Montenegro is preparing to strengthen oversight of newly established companies as authorities investigate the use of business registrations to obtain residence permits, introducing additional compliance requirements for foreign entrepreneurs alongside tighter visa rules.
The Interior Ministry will coordinate inspections with the Tax Administration and police to identify companies potentially established primarily for immigration purposes rather than genuine commercial activity.
Interior Ministry official Dragan Dašić estimated that approximately 80% of applicants seeking to regularise their residence status had abused the system. The figure represents an official estimate and has not been independently verified. It does not apply to the entire foreign resident population or all foreign-owned businesses.
The measures coincide with new visa requirements for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and China, with the announced visa fee set at €35. Foreign nationals holding valid Montenegrin residence permits are expected to retain their existing entry rights.
The changes have implications for foreign investment, property transactions, company formation, tourism and services. Foreign nationals have become increasingly significant participants in these sectors, particularly in Podgorica and Montenegro’s coastal municipalities. Stricter company registration checks could limit the establishment of shell businesses used primarily to secure residence permits. However, additional scrutiny could also extend administrative procedures for legitimate entrepreneurs seeking to establish or operate businesses in Montenegro.
The effectiveness of the new controls will depend on the authorities’ ability to distinguish companies conducting genuine commercial operations from entities with limited or no substantive business activity.
The visa requirements introduce further uncertainty for investment and tourism, as several of the affected countries represent important markets for Montenegro’s property sector and visitor economy. The measures place greater emphasis on immigration and tax compliance while raising questions about how Montenegro will maintain accessible company registration procedures and preserve legitimate investment and tourism flows.
