Montenegro · Work
Montenegro Work permit
Income needed: €600+ a month ≈ $670
Temporary residence and work permit for employment (Law on Foreigners, Art. 70)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Work permit is a work route for Montenegro. Applicants need income of €600+ a month ≈ $670. You can stay 1 yr, renewable. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- €600+ a month ≈ $670
- 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); income to show €600+/mo ≈ $670; 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€600+/mo ≈ $670
- EUR 600 a month (≈ $670)Minimum pay stated in the employer's offer for jobs up to qualification level V (EUR 800 (≈ $890) for level VI or higher); the offer must also not be below the minimum wage.
RenewalRenewable
The permit is issued for up to one year and can be extended for up to two years with a full-time contract. Apply to extend at least 30 days before expiry; since 2026 an extension must be on the same legal basis as the earlier permit.
Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 12/2018Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 3/2026
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
You can apply for a permanent residence permit after 5 years of continuous lawful temporary residence, with basic Montenegrin, sufficient income, health insurance and housing. Absences must total no more than 10 months, or one absence of up to 6 months.
Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 12/2018Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 3/2026
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.
Presence rulesAbsence limits
Continuous residence for permanent residence allows several absences totalling up to 10 months, or one absence of up to 6 months, within the 5 years.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Montenegro
- Work rights are limited
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- Applicant has a written offer from a Montenegrin employer for a specific job.
- The job falls within the annual quota of permits set by the Government, unless an exception applies.
What you must show1
- The offer states pay of at least the minimum wage in Montenegro and at least EUR 600 (≈ $670) for jobs up to qualification level V or EUR 800 (≈ $890) for level VI or higher.
Documents3
- Written employer offer with job title, description, place, duration, hours and pay.
- Recognised diploma or proof that recognition was requested, and a certificate of medical fitness from a Montenegrin health institution.
- Proof of accommodation, health insurance, valid passport and criminal record certificate from the country of origin.
Steps2
- Apply in person at the Ministry of Internal Affairs unit in the place of residence, or have the employer apply in the place of intended stay; the decision is made within 15 days.
- 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 employer must sign an employment contract and register the worker for social insurance within 24 hours of the permit being issued.
- The foreigner may work only in the job and for the employer named in the permit.
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 1 year at first, renewable
- 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
Proof of accommodation, health insurance, valid passport and criminal record certificate from the country of origin
- Accommodation
Proof of accommodation, health insurance, valid passport and criminal record certificate from the country of origin
- Police certificate and civil documents
Proof of accommodation, health insurance, valid passport and criminal record certificate from the country of origin
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence and work permit tied to one employer and one job, issued within the annual quota for foreign workers. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
What you must show and pay
- Income of at least EUR 600 a month (≈ $670) · Minimum pay stated in the employer's offer for jobs up to qualification level V (EUR 800 (≈ $890) for level VI or higher); the offer must also not be below the minimum wage. 6
- 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). 9 7
- A fee of EUR 5 (≈ $6) · Fee for the permit form. 7
- A fee of EUR 2 (≈ $2) · Fee for the application. 7
Requirements
- Applicant has a written offer from a Montenegrin employer for a specific job. 1 4
- The job falls within the annual quota of permits set by the Government, unless an exception applies. 1 2
- The offer states pay of at least the minimum wage in Montenegro and at least EUR 600 (≈ $670) for jobs up to qualification level V or EUR 800 (≈ $890) for level VI or higher. 5 6
- Written employer offer with job title, description, place, duration, hours and pay. 4
- Recognised diploma or proof that recognition was requested, and a certificate of medical fitness from a Montenegrin health institution. 4 3
- Proof of accommodation, health insurance, valid passport and criminal record certificate from the country of origin. 1 8 6
- Apply in person at the Ministry of Internal Affairs unit in the place of residence, or have the employer apply in the place of intended stay; the decision is made within 15 days. 1 2
- A foreigner with a long-stay visa (D) for work must file the application within ten days of the visa being issued. 1
- The employer must sign an employment contract and register the worker for social insurance within 24 hours of the permit being issued. 3
- The foreigner may work only in the job and for the employer named in the permit. 1
Stay
- Permit issued for up to one year and extendable for up to two years where the foreigner has a full-time employment contract.
- 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
Work only in the job and for the employer named in the permit.
Family
Family members can apply for family reunification; the spouse of a work-permit holder may work after one year of holding a residence permit.
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 on forms, detailed conditions and manner of issuing temporary residence and temporary residence and work permits · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 25/2019 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2019-04-30
- Rulebook amendment: minimum pay stated in the employer's offer (Official Gazette of Montenegro 37/21) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 37/2021 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2021-04-07
- 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
- Temporary residence and work (work permit) · Government of Montenegro, Single Contact Point for services · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2024-04-26
- 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
- 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
Work permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit | Needs income of €600+ a month ≈ $670 | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Domestic work permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| 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 | – |
| Intra-company transfer | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Work permit?
Income of at least EUR 600 a month (≈ $670). Minimum pay stated in the employer's offer for jobs up to qualification level V (EUR 800 (≈ $890) for level VI or higher); the offer must also not be below the minimum wage. 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 Work permit?
Permit issued for up to one year and extendable for up to two years where the foreigner has a full-time employment contract.
How long does the Work 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 Work permit?
Limited. Work only in the job and for the employer named in the permit.
Can I bring my family on the Work permit?
Family members can apply for family reunification; the spouse of a work-permit holder may work after one year of holding a residence permit.
Does the Work permit lead to permanent residence in Montenegro?
Time on the Work permit counts toward permanent residence in Montenegro, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Work permit holders taxed in Montenegro?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Work 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.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 9 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
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 on forms, detailed conditions and manner of issuing temporary residence and temporary residence and work permits · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 25/2019 · checked 2026-10-11
- Rulebook amendment: minimum pay stated in the employer's offer (Official Gazette of Montenegro 37/21) · Official Gazette of Montenegro No. 37/2021 · 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
- Temporary residence and work (work permit) · Government of Montenegro, Single Contact Point for services · 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
- 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
Tracked since 2026-10-10. 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.