Entry into Montenegro: what are the rules and do Russians need a visa?

The countries of the Balkan Peninsula are somewhat different from most other European countries in the sense that their visa policies can change quite often. Take the same Montenegro - not so long ago, she wanted to join the Schengen group of countries, but then changed her mind and decided to focus on the needs of tourists who do not want any extra visa procedures. Considering that for many of our fellow citizens, this country is very interesting as a place for a vacation, it is worthwhile to get a closer look at how to get into this country legally.

For citizens of Russia and other countries, Montenegro has the same visiting rules as any other foreign country. First of all, you need a passport, whose term has not expired, but you can not get a visa during a short-term visit, in general. A return ticket is almost always checked by border guards, be prepared to present it. Children must enter either with both parents, or with a notarized permission of one of them (or both), that the person does not mind leaving the child out of the country.

An animal needs a veterinary passport and documentation confirming timely vaccination, while chipping is not included in the list of mandatory requirements. Most tourists arrive in Montenegro through the airports of Podgorica and Tivat, but if you come by car, need a driver's license of international or Russian type, as well as international insurance.

Of the unusual, it should be noted that Montenegro is like most cafes: local border guards disapprove of attempts to bring any food into the country. If suddenly you are going to cross the border in one direction or another with any historical values, you will have to first obtain special permission from local authorities.

But in cash, this country, unlike many others, does not impose restrictions - fly though with a suitcase of bills. Like many other states, Montenegro does not allow importing a large amount of excisable goods from abroad. Of alcoholic beverages as a gift you can bring no more than a liter of something strong, for wine the permitted volume is increased to two liters. Smokers can take with them a maximum of 200 cigarettes per person, for cigars the limit is 50 pieces per adult.

Since 2008, a simplified visa regime has been in operation for citizens of the Russian Federation in Montenegro, which allows visa-free entry for up to 30 days. Since the vast majority of compatriots come to this small country solely for the purpose of rest for a week or two, for Russians arriving here on a short vacation, no visa is required.

That is why Montenegro can be called the best destination for “last minute” trips - with a minimum of formalities, you can quickly get together and go on a journey.

Another thing is that sometimes you want to stay in the country a little longer, and then you have to do a visa. Please note that, according to local rules, no one is looking at the time of entry and exit, because you actually have not 30 days, but exactly 30 calendar days.If you arrive at 23.59 local time, the day of arrival will be counted for you, as well as the day of departure, if you set off at least one minute after one.

For citizens of Belarus and Kazakhstan, as well as for Russian tourists, when traveling up to 30 days, a visa is not required - registration in a simplified form is carried out at the entrance to the country. Citizens of Ukraine in this regard is even simpler - visa-free entry for them is allowed for up to 90 days.

Montenegro is a small country, you can drive it from edge to edge in a matter of hours, because from the airport you have to get to your destination on the same day. There is such a rule that within a day after arrival, a citizen of any other country must report to the local municipality (or even to the police station) and register with local authorities.

This is done not only to make it easier for the authorities to keep order, but also for the sake of collecting tourist tax. Each municipality independently determines how much you have to pay for your stay here, but the actual prices do not exceed the amount of 1 euro per day.

Registration is done by filling out a special form for foreigners. In Montenegro there are so many tourists from the post-Soviet space that especially for them all the information on the form is duplicated in Russian, so you will not need a translator. If everything is in order, the official will give you a so-called white cardboard - a special card that confirms the legality of your stay on the territory of the state.

If you initially know that your stay in the country will definitely exceed 30 days, it makes sense to immediately apply for one of the visas - the types of visa documentation for entering Montenegro will be discussed below. However, there are other ways to solve the problem. Suppose you planned to rest in Montenegro for no more than a month, but you suddenly liked it fabulously, and you do not want to go home - especially if circumstances allow.

Given the tiny size of the country, the most sensible way to extend your stay here is to go abroad for a short time. It turns out that you left the country, and when you return to your passport a new stamp is put, and 30 days are starting to re-read.

If we consider neighboring countries from the point of view of convenience for a “visa-run” (the so-called short-term departure from the country in order to nullify the length of stay here), then Croatia is usually called the most convenient destination - at least, if you have a reusable Schengen visa. This country is also good because here from Montenegro, regular excursions are organized, and getting into it from the Adriatic coast is easy.

In this case, with trips to other neighbors, the situation is usually not so much worse, there are not so many trips and organized trips. For example, in Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia, you can enter visa-free visa for the same 30 days, however, the borders with them lie away from the sea coast, therefore it is not always convenient for beach tourists. Convenience, however, is that such entry rules are year-round, because these countries are not seaside resorts.

Of all the neighbors of Montenegro It is most difficult for the citizens of the post-Soviet states to get into a partially recognized Kosovo, because that's where everyone needs visas. Given that these countries do not recognize the independence of Kosovo, there are no embassies of this country in them, so a visa can be issued at the border upon entry. However, there is one problem: there are no clearly defined rules for obtaining a visa permit, and therefore unpleasant surprises are not excluded. True, many tourists note that with an open Schengen visa to Kosovo you should be allowed in without any problems.

To travel to Montenegro, you can get a visa in one of four categories, and the cost will vary depending on the category.

At once, we say that the first two categories among those described are not needed by anyone from the citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus or Kazakhstan, since visa-free entry conditions for holders of such passports imply a longer stay in the country.

• BUT - The simplest category, it is relatively rare and, in general, is issued only for those guests who use the Montenegrin international airports in Podgorica or Tivat for transit to another country. With such a document, you will not really be in the country, because it does not even give the right to leave the airport - you just got out of one plane and are waiting for a transfer on the spot.

• AT - already a little more serious, it is also a purely transit document, but it allows you to cross the country in any convenient way. Such a document may be appropriate if you are traveling, it allows you to stay on the territory of Montenegro for 5 days, and since the country is very small, and you can drive it for three hours, it gives you the opportunity to look around.

• WITH - the most popular category of Montenegrin visa, designed for those tourists who initially plan a trip for more than 30 days and do not want to count down the time, so as not to miss the moment for a “visa-run”. Get it, and you can be in the state for 90 days in a row, without going anywhere. The document is valid for a year, the renewal procedure is not provided for - if necessary, just apply for a visa again.

• D - the most serious category of permission, its issuance is supposed only in the event that you name the serious bases for long stay in Montenegro. As valid reasons, you can name work, study or treatment, as well as participation in various humanitarian programs or reunification with a family whose members have Montenegrin citizenship.

Please note that Montenegro is not included in the Schengen zone, because her national visa does not allow you to enter where the Schengen is valid.

Consular institutions of Montenegro on the territory of the post-Soviet space usually issue only a visa of category C, which, as a rule, fully meets the needs of the average domestic visitor to this country. To obtain permission to enter, collect a package of documents, each of which will be discussed with the discussion of details.

The international passport for trips abroad, including to Montenegro, is necessary. If you want to get a Montenegrin tourist visa, your document must meet two main criteria: it must contain two blank pages, and its validity period should extend not only during the trip, but also for three months after its planned completion. For submission, you must prepare a copy of the first page.

In addition, it is necessary to fill out a special questionnaire with standard questions for people entering this or that country. The form is issued in the consular section, but in general it can be found on the Internet and printed independently.Marked fields are required, data entry is usually allowed in both English and Russian. Any mistake or correction may invalidate such a document, therefore, respond to the filling responsibly.

If you are traveling for more than a month, the embassy staff, like the border guards, may have a logical question about where you plan to live all this time. When applying for a visa you need to provide evidence that Montenegro is waiting for you. A convincing argument will be a travel voucher with the prescribed point of stay, confirmation of booking from a hotel or hostel, an invitation from a resident of Montenegro, or a rental agreement with someone local.

Like many European countries, Montenegro puts forward certain requirements to the arriving tourists regarding financial security. Compared to other countries, prices are relatively modest - 20 euros per day is enough for one adult; children are not interested in the budget at all.

Proving that you have the funds, the easiest way to do this is with a help from a bank. As an alternative, you can get help from work or documentary evidence that you are visiting, and the receiving party takes all the waste.

Montenegro does not require from entering the country compulsory medical insurance, but the question of its availability should at least be considered. First of all, during the multi-week stay in the country, the likelihood of going to the doctor is not excluded, and his services will already be paid. In addition, having an insurance policy will once again prove to the embassy staff that you are an honest person, and you are unlikely to create any problems for the local people, because the likelihood of obtaining a visa will increase.

If you decide to apply for a visa yourself, you should arrive at the Montenegrin embassy in full force for all those who are going to go to the country, although for minors (under 14) personal presence is not necessary. Submission is carried out at least 14 days before the start of the journey, but no earlier than 30 days, it is impossible to register in advance somehow - the queue is alive.

Seasoned people are advised to come in advance, since the reception of documents is carried out only three times a week for an hour and a half, and you can simply not be in time. The situation is complicated by the fact that small Montenegro has embassies far from everywhere, therefore, citizens of other post-Soviet countries can also stand in line for the embassy in Moscow.

note that the visa is not made for free - the consular fee per adult is 62 euros, for citizens up to 14 years old it is reduced to 32 euros. The big advantage is that payment is made only after obtaining a ready-made visa, that is, in case of refusal, you do not pay anything. At the same time, it is important to know that payment is accepted only in euros, it will not be possible to pay in cash equivalent in another currency.

In order not to go specifically to the embassy, ​​you can try to get a Montenegrin visa through a travel agency or visa centers operating in the city of residence of a potential tourist. It is better to assemble a package of documents similar to what is required for submission to the embassy, ​​because without it, whatever one may say, it will not do anyway. Moreover, each such institution independently determines the cost of its services - if not to take the road, the costs, of course, will cost more than just paying the consular fee.

Like any hospitable tourist country, Montenegro is trying not to deny entry to potential guests. Most often, problems with obtaining a visa will not, however, in some cases, citizens are still denied permission to enter. According to accepted international practice, a consular post has the right not to explain the reason for refusal. In this case, having decided to re-submit the package of documents, once again check for the following interference:

• all documents must be legal and valid, a mismatch in the spelling of names and other similar blots may raise doubts with the consul;
• any deliberate deception of the embassy staff, if it opens up, is a reason for refusing entry;
• many consular offices treat people who were previously tried with some suspicion, but if you also “forgot to mention” such a biography fact, it will cause a lot of unnecessary suspicions;
• specific behavior bordering on inadequate, also does not help to get a visa;
• all mandatory vaccinations must be made in a timely manner and have documentary evidence, otherwise you will not be allowed into Montenegro for a long time.

Montenegro is perfect for family holidays, because many of our compatriots come here with children. According to the rules for children are any minor citizens under the age of 14 years. In principle, if the whole family goes on vacation, there will be no special difficulties with the entry - the child does not even need to issue his own passport, if it is entered in the passport of one of the parents according to the rules.

When only one of the parents travels with the child, you will need notarized confirmation that the second parent has nothing against the fact that the child is taken out of the country. If for some reason the children travel by themselves or accompanied by people who are not their parents, the appropriate permission is needed from both the mother and the father. The last rule applies to absolutely any “outsiders”, even if it’s not just a trainer or educator, but even a grandmother with a grandfather or an aunt with an uncle.

For information on how to properly deliver an entry visa to Montenegro, see the following video.