Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-montenegro

Change description : 2025-12-29 14:28:00: Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK (‘Passports and travel’ section). [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeGuidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2024-09-05 13:31:06.337933728 +00:00..2025-12-29 14:28:42.209102184 +00:00

Guidance

Living in Montenegro

Advice

Information forabout Britishmoving peopleto, living inor Montenegro,retiring includingin informationMontenegro on– health,including education,visas, benefits,working, healthcare and residence requirements. driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
24 October 2013
Last updated
529 SeptemberDecember 20242025 — See all updates

This

Getting guidehelp setswith outliving essentialin informationMontenegro

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For any questions about moving to or living in Montenegro.Montenegro, Readyou aboutmay howbe ourable embassyto inget Podgoricahelp canfrom help. the:

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    safety and security

Before you go

SeeRead our travelguidance adviceon formoving, Montenegro forliving up-to-dateor informationretiring onabroad.

Get entryhelp requirements,from localthe lawsUK andgovernment customs,abroad, safetyincluding andin emergencies. an emergency.

VisasVisas, residency and residencycitizenship

CheckMake the sure you meet the entry requirements for Montenegro inbefore ouryou travel advice.travel.

When

Visas applyingand forresidence apermits

Check Montenegrinwhich visa or aresidence residencypermit permit, you mayneed beto askedlive forin yourMontenegro. policeRead certificateguidance fromon thecitizenship UK. and Youresidency canin applyMontenegro for itmore by filing the online application form available at the ACRO website.information.

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  • do certificateresearch legalisedor bytraining
  • live applyingwith forfamily thatin serviceMontenegro
  • live fromin theMontenegro Legalisationwithout Office.working

If Theyou Britishwant Embassyto cannotextend provideyour legalisationvisa services.

Passportsor andresidence travel

Youpermit, canread applythe forMontenegrin orgovernment’s renewguidance youron Britishtemporary passport from Montenegroresidence.

Check theand Montenegrostays travelof adviceup forto passport90 validitydays requirements.in Montenegro.

Permanent residency

IfYou youmay needbe able to travelapply urgentlyfor andpermanent yourresidency UKin passportMontenegro.

To isfind lost,out stolen,if damagedyou’re oreligible otherwiseand unavailable,how youto canapply, considerread applyingthe forMontenegrin thegovernment’s Emergencyguidance Travelon Documentpermanent residence.

Healthcare in Montenegro

Citizenship

BritishMontenegro nationalsgenerally whodoes arenot residentrecognise indual thecitizenship. UKThis andmeans eligiblethat toyou accessmay NHS treatmenthave into thegive UKup are(renounce)  entitledyour toBritish freecitizenship emergencyto medicalbecome treatmenta duringMontenegrin their stay in Montenegro.citizen.

InTo orderfind toout exerciseif thisyou’re righteligible tofor free,Montenegrin urgent medical care in Montenegro, you must have:citizenship:

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For toany benefitsquestions underor issues, contact:

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Read orour HMRCguidance certificateon tomoving, theliving branchor officeretiring ofabroad. theThis Montenegrincovers Healthhow Insuranceto:

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If

Resident youchildren havetravelling movedwithout toa Montenegroparent onor alegal long-termguardian

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Forparents moreor informationguardians visitmust the NHSgive Movingwritten Abroad page.consent.

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Healthcare in some of settings.

Montenegro

IfRead you’reour registeredguidance ason beingmoving, residentliving andor inretiring employmentabroad. inThis Montenegrocovers andhow maketo:

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Montenegro you’rehas entitleda toreciprocal the same health benefitsagreement aswith anthe insuredUK. MontenegrinThis national.provides Yoursome employerpublic shouldhealthcare befor ableBritish tonationals obtainvisiting aMontenegro. 

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  • who’s UKeligible
  • which nationalsdocuments onlyyou appliesmust provide to publicprove healthcareyour facilities.

    eligibility

Medicine

If you arepay onfor prescriptionmedical medication,treatment youat shouldpublic ensurehealth youinstitutions havein enoughMontenegro, for youryou stayshould inget Montenegro,a orreceipt. thatYou youshould arepay ablethe tosame obtainfees itas whennon-insured inMontenegrin Montenegro. citizens. You may behave prohibitedto frompay bringingin cash at some medicinesmedical intofacilities.

You’re entitled to the countrysame becausehealth they’rebenefits notas availableinsured inMontenegrin thenationals Montenegro:if thisyou’re includesregistered someas majora brandsresident readilyin availableMontenegro, in theemployment, UK.

Youand shouldmake consultsocial yoursecurity GPcontributions. beforeYour travellingemployer toshould findhelp outyou aboutget anya alternativelocal medication.

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WhenIf travelling to Montenegro, you mayare carrynot upentitled to apublic 6-monthhealthcare, supplymake ofsure medicinesyou forhave personalappropriate use.health Ifinsurance yourto medicinecover containsany narcotichealthcare substances,costs. thenYou thecan amountget isinsurance reducedfrom toMontenegrin theor prescribedinternational quantityproviders.

To requiredfind forout uphow to 30get days.medical treatment:

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Working Thisin needsMontenegro

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ReadTo thework guidancein ifMontenegro, you need toa travelwork withpermit medicines. 

Workingor inwork Montenegro

visa.

BritishIf nationalsyou mayhave worknot inyet Montenegro,travelled providingto youMontenegro, havecontact athe workEmbassy permit.

Toof obtainMontenegro ain workLondon permit,to iffind youout arehow abroad,to youget shoulda contactwork thepermit Montenegroor Embassy in the UK.visa.

If you are already in Montenegro, seekcontact advice from the foreigners’ police for foreigners based in the municipality where you have registered your stay.

You havemust to submit your application for a temporary residence permit and work permitpermit at inyour person, on the specified form, to the local office of the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro inbefore yourthe placeend of residence.

Readyour the90 Montenegrinday government’s guidancevisa-free onstay. workingIf inyou Montenegrodo, asyou acan foreignstay national,in informationMontenegro aboutuntil typesthe ofauthorities visamake anda proceduredecision howon toyour get a visa.application.

YouFor maymore needinformation, toread getthe yourMontenegrin professionalgovernment’s qualificationguidance recognisedon iflabour and employment.

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in aMontenegro, professionyou thatmay isneed regulated in Montenegro. Read guidance on how to get your qualificationforeign recognizedqualifications in Montenegrorecognised.

If

Driving you need a professional service provider in Montenegro,Montenegro

Read suchour asguidance anon Englishmoving, speakingliving lawyer,or interpretersretiring andabroad. translatorsThis seecovers https://www.gov.uk/guidance/professional-services-if-you-are-abroad.how to:

Education
  • drive inabroad Montenegro

Educationallegally

  • take institutionsyour inUK Montenegrovehicle canabroad
  • get bedriving publiclicence orletters

    • If private.you Thehave Ministrya ofMontenegrin Education,residence Sciencepermit, andyou Innovationscan isdrive in chargeMontenegro offor theup overallto education6 policy.months Educationusing isyour providedvalid inUK preschooldriving institutions,licence. schools,To educationalcontinue centres,driving resourceafter centres,6 bymonths, adultyou educationmust providers,exchange atyour universities,UK faculties,licence artfor academiesa andMontenegrin higherlicence. vocationalContact schools.

    Educationyour inlocal Montenegrooffice startsof inthe eitherMinistry pre-schoolof orthe primaryInterior school.of ChildrenMontenegro enrolfor ininformation primaryon schoolshow atto thedo agethis.

    The Ministry of 6the andInterior itwill lastskeep foryour nineUK years.driving Primarylicence educationwhen isyou compulsoryapply for allthe childrenexchange. ageThey 6will return it to 15the yearsDriver and isVehicle freeLicensing ofAgency charge.(DVLA) Schoolsin arethe mixed sex.UK.

    ForeignFor citizensmore whoinformation, haveread eitherabout temporaryroad ortravel permanentin residenceMontenegro, in Montenegrosafety haveand thesecurity samein rightsthe totravel accessadvice educationfor asMontenegro.

    Disabled Montenegrindrivers

    You citizens.may Foreignersbe areable entitled to enrolapply infor a higherMontenegrin educationdisabled studyparking programcard. inContact Montenegroyour underlocal themunicipal sameauthority conditionsresponsible asfor Montenegrintraffic citizens.

    Languagefor ofmore instructioninformation inand educationalto institutionsapply. This is usually the official,Municipal MontenegrinSecretariat language.for ClassesPublic areUtilities alsoand heldTraffic.

    If inyou otherhave languagesa inUK officialBlue use:Badge Serbian,and Bosnian,live Albanianin andMontenegro, Croatian.

    Readyou moremust aboutreturn educationit into Montenegro.the original UK issuing authority.

    Tax

    CheckRead whichour typeguidance ofon visamoving, living or residenceretiring permitabroad. youThis maycovers needtax, withincluding the Montenegropaying EmbassyUK intax theand UK.National Insurance.

    Tax

    The UK has a a double taxation agreement with Montenegro so so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

    Contact Ask the relevantMontenegrin taxTax authorityAdministration (in Montenegrin) for any questions about double taxation relief. relief.

    YouConsider shouldgetting get professional advice on paying tax in Montenegro. FindTo an do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Montenegro.

    Read guidance on:

    Pensions

    Children

    Read yourour car,guidance youon mustmoving, haveliving vehicleor registration/ownershipretiring documentsabroad. andThis acovers locally-validmoving insuranceabroad policy.with children, including:

    The

    The If Ministryyou ofhave thea Interiorvalid oftemporary Montenegroor ispermanent theMontenegrin responsibleresidence authoritypermit, foryou replacinghave foreignrights drivingto licenceschild and registrationsocial ofprotection vehicles.

    Thein EmbassyMontenegro. isContact awareyour of the current policy by the local authoritiesCentre tofor retainSocial BritishWork driver’s(in licencesMontenegrin) when applying for aadvice Montenegrin driver’s licence. Please note: UK driving licences seized by the Montenegrin authorities are returned to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in the UK.support.

    DrivingSchools abroadand education

    IfThe youEuropean areCommission planningprovides to drive in Montenegro, see information on drivingabout abroadthe andschool readsystem thein [RAC guide].Montenegro.

    IfAll you’rechildren askedaged for6 ato letter15 authenticating,must certifyingattend orschool validatingin yourMontenegro.

    For UKmore driver’sinformation, licence,read youthe shouldMontenegrin contactgovernment’s yourguidance UKon issuingeducation officein (eg the DVLA).Montenegro.

    Childcare

    GuidanceThe forMontenegrin travellingMinistry byof roadEducation, inScience Montenegroand seeInnovation FCDOis Travelresponsible Advice for Montenegro.

    Ifearly youchildhood wisheducation toand takecare yourin vehicle with you, see https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-ukMontenegro.

    Voting

    YouFor maymore beinformation, ableread tothe voteEuropean inCommission’s someguidance UKon elections.preschool Youeducation can:

    .

    Births, deaths, marriagemarriages and civil partnershippartnerships

    Births

    If your child is born in MontenegroMontenegro, you should register the birth with the localMontenegrin authorities. authorities. You can thendo registerthis withat theyour UKlocal authoritiesoffice andof applythe forMinistry aof UKthe birthInterior certificate.of Montenegro.

    IfRead yourour childguidance hason Britishmoving, nationality, youliving door notretiring needabroad. toThis covers how to:

    Deaths

    IfRead someoneour diesguidance inon Montenegromoving, readliving ouror guidanceretiring on:abroad. This covers:

    Marriage and civil partnership

    FindIf out howsomeone youdies canin getMontenegro, marriedread orguidance get a civil partnership abroad.on:

    Pets

    You can bring up to 5 pets for non-commercial purpose, each at least 3 months old, as long as:

    Marriages vaccination,and whichcivil tookpartnerships

    Read placeour atguidance leaston 21moving, daysliving prioror entryretiring dateabroad. whenThis thecovers animalhow wasto atget leastmarried 12or weeksform old

  • have a titrecivil testpartnership againstabroad.

    For rabiesmore madeinformation, 30contact daysyour afterlocal themunicipality rabiesin vaccination,Montenegro.

    Divorce issuedand withinseparation

    Read 30our daysguidance beforeon themoving, travel

  • petliving hasor beenretiring treatedabroad. againstThis Echinococcuscovers multilocularishow into get a prescribeddivorce wayor beforeend entrya andcivil exitpartnership.

    The fromMontenegrin Montenegro

  • haveCentre veterinaryfor certificateSocial ofWork animalalso healthoffers status

    • Petsguidance muston behow accompaniedto byget thea ownerdivorce orin anMontenegro authorised(in person. Montenegrin).

    YouConsider shouldtaking contactlegal theadvice Directoratefrom foran FoodEnglish-speaking Safety,lawyer Veterinaryin and Phytosanitary AffairsMontenegro if additional information is needed. .

    Emergencies

    TheDocuments support for British nationalspeople abroadin pageMontenegro

    Read listsour guidance on howdocuments you can help yourself stay safe abroad, and the help the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide.

    Dial 122 for theBritish police,people ambulance,abroad. orThis fire brigade.covers: 

    If

    • getting you’rea thecopy victim of ayour crime,police haverecords
    • legalising beenand arrested,certifying orUK aredocuments
    • marriage affectedand bycivil apartnership crisis, contactdocuments
    • affirmations theand Britishaffidavits

    Lawyers, Embassytranslators Podgorica.

    and notaries

    IfTo youfind havean beenEnglish-speaking thelawyer, victimtranslator of a rape or sexualnotary assault in Montenegro, read the Montenegro specific guidance on whatprofessional toservices do andif whereyou’re to get support in cases of rape and sexual assaultabroad.

    Pets

    MoreIf detailsyou onwant yourto rightsbring andyour obligationspet inwith relationyou to yourMontenegro, contact with read:

    Returning ofto this.

    the UK

    IfRead youreturning areto inthe needUK ofpermanently. professionalThis serviceincludes providersinformation inon Montenegro,bringing likefamily Englishmembers speakingback lawyers,to interpretersthe UK, tax and translatorsaccess seeto https://www.gov.uk/guidance/professional-services-if-you-are-abroad.services.

    Returning to the UKDisclaimer

    ReadWe theprovide guidancethis on returninginformation toas the UK permanentlya whichguide includesonly. For informationdefinitive oninformation, bringingcontact familythe members,Montenegrin taxauthorities.

    Read andour accessconsular toinformation services.disclaimer.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2013
    Last updated 529 SeptemberDecember 2024 + show2025 href="#full-history">+ show all updates

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    Contents

    Update history

    2025-12-29 14:28
    Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK (‘Passports and travel’ section).

    2024-09-05 14:30
    Updated details on rights and obligations in relation to contact with the local police in Montenegro.

    2024-04-17 10:38
    The guidance has been fully reviewed and updated where necessary.