The Government of Montenegro approved on September 24, 2026, the termination of visa-free travel for citizens of Russia, Belarus, and Turkey, effective November 1, 2026. From that date, nationals of these countries will need a visa to enter, transit, or stay in Montenegro.
On July 23, 2026, Montenegro adopted the Decree on Amendments to the Decree on the Visa Regime, which mandates the visa requirement beginning November 1. Until then, citizens from these countries could remain in Montenegro visa-free for up to 30 days. Turkish nationals holding diplomatic, official, and special passports will retain visa-free access based on a new
bilateral agreement; however, ordinary Turkish passport holders will need a visa.
Tourism data from 2025 highlights the significance of these changes. Russian tourists accounted for 22.1% of overnight stays in private accommodations and 16.4% of all foreign overnight stays, making Russia Montenegro’s second largest tourism market after Serbia. Turkish citizens represented 4.9% of overnight stays in private accommodation and 4.3% overall, while Belarusian arrivals numbered 6,841, constituting 0.4% of total overnight stays.
As of November 2025, more than 21,100 Russian citizens held regulated residence permits in Montenegro, primarily in the coastal town of Budva. Visa applications from Russia and Turkey
will be processed via the VFS Global network, which is set to expand to Belarus, China, and Saudi Arabia. Electronic visa application options are planned for future introduction.
These visa regime adjustments align Montenegro’s policies with European Union requirements underpinning its accession negotiations, specifically chapter 24 covering justice, freedom, and security. Montenegro imposed EU sanctions on Russia soon after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine but maintained visa-free access for Russians until these changes. The European Commission has expressed concerns that visa-free entry for Russian, Belarusian, and Turkish nationals could facilitate irregular migration into the EU through the Western Balkans.
The
Montenegro Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the visa policy alignment will open eligibility for approximately four million euros from the European Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The government stated: “To that end, the Government adopted the Decree on Amendments to the Decree on the Visa Regime on July 23, which stipulates that, starting November 1, citizens of the countries in question will need a visa to enter, transit through the territory of, and stay in Montenegro.”
