🇲🇪 Moving to Montenegro: tax, residency and cost of living

Key facts

Top income tax

15%

Corporate tax

9%

Capital gains

15%

Wealth tax

No

Inheritance tax

Yes

Cost of living index

43

Safety

7/10

Internet quality

6/10

Visa-free destinations

125

Foreigners can own property

Yes

Residency in

0 months

Citizenship in

0 years

Taxes

Montenegro taxes residents progressively from 0% to 15% on worldwide income (0% up to €8,400, 9% up to €12,000, 15% above), with a municipal surtax of 13% (15% in Podgorica) on the tax amount; corporate tax runs from 9% to 15%, there is no wealth tax, VAT is 21% and the country uses the euro.

Residency and visas

Residence is easiest through buying property (a temporary residence permit when you own a home) or via a company; permanent residence after five years, naturalisation after about ten years. The citizenship-by-investment programme closed at the end of 2022.

Property ownership

Foreigners may buy homes and apartments in full ownership (freehold); land (agricultural, forest, border zones) is restricted and usually runs through a local company. Adriatic-coast property is the main draw and the euro removes currency risk.

Cost of living and quality of life

Montenegro offers low costs, a spectacular Adriatic coastline, a mild climate and a safe environment, but it is a small country with modest infrastructure and healthcare and a strongly tourism-seasonal economy.

Passport and mobility

The Montenegrin passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to about 125 destinations, including the Schengen area, and the country is an EU accession candidate targeting around 2028; dual nationality is usually not allowed on naturalisation.

Residency and visas

• Tijdelijke verblijfsvergunning via eigendom van vastgoed (woning van elke waarde) of via een eigen vennootschap/werk; jaarlijks verlengbaar · Residency in 5 years
• Permanente verblijfsvergunning na vijf jaar legaal verblijf; naturalisatie na doorgaans tien jaar, met afstand van andere nationaliteit (het burgerschap-door-investering programma sloot eind 2022) · Residency in 5 years

Why people move to Montenegro

• Low taxes, 9% corporate tax and the euro

  Montenegro taxes personal income progressively up to 15% (plus a small municipal surtax), profit from 9%, has no wealth tax and uses the euro, so no currency risk; residence is accessible by buying property.

• EU candidate, no more citizenship-by-investment, slow naturalisation

  Montenegro is still only an EU candidate, its citizenship-by-investment programme closed at the end of 2022, naturalisation takes about ten years and usually requires giving up other citizenship, and land (unlike buildings) is restricted for foreigners.