Visa-Free Paradise Lost?

Montenegro, a home to exiles, a long-time vacation destination, and a real estate investment hub for Russians, is flirting with introducing a visa for Russian citizens. With EU accession in 2028 on the line, the Montenegrin president is pushing for immigration reforms against Russians.

According to the Statistical Office of Montenegro, there are 12,000 Russian residents in the country. However, this is felt to be an undercount. As many as 100,000 may live in the country.

Russians can currently stay visa-free in Montenegro for up to 30 days. At the end of their term, they must cross the border, and their 30-day legal stay is renewed. Russians typically go to Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina during this time. According to Novaya Gazeta Evropa, those who overstay take the overnight train from Bar, Montenegro, to Belgrade, Serbia, as guards simply stamp passports without asking too many questions. In this way, Russian citizens can stay in Montenegro essentially forever.

"VIP stampings" were once common practice. Russian citizens would pay a person to take their passports to the Montenegrin border to get a stamp and automatically renew their legal stay. However, authorities in Montenegro have begun cracking down on this practice. In 2024, a father and son well known in the Russian community were detained at the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina with eight passports. The Russian citizens were accused of document forgery.

Montenegro has also cracked down on legal residency. It was once possible to receive legal status by opening a company with a minimum wage of 450 euros a month and paying 30 euros in income tax. It was also possible to get a part-time job and pay the 30 euro income tax to receive residency. In 2023, Montenegro passed bills requiring foreigners to be full-time employees and raised the minimum income requirements. Furthermore, the country now requires companies opened by foreigners to do actual activities and have at least three employees, one of whom must be Montenegrin. In the past two years, over 6,000 Russians have left Montenegro, the majority going to Serbia.

Other Balkan countries are also slowly closing their doors to Russians. Albania introduced visas for Russian citizens in 2023, and North Macedonia in 2022. Bosnia and Herzegovina announced it would impose visas on Russians in 2024; however, that visa regime has not been implemented. The EU Commission President offered 6 billion euros to Western Balkan states in exchange for immigration reform, including visas for visitors from Russia, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, among others.

In September, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović said that his country's dependence on Russian tourism and investors was an obstacle to joining the EU. Milatović has alluded that Russians in Montenegro have priced out Montenegrins from their own country. The president, who is up for reelection in 2028, said he would "join the EU and give apartments to Montenegrins."

Montenegro has a parliamentary system. Therefore, Milatović can't carry out his proposed reforms himself. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić has remained silent on the matter.