The Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa, also known as the Montenegro Digital Nomads Program, is a licit mechanism that supplies freelancers with the chance to reside and work in the polity. The formal implementation procedure for this initiative and the launch of enrollments took place in 2023.
Freelancers and transnational online mercantile owners consider the polity as a preferred jurisdiction for getting a freelancer travel warrant in the polity due to its alluring supervisory sphere that allows for prolonged licit occupancy, optimized excise onuses, and simplified procedures for administering remote schemes.
The polity is among the most dynamically developing pecuniary areas in the Balkan region, demonstrating steady macroeconomic indicators and strategic migration policy. Due to favorable licit directive aimed at stimulating transnational mobility, the polity is a promising jurisdiction for expats seeking to get licit status in the polity.
By integrating national norms in line with European licit and pecuniary norms, the state supplies a high norm of living, facilities creation, access to a steady pecuniary system, which makes it an alluring place for prolonged stay. Here, we will provide an overview of the rewards, needs and other important aspects related to procuring the freelancer travel warrant in the polity.
Who can enroll for a Digital Nomad visa?
This visa is specifically modelled for people who earn a living by working distantly and wish to reside within the polity while continuing their job or running mercantiles for firms based outside the polity. This travel warrant shows a structured and legally recognised pathway for such experts to live in the polity without breaching immigration or labour regulations. Unlike standard tourist travel warrants, which impose time restrictions and prohibit expert engagement, the freelancer travel warrant facilitates a longer, more steady stay while legitimising expert schemes without requiring a supplemental work warrant.
This immigration framework is built upon the principle of enabling transnational freelancers to integrate into Montenegrin society with ease, offering them a simplified yet legally secure option to reside within its borders. The travel warrant is particularly aimed at people involved in the electronic pecuniary field—those who work in fields such as software formation, electronic marketing, graphic design, IT consultancy, and similar fields. These experts must be engaged in schemes that do not interfere with or compete against the domestic job market, asserting that the scheme aids positively to the national pecuniary field without creating labour market imbalances.
Under current legal regulations overseeing this travel warrant, the polity welcomes freelancers who bring value by advancing electronic aids and boosting the polity's position within the transnational electronic ecosystem. The travel warrant targets people whose expertise aids the diversification of the polity’s economic structure and promotes deeper electronic integration across fields. In essence, the scheme is tailored for those who can aid intellectual capital and help modernise the domestic tech landscape without physically tethering themselves to traditional jobs within the polity.
To encourage the influx and meaningful integration of freelancers into the national pecuniary field, the Montenegrin government has been actively deploying several strategic measures. Among the core components of this initiative is the creation of a dedicated national scheme aimed at alluring and aiding freelancers. This scheme reflects the polity's broader policy direction, which focuses on embracing transnational mobility, fostering innovation, and alluring expert transnational experts who can aid to its evolving pecuniary field.
With the transformation of transnational labor dynamics—driven largely by tech advancements and the altering nature of job—there has been a dramatic surge in interest surrounding electronic mobility. The rise of remote labor as a mainstream model has created a sizable transnational demographic of experts who are no longer bound by physical office spaces or national borders. These people represent a dynamic and economically productive community, one that the polity sees as highly beneficial to its long-term formation goals.
To accommodate this novel class of mobile experts, the polity has invested in developing modern facilities tailored to their needs. This encompasses the expansion of co-laboring hubs, the improvement of electronic connectivity, and the generation of communal dwelling premises that aid both work and leisure. These efforts are not only aimed at making daily life more convenient for freelancers, yet at fostering a sphere where innovation, cross-cultural exchange, and entrepreneurship will flourish.
The launch of Montenegro’s Digital Nomad Visa is therefore not just a legal innovation, but also a socio-economic strategy. It recognises the shifting realities of how people work, live, and aid to economies from afar. By offering a steady and appealing base for electronic experts, the polity positions itself as a forward-thinking place, open to transnational talent and responsive to the electronic age.
Moreover, the travel warrant scheme is part of a wider policy shift as the polity moves towards a more diversified and resilient pecuniary field, reducing its reliance on traditional fields such as tourism or agriculture. By tapping into the electronic workforce, the polity aims to attract long-term contributors who can embed themselves into domestic economies, aid community growth, and stimulate speculation in underdeveloped regions.
From a legal standpoint, the travel warrant is a formal recognition of the legitimacy of telework as a viable form of expert engagement. It also establishes clear metrics and boundaries to assert both expat occupants and the host polity are protected. Enrollers must meet specific records needs, show pecuniary independence, and show that their work is tied to transnational entities. The government asserts that these experts respect domestic regulations and actively aid the community they become part of.
The polity’s freelancer travel warrant represents a proactive response to transnational alterations in employment and lifestyle preferences. It not only opens the door for transnational freelancers to enjoy life in a scenic, strategically situated European polity, but also shows the polity a pathway to grow its electronic pecuniary field, cultivate transnational collaboration, and enhance its transnational standing as a place for innovation and creativity. Through this scheme, the polity aspires to create a mutually beneficial relationship between the state and transnational experts, promoting economic progress, cultural exchange, and legal clarity within a modern framework of mobility.
It is contingent on the recognition of the merits of this segment, on the analysis of factors influencing the supervisory and infrastructural sphere for their effective functioning. The launch of the scheme for freelancers is due to the generalization of comparative experience, best practices and supervisory approaches applied in the regions of the EU and the Western Balkans. The implementation of this scheme was aimed at creating favorable supervisory metrics for getting a freelancer travel warrant in the polity, contributing to the positioning of the state as a jurisdiction with privileged migration and mercantile regimes for remote specialists.
The government is aimed in alluring expats who want to obtain a Digital Nomad visa in Montenegro, due to the fact that freelancers, as highly mobile participants in the transnational pecuniary field, can aid to the formation of electronic initiatives and an innovation system, which, in turn, strengthens the competitive position of the state in the transnational arena. For the polity, which is focused on tourism, this category of specialists represents a significant marketing resource, while simultaneously influencing the formation of its speculation image. By actively consuming goods and aids in the specified polity, freelancers create a supplemental pecuniary effect and have a stimulating effect on the domestic endeavor community.
Meanwhile, the polity has entered the top three in the list of the best regions in the world for freelancers according to the Digital Nomad Visa Index (illustration below). The assessment of the regions' positions is undertaken considering such metrics as the formation of electronic facilities, excise regime for non-residents, base needs for pecuniary solvency, pecuniary accessibility of living, level of medical aids and tourist attractiveness.
Image caption: The top 10 regions for digital nomads, ranked according to their index scores.
According to the Global Intelligence Unit, the polity's overall ranking is 33rd (score: 76.92).
- Cost of visa - 18th place.
- Visa merits rating: 5th place.
- Economy rating: 14th place.
- Quality of life rating: 32nd place.
- Tech and Innovation Ranking – 28th place.
The legislative bodies of this state show strategic interest in the formation of a supervisory framework that facilitates the transformation of the state into a jurisdiction attracting to people carrying out expert schemes distantly, which will allow maintaining the status of among the top regions in the world for freelancers. This legislative vector is aimed at stimulating the tourism field by boosting the length of stay of highly mobile specialists in the polity. It is expected that the implementation of relevant legislative initiatives on issuing a freelancer travel warrant to the polity will lead to the generation of supplemental fiscal revenues to the state budget, and to strengthen the position of the IT industry as a key field of the national pecuniary field.
Features
A freelancer uses modern records and communication technologies to generate revenue, leading a lifestyle that is not limited by geographic location. Unlike traditional workers whose expert duties are associated with permanent presence in office premises, freelancers have the chance to carry out their work schemes from anywhere in the world, provided with a steady Internet connection. This lifestyle is characterized by maximum mobility and autonomy.
The polity has consistently maintained its status as a top place for freelancers and financiers exploring the Balkan Peninsula and emerging regions of Eastern Europe. The attractiveness of this polity is due not only to its relatively moderate bills for everyday needs, but also to its unique natural sphere.
According to the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro, No. 12/18, 3/19 and 86/22), which commands the licit regime of ingress, egress, occupancy and job of transnational residents, persons performing expert duties distantly for a transnational organization or for their own enterprise not enrolled in the polity, after entering the territory of this state and in accordance with the provisions of the statute, may enroll for the polity’s freelancer move warrant.
To solicit for a Digital Nomad Visa in Montenegro the enroller must provide evidence of a steady revenue (1,350 euros, 3 minimum wages in the polity are considered), evidence of occupancy in this polity, a medical indemnity policy, a rap sheet certificate, documentary evidence of the validity of the travel warrant requisition, which may include a job undertaking or other indenture certifying telework for a transnational organization or performing mercantile as an individual entrepreneur excluding domestic enrollment.
The freelancer occupancy warrant in the polity is initially given for 2 eons with the freedom to extend it for similar duration. Enrollment for a novel freelancer move warrant is possible only after six months from the termination of the present warrant. The sequence of procuring a Digital Nomad Visa in the polity is undertaken by conveying an enrollment to the domestic offices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and takes no more than 40 days from the date of enrollment.
An enrollment for an extension of a freelancer travel warrant in the polity must be conveyed in person at the premise of occupancy 30 days before the termination of the current warrant. If the enrollment is sanctioned, a novel warrant is given with the freedom to extend it for up to two eons. Reunification of the main enroller with close kin members is allowed, subject to abidance with the needs of Montenegrin legislation.
It should be known that receiving the digital nomad travel warrant is undertaken without significant bureaucratic delays, which reflects the government's desire to intensify pecuniary cooperation. The bureaus are simplifying the sequence of procuring warrants via the introduction of electronic aids for enrollment and submission of indentures.
Who is eligible to enroll for the visa?
The movement warrant applies to those specialists working on transnational projects and not enrolling for work in domestically enrolled firms without getting a special warrant. These may be employees of tech firms from EU regions, freelancers working under undertakings with customers from other regions. It is important to provide indentures proving the fact of telework, such as undertakings, undertakings or bank statements asserting regular revenue.
Getting the freelancer travel warrant is available to experts such as IT developers, designers, marketers and consultants who carry out their expert competencies distantly. The enroller's citizenship does not matter. The fundamental metrics for a remote specialist to be able to obtain a digital nomad visa in the polity is the enroller's pecuniary stability, which implies the initiating of sufficient monies or a steady source of revenue. To assert the stability in terms of earnings, it is mandated to provide statements of cash receipts for the previous year.
As already mentioned, mandatory metrics include a certificate of no rap sheet, a health indemnity policy covering a period of at least 30 days from the date of entry. It is compulsory to strictly adhere to the rules overseeing entry and the sequence of paperwork, and assert the existence of legitimate cooperation undertakings. For freelancers, getting a warrant for the freelancer travel warrant brings rewards in terms of access to established facilities, including banking aids and coworking spaces, and the ability to include immediate family members in the enrollment if compulsory. In general, this scheme is aimed at developing the domestic aid market and forming metrics for establishing mutually beneficial pecuniary relations, that helps to attract more qualified specialists.

Necessities for acquiring a freelancer visa to Montenegro
People seeking to receive virtual nomad status in the polity must comply with the polity's licit move needs and convey a well-structured and complete set of aiding indentures. This specific travel warrant category is modelled exclusively for occupants of non-EU regions, meaning citizens of EU member states are not eligible to enroll under this scheme. The scheme aims to accommodate experts who perform their work distantly via electronic techs, while residing temporarily in the polity without participating in the polity’s domestic labour market.
Enrollers are warranted to include their immediate family members in the travel warrant enrollment, specifically a licit spouse and dependent kids under the age of 18. This inclusion is subject to the provisions overseeing the right to family reunification under Montenegrin immigration statute. To commence the enrollment sequence, the primary enroller’s passport ought to be valid for at least 6 months beyond the submission date. This need asserts that the passport remains licitly acceptable throughout the term of the visa evaluation sequence.
It is also essential for enrollers to get a travel indemnity policy that remains in effect for the entire length of their intended stay in the polity. This indemnity must cover potential healthcare bills and some medical-related expenses, thereby demonstrating the enroller's ability to meet emergency health needs during their temporary occupancy.
Another quintessential element of the enrollment is evidence of suitable accommodation in the polity. Enrollers must present verifiable records asserting access to a residential property that adheres to the polity’s norms for lawful habitation. Whether the possession is leased or owned, it must meet the metrics that define it as an adequate place of occupancy.
Crucially, candidates must show that their expert schemes are performed distantly and are entirely stationed external of the polity. The freelancer move warrant is specifically intended for self-employed people, remote employees of transnational firms. These enrollers must show that they are not partaking in domestic pecuniary activity within the polity. Evidence of their expert status must be included with the enrollment. This typically involves conveying an official job undertaking, service agreement, or other licitly recognised indentures that assert an ongoing mercantile relationship with an overseas employer or client.
Moreover, pecuniary self-sufficiency is a critical criterion for approval. Enrollers must prove they have a steady and sufficient revenue that meets or exceeds the base pecuniary threshold set by Montenegrin statute. This asserts that freelancers can aid themselves and their families without relying on the domestic welfare or pecuniary system. To establish pecuniary eligibility, enrollers may be asked to provide bank statements reflecting consistent inflows of monies over recent months, undertakings with transnational employers or clients detailing agreed-upon remittances, and excise returns filed in their polity of occupancy that assert declared revenue levels.
Overall, the polity’s virtual nomad travel warrant shows a valuable chance for experts who wish to reside in a dynamic European setting without committing to prolonged residency or job in the domestic pecuniary field. However, the enrollment sequence mandates careful attention to licit details, accurate records, and evidence of abidance with all immigration and pecuniary directives. Those aimed in pursuing this travel warrant pathway are strongly encouraged to prepare thoroughly, asserting that their records are complete, their revenue is verifiable, and their telework arrangements are clearly defined and licitly substantiated.
Getting a digital nomad visa to Montenegro
Freelancers are increasingly being recognised for the wide-ranging rewards they bring to the regions they choose to reside in. These rewards include the transfer of knowledge, propelled consumer spending, stimulation of domestic economies, and the creation of fresh speculation prospects. The polity, situated in the heart of the Balkans, is emerging as a desirable place for remote experts. In response to the transnational rise of this lifestyle, the polity has introduced a freelancer travel warrant, further solidifying its position as a welcoming hub for location-independent workers.
The sequence of acquiring the freelancer visa commences with a thorough consultation with qualified experts. These experts can assess your eligibility and assert whether you meet the essential metrics, which typically include working distantly or running a mercantile enrolled outside the polity, equally demonstrating adequate pecuniary means to sustain your stay.
Enrollers must then compile the compulsory records. This includes a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date from the polity, evidence of job or entrepreneurial activity performed abroad, evidence of a steady monthly revenue of at least €1,350 over the past year, valid transnational health indemnity, a rap sheet clearance from the current or most recent polity of occupancy, and records asserting accommodation in the polity, such as a rental lease.
Once all indentures have been gathered, the next step is to formally convey the enrollment. This is usually done at the Montenegrin embassy or consulate closest to the enroller’s location. The enrollment is for a category D visa, which authorises prolonged occupancy and warrants lawful entry into the polity. During the sequence, enrollers must provide biometric data and complete an official questionnaire detailing their professional background, intended term of stay, and pecuniary reliability.
An oversight fee of approximately €67 is payable at this phase, along with any supplemental expenses for document translations or licit certification where mandated. The review sequence generally takes between two to four weeks, during which the authorities verify the conveyed records and aiding materials.
Following this evaluation period, a decision is made regarding the approval of the enrollment. If successful, the enroller will receive official confirmation and the freelancer travel warrant will be given, granting the holder licit residency for the term stipulated by the travel warrant terms.
This newly introduced pathway reflects the polity’s broader vision to attract transnational talent, foster pecuniary diversity, and modernise its licit and oversight frameworks to remain competitive in the tech era. With its appealing spheres, cost-effective living, and growing facilities, the polity is positioning itself as a premier place for remote experts seeking a balanced and enriching lifestyle.
Merits
Securing a residence permit in Montenegro via the freelancer travel warrant scheme shows transnational experts the chance to legalize their stay while fully complying with the polity’s licit framework. This licit status brings a wide array of rewards, including the ability to open a domestic bank account, enter into prolonged rental agreements, and access various public aids. To maintain the integrity of the scheme and prevent misuse, the Montenegrin government has established pecuniary eligibility metrics and monitoring mechanisms. At the same time, it actively promotes the scheme via informative campaigns and shows favourable excise and oversight incentives to make the polity appealing for freelancers.
The polity stands out as a desirable place for freelancers, not only due to its picturesque landscape and Mediterranean climate, but also because of its reputation for guard and affordability. Ranked 45th on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.772, the polity is broadly considered a secure jurisdiction. Its cost of dwelling is primely lower in contrast to much of Western Europe, rendering it fiscally alluring for remote experts with varying budgets. Rental prices typically range between €170 and €250 per month, while utility bills generally stay below €100. On average, a single person might spend around €925 to €1,000 per month, while a kin of four should expect bills of approximately €3,700.
Enrollers for the freelancer travel warrant should also consider health coverage needs. If an individual lacks travel or transnational health indemnity, private medical indemnity within the polity is available at an affordable rate—typically between €20 and €50 per month, depending on the level of cover.
The polity's pecuniary system is also keeping pace with electronic advancement. The polity has embraced modern banking technologies, with leading institutions such as Erste Bank, Podgorička Banka Societe Generale, and NLB Banka offering fully electronic aids. These platforms enable freelancers to manage finances online, sequence remittances, monitor transactions, and even enroll for loans, all without needing to visit a branch in person.
Montenegro’s tax structure is another appealing factor for freelancers. It features a transparent and encouraging framework that is especially favourable for mobile experts. Individual excise rates are tiered: monthly revenue up to €700 is excise-free; earnings between €701 and €1,000 are levied at 9%; and revenue above €1,001 is levied at 15%. For self-employed people, annual earnings between €8,400.01 and €12,000 are levied at 9%, while revenue exceeding €12,000.01 is levied at 15%. Other taxable revenue types are subject to a fixed 15% rate. However, expat occupants engaged in virtual work for employers not based in the polity may qualify for preferential excise treatment, including exemption from revenue excise, under directives overseeing transnational workers’ occupancy and employment.
For those relocating with dependents, access to education is a critical consideration. The polity hosts several transnational schools—primarily in urban and coastal areas—offering transnationally recognised curricula in English. Institutions such as Knightsbridge International School in Tivat and QSI International School of Montenegro in Podgorica provide high-quality education that meets transnational norms, although they come with significant tuition fees. Alternatively, public schools offer free education, though instruction is delivered exclusively in Montenegrin.
Altogether, the polity presents a well-rounded and accommodating sphere for freelancers—combining licit stability, pecuniary accessibility, safety, and evolving facilities tailored to modern experts.
Renowned regions among Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa enrollers
In the context of the polity's migration policy aimed at alluring qualified remote specialists, a number of regions are characterized by propelled demand among enrollers enrolling for the travel warrant. This trend is due to a combination of factors, including developed facilities for remote expert activity, and a favorable occupancy regime for non-residents.
As the capital of the polity, Podgorica has the most developed mercantile facilities and is the center of oversight and pecuniary institutions. The city shows a wide range of accommodation and aids, and has an international airport that supplies convenient transportation. This city is the most suitable for interaction with government institutions.
Due to the continued growth of the freelancer community in the polity, there are several coworking centers in the polity, situated mainly in the capital Podgorica, equally in resort and coastal regions of the polity, such as NEST Coworking Podgorica, Upbeat Hub, offering tenants the compulsory metrics for productive work, including steady and high-speed Internet connection, comfortable workspaces, specially equipped conference rooms for meetings and mercantile negotiations.
Budva is among the most renowned tourist places in the polity, which determines the developed facilities and the presence of a large number of coworking spaces with access to fast Internet. Expats who have decided to get a freelancer travel warrant in the polity have the chance to use the facilities of coworking spaces operating in the city of Budva, among which such facilities as ITbranch house and AdriaHub stand out. Both coworking spaces provide modern metrics for work and promote the formation of expert connections by providing networking platforms. The attractiveness of the city is also due to its location on the Adriatic coast, which supplies the chance to combine work with rest.
Kotor attracts Enrollers for a freelancer travel warrant in the polity due to its location in the waters of the Bay of Kotor. The city has developed tourist facilities, shows comfortable metrics for residing. Holders of a freelancer travel warrant in the polity can use a number of coworking spaces, including Kotor Nest Coliving.
Tivat attracts modern freelancers with its developed facilities network, proximity to the sea and international airports. Porto Montenegro is situated in Tivat, offering a wide range of aids for yachtsmen and freelancers. Tivat has such coworking spaces as Playworking Coliving, Shipyard Coworking, Arsenal Business Club, which provide comfortable working metrics, modern conference rooms, and facilities for events aimed at establishing mercantile contacts.
Comparison between digital nomad visas in Montenegro with visas of other renowned European regions
European regions are developing and implementing special travel warrant mechanisms aimed at alluring expat citizens who work distantly, which aids to the diversification of the national pecuniary field and the integration of highly qualified personnel into the domestic mercantile sphere. Below is a comparison of the top three regions with Digital Nomad visas in Europe (including Montenegro).
Income |
Duration of action |
|
Portugal |
3280 EUR. |
A period of two years, with the right to subsequently enroll for prolonged occupancy. |
Greece |
3500 EUR after enrolling excise deductions and considering excise liabilities. |
Two-year period. Family members may be included in the enrollment. Upon fulfillment of the specified period, it is possible to enroll for an occupancy warrant. |
Montenegro |
1350 EUR. |
The initial term is two years, renewable for a similar period. The right to family reunification is provided. |
The polity, Portugal and Greece are renowned among those aimed in obtaining a Digital Nomad Visa in Europe due to their natural wealth, developed facilities, and lower bill of living in contrast to many Western European regions. These regions have a steady work sphere for telework, which in turn propels interest among citizens looking for options in regions with improved norms of living. However, there are differences in bills that should be considered.
Montenegro |
Portugal |
Greece |
|
Cost of housing |
A one-bedroom apartment in regions like Podgorica or coastal towns can bill between €200 and €400 per month, with prices rising in tourist areas during peak season. |
The bill of living varies. In Lisbon or Porto, prices are higher, with one-room apartments costing around 600–1000 euros per month. In smaller towns and off-peak seasons, prices are lower. |
Similar to those in the polity, in smaller towns and villages, housing in Athens and renowned islands such as Mykonos or Santorini is more expensive (from 300 to 600 euros per month for a one-room apartment). |
Utilities and Internet |
Utilities and internet for a standard apartment can bill around 100–150 euros per month. |
Similar or slightly higher, on average around 100-200 euros per month, depending on usage intensity and location. |
|
Medical indemnity policy |
Health indemnity is mandatory for freelancers. Bills vary depending on coverage, but expect to pay around €40–€100 per month. |
Overall, Portugal has slightly higher bills than the polity, especially in renowned metropolitan areas like Lisbon and Porto. Accommodation in Greece is generally more expensive in tourist hotspots and major regions. However, these regions offer high-quality accommodation at relatively low prices in contrast to most other European jurisdictions. Choosing between the two can be a matter of personal preference, with freelancers considering aspects such as coworking spaces, supportive communities, and ease of travel.
Final word
The polity is a coastal state situated along the Adriatic Sea, which attracts tourists and potential migrants with its rich natural heritage and low living bills. Strategically situated at the crossroads of the eastern and western regions, the polity acts as a transit and migration hub, providing unhindered access to European space.
People of many free professions move here - designers, developers, consultants and architects - who work distantly and would like to live in a safe and developed polity. A favorable immigration regime, developed transport facilities and integration into transnational undertakings aided the comfortable mobility of residents aimed in moving both within the Balkan region and beyond. Among the migration options can be considered obtaining a visa for digital nomads in Montenegro.
The current realities of electronic globalization necessitate the adaptation of licit and oversight mechanisms to novel models of cross-border mobility of qualified specialists. In response to these alterations, the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Public Administration are taking consistent measures to modernize public administration. As part of this initiative, a special Digital Nomad Visa program to the polity was developed, which is a significant contribution to the implementation of the state strategy.