get the visa? Legal status for nomads, Government of Montenegro, Digital Nomads Montenegro portal (digitalnomads.gov.me) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Application in person at MUP, required proofs, two-year permit plus two-year extension, 40-day decision, family reunification, rulebook references
Zakon o strancima (Službeni list CG, br. 12/2018, 3/2019 i 86/2022), Government of Montenegro (gov.me documents) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Definition of digital nomad (art. 6), type D visa for nomads (art. 18), purpose of stay 12a, article 60a permit conditions, duration and family members
Informacije za strance, privremeni boravak i rad, Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova (gov.me) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Fees: EUR 2 request, EUR 40 temporary residence permit, EUR 20 extension, EUR 5 card
Pravilnik o obrascima, bližim uslovima i načinu izdavanja dozvole za privremeni boravak i dozvole za privremeni boravak i rad (Sl. list CG 25/2019), Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova (gov.me) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Accepted proofs of means of subsistence, EUR 10 per day rule, accommodation and insurance proofs, EUR 5 card fee

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