Acquire Citizenship of Montenegro in 2021: Invest in Your Future

Montenegro is a European country that has a citizenship-by-investment program. It is a candidate for EU membership and experts expect that by 2025, Montenegro is going to join the Union. Unlike with some other European states, you do not have to invest millions of euros to become a citizen of Montenegro. The required investment amount starts at 350,000 euros, which is comparable to acquiring citizenship of some Caribbean countries.

We have put the year of 2021 in the title of the text for a reason: the Montenegrin citizenship-by-investment program is going to be closed by the end of the year. The chance to acquire citizenship of the country by investment is still available but you have to hurry.

International Wealth experts will be happy to consult you on the procedure of acquiring citizenship of Montenegro. Please bear in mind that you can apply for citizenship of the country only via a licensed immigration agent: such is the official requirement.

Basic facts about Montenegro

Montenegro is located on the Balkan Peninsula and it is a sovereign republic. The name ‘Montenegro’ means ‘Black Mountain’ as mountains cover a large part of the territory of the country. Montenegro lies between east and west and it has a rich cultural history. Various conquerors came from both sides and left traces of their presence in the country. The landscapes are extremely diverse in Montenegro: you will find mountain ski resorts there as well as sandy marine beaches. The views of nature are breathtaking and the local people are well organized, friendly, and easy-going.

The country borders on Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania. Its area is 13,812 square kilometers (5,333 square miles), the population is about 650,000 people, the capital is Podgorica, the official language is Montenegrin, and the official currency is the euro. Montenegro is a democratic parliamentary republic.

You will acquire several important benefits if you become a citizen of Montenegro. These include the following ones:

• The citizenship acquisition is fast: you can acquire citizenship of Montenegro within three to six months.
• Montenegro is going to join the European Union by 2025 in all likelihood. This means that you will have visa-free access to all European countries with a Montenegrin passport. 
• The real estate prices are lower in Montenegro than anywhere else in Europe.
• It is a popular tourist destination: around two million tourists visit the country every year.
• You are going to acquire lifetime citizenship of Montenegro if you invest in the country’s economy. Moreover, you can pass citizenship of the country to your children.
• You do not have to permanently live in Montenegro to remain a citizen of the country.
• The passport of Montenegro ranks 43^rd and it gives visa-free access to 123 countries including the Schengen zone states, Russia, Turkey, Singapore, and so on. You have to apply for a visa, however, if you want to visit Great Britain, Canada, the USA, or Australia.
• The corporate tax in Montenegro is comparatively low.
• Inheritance tax, gift tax, and insurance premium tax are not payable in Montenegro.

In fact, Montenegro is a tiny country and you may have trouble locating it on the map. However, it has a lot to offer to tourists as well as its residents. The Adriatic coastline stretches for 300 kilometers and the beaches are fantastic. Further north, you will find amazing mountain landscapes and comfortable ski resorts. Besides, one of the most luxurious European marinas can be found there (called Porto Montenegro).

The country did not exist until 2006 when the confederation of Serbia and Montenegro peacefully disintegrated. Previously, it was part of now-inexistent Yugoslavia.

Since Montenegro became an independent country, it has entered no international conflicts, joined NATO, and made the euro its official currency.

In the course of its history, Montenegro has had to go through serious hardships but the country is rapidly growing at the moment. In the ‘pre-COVID’ 2019, its GDP grew by 4.9%, which made foreign investors give Montenegro a close look.

The main sectors of the country’s economy are agriculture, energy production, and tourism. The latter sector of the economy generates almost a third of the national income.

Main characteristics of the Montenegrin citizenship-by-investment program

Montenegro puts forward the following requirements to foreign nationals wishing to acquire citizenship of the country by investment: donate 100,000 euros to the state fund plus invest at least 250,000 euros in real estate in the country. You will have to invest in Government-approved resort property or some other property that will create new jobs and stimulate economic development.

The Montenegrin citizenship-by-investment program was launched in 2019 and it was to be available for three years only from the very start. So you have time only until December 31, 2021 to apply for citizenship of Montenegro by investment. The set limit of 2,000 applicants has not been reached yet, so you still have a chance.

Candidates for citizenship of Montenegro do not have to take any language or history tests. No educational certificates are required either. Besides, new citizens of Montenegro do not have to do military service.  

The IMF experts estimate that the Montenegrin citizenship-by-investment program may generate up to 530 million euros of income. This would constitute nearly 11% of the national budget.

Citizenship of Montenegro: the investment options

We are not going to discuss the more expensive paths to citizenship of Montenegro here that require investing millions of euros. Instead, we will bring two more affordable options to your consideration. Please note that you will have to make a donation of 100,000 euros regardless of which investment option you choose.

The first option:

• Purchase a piece of real property that is part of a Government-approved development project located in the northern regions of the country (excluding Podgorica). Its price shall be at least 250,000 euros. You also have to take into account the administrative costs and the due diligence costs.

The second option:

• Purchase a piece of real property that is part of a Government-approved development project located in the southern regions of the country (on the beach) or in Podgorica. Its price shall be at least 450,000 euros.

Please note that you will be making a returnable investment. You can resell the property after holding it in your possession for five years while retaining the Montenegrin passport.

Additional costs include the following ones: 

• Application processing fee: 15,000 euros for a single applicant;
• 10,000 euros for each dependent family member (up to three people);
• 50,000 euros for each extra dependent family member.

Besides, due diligence fees need to be paid:

• 7,000 euros for a single applicant 7000;.
• 10,000 euros for a family of 2 to 4 members;
• 1,500 euros for each extra family member.

We must also emphasize that some additional costs are going to be involved too. For instance, you will have to pay a visa fee because you will have to pay a personal visit to Montenegro in any event. Naturally, you will have to pay the airfare and the hotel bill. Besides, you will have to pay for the translation services and notary services because all the application documents will have to be written in the Montenegrin language and legalized. So the ultimate cost of acquiring citizenship of Montenegro is going to exceed 350,000 euros even if you choose the most affordable investment option.

What is so attractive about citizenship of Montenegro?

Below we list the main advantages of the Montenegrin citizenship-by-investment program:

• You can add your spouse and your underage children (below 18) to the application for citizenship of Montenegro. You can also add dependent adult children if they are full-time university students. Besides, you can add your dependent parents if they are above 65 years of age.
• Children born to Montenegrin citizens automatically become citizens of the country.
• You do not have to renounce your present citizenship when acquiring a Montenegrin passport.
• You do not have to live in Montenegro nor speak the local language.
• At the same time, you have to be personally present in Montenegro for five days each year during the first five years of holding the passport of the country.
• The application processing can take three months only.
• The due diligence procedures are totally confidential.
• You do not have to have a personal interview nor supply any education certificates.

Documents required for applying for citizenship of Montenegro

• International passports for all family members included in the application.
• In case a family application is filed, your marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates.
• Police clearances for all adult applicants.
• A bank statement and a confirmation of the legality of sources of income.
• Medical certificates for all applicants.

Steps you need to take to acquire citizenship of Montenegro

Before you proceed to apply for citizenship of the Balkan country, you have to make sure that you conform to the following requirements:

• You are not a citizen of an EU country.
• You have a valid international passport.
• You are able to legally enter Great Britain, the EU, the USA, and Canada.
• You have no criminal records and you are not legally prosecuted at the moment.
• You can confirm the legality of the investment capital. 
• You have a spotless reputation in general.
• You have a good credit record. 
• You are in good health.

If these requirements are satisfied, you have to take the following steps to acquire citizenship of Montenegro by investment:

The whole process is going to take between three and six months. 

Please contact us by email info@offshore-pro.info or use any other means of communication to get in touch with us (see the ‘Contact us’ icon above) if you would like to learn more about the Montenegrin citizenship-by-investment program. Please remember that you do not have very much time as the program will close on December 31, 2021!