Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić announced on Friday that Podgorica will “very soon” tighten the visa regime for Russian citizens, in full alignment with the European Union’s common visa policy.
Spajić emphasized that Montenegro fully follows the EU’s foreign and security policy, including sanctions against Russia introduced in 2022 following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The European Commission has repeatedly warned Montenegro that harmonizing visa rules is a key condition for progress in EU accession talks and access to the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
Current Rules: Russians Allowed to Stay 30 Days Without a Visa
According to Montenegro’s Ministry of Interior, more than 21,100 Russian citizens currently reside in the country.
Under the existing visa-free regime:
- Russian citizens may stay up to 30 days without a visa.
- For years, Russians have circumvented limits by briefly exiting the country to a nearby border crossing and re-entering to obtain a new 30-day period.
- The number of such “exit-entry cycles” has not been restricted, due to the bilateral travel agreement lacking an overall stay limitation.
Montenegro plans to end this practice as part of its EU alignment.
EU: Nine Countries Still Not Aligned With Visa Policy
The European Commission’s latest report states that Montenegro must introduce visas for nine countries currently not aligned with the EU list:
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, China, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Turkey.
Montenegro recently imposed visas on Turkish citizens, but still lags behind full alignment.
Brussels stressed that visa harmonization is an urgent priority, especially under the EU’s negotiation chapter on justice, freedom, and security — one of the most demanding chapters of the accession process.
Economic Considerations No Longer an Excuse, EU Says
The Montenegrin government previously justified delays by citing economic interests, particularly in tourism, which accounts for 26% of Montenegro’s GDP.
Annual visitor numbers include:
- 230,000 Russian tourists
- 320,000 Turkish tourists
Montenegro also cited Chinese involvement in infrastructure projects and increased investments from several Middle Eastern countries.
However, the European Commission has reiterated that economic considerations cannot outweigh EU rules and the binding requirements of the negotiation process.
Montenegro’s EU Timeline
Montenegro aims to:
- Fully harmonize visa policy by the end of 2027
- Close all negotiation chapters by the end of next year
- Join the European Union in 2028
The government insists that tightening the visa regime for Russian citizens is a necessary step on this path.
