Digital Nomad Visa For Montenegro

Living in Montenegro as a digital nomad

Montenegro is a fantastic destination for digital nomads. In fact, many remote workers who visit the Balkans and Eastern European cities are attracted to Montenegro because of how beautiful and affordable the country is.

Montenegro is the ideal destination for those seeking a warmer destination for their next leg in their digital nomad journey. The Mediterranean climate makes it the perfect spot for relaxing and working at the same time.

There are many things to explore in Montenegro. With over 115 beaches and lots of exotic and unique flora and fauna, you’ll never spend a day without something to do. The local cuisine is extremely delicious and the locals are friendly and helpful. Plus, Montenegro is one of the safest places. You can freely walk around the city at all hours without feeling anxious or unsafe, which is a big plus for solo travelers.

Attractions and best places to visit

Even though Montenegro is a small country, it’s quickly becoming one of Europe’s tourism hot spots. With its picture-perfect historic towns, beautiful sunny beaches, and the clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, it comes to no surprise that many travelers decide to visit Montenegro.

The country’s name comes from the Latin “Monte Nigro”, which means “black mountain”. This name has been used for centuries to refer to the country due to the appearance of Mount Lovćen, the most important mountain in the country which is covered by thick forests.

One of the most beautiful places to visit in Montenegro is Kotor Old Town and the Bay of Kotor. Kotor’s Old Town is one of the Adriatic coast’s best-preserved fortified medieval towns. The town is full of stunning Venetian-styled architecture, and it lies just at the edge of the blue Bay of Kotor surrounded by mountains. The most distinct attraction in Kotor Old Town is the 12-century Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, which showcases the kind of stonemasonry the city was famous for during the Middle Ages.

Another city worth visiting is Budva. The Budva Riviera stretches along the central Montenegrin coastline. It is the perfect summer beach destination for tourists and locals alike. The Budva Riviera has beaches that are a mix of sand and pebbles. The city has the beautifully clear and turquoise Adriatic Sea on one side, and on the other, it has stunning looming ​​mountains.

If you’re looking to explore nature, then head towards the Durmitor National Park. This park is located in the Dinaric Alps and it is home to 18 glacial lakes, the Tara River, and the world’s second-deepest canyon.

Digital nomad hotspots

The best place in Montenegro for digital nomads is the capital city Podgorica. The digital nomad community is still growing, but you’ll find many coworking spaces and cafes in Podgorica. The lifestyle in Podgorica is more city-like. It has gyms, shopping malls, bars, yoga studios, and more. Podgorica has all the amenities you could need while being a good home base if you want to visit everything else Montenegro has to offer.

Another place that is perfect for digital nomads is Kotor. Even though it is a rather small town, it is charming and cozy. Kotor is a good place if you like a more laid-back and relaxed lifestyle. Plus, Kotor is the perfect place if you also want to take hikes and explore the nature of Montenegro.

In general, most digital nomads that choose Montenegro work from their accommodations or cafes, and you won’t find as many digital nomad meetups and events as you would in other countries. But with the new digital nomad visa for Montenegro, that could soon start to change.

Cost of Living

Montenegro is very affordable. Of course, the prices will vary depending on the time of year. Summer is the busiest season, and also the most costly. But if you’re visiting Montenegro during winter or fall, the prices go down and you’ll find great deals everywhere.
Montenegro uses the Euro as its currency, so you’ll have no trouble exchanging your money or using the cash you already have.

You’ll pay around $335/month for a studio apartment in a city center. A bigger apartment costs $489/month. A meal at an inexpensive place will cost you around $10. A combo at a fast-food restaurant costs $4.30.

Digital nomad essentials

Podgorica, being the capital city, has the best and fastest internet in the whole country. Many places will have fiber optic interney with speeds around 50Mbps, which isn’t incredibly fast, so those who need to make a lot video calls might struggle. Podgorica also has many restaurants and bars that offer free Wi-Fi.

Other bigger towns will also have a decent internet connection, but if you’re in the mountains or in small towns then the internet will be much slower. There are many tourist data plans, so we recommend you purchase a SIM card when you arrive in Montenegro. There are plans as cheap as $10-$15 a month.

Since Montenegro has a small community of digital nomads, there aren’t many coworking spaces. However, there are some in Podgorica that are really good.

You’ll find many coffee shops scattered all over the city. Unfortunately, the working culture in cafes is not too popular. Many of these coffee shops are just for drinking or eating, not for working with your laptop. That is not to say there aren’t any.

Their idea is to attract digital nomads and it is set to last until 2025. This means that the digital nomad visa for Montenegro will be available only temporarily, so you’ll want to apply as early as possible in order to enjoy it.

Their goal is “to improve the digital environment, not only for nomads but also for all citizens, so the introduction of new electronic services was also recognized through the program.”

Sadly, the digital nomad visa has not become official yet and applications are not open yet. It is expected that it will come into full effect at the end of 2022.

As of right now, the Program for Attracting Digital Nomads in Montenegro will allow digital nomads to reside in Montenegro for a year, with the option to renew it. There’s also talk about tax breaks for digital nomads who hold this visa, but not much is known about it.

Most of the information about this digital nomad visa has not been revealed yet, but we will update this article as soon as more is announced, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, Montenegro has a temporary resident permit. This permit will allow you to stay in the country for up to a year in a legal manner while enjoying all the benefits it implies. This temporary residence permit needs to be renewed every year and can be converted into a permanent residence after 5 years, which is great for anyone who decides to stay in the country in the long run.

How much does it cost?

The cost of the digital nomad visa in Montenegro is unknown. Stay tuned for new information!

Timeline for Applying

The application timeline is not available yet. The digital nomad visa for Montenegro was just announced in December 2021 and the applications are not yet live. Applications are expected to be open by the end of 2022.

We will update this page as soon as we know more!