Effective October 30, 2025, Montenegro abruptly suspended its 17-year visa-free agreement with Turkey, which had been in effect since 2008. This decision, affecting thousands of tourists, investors, and family members, sent shockwaves through both countries. Podgorica officially explained the move as a need to strengthen controls and ensure public safety following a criminal incident. However, deeper geopolitical motives and serious economic consequences are evident behind the decision.
How to get a visa now?
The new rules apply to Turkish citizens holding regular (burgundy) passports. To travel to Montenegro, they now need to obtain a visa in advance.
Submission procedure: Visa applications are accepted in person at the Embassy of Montenegro in Ankara or the Consulate General in Istanbul. There is currently no electronic visa (e-visa) available for Turkish citizens. The standard processing time for documents is approximately 10 business days, but delays are possible.
Required package of documents: To obtain a tourist visa (type "C", up to 90 days), you will need a standard set of documents:
- valid passport, the validity of which exceeds the validity of the visa by at least three months.
- Completed and signed visa application form.
- One color photograph passport size (3.5 x 4.5 cm).
- Confirmation of purpose of travel (hotel reservation, invitation from an individual or legal entity).
- Proof of sufficient financial resources for the duration of your stay (e.g. bank statement).
- Confirmed air tickets round trip.
- Health insurance policy, valid for the entire duration of the trip.
- Receipt of payment of visa fee.
Embassy of Montenegro in Ankara
- Official site: https://www.gov.me/en/embassy-ankara
- Address: Çayhane Sokak 41/10, Gaziosmanpaşa, 06700 Ankara, Türkiye
- Phone: +90 312 436 46 98
- Email: turkey@mfa.gov.me
Consulate General of Montenegro in Istanbul
- Official site: https://www.gov.me/en/consulate-istanbul
- Address: Harman Sok. No:5 Harmancı Giz Plaza, 10A Katı, Levent, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Phone: +90 212 278 00 07
- Email: istanbul@mfa.gov.me
Turkish citizens wishing to obtain a visa must apply to one of these two missions.
Important exceptions: A visa remains waived for holders of Turkish diplomatic, service, and special (green) passports. Additionally, Turkish citizens can enter Montenegro for up to 30 days without a Montenegrin visa if they hold a valid multiple-entry visa or residence permit from one of the following countries: Schengen Area, USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Japan.
A blow to tourism and the economy
The consequences of the decision were immediate. Tourist flow from Turkey, Montenegro's second-largest market after Serbia, collapsed Almost instantly. Loading capacity on flights from Istanbul to Podgorica dropped from an average of 120-150 passengers to just 40, a drop of approximately 70%.
This is a colossal blow, considering that Turkish tourists accounted for 15% of all passenger traffic in the first three quarters of 2025. Moreover, it was fast-growing market: The share of overnight stays by Turkish tourists increased from 2.9% in 2023 to 4.9% in 2024. The introduction of visas has effectively destroyed the short-term and weekend trip segment, as few people are willing to go through the bureaucratic process for a 3-4-day vacation.
Not only will airlines and Podgorica Airport, for which Turkey was one of the few year-round destinations, suffer, but also the entire tourism industry: hotels, restaurants, and local travel agencies. Also at risk are 6,866 companies in Montenegro owned by Turkish citizens, which have faced a deteriorating investment climate.
Medical Tourism: Asymmetric Risks
Of particular concern is the potential impact on medical tourism. There is a clear asymmetry here: Türkiye is global hub of medical services, attracting 1.8 million patients by 2023 thanks to its high quality and affordable prices. Montenegro, by contrast, has only nascent potential in this area, and its citizens are often forced to travel abroad for complex treatments due to its underdeveloped infrastructure.
Many Montenegrins use Turkish clinics. As one Montenegrin parliamentarian noted, if Turkey imposes retaliatory visa restrictions, "it will hit Montenegrin citizens harder because we use your hospitals." The Turkish ambassador has already warned of possible "reciprocal measures." Thus, Podgorica's decision threatens not just tourist travel, but also its own citizens' access to vital medical services.
Political background and the future of relations
The official reason for the cancellation of the visa-free regime was stabbing incident in Podgorica, sparking civil unrest. However, many analysts believe this was merely a pretext. The main reason is Montenegro's strategic commitment to EU accession, which requires harmonizing its visa policy with Schengen Area standards, and thus introducing visas for Turkey.
The decision has even caused a rift within the Montenegrin government. President Jakov Milatović sharply criticized it as "hasty" and likely to damage bilateral relations and "inflame anti-foreign sentiment."
Despite government assurances that the measure is "temporary," its repeal in the future is unlikely due to commitments to the EU. This move marks a turning point, with Montenegro opting for European integration while risking long-term economic and humanitarian ties with a key partner—Turkey.
Image Source: asiamedium.com
