Montenegro moves to end visa-free regime with Russia

Montenegro has moved to terminate its visa-free agreements with Russia, Belarus and Türkiye as part of efforts to align its visa policy with European Union rules.

The Montenegrin government approved a report on the need to end the agreements at a regular cabinet meeting, according to the government press service.

“The report on the need to terminate the agreements regulating the visa-free regime with the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Türkiye was adopted,” the government said.

Montenegro announced at the end of July that citizens of several countries, including Russia, would be required to obtain visas to enter the country. The authorities said the measure was intended to bring the country’s visa policy into line with that of the EU. Montenegro received EU candidate status in 2010.

Under the new rules, citizens of Russia, Belarus and several other countries will require visas to enter Montenegro from November 1, 2026. Russian and Belarusian citizens had previously been allowed to enter and stay in Montenegro for up to 30 days without a visa. Montenegro’s Foreign Ministry said in July that the change was part of the country’s full alignment of its visa policy with EU standards.

By Tamilla Hasanova