Montenegro to introduce visas for Russians and Belarusians from November 1, 2026
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Montenegro has completed the alignment of its visa policy with the requirements of the European Union. As part of these changes, visas will be introduced for citizens of several countries, including Russia and Belarus, from November 1, 2026, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
Changes to Montenegro’s visa regime
On July 23, 2026, the Government of Montenegro adopted a decree amending entry rules. From November 1, citizens of Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye will be required to obtain a visa. The new requirements will apply to tourist, business, private and transit trips. The only exception will be holders of valid diplomatic passports.
The decision was made as part of Montenegro’s efforts to bring its regulations in line with European Union rules. One of the required reforms includes a stricter visa policy towards countries whose regimes do not correspond with EU requirements. Meeting this condition has opened access to funding under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Montenegro will be able to receive around €4 million.
Montenegro’s visa centres are already operating
The authorities stated that they would make the document application process as simple and accessible as possible. Applications can be submitted through VFS Global visa centres. These centres are already operating in India, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, the UAE and Russia.
Additional centres are planned to open in Pakistan, China, Armenia, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Belarus, Nepal and Uzbekistan. Similar facilities are also being considered for Jordan, Kuwait, Thailand and Indonesia.
New project — Montenegro’s electronic visa system
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also planning to establish a modern Visa Information System. It will be fully compatible with European Union systems and meet Schengen security standards. The ultimate goal of the project is the introduction of an electronic visa (e-Visa), which will allow applicants to submit documents entirely online, reduce processing times and improve the efficiency of public services.
The authorities believe that fulfilling European commitments and modernising the visa system will help maintain the country’s accessibility for citizens from international markets, strengthen national security, accelerate the digitalisation of public administration and enhance Montenegro’s competitiveness as a tourism and investment destination.
Prospects for tourism in Montenegro
Earlier reports suggested that visa requirements could have been introduced as early as October 1. However, the decision was repeatedly postponed because Montenegro’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism. Among foreign visitors, the share of Russian citizens in 2024 approached 20% — around 230,000 people. In 2025, Russian citizens accounted for 16.4% of all overnight stays by foreign guests in the country, ranking second after visitors from Serbia. In addition, around 21,000 Russian citizens live in Montenegro, and approximately a quarter of companies with foreign capital are linked to Russia.
Until November 1, the current rules remain unchanged: Russian and Belarusian citizens can enter Montenegro without a visa and stay in the country for up to 30 days.
Analysts at International Investment note that the changes were expected. Montenegro aims to become the 28th member of the European Union by 2028. The country has closed 12 out of 33 negotiation chapters and intends to accelerate the European integration process. The only question was the timing of the introduction of the visa regime.
The new rules may reduce Montenegro’s attractiveness for some tourists from Russia and Belarus, as travel will require additional costs and time for visa processing.