Montenegro may introduce a visa regime for citizens of Belarus and Russia as early as autumn, as part of gradually aligning its visa policy with the requirements of the European Union. This was reported by the local publication Dan, citing its own sources.
Montenegro, in the process of preparing for EU accession, has undertaken an obligation to align its entry rules with European norms by the end of 2027. This means the country will have to abolish visa-free agreements with states whose citizens require visas to enter the EU.
According to the publication, the Montenegrin government may soon decide to introduce visas for citizens of Belarus and Russia. It is expected that the new rules may come into effect from October 1.
In the next stage of harmonization with the EU's visa policy, visa requirements may appear for citizens of Turkey, and later — for citizens of China, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and other countries.
Currently, citizens of Belarus, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and a number of other states can visit Montenegro without a visa for up to 30 days with a valid passport.
The full alignment of Montenegro's visa policy with European Union standards should take place after the country's accession to the EU.
On July 14, at the 28th meeting of the conference on Montenegro's accession to the European Union, negotiations on two chapters — competition policy and customs union — were provisionally concluded.
Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Montenegro's accession to the European Union could become a reality in 2028.
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