Can foreign buyers get residency in Montenegro by buying property?

Yes. Temporary residence on the basis of real estate ownership: from €150,000 (about $168k). Ownership of Montenegrin real estate worth €150,000+ as set in the Tax Administration's transfer-tax decision (assessed value, not price); must also use the property and have property taxes settled; no work or business allowed on this permit; EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and their family members exempt from the value test

How long does it take?

Temporary residence on the basis of real estate ownership: the authorities publish no processing time. The permit runs 1 year, renewable: yearly; permits issued before 17 Jan 2026 can be extended without the value test.

Does it lead to citizenship?

Permanent residence after 5 years; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.

Montenegro Residency by Investment: Routes, Costs and Rules

1 open route

The routes to living in Montenegro.

Our verdict. Montenegro suits a buyer who wants residence for a modest outlay: Montenegrin real estate assessed at €150,000 or more brings a one-year renewable residence permit, with permanent residence after five years. The value is the Tax Administration's assessment, not the price, and the holder must use the property and keep its taxes paid. The drawback is the permit's limits: no work or business is allowed on it, it renews yearly, and citizenship by investment closed at the end of 2022. Saudi nationals need a visa from 1 November 2026. Next to Greece's golden visa, the threshold is far lower, but Greece renews every five years and allows time abroad.

Temporary residence on the basis of real estate ownership

Changed54

changed 2026-01-17: Law on Foreigners amendments, Official Gazette 3/2026, added the €150,000 value test

Minimum: €150,000 · about $168k
What counts: Ownership of Montenegrin real estate worth €150,000+ as set in the Tax Administration's transfer-tax decision (assessed value, not price); must also use the property and have property taxes settled; no work or business allowed on this permit; EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and their family members exempt from the value test
Processing: Not published
Permit: 1 year, renewable: yearly; permits issued before 17 Jan 2026 can be extended without the value test
Time you must spend there: No rule published
Path to a passport: Permanent residence after 5 years; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.
Family: Not published
Tax: Not published

Official source · checked 2026-10-20

Citizenship by investment (special investment projects programme)

Closed

closed 2022-12-31 (the government decision applied to applications from 1 Jan 2019 to 31 Dec 2022)

Minimum: €250,000 · about $280k
What counts: Former route: €450,000 (Podgorica or the coast) or €250,000 (north or centre) in a government-approved development project, plus a €100,000 payment for the development of less-developed municipalities
Processing: Not published
Permit: Not published
Time you must spend there: No rule published
Path to a passport: No set path to permanent residence or citizenship through this route.
Family: Not published
Tax: Not published

Official source · checked 2026-10-20

Residency rules, thresholds and fees change often, sometimes without notice. Everything here is general information, checked on the date shown, not legal, tax or immigration advice: confirm with the official source and a licensed adviser before you act. Continental sells property; we don’t arrange visas or residency.

Short answers

What people ask.

Can foreign buyers get residency in Montenegro by buying property?: Yes. Temporary residence on the basis of real estate ownership: from €150,000 (about $168k). Ownership of Montenegrin real estate worth €150,000+ as set in the Tax Administration's transfer-tax decision (assessed value, not price); must also use the property and have property taxes settled; no work or business allowed on this permit; EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and their family members exempt from the value test
Is the Montenegro golden visa still available?: Citizenship by investment (special investment projects programme) is closed (closed 2022-12-31 (the government decision applied to applications from 1 Jan 2019 to 31 Dec 2022)). Open today: Temporary residence on the basis of real estate ownership.
How long does it take?: Temporary residence on the basis of real estate ownership: the authorities publish no processing time. The permit runs 1 year, renewable: yearly; permits issued before 17 Jan 2026 can be extended without the value test.
Does it lead to citizenship?: Permanent residence after 5 years; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.

Read it for your passport

Montenegro residency, passport by passport.

Visa-free stays: Montenegro Ministry of Foreign Affairs, read 20 October 2026. Saudi nationals can stay 30 days without a visa until 31 October 2026 and need a visa from 1 November 2026, under the decree of 23 July 2026. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Where we can help

Our markets, where a home can count.

We don’t sell homes in Montenegro. These are the countries where we do, and where buying one can count towards residency.

The homes: Homes in Thailand · Homes in Malaysia · Homes in the United Arab Emirates · Homes in Saudi Arabia · Homes in Oman · Homes in Spain.

Montenegro residency by investment.