Montenegro's golden visa closed. A property permit took its place.
Buy a home with a tax value of at least 150,000 euros and you can hold a one-year residence permit, renewed for as long as you own it.
The passport-for-investment program ended on December 31, 2022. What Americans can buy today is residence, not citizenship: a permit tied to owning Montenegrin property. It fits people with savings and passive income who want a base on the Adriatic and don't need to work locally.
How it works now
Own the right property, renew every year
Since January 17, 2026, a non-EU buyer needs a property the Tax Authority values at 150,000 euros or more (about $172,000 in September 2026). The value is the one set for transfer tax, not the price on your contract.
You also need:
- A title extract in your name and at least 50% ownership
- A use permit for the building
- Health insurance and a clean FBI record
- A deposit of about 3,650 euros per person in a Montenegrin bank
The other numbers to plan around
3% to 6%
Transfer tax on a resale
Rate steps up above 150,000 and 500,000 euros
40 to 80 euros
Government permit fees
Translation and notary work cost more
0.25% to 1%
Annual property tax
Of the cadastral value, set by each town
5 years
Until permanent residence
Plus A2-level Montenegrin
Before you buy
Four things the listings won't mention
The tax value can trail the price
The cadastral value used for tax is usually lower than what buyers pay. A 160,000 euro apartment may not clear the bar, so get the valuation checked before you sign.
It's a residence permit, not a work permit
Owning property lets you live here. It doesn't let you take a job or run a business.
Time away counts
Lawyers report you can be gone 30 days in a row without notice, or up to 90 a year with notice to police. Permanent residence allows 10 months away in total over five years.
Renewals have a hard window
File 30 to 60 days before your permit expires. Miss the deadline and you'll start over.
Why older guides quote other numbers
Anything promising a Montenegrin passport in a few months describes the investment citizenship program that closed in 2022. The property minimum is new too: the government proposed 200,000 euros in November 2025, and Parliament settled on 150,000. Permits issued before January 17, 2026 renew without the value test.
Other ways in
When property isn't the right fit
You want to run a business
Form a Montenegrin company, own more than half of it, and take a permit as its director. The first application is unchanged. To renew, the company must show at least 5,000 euros (about $5,700) in taxes and contributions for the prior year, which lawyers put at roughly a 1,650 euro monthly salary.
Your income comes from a remote job
The digital nomad permit asks for about 1,800 to 2,400 euros a month (roughly $2,100 to $2,800), runs up to two years and extends once. Whether it continues past 2026 isn't confirmed.
You want a second passport
Montenegro isn't the place. Naturalizing takes 10 years and means giving up your U.S. citizenship.
Partners who can help with Montenegro
Radonjic & Associates
Visa Services and Relocation for Montenegro
Handles Montenegro visa and relocation work, from residence permit filings to the documents behind them.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
A healthcare coach who helps expats weigh coverage options and plan for care abroad.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
Global health insurance for people living outside the U.S., the kind of policy a permit application asks for.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Prepares U.S. tax returns for Americans living abroad.
Questions Americans ask about Montenegro residency
Does Montenegro property residency lead to citizenship?
Not in a way most Americans will want. Five years of temporary residence can lead to permanent residence, with limits on time away and a Montenegrin language test. Citizenship takes 10 years and generally means giving up your other citizenship. Montenegro recognizes dual U.S. citizenship only for people who became American before June 3, 2006.
How much property do I need to buy for residency in Montenegro?
Since January 17, 2026, Americans need property with a tax-assessed value of at least 150,000 euros, about $172,000 in September 2026. That's the value the Tax Authority uses for transfer tax, which is often below the purchase price, so budget above the line. You need to own at least half of it, and the building needs a use permit.
Can my spouse and children move with me?
Yes, a spouse and children under 18 can apply through family reunification. Each person needs their own paperwork, including health insurance, and each needs the bank deposit of about 3,650 euros.
How long does it take to get Montenegro residency through property?
Buying usually takes two to four months from reservation to registered ownership. After you file, lawyers report about a month of police review, plus an in-person biometrics visit within 10 days. Americans can enter visa-free for 90 days in any 180, and the State Department says to file at least a month before those 90 days run out.
Does Montenegro still have a golden visa?
No. Montenegro's citizenship-by-investment program closed on December 31, 2022, and there's no golden visa in its place. The closest option is a temporary residence permit for owning property with a tax value of at least 150,000 euros. It lasts one year, renews while you own the home, and doesn't lead straight to citizenship.
Can I work in Montenegro on a property residence permit?
No. A property-based permit gives you the right to live in Montenegro, not to take a local job or run a business there. People who want to work usually form a Montenegrin company and hold a permit as its director, which has its own renewal test.
What does the property route cost besides the home?
On a resale, transfer tax runs 3% up to 150,000 euros, 5% up to 500,000 and 6% above that. Government permit fees are about 40 to 80 euros. You also deposit about 3,650 euros per person in a Montenegrin bank, pay for an apostilled FBI check and court translations, and owe annual property tax of 0.25% to 1% of the cadastral value.
Will I pay tax in Montenegro if I live there?
If you spend 183 days in a tax year there, or your home or main interests are there, you're a Montenegrin tax resident and taxed on worldwide income. Selling property carries a flat 15% tax on the gain. You still file a U.S. return every year, so talk to a cross-border tax preparer early.
Price out a home and a permit in Montenegro.
An Expatsi advisor can help you check whether this route fits your money, your family and your timeline.
Why not you?