Montenegro issued 40,567 temporary residence and work permits in 2025, a 6.7% increase from the previous year, as construction and hospitality employers faced persistent labour shortages, authorities said. The workforce gap creates operational risks for hotels, contractors and developers, affecting project schedules, wage costs and tourism capacity.
The allocated permit quota was used at 95.52%, while the government set an annual quota of 28,988 permits for 2026. Construction and hospitality accounted for most of the permits issued.
Property development and major infrastructure projects need tradespeople whom domestic employers often struggle to recruit in sufficient numbers. Coastal tourism also brings a sharp seasonal hiring cycle, with labour availability affecting companies’ ability to expand capacity during the summer.
The shortages reflect a structural workforce gap likely to persist even as domestic unemployment falls. Montenegro’s poorer north continues to record unemployment close to 20%, despite demand for workers elsewhere.
Greater reliance on foreign labour increases the importance of immigration administration, housing and enforcement of labour standards. Montenegro is adapting its legal system to the EU framework for the free movement of workers and preparing to participate in the EURES employment network.
EU accession is expected eventually to ease labour mobility for EU citizens and Montenegrin workers. Accession and infrastructure investment are also expected to increase labour demand, while addressing recurring bottlenecks will require migration alongside domestic training, better regional mobility and higher productivity.
