Applications for Montenegrin visas rose 22.4% to 9,623 in 2025, according to the Foreign Ministry’s annual activity report, reported on 7 November. The figures cover applications submitted during 2025, not visa activity in 2026, and include demand for both short- and long-term stays.
Long-term requests numbered 5,095, slightly more than half of the total, while short-term applications reached 4,528. Authorities approved 2,574 long-term visas and 2,844 short-term visas. They rejected 2,521 long-term applications and 1,684 short-term applications.
Montenegro’s own diplomatic and consular offices received 6,482 applications. Serbian and Bulgarian diplomatic representations acting for Montenegro in third countries handled a further 3,053, while external visa-services provider VFS Global processed 88.
The application volumes are relevant to employers in an economy that relies on seasonal and foreign labour, particularly in tourism, hospitality, construction and related services. Visa-processing capacity can affect recruitment, project implementation and employers’ ability to mobilise personnel, while the number of long-term requests makes efficient procedures and predictable immigration requirements important for businesses.
The report’s totals do not identify how many applicants were workers, investors, tourists or other travellers. They also do not show whether rising applications resulted in more foreign employment or investment, so the economic effect cannot be established from these figures alone.
Assessing that effect would require more detail on applicant categories, processing times and approval outcomes. The 2025 results provide a baseline for assessing whether administrative capacity can keep pace with increasing international mobility and labour-market needs.
Montenegro’s visa and migration systems will also face additional requirements for regulatory alignment and information exchange as the country continues its EU accession process.
