Clear economic interests are the main reason behind Montenegro’s decision to establish a visa-free regime with certain countries, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Cabinet.
The Cabinet emphasized that, given the current global circumstances, access to new markets and facilitating the arrival of tourists and investors is crucial for sustaining Montenegro’s tourism industry, which accounts for 26% of the country’s GDP.
“Clear economic interests are the key reason why Montenegro has established a visa-free regime with several countries,” the Cabinet stated in reference to aligning Montenegro’s visa policy with that of the European Union (EU), in order to inform the public.
The Cabinet highlighted Russia as an example, with 230,000 visitors annually. Additionally, Russia has a significant impact on the Montenegrin economy, with 18,430 residents from Russia having regulated stay in the country.
Other important countries mentioned include Azerbaijan, which invested one billion EUR in the Portonovi resort and sends about 15,000 tourists each year, as well as the growing investments from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, particularly in real estate and tourism, with significant potential for expanding air connections and attracting more visitors.
Turkey, the third-largest investor in Montenegro, with 320,000 visitors annually and 11,470 residents in the country, was also mentioned. China is involved in strategic infrastructure projects, with 58,000 Chinese tourists visiting last year.
Belarus was noted for its role in kidney transplants for Montenegrins, with 50 people currently on the waiting list, while the health insurance fund covers the 70,000 EUR cost of the procedure.
For Montenegro, it is crucial to ensure mechanisms and alternative solutions to ease the transition and mitigate potential negative consequences for the economy.
To fulfill commitments under the Reform Agenda, the Ministries of Foreign and Internal Affairs are actively working on aligning Montenegro’s visa policy with the EU and adapting to Schengen rules through various initiatives, including changes to the Law on Foreigners.
One such initiative is to engage an external partner, a renowned company that will collect documentation for visa issuance in countries where Montenegro lacks consular coverage due to limited diplomatic-consular capacities. This will ensure that the suspension of visa liberalization for certain countries does not negatively impact the Montenegrin economy.
Additionally, the Visa Information System is being reformed, with one million EUR allocated through the IPA III regional project to strengthen border management capacity, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration. This will increase visa issuance efficiency, introduce e-visa services, and enable online applications, setting the technical foundation for alignment with EU visa standards.
The Cabinet also noted that Montenegro demonstrated its commitment to the European path and European values by fully aligning with the EU’s policy toward Russia, introducing sanctions in 2022, which led to challenges for the tourism industry due to the significant number of Russian tourists visiting Montenegro.
Moreover, Montenegro, as a predominantly air travel destination, faces limitations due to underdeveloped road infrastructure for accommodating larger numbers of visitors from the EU.
“In cooperation with the EU, we will continue to seek the best solutions that will satisfy both our national economic interests and the obligations we have in the EU accession process, as outlined in the 2024-2027 Reform Agenda, including the gradual elimination of the visa-free regime for countries requiring a visa for the EU. This will be fully aligned by the time Montenegro becomes an EU member,” the statement concluded.
