The Montenegrin government has withdrawn amendments to the Foreigners' Law, which sparked a strong reaction from foreign investors and the business community. These amendments included the introduction of a minimum real estate value of €200 and the requirement to employ Montenegrin citizens. Interlocutors warn that some investors have already abandoned their planned investments and emphasize the need for an urgent compromise solution that will not undermine the investment climate ahead of the country's EU accession.
The autumn amendments to the law on foreigners have been withdrawn.
The Montenegrin government has rescinded amendments and additions to the Foreigners' Law, which in recent weeks had caused serious concern among foreign citizens living, working, and investing in the country. The amendments, which stipulated a minimum real estate value of €200 for temporary residence permits and a requirement for foreign business owners to employ at least two Montenegrin citizens, were rescinded.
Read also: Final amendments to the Law on Foreigners (December 2025)
A brief overview of changes to the law on foreigners
- The property: New residence permits are issued only for the purchase of housing costing from 200 000 euro.
- Protection of current owners: If you already have Residence permit for real estate, new price rule does not concern.
- Business: To company directors not required hire Montenegrins. Instead, the company must pay taxes—at least 5,000 euros per year.
- IT and Medicine: The requirement to triple the average salary was abolished. The conditions became more lenient.
These requirements do not apply to citizens of the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, for whom there are no price thresholds or such financial conditions.
German investors are concerned about the previous version of the law.
Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the German-Montenegrin Business Club Mihail Bader in a comment for RTCG He said the previously announced changes had alarmed tens of thousands of foreigners who had been doing business in the country for years.
"There are provisions there that are truly problematic and greatly affect foreigners who have been living in Montenegro for a long time and doing business here. People tell me: 'If this is how it goes, if I'm required to hire three people, two of them Montenegrins, and I have a small business and no resources for that, I'll have to close the company and leave Montenegro,'" Bader said, according to the RTCG portal.
According to him, the negative consequences are already being felt, as some potential investors have abandoned their planned investments.
"New investors have cancelled their plans for now. Those I'm in contact with have said they won't be investing in Montenegro for now," Bader noted.
Migration policy expert Boyan Bugarin believes that the proposed measures would be difficult to implement in practice and that Montenegro should focus on the actual economic activity of foreign-owned companies.
"Abuse certainly needs to be controlled, but based on tax reporting, balance sheets, and the actual activities of companies. Their impact on the labor market and tax revenues must be regularly monitored and assessed," Bugarin said, adding that such an approach would ensure effective oversight without creating unnecessary barriers.
Bader cites Albania as an example of good practice, where the criteria are simple and clear.
"They require 20 square meters per person, which is quite acceptable. If a family consists of four people, the house must be 80 square meters for all family members to receive a residence permit," he explained.
Radio Montenegro's interlocutors agree that the optimal model for Montenegro would be a system that combines effective business controls with a non-restrictive approach to foreigners, especially in the context of the country's expected accession to the European Union.
When will the new amendments to the law come into force?
Currently, this is not the current law, but a package of amendments proposed by the government to the draft law. For them to enter into force, the document must be approved by a majority vote in the Assembly (Parliament) and then officially published in the Official Gazette of Montenegro (Službeni list).
Experts' recommendation: If you were considering purchasing affordable real estate for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit, it makes sense to expedite the transaction and document submission. All applications submitted before the changes come into force will be processed under the current, more lenient rules.
Stay tuned for updates. We will publish the final text of the law immediately after it is signed..
