On October 9, the Montenegrin Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, approved the suspension of visa-free regimes for citizens of Armenia, Uzbekistan, and Egypt. This move is part of the country’s effort to align more closely with the European Union’s common visa policy as it advances toward EU membership.
“Montenegro continues to harmonise with EU visa policy,” the government stated, adding that the decision sends “a clear signal of Montenegro’s firm commitment to full EU membership.”
The reform aims to better manage migration flows and strengthen border controls. The Montenegrin government emphasized that this is another step toward aligning the national legal framework with European standards, a key requirement for progress in Chapter 24 of the EU accession process, which focuses on justice, freedom, and security.
Montenegro aligns its visa regime with the European Union
As part of these reforms, Montenegro has revised its list of visa-required countries to further synchronize with EU practices. Citizens of Kuwait will now need a visa to enter Montenegro, while nationals of the Republic of Nauru will be granted visa-free access.
Additionally, Montenegro has updated its national regulations to reflect changes in the Schengen framework, particularly the integration of Bulgaria and Romania into the border-free travel area. These updates reflect the country’s commitment to ensuring full compatibility between its domestic legal system and European mobility instruments.
In a broader effort to expand its global presence and streamline visa services, Montenegro also plans to open new embassies in several countries, including India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. These new diplomatic missions aim to facilitate visa issuance, strengthen international cooperation, and better assist foreign nationals in their application processes.
The Montenegrin government has also approved a series of technical regulations to streamline visa issuance and oversight procedures. The focus is on enhancing transparency, traceability, and inter-agency cooperation. These reforms are part of the 2024–2027 national reform program, which is designed to help the country take another major step toward European integration.
Montenegro’s digital leap: a new e-Visa system in the works
Building on these policy changes, the Montenegrin government is preparing for an even more ambitious shift, the introduction of an electronic visa (e-Visa) system.
Outlined in the draft law amending the Law on Foreigners, this new system will establish a Visa Information System (VIS), a centralized digital platform modeled on the European system.
The upcoming system will allow foreign nationals to apply for visas online, upload supporting documents, and pay processing fees electronically. Applications will need to be submitted at least 15 days before travel for short-stay (Type C) visas and up to 60 days in advance for long-stay (Type D) visas.
Once approved, visas will be issued in digital format, complete with a barcode, photo, and the applicant’s personal data.
This reform is designed to simplify the application process, speed up processing times, and enhance security, all while modernizing how Montenegro manages migration. It also marks a major step toward Montenegro’s technical and regulatory integration into the Schengen Area, demonstrating how digital transformation can support both European harmonization and national administrative efficiency.
