Montenegro · Spouse visas
Montenegro Spouse of a resident
First stay: 1 yr
Temporary residence for family reunification with a foreigner with permanent or temporary residence (Law on Foreigners, Art. 44)
First checked against official sources on Record corrected 11 Oct 2026Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a resident is a spouse visas route for Montenegro. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- €40 ≈ $45 · +2 more
- Processing
- Up to 40 days
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fees €47 ≈ $53 in total (3 fees); decision: up to 40 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€40 ≈ $45 · +2 more
- EUR 40 (≈ $45)Administrative fee for issuing a temporary residence 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
The permit is valid up to one year or until the sponsor permit expires, and can be extended.
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 40 days
A temporary residence application is decided within 40 days of a complete application.
Where to applyInside the country
Apply in person at the Ministry of Interior in your place of stay after entering lawfully; you may stay until the decision if you apply before your 90 days end.
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.
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- Applicant is the spouse or same-sex life partner of a foreigner with permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro.
- Minor children, adopted children up to 18 and parents of minor children can also apply.
What you must show1
- Funds of at least EUR 20 (≈ $22) for each day of the requested stay.
Documents1
- Official document proving the family relationship, valid passport, accommodation proof, health insurance and criminal record certificate.
Steps1
- Apply in person at the Ministry of Internal Affairs unit in the place of residence; the decision is made within 40 days.
After you arrive2
- The permit is valid up to one year or until the sponsor's permit expires, whichever is earlier.
- Family members of a person with a seasonal work permit are not eligible; spouses of a work-permit holder may work after one year of holding 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
Official document proving the family relationship, valid passport, accommodation proof, health insurance and criminal record certificate
- Accommodation
Official document proving the family relationship, valid passport, accommodation proof, health insurance and criminal record certificate
- Police certificate and civil documents
Official document proving the family relationship, 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 permit for the spouse, partner or minor child of a foreigner who holds permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro. 1 2 3 4 5 6
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least EUR 20 a day (≈ $22) · Minimum funds for each day of the requested stay. 4
- A fee of EUR 40 (≈ $45) · Administrative fee for issuing a temporary residence permit (Tariff No. 13 of the Law on Administrative Fees). 7
- A fee of EUR 5 (≈ $6) · Fee for the permit form. 5
- A fee of EUR 2 (≈ $2) · Fee for the application. 5
Requirements
- Applicant is the spouse or same-sex life partner of a foreigner with permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro. 1 2
- Minor children, adopted children up to 18 and parents of minor children can also apply. 1 2
- Funds of at least EUR 20 (≈ $22) for each day of the requested stay. 4
- Official document proving the family relationship, valid passport, accommodation proof, health insurance and criminal record certificate. 1 3 4
- Apply in person at the Ministry of Internal Affairs unit in the place of residence; the decision is made within 40 days. 1
- The permit is valid up to one year or until the sponsor's permit expires, whichever is earlier. 1
- Family members of a person with a seasonal work permit are not eligible; spouses of a work-permit holder may work after one year of holding the permit. 1
Stay
- Permit valid up to one year or until the sponsor's permit expires.
- 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
Free access to the labour market if the sponsor has permanent residence; after one year if the sponsor holds a work permit.
Family
Minor children and parents of minor children can join as close family.
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 3/2026) · 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
- 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 family relationship for family reunification, applies from 1 November 2026 · Official Gazette of Montenegro (Ministry of Internal Affairs, 24 September 2026) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-09-24
- 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
Spouse of a resident and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a resident | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Portugal | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a resident Spain | Needs income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010 | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a resident Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Spouse of a resident?
Savings of at least EUR 20 a day (≈ $22). Minimum funds for each day of the requested stay. A fee of EUR 40 (≈ $45). Administrative fee for issuing a temporary residence 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 Spouse of a resident?
Permit valid up to one year or until the sponsor's permit expires.
How long does the Spouse of a resident take to process?
A temporary residence application is decided within 40 days of a complete application.
Can I work on the Spouse of a resident?
Free access to the labour market if the sponsor has permanent residence; after one year if the sponsor holds a work permit.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a resident?
Minor children and parents of minor children can join as close family.
Does the Spouse of a resident lead to permanent residence in Montenegro?
Time on the Spouse of a resident counts toward permanent residence in Montenegro, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Spouse of a resident holders taxed in Montenegro?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a resident. 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
Spouse and partner 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 2026-10-11 against 7 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 3/2026) · 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
- Temporary residence and work (work permit) · Government of Montenegro, Single Contact Point for services · checked 2026-10-11
- Rulebook amendment: proof of family relationship for family reunification, applies from 1 November 2026 · Official Gazette of Montenegro (Ministry of Internal Affairs, 24 September 2026) · 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.