Montenegro's citizenship-by-investment programme closed in 2022. What remains is a temporary residence permit tied to a property worth at least €150,000, with no work rights and no passport at the end of it.
Searches for a Montenegro golden visa still turn up pages that describe a citizenship-by-investment programme as if it were open. It is not. Here is what actually exists in 2026, and what a buyer should and should not expect.
The citizenship programme is closed
Montenegro's citizenship-by-investment programme, which accepted applications from 2019, closed on 31 December 2022. No reopening has been announced, and the country's EU accession process makes one unlikely. If an agent offers a Montenegrin passport for a donation plus a property purchase, treat it as a red flag.
What remains: residence through property
What remains is a temporary residence permit based on owning real estate. The rules were tightened by amendments to the Law on Foreigners that parliament adopted on 31 December 2025 and that took effect on 17 January 2026:
- the property must have a taxable value of at least €150,000, as determined by the Tax Authority's transfer-tax assessment, which is not the same thing as the price you negotiated
- the permit is temporary, valid for one year and renewable annually
- you must show ownership, actual use of the property and that property taxes are paid
- the property permit does not by itself allow you to work or run a business in Montenegro
- the requirement does not apply to citizens of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland
- permits issued on a property basis before 17 January 2026 can be renewed without meeting the new value test
The government first proposed a €200,000 threshold in November 2025, then withdrew that draft in mid-December after investor pushback. The €150,000 figure is the one that was adopted. Secondary regulations were due within 12 months of the law taking effect, so procedural details may still shift.
The company route has tightened too
Residence through a Montenegrin company is no longer a simple alternative. Law-firm summaries of the amendments say that owner-directors holding more than 51% must show the company paid at least €5,000 in taxes and contributions in the previous year to renew, and that employment conditions apply. If you were planning to set up a company mainly to obtain residence, get current advice on this route before you commit.
From residence to a passport
Residence is not citizenship. Adviser summaries describe the standard path as five years on a temporary permit, then permanent residence, with citizenship generally requiring ten years of legal residence, a language test and renunciation of prior nationality, since Montenegro does not generally recognise dual citizenship. These are adviser summaries rather than official text, so confirm the current naturalisation rules with a Montenegrin lawyer before you rely on them.
The EU context
Montenegro is the most advanced EU candidate: 18 of 33 negotiating chapters were reported closed by August 2026, and the government targets accession in 2028. Treaty drafting, European Parliament consent and ratification by every member state still have to follow, and ratification has historically taken more than a year. 2028 is a target, not a date. Membership would change the picture for residence and ownership rules, but nobody can yet say how, so do not pay a premium today for a hypothetical EU passport.
What to check before you buy
- the Tax Authority's assessed value of the specific property, not the asking price
- clean title, building permit and legal-use status for the unit
- whether you will actually use the property, since actual use is a condition
- how many years of residence you can realistically document
- annual running costs: property tax, maintenance and renewal paperwork
FAQ
Is there a Montenegro golden visa? No. The citizenship-by-investment programme closed on 31 December 2022, and only property-based temporary residence remains. How much must I spend? The property must have a tax-assessed value of at least €150,000 under the rules in force since 17 January 2026. Can I work with this permit? Not on the strength of the property permit alone. Does it lead to citizenship? Only through years of legal residence and separate conditions, not through the purchase itself. Will EU accession help? Possibly in time, but the timing and terms are not set.
How we help
We help you assess whether a specific property is likely to meet the threshold, check title and permits, and plan the purchase around how you will really use it. This is general information only, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Montenegrin rules are being changed and implemented, so confirm the position with a local lawyer and the authorities before you buy.