Last updated: 2 November 2026. Rules checked on 2 November 2026 at 09:35 Paris time against the Decree on the Visa Regime, Sl. list CG 158/2026, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since 1 November 2026, nationals of Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye need a visa to enter Montenegro. They can still enter, transit and stay for up to 30 days without a Montenegrin visa if they hold a valid Schengen, Australian, Japanese, Canadian, New Zealand, Irish, US or UK visa, or a residence permit from one of those places. The stay ends sooner if that visa or permit expires first.
This page gives the rule for each of the five nationalities, the exception, how to apply, and what airlines, OTAs and TMCs should check. Rule wording on this page is our translation from Montenegrin. The official Montenegrin text controls, and Montenegrin border police decide at the border. For other destinations, see our visa requirements by country.
Montenegro visa rules at a glance
The five nationalities need a visa from 1 November 2026. Every value that can change sits in this table.
| Item | Current status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Visa required | Nationals of Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Ordinary passports need a Montenegrin visa to enter, transit or stay | Decree 158/2026, Art. 1 and 4. MFA notice, 31 Oct 2026 |
| Rule in force since | 1 November 2026 | Decree 158/2026, Art. 13 |
| Rule end date | No end date set | Decree 158/2026 |
| Foreign visa exception | A valid Schengen, Australian, Japanese, Canadian, New Zealand, Irish, US or UK visa. Entry, transit and stay up to 30 days, never past the visa's expiry | Decree 158/2026, Art. 5, para 1 |
| Residence permit exception | A residence permit of a Schengen state, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the US or the UK. Same 30 days, never past the permit's expiry | Decree 158/2026, Art. 5, para 2 |
| Transitional rule | Nationals of the five who entered lawfully by 23:59 on 31 October 2026 may stay up to 30 days without a visa, under the rules that applied to them | MFA notice, 31 Oct 2026 |
| Where to apply | A Montenegrin embassy or consulate, or a VFS Global centre where one exists. Never from inside Montenegro | MFA notice, 31 Oct 2026 |
| VFS Global centres | Open in Türkiye, Russia and Belarus. China and Saudi Arabia: planned, no date | MFA notice, 31 Oct 2026 |
| Fee and timing, C visa | €35 consular fee at a Montenegrin mission. VFS adds a service fee and postage. Decision within 10 days, up to 30 days, or up to 60 days if more documents are needed. Apply at least 15 days before travel | MFA notice, 31 Oct 2026 |
| Montenegrin e-Visa | Planned, no date | MFA, 27 Jul 2026 |
| Rules last checked | 2 November 2026, 09:35 Paris time | Decree 158/2026 and MFA notice |
Which nationalities need a visa for Montenegro?
Nationals of Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye need a visa since 1 November 2026. So does every nationality that is not on the decree's visa-free lists. Article 1 lists the countries whose nationals get 90 days without a visa. Article 3 adds Peru, with 30 days under a treaty. Under Article 4, everyone else needs a visa unless an international agreement or an exception applies.
The five nationalities are not on either list, so Article 4 applies to them. Our news post covers what changed on 1 November 2026.
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar are not on the 90-day list either. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs country pages say their nationals need a visa.
Montenegro visa for Russian citizens
Russian citizens need a visa for Montenegro since 1 November 2026. Until 31 October they could stay up to 30 days without one, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A valid visa or residence permit from one of the eight issuers in Article 5 still allows up to 30 days. The MFA lists VFS Global centres in Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Petrozavodsk, Murmansk, Yekaterinburg, Voronezh, Pskov and Novorossiysk, and the Montenegrin embassy in Moscow.
Montenegro visa for Turkish citizens
Turkish citizens need a visa for Montenegro since 1 November 2026. Their visa-free entry ended on 31 October. The Article 5 exception applies to them like any other visa-required nationality. The MFA lists VFS Global centres in Ankara and Istanbul, the embassy in Ankara and the consulate general in Istanbul. Under Article 8, holders of diplomatic and service passports travel under any bilateral visa agreement Montenegro has with their country. This page covers ordinary passports.
Montenegro visa for Chinese citizens
Most Chinese citizens already needed a visa before 1 November 2026. What ended on 31 October were two exemptions of up to 30 days. One covered business passport holders with an invitation letter. The other covered organised tourist groups that enter, stay and leave together, with a paid package and proof of return. Both are gone, per the MFA.
Chinese citizens apply at the Montenegrin embassy in Beijing. The MFA says VFS centres in China are planned. Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR passports keep 90 days without a visa under Article 1, paragraph 2. Taiwan passports keep 90 days under the last paragraph of Article 1.
Montenegro visa for Saudi citizens
Saudi citizens need a visa for Montenegro since 1 November 2026. Until 31 October they could stay up to 30 days without one, per the MFA. The Article 5 exception applies. The MFA notice of 31 October lists no Montenegrin mission or VFS centre in Saudi Arabia, and says VFS centres there are planned. The MFA country page says Montenegro's ambassador to Saudi Arabia is based in Abu Dhabi. Saudi travellers who plan to rely on a Schengen visa can read our page on Schengen visa rules for Saudi and Gulf travellers.
Montenegro visa for Belarusian citizens
Belarusian citizens need a visa for Montenegro since 1 November 2026. Before that, a travel agreement let them stay up to 30 days without one, per the MFA. The Article 5 exception applies. The MFA lists one application point in Belarus, the VFS Global centre in Minsk.
Why some trackers list four countries, not five. Ordinary Chinese passport holders already needed a visa, so some trackers count only Belarus, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs counts five because the Chinese tour-group and business-passport exemptions also ended on 31 October 2026.
Entering Montenegro with a Schengen, US or UK visa or residence permit
A valid visa or residence permit from one of eight issuers allows entry, transit and a stay of up to 30 days. If the visa or permit expires sooner, the stay ends at its expiry.
The issuers in Article 5 of the decree are:
- the Schengen area, for a Schengen visa or a residence permit of a Schengen state
- Australia
- Japan
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- the United States
- the United Kingdom
A visa and a residence permit count the same way. The exception is not limited to the five nationalities. It covers any traveller who needs a Montenegrin visa. The old decree also named Bulgarian and Romanian visas. Article 5 of the new decree does not.
Example. A Turkish passport holder lands in Podgorica on 10 November 2026 with a UK visa valid until 22 November 2026. The stay can last until 22 November at the latest, not 30 days. With a UK visa valid until March 2027, the 30-day limit applies instead.
Turkish travellers who plan to rely on a Schengen visa should check Schengen visa appointments in Türkiye first.
Regulatory flag. The decree says "valid visa". It does not say whether the visa must be multiple-entry, whether it must have been used, or how much validity must remain. We add no conditions the text does not state. Border police decide at the border.
How to apply for a Montenegro visa: where, fee, processing time
Apply at a Montenegrin embassy or consulate, or at a VFS Global centre. The consular fee is €35 and the decision comes within 10 days. Apply at least 15 days before travel. Applications from inside Montenegro are not possible.
Per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notice of 31 October 2026, VFS centres add a service fee and postage to the €35, and the MFA gives no amount for them. The 10-day decision can take up to 30 days if the file needs more review, or up to 60 days if more documents are needed. A D visa needs at least 60 days.
Application points listed by the MFA on 31 October 2026:
| Country | Listed application points |
|---|---|
| Türkiye | VFS Ankara, VFS Istanbul, embassy in Ankara, consulate general in Istanbul |
| Russia | VFS in Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Petrozavodsk, Murmansk, Yekaterinburg, Voronezh, Pskov and Novorossiysk. Embassy in Moscow |
| Belarus | VFS Minsk |
| China | Embassy in Beijing |
| Saudi Arabia | None listed |
Addresses are in the MFA notice.
C visa basics, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- A C visa covers transit, or a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period counted from the first entry. It is issued for one, two or multiple entries. A multiple-entry C visa runs from six months to five years.
- The passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid for at least three months after the planned departure from Montenegro.
- Documents listed by the MFA: passport, one 35 x 45 mm colour photo, proof of purpose such as an invitation or guarantee letter, proof of funds of at least €50 per day of stay, travel health insurance, and proof of fee payment. Proof of accommodation and a return ticket are optional.
What airlines, OTAs and TMCs should do
Treat the five nationalities as visa required for any arrival on or after 1 November 2026, and accept the Article 5 exception only on a valid visa or permit from the eight issuers. The two lists below set out the checks.
Airlines: check-in, stations, revenue protection
- Set document-check rules for arrivals in Montenegro, Podgorica and Tivat included, so that ordinary passports of Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye are visa required.
- Accept the 30-day exception only with a valid visa or residence permit from one of the eight issuers. Check its expiry date against the planned stay.
- Brief stations on transit passengers. The decree covers transit as well as entry and stay.
- Treat any arrival on or after 1 November 2026 under the new rule, including rebookings from earlier dates.
- Do not tell passengers they can apply on arrival. Applications inside Montenegro are not possible.
More on carrier checks in what airlines check before boarding.
OTAs, tour operators and TMCs
- Re-scan Montenegro bookings that arrive on or after 1 November 2026 for the five nationalities. Ask each traveller whether they hold a qualifying visa or residence permit.
- Show the lead time at booking. Apply at least 15 days before travel. The decision takes 10 days, and up to 30 or 60.
- For Chinese and Saudi travellers, point to the MFA notice for where to apply until VFS centres open in their country.
- Chinese tour groups no longer have a group exemption. Each member needs a Montenegrin visa or a qualifying foreign visa or permit.
- Review cancellation and visa-refusal terms on packages. Those terms are contractual, and this page gives no advice on them.
You can check the requirement for any passport in our requirements checker.
Transit through Montenegro and travellers already in the country
Transit is in scope. The decree's wording covers entry, transit across the territory and stay, so a transit passenger of the five nationalities needs a visa unless the Article 5 exception applies.
Travellers of the five nationalities who entered lawfully by 23:59 on 31 October 2026 may stay up to 30 days without a visa, under the rules that applied to them. Those lawfully in Montenegro on 1 November may continue their stay under the rules that govern their stay. Both points come from the MFA notice of 31 October 2026.
What could change next
Two changes are announced without a date. A third is already in the decree.
- VFS centres in China and Saudi Arabia. The MFA called them planned on 31 October 2026.
- A Montenegrin e-Visa. On 27 July 2026 the MFA described an e-Visa as the goal of its new visa information system. It gave no date.
- No more seasonal exemptions. Article 11 of the decree says visa exemptions can no longer be set by separate Government acts.
FAQ
Which nationalities need a visa for Montenegro since 1 November 2026?
Nationals of Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, under the Decree on the Visa Regime, Sl. list CG 158/2026. Every other nationality not on the decree's visa-free lists also needs a visa, unless an exception applies.
Can I enter Montenegro with a Schengen, US or UK visa? For how long?
Yes. A valid Schengen, Australian, Japanese, Canadian, New Zealand, Irish, US or UK visa allows entry, transit and a stay of up to 30 days. If the visa expires sooner, the stay ends at its expiry. Border police decide at the border.
Do Russians, Turks, Chinese or Saudis need a visa for Montenegro?
Yes, since 1 November 2026, unless they hold a qualifying visa or residence permit from one of the eight issuers in Article 5. For Chinese citizens, the change is the end of the tour-group and business-passport exemptions. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan passports keep 90 days without a visa.
How much is a Montenegro visa and how long does it take?
The consular fee is €35 at a Montenegrin mission, and VFS centres add a service fee and postage. The decision comes within 10 days, up to 30 days, or up to 60 days if more documents are needed. Apply for a C visa at least 15 days before travel.
Can I apply for a Montenegro visa after arriving in Montenegro?
No. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says visa applications cannot be made inside Montenegro. Apply at a Montenegrin embassy or consulate, or at a VFS Global centre, before travel.
Does a residence permit from the US, UK or a Schengen country count?
Yes. A residence permit of a Schengen state, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the US or the UK allows up to 30 days, the same as a visa. The stay ends at the permit's expiry if that comes sooner.
Is transit through Montenegro covered by the visa rule?
Yes. The decree covers entry, transit and stay. A transit passenger of a visa-required nationality needs a visa unless the Article 5 visa or residence permit exception applies.
Does Montenegro have an e-Visa?
Not yet. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes an e-Visa as the goal of its new visa information system and has given no date. Applications go through embassies, consulates and VFS Global centres.
Sources
Decree and MFA notice re-opened on 2 November 2026 at 09:35 Paris time. Other sources opened on 2 November 2026.
- Government of Montenegro, Decree on the Visa Regime (Uredba o viznom režimu), Sl. list CG 158/2026, adopted 26 Oct 2026, in force 27 Oct 2026, applies from 1 Nov 2026: register page
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Izmjene viznog režima koje se primjenjuju od 1. novembra 2026. godine, servisne informacije, 31 Oct 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Montenegro fully aligns its visa policy with the European Union, 27 Jul 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Visas, used only for C visa basics, passport validity and documents
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs country pages: China, Saudi Arabia, Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain
Information for travel businesses, not legal advice. Rule wording is our translation from Montenegrin, and the official Montenegrin text controls. Montenegrin border police decide on entry. We do not advise on individual cases. Check a trip in the requirements checker.