Although Montenegro is not a member of the European Union, it actively supports citizens of Ukraine who left the war. Simplified conditions for the entry of Ukrainians were introduced in the country, which makes Montenegro an attractive place for both refugees and tourists. IA “FAKT” has collected useful information for Ukrainian refugees, relevant as of September 2024.
What documents are required for entry and rules for staying in the country
Several different identity documents can be used to cross the border between Ukraine and Montenegro:
- Valid biometric or non-biometric foreign passport, as well as its copy;
- Internal passport in the form of a booklet or ID card, as well as their copies.
If you are crossing the border with a minor, you must carry documents that confirm family or other ties with this person. This can be a child’s birth certificate or a parent’s consent to accompany and leave the child abroad. These documents are important to ensure the legality and safety of traveling with children.
In addition, from June 1, 2022, Green Card insurance became mandatory for everyone traveling abroad by car, regardless of whether they are tourists or refugees. This means that every driver who plans to cross the border in their own vehicle must ensure that they have this insurance policy to cover possible risks during the trip.
It is also important to know that Ukrainians do not need a visa to enter Montenegro. Citizens of Ukraine can stay in the country for up to 90 days within six months without obtaining a visa. This applies to both tourists and refugees. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, a diplomatic passport, a service passport, a passport of a citizen of Ukraine for traveling abroad, as well as a child’s travel document are suitable for entry.
As for the authorized period of stay, it is up to 90 days within 180 days from the date of first entry into the country. This gives Ukrainians the opportunity to stay in Montenegro for a long time without worrying about visa issues.
To cross the border, citizens of Ukraine must present a valid biometric or non-biometric foreign passport that is valid for more than 180 days from the moment of entry into the country. In addition, insurance is required to cover expenses in case of illness or accident during the trip. At the border, they may also ask for information about their place of residence in Montenegro or a return ticket.
Ukrainians can enter Montenegro as tourists or refugees by presenting identity documents. Children under 18 are allowed to enter with a birth certificate. If there are problems with documents or their invalidity, citizens of Ukraine have the right to contact the police directly at the border and ask for temporary protection or asylum. In this case, entry will be allowed even with minimal documents.
If your foreign passport has expired, you can extend it for 5 years at any Ukrainian embassy or consulate before entering Montenegro. This became possible thanks to the temporary measures that were introduced in connection with the war in Ukraine. This procedure allows Ukrainians to travel and stay abroad even if their documents expire.
It is also important that you do not need proof of vaccination or the provision of tests for COVID-19 to enter Montenegro. Entry is allowed from any country, which makes traveling to this country more convenient for Ukrainians. This greatly simplifies the process of planning a trip and crossing the border.
Simplified conditions are also provided for those traveling with animals. Entry with animals is allowed even without special documents, but their presence can facilitate the process of passing control at the border.
If you do not plan to receive temporary protection in Montenegro, but simply want to stay there as a tourist, you need to have a biometric or non-biometric passport valid for more than 180 days from the date of entry into the country. This is necessary to ensure the legality of your stay as a tourist.
Obtaining temporary protection in Montenegro
In order to obtain temporary protection in Montenegro, it is necessary to contact the regional units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro. On the spot, you will be asked to submit an application, take a photo and have your fingerprints taken. After that, the submitted application will be checked, which will last up to 30 days. If the result is positive, you will be given a certificate confirming the status of a foreigner who is under temporary protection in Montenegro. This status is granted for at least 1 year with the possibility of extension.
Which gives temporary protection
- Free medical assistance in state medical institutions. Contacts of state medical institutions can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.me/en/government-of-montenegro/health.
- Primary and secondary education. This protection applies to children of school age, but not to kindergartens. Information about distance learning platforms is available here: https://www.facebook.com/ukrainian.embassy.me/posts/5541151945914141 and https://www.facebook.com/ukrainian.embassy.me/posts/5543631865666149.
- The right to work. To find a job or get more detailed information, you can contact the Employment Service of Montenegro: https://www.zzzcg.me/opste-informacije-za-nezaposlena-lica/. For independent job search, you can use the job search website in Montenegro – MillionMakers: https://bs.millionmakers.com/jobs/jobs-in-montenegro/.
- Family reunion. You have the right to request family reunification if your loved ones are also seeking temporary protection.
- The right to apply for international protection (asylum, azil). Temporary protection does not limit your rights in the country, including freedom of movement and change of residence or work. If you wish, you can return to Ukraine, which will automatically terminate your temporary protection. You also have the right to travel abroad freely, but you must notify the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro before the trip, indicating the reason and duration of the trip.
Assistance to Ukrainians in Montenegro
If you need help with transport, housing, counselling, humanitarian aid or work, you can:
- Leave an application by filling out a special form;
- Contact the Red Cross office in your city.
Addresses and contacts of Red Cross branches:
Podgorica: st. Balšica 1-5, in the office of the travel agency Jet Travel.
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TxiCFzy8e4MeA97p6.
Hours of operation: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Phone: +382-68-662-567 (Telegram/Viber).
Email: [email protected].
Budva: st. 29 Novembra bb, on the first ring road, opposite the stadium, square with the fountain, Home of Gyros cafe, on the second floor.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/zVCKXu9uUzMc1Vud6.
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Phone: +382-69-441-547 (Telegram/Viber/WhatsApp).
Telegram channel: https://t.me/budvahelp.
There is: Revolution Boulevard 10A, in the premises of the Honorary Consulate of Georgia in Montenegro.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/BgGZqeYAfrX2cDH36.
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Sunday (on call as needed).
Phone: +382-30-550-891, +382-68-447-277, +38-067-74-76-319 (WhatsApp).
Email: [email protected].
Telegram channel: https://t.me/shtabpomoshiukrbar.
Site: https://sites.google.com/view/barukrhelp.
Tivat: premises of Omladinski club Tivat.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Uy24AJ8hhcH9SZ9m8.
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Phone: +382-68-379-983, +380-66-060-2651 (Telegram/Viber).
Herceg-Novi: Adriatic highway, Intermedic building, in the premises of the Red Cross.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/5PuSWMZwnMSdrfHXA.
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Phone: +380-68-076-155 (Telegram/Viber/WhatsApp).
Telegram channel: https://t.me/pomozi_herceg_novi.
Website: KhN Crisis Headquarters – Temporary Protection (google.com).
You can also contact the Embassy of Ukraine:
Phone: +382-20-320-400.
Email: [email protected].
In urgent cases: Viber to the number +382-67-69-86-86.
Consular reception and consultations are carried out every day from 09:00 to 21:00 without prior appointment, on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The Embassy’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ukrainian.embassy.me.
- Facebook page of the Consul: https://www.facebook.com/MykhailoShmatov/.
Information about the temporary order, which allows extending the validity period of foreign passports and pasting children’s photos to the parents’ foreign passport, is available at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/ukrainian.embassy.me/posts/5495281323834537.
Links to official documents of Montenegro:
- Decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro regarding the legal grounds for the stay of Ukrainian citizens in Montenegro from 01.03.2022.
- Decision of the Government of Montenegro on the temporary protection of persons from Ukraine dated March 10, 2022: Information regarding the status of persons from Ukraine in Montenegro with the Proposal for a decision on granting temporary protection to persons from Ukraine.
- Conclusion regarding the decision of the Government of Montenegro on temporary protection of persons from Ukraine dated 21.03.2022, paragraph 5 on the possibility of entering Montenegro without valid documents: Information regarding the status of persons from Ukraine in Montenegro.
