By introducing the new visa requirements, Montenegro, an EU candidate country, has fulfilled one of the final benchmarks under Chapter 24, Justice, Freedom and Security, as well as one of the key commitments under its Reform Agenda.
The government adopted the new visa regulation on July 23, according to an official press release.
Despite introducing visa requirements for several countries, Montenegro's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would take steps to mitigate "any potential negative consequences" of the changes. The ministry said it aims to make the process of obtaining a Montenegrin visa as simple and accessible as possible.
For example, visa applications may be submitted not only through Montenegro's diplomatic and consular missions but also through visa application centers operated by VFS Global.
After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia, although tourist visas continue to be issued. At the same time, European countries have seen a growing wave of sabotage incidents that have been linked to Russian agents allegedly operating under the direction of Moscow's intelligence services.
"By aligning its visa policy with that of the European Union, Montenegro is fulfilling one of its important obligations on the path toward EU membership while simultaneously modernizing its visa system and facilitating access to the country for citizens of numerous source markets," the government said.
According to Montenegro's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the new visa policy will help the country:
- strengthen national security;
- promote the digitalization of public administration; and
- increase its competitiveness as a tourism and investment destination.
