Montenegro Citizenship by Investment - Apply for Montenegro citizenship

It depends on your unique situation. Most often, JH Marlin Law assists with other citizenship programs. Provided that Montenegro joins the EU in the future, this may be one way to obtain an affordable citizenship with a European passport of a EU country. 

No. Montenegro is currently a candidate country for European Union membership and is likely to join the European Union in 2025. 

Montenegro’s Citizenship by Admission scheme was published in Official Gazette of Montenegro 34/10, 40/16 and 62/18 and was adopted in 2018. 

Yes, applications for Montenegro citizenship by investment are currently open until the end of 2022. 

A total of 2000 investors and their family members will be admitted as citizens.

No, currently Montenegro is not part of the Schengen are. However, Montenegrin passport holders can travel to EU Schengen countries without a visa. Montenegro is also likely to join the Schengen area in 2025.

The minimum investment for the program is EUR 250,000, making it one of the cheapest programs in Europe. 

Permanent residency is issued within 3 weeks after investment.

No. Citizenship program applications can only be submitted on behalf the applicant through an intermediary agent.

Yes, given that your home country also allows dual citizenship. For example, China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and the UAE may not allow becoming dual citizens. 

Montenegro uses the Euro as currency. 

First the agent performs initial due diligence checks. Later the government appointed third party due diligence firms conduct a detailed vetting process on the applicants, who must be free from criminal record, must have no visa denials from EU schengen states, clear from sanctions and clean source of funds.  Only by passing these checks will you be granted a passport.

Applicants should not have been sentenced in Montenegro or another state by a final and binding court decision to an unconditional prison sentence of more than one year for a criminal offense prosecuted ex officio or the legal consequences of the conviction for such criminal offence have ceased

Family members are considered to be:

• a spouse;
• applicant’s children over 18 years of age, who are financially dependent on the applicant
• applicant’s children under 18 years of age

• Certified copies of all applicant’s passports
• Copies of birth certificates (if applicable)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Clean criminal record 
• Medical insurance policies
• Medical certificates confirming that applicants do not have any infectious diseases
• Documents certifying that sources of applicant’s income is legal
• Proof of your investment (ie. bank transfer, property lease, investment project approval from the municipality)

A detailed list of documents will be provided to you when you decide to do the program. Sample documents and a detailed checklist specific to your case will be provided. 

No. Citizens of the following countries are not allowed to apply for Montenegrin citizenship: North Korea, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan. There may be exceptions made for those who have become residents of another country for a minimum numbers of years.  

Montenegro offers an excellent investment opportunity in a renowned real estate market. The real estate market currently offers low prices of roughly 1,200 EUR per square foot in the capital of Podgorica. There are also opportunities in coastal cities for those who prefer beach-front properties. 

No, Montenegro’s program has a donation and real estate investment model, requiring both aspects of requirement to be satisfied. 

Yes. 

Yes, Montenegro may revoke citizenship anytime for concealment, fraud, national security threat, amongst other illegal activities. If citizenship is revoked, there will be no refund of investment.

Yes, you can invest in commercial properties. You can either develop or buy shares in equity of hotels or resorts, with a minimum value of EUR 250,000. 

Montenegro is a small country, but has two international airports: one in the capital, Podgorica, and the other on the coast in Tivat. You can also fly into Dubrovnik airport in Croatia to save on international flight costs, located 20 minutes from the Montenegrin border

Foreigners can open bank account at one of 15 commercial banks with a license in Montenegro. These include: 

• Erste Bank,
• The First Bank of Montenegro
• Hipotekarna Bank
• Lovćen Bank
• NLB bank
• Societe Generale Bank of Montenegro
• ZIRAAT Bank
• Montenegro Commercial bank (CKB)

No. There is currently no official golden visa (residency) program, only the golden passport (citizenship) program. 

Yes. To receive residence permit, you have to travel to Montenegro in order to fulfill the biometric data process.

No. There is no requirement to visit Montenegro after getting your passport.

All Montenegro passports issued to investors are valid for 10 years.

It costs EUR 25 to renew your Montenegrin passport.

No.