Montenegro · Work
Montenegro Contracted services permit
First stay: 1 yr
Temporary residence and work permit for providing contracted services (Law on Foreigners, Arts. 72-73)
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
Contracted services permit is a work route for Montenegro. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- €60 ≈ $67 · +2 more
- Processing
- Up to 15 days
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fees €67 ≈ $75 in total (3 fees); decision: up to 15 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€60 ≈ $67 · +2 more
- EUR 60 (≈ $67)Administrative fee for issuing a temporary residence and work permit (Tariff No. 13 of the Law on Administrative Fees).
- EUR 5 (≈ $6)Fee for the permit form.
- EUR 2 (≈ $2)Fee for the application.
Shown, not spent€20+/day ≈ $22
- EUR 20 a day (≈ $22)Minimum funds for each day of the requested stay.
RenewalRenewable, 2 years max
The permit is valid up to one year and extendable to the end of the contracted services, at most two years.
ProcessingUp to 15 days
A temporary residence and work permit application is decided within 15 days of a complete application (Art. 80(3) of the Law on Foreigners as amended in 2019, which shortened the period from 20 days).
Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 12/2018Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 3/2019Government of Montenegro, Single Contact Point for services
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Apply in person at the Ministry in your place of stay, or your employer applies; if you hold a long-stay D visa for work you must apply within 10 days of the visa being issued.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 2 years in total
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Montenegro
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- Applicant is employed by a foreign company that has a service contract with a legal entity based in Montenegro.
- Alternatively, applicant is an independent professional registered for business abroad with a contract with a Montenegrin legal entity.
- Applicant has at least two years of work experience in the field covered by the service contract.
- Applicant meets the general conditions of Art. 43 of the Law, including means of support, accommodation and health insurance.
What you must show1
- Funds of at least EUR 20 (≈ $22) for each day of the requested stay.
Documents5
- Service contract between the foreign company, or the independent professional, and the Montenegrin legal entity.
- Proof of employment with the foreign company; independent professionals do not need this.
- Proof of professional qualifications where Montenegrin rules on providing the service require them.
- Proof of social insurance from the competent authority, valid passport, accommodation proof, health insurance and criminal record certificate.
- Evidence from abroad must be translated into Montenegrin by a certified translator.
Steps2
- Apply in person at the Ministry of Internal Affairs unit in the place of residence; the decision is made within 15 days of a complete application.
- A foreigner with a long-stay visa (D) for work must file the application within ten days of the visa being issued.
After you arrive2
- The permit can be issued outside the annual quota for foreign workers.
- The permit is issued for up to one year and can be extended to the end of the contracted services, at most two years in total.
What happens at day 183
How Montenegro decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 2 years in total
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in a tax yearStay on Montenegrin territory of more than 183 days in the tax year makes a person resident.
- Foreign-source income
Residents of Montenegro are taxed on income earned in Montenegro and abroad.
All tax rules for Montenegro Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Applicant meets the general conditions of Art. 43 of the Law, including means of support, accommodation and health insurance
- Accommodation
Applicant meets the general conditions of Art. 43 of the Law, including means of support, accommodation and health insurance
- Certified translation
Evidence from abroad must be translated into Montenegrin by a certified translator
- Police certificate and civil documents
Proof of social insurance from the competent authority, valid passport, accommodation proof, health insurance and criminal record certificate
- Money to show
This route asks for savings of €20+ a day ≈ $22.
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence and work permit for an employee of a foreign company, or an independent professional registered abroad, who provides services in Montenegro under a contract with a Montenegrin legal entity. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least EUR 20 a day (≈ $22) · Minimum funds for each day of the requested stay. 5
- A fee of EUR 60 (≈ $67) · Administrative fee for issuing a temporary residence and work permit (Tariff No. 13 of the Law on Administrative Fees). 6 7
- A fee of EUR 5 (≈ $6) · Fee for the permit form. 7
- A fee of EUR 2 (≈ $2) · Fee for the application. 6
Requirements
- Applicant is employed by a foreign company that has a service contract with a legal entity based in Montenegro. 1
- Alternatively, applicant is an independent professional registered for business abroad with a contract with a Montenegrin legal entity. 1
- Applicant has at least two years of work experience in the field covered by the service contract. 1
- Applicant meets the general conditions of Art. 43 of the Law, including means of support, accommodation and health insurance. 1
- Funds of at least EUR 20 (≈ $22) for each day of the requested stay. 5
- Service contract between the foreign company, or the independent professional, and the Montenegrin legal entity. 1
- Proof of employment with the foreign company; independent professionals do not need this. 1
- Proof of professional qualifications where Montenegrin rules on providing the service require them. 1 3
- Proof of social insurance from the competent authority, valid passport, accommodation proof, health insurance and criminal record certificate. 1 4 5
- Evidence from abroad must be translated into Montenegrin by a certified translator. 1
- Apply in person at the Ministry of Internal Affairs unit in the place of residence; the decision is made within 15 days of a complete application. 1 2
- A foreigner with a long-stay visa (D) for work must file the application within ten days of the visa being issued. 3
- The permit can be issued outside the annual quota for foreign workers. 1
- The permit is issued for up to one year and can be extended to the end of the contracted services, at most two years in total. 1
Stay
- Permit valid up to one year and extendable to the end of the contracted services, at most two years.
- First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Open to foreigners generally.
Work
Provide the contracted services named in the permit.
Family
Family members can apply for family reunification.
Official sources
- Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro 12/18) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 12/2018 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2018-02-23
- Law amending the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro 3/19) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 3/2019 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2019-01-15
- Law amending the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro 3/2026) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 3/2026 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-01-09
- Rulebook amendment: proof of accommodation (Official Gazette of Montenegro 145/22) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 145/2022 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2022-12-27
- Rulebook amendment: daily means of support, minimum pay and health insurance (Official Gazette of Montenegro 12/25) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 12/2025 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-02-11
- Law on Administrative Fees, Tariff No. 13: fees for permits for foreigners (adopted 6 March 2019) · Official Gazette of Montenegro (Law proclaimed 11 March 2019) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2019-03-11
- Temporary residence and work (work permit) · Government of Montenegro, Single Contact Point for services · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2024-04-26
Contracted services permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contracted services permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Domestic work permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Work permit | Needs income of €600+ a month ≈ $670 | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Healthcare work permit | Needs income of €600+ a month ≈ $670 | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| IT work permit | Needs income of €600+ a month ≈ $670 | 3 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Contracted services permit?
Savings of at least EUR 20 a day (≈ $22). Minimum funds for each day of the requested stay. A fee of EUR 60 (≈ $67). Administrative fee for issuing a temporary residence and work permit (Tariff No. A fee of EUR 5 (≈ $6). Fee for the permit form. A fee of EUR 2 (≈ $2). Fee for the application.
How long can I stay on the Contracted services permit?
Permit valid up to one year and extendable to the end of the contracted services, at most two years.
How long does the Contracted services permit take to process?
A temporary residence and work permit application is decided within 15 days of a complete application (Art.
Can I work on the Contracted services permit?
Provide the contracted services named in the permit.
Can I bring my family on the Contracted services permit?
Family members can apply for family reunification.
How are Contracted services permit holders taxed in Montenegro?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Contracted services permit. The standard rules apply: Residents of Montenegro are taxed on income earned in Montenegro and abroad. From 1 January 2026 taxable employment income is taxed at 0% up to EUR 700 (≈ $780) a month, 9% from EUR 700.01 (≈ $780) to EUR 1,000 (≈ $1,120) and 15% above; employee social contributions are 10.5% (10% pension, 0.5% unemployment) and a municipal surtax of up to 13% of the tax (up to 15% in the Capital City and the Old Royal Capital) is added.
More in Montenegro
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 7 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro 12/18) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 12/2018 · checked 2026-10-11
- Law amending the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro 3/19) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 3/2019 · checked 2026-10-11
- Law amending the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro 3/2026) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 3/2026 · checked 2026-10-11
- Rulebook amendment: proof of accommodation (Official Gazette of Montenegro 145/22) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 145/2022 · checked 2026-10-11
- Rulebook amendment: daily means of support, minimum pay and health insurance (Official Gazette of Montenegro 12/25) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 12/2025 · checked 2026-10-11
- Law on Administrative Fees, Tariff No. 13: fees for permits for foreigners (adopted 6 March 2019) · Official Gazette of Montenegro (Law proclaimed 11 March 2019) · checked 2026-10-11
- Temporary residence and work (work permit) · Government of Montenegro, Single Contact Point for services · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.