According to “Serbian Economist”, Montenegrin citizens will not necessarily immediately gain the right to work without permits in all 27 EU member states following the country’s potential accession to the EU in 2028. The European Union has provided for the possibility of transitional restrictions lasting up to nine years.
The relevant mechanism is contained in the EU’s official negotiating position on Chapter 2, “Free Movement of Workers,” approved on June 12, 2026.
How will the restrictions work?
For the first four years, EU countries will be able to decide independently whether to open their labor markets to Montenegrins.
For up to seven years, the restrictions may be extended following the prescribed review procedure.
For up to nine years, an additional extension is permitted in the event of serious disruptions in the national labor market or the threat of such disruptions. Each EU member state will make its own decision in this regard.
Specific restrictions apply to Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria. These countries will be able to implement special protective measures in certain sectors in the event of the temporary posting of workers by Montenegrin companies.
There is also an exception for citizens who are already working: Montenegrins who are legally employed in an EU country and have had uninterrupted access to its labor market for at least 12 months will be able to enjoy broader labor rights in that country.
What does this mean in practice?
Montenegro’s accession to the European Union does not guarantee immediate freedom of employment in all EU countries. The right to work may depend on the legislation of a specific country and the transitional arrangements in effect.
If Montenegro joins the EU in 2028, the maximum restrictions could theoretically remain in place until 2037.
EU, EU accession, Labor market, MIGRATION, MONTENEGRO, transitional restrictions
The Romanian port of Constanța on the Black Sea is among the European logistics hubs used for the illegal import of cocaine from Latin America. At the same time, international criminal groups are expanding their presence in Romania and other countries in Southeast Europe by establishing ties with local criminal networks, according to research by the European Drug Agency (EUDA) and an international investigative report by The Guardian.
According to The Guardian’s investigation, published on October 13, 2026, criminal organizations from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico, and other Latin American countries are already active in at least 12 European countries. At the same time, certain networks—in particular Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC)—may be operating in 16 European countries, according to law enforcement estimates.
Over the course of four months, journalists analyzed data from law enforcement agencies, international investigations, and court cases, and spoke with experts from eight countries. The investigation revealed that Latin American cartels are increasingly collaborating with European criminal groups, leveraging their connections and logistical capabilities.
Traditionally, the main routes for cocaine entering the European market remain Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and France. However, law enforcement agencies are noting an expansion of drug networks’ activities in Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and other countries in Central and Southeastern Europe.
The port of Constanța is of particular concern; the EUDA identifies it as one of the entry points for cocaine into Europe, alongside Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Valencia, Algeciras, and Gioia Tauro in Italy.
According to analysts, tighter controls at major ports in Western Europe are prompting criminal organizations to make greater use of alternative maritime routes. This increases the risks to port infrastructure in the Black Sea and Adriatic regions.
The scale of the European cocaine market remains significant. According to EUDA data, between 2014 and 2024, the volume of cocaine seized in Europe increased by 471%.
In 2024, European Union member states reported 97,000 cocaine seizures totaling 330 metric tons. This is less than the record 419 metric tons seized in 2023; however, the number of seizures increased, which may indicate a shift in drug trafficking routes and methods.
The largest seizures in 2024 were recorded in Spain—124 metric tons, France—53.5 metric tons, and Belgium—44.6 metric tons. These three countries accounted for about 67% of the total amount of cocaine seized in the EU.
Significant quantities were also seized in the Netherlands (37.6 metric tons), Germany (23.8 metric tons), Portugal (23 metric tons), and Italy (11 metric tons).
At the same time, the countries of the Western Balkans play a special role in the international drug trade. According to a study by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, criminal networks from Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other countries in the region have become active participants in global cocaine supply chains over the past two decades.
The Montenegrin port of Bar holds a special place among Balkan ports. According to data from the Montenegrin Ministry of Health and the EUDA, in August 2021, law enforcement agencies discovered more than 1.4 metric tons of cocaine in a container shipment of bananas that arrived from Ecuador via the port of Bar. In January 2022, another approximately 500 kg of cocaine was discovered in the country in a shipment of bananas that passed through this port.
Montenegrin authorities viewed these incidents as confirmation of the country’s role as a transit point in international drug smuggling. The small domestic market could not have been the final destination for such large quantities.
In general, the main established maritime routes for cocaine smuggling into Europe pass through the Atlantic ports of Antwerp in Belgium, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg in Germany, Valencia and Algeciras in Spain, as well as through Portuguese and French ports.
In the Mediterranean region, Gioia Tauro in Italy and Piraeus in Greece remain key hubs. In the Adriatic, major seizures have been recorded in Bari (Montenegro), Durres (Albania), Ploče, and Rijeka (Croatia). In the Black Sea basin, ports attracting the attention of law enforcement agencies in the context of cocaine smuggling risks include Constanța in Romania and Varna in Bulgaria.
However, these routes carry different weight in international drug trafficking: ports in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain remain the primary points of entry in terms of seizure volumes, while Balkan and Black Sea ports primarily serve as secondary transit points.
EUDA analysts warn that route diversification, corruption risks, and the use of international transport chains complicate the work of customs and law enforcement agencies. Under these conditions, international information sharing, the inspection of high-risk cargo, and cooperation among European port authorities are becoming increasingly important.
Sources: The Guardian, investigation dated October 13, 2026; EUDA, study of European cocaine supply routes; EUDA, European Drug Report 2026; Montenegro Ministry of Health / EUDA, drug situation overview; Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, study from April 2025.
According to The Serbian Economist, Montenegro continues to revise its immigration rules as part of its alignment with EU legislation. The government is simultaneously tightening requirements for foreigners obtaining residence permits through real estate and business, but is maintaining a separate mechanism for digital nomads—those who work remotely for foreign companies.
Under current and previously approved changes, a minimum property value of 200,000 euros is being introduced as a requirement for obtaining a temporary residence permit through real estate. Foreigners who already hold a residence permit on this basis will have one year to bring their status into compliance with the new requirements.
For foreigners obtaining a residence permit through their own company, the rules are also becoming stricter. A foreign CEO or owner of more than 51% of the company’s capital must have at least three employees, two of whom must be Montenegrin citizens working full-time.
At the same time, the authorities are not abandoning a separate program for digital nomads. A foreigner who works online for a foreign company or their own company registered outside Montenegro can still apply for a temporary residence permit. To do so, they must provide proof of income, housing, health insurance, and a valid reason for remote work.
This is an important compromise for the country: Montenegro aims to bring its immigration system into line with EU standards while remaining attractive to IT professionals, consultants, entrepreneurs, and other remote workers.
Separately, starting November 1, 2026, Montenegro will introduce a visa requirement for citizens of Russia, Turkey, Belarus, China, and Saudi Arabia. The government explicitly explains this as necessary to fully align its visa policy with the European Union under Negotiation Chapter 24.
Therefore, it can be assumed that maintaining a favorable regime for digital nomads and qualified foreign professionals is intended, in part, to mitigate a potential outflow of Russians and Turks that could occur following the abolition of visa-free entry and the tightening of rules for obtaining residence permits.
The scale of the foreign presence is already very large for a small country like Montenegro. According to data from the Ministry of the Interior as of September 2026, nearly 70,000 foreigners held residence permits.
The largest groups are:
Russia — 17,900 people
Serbia — 15,300
Turkey—10,600
Bosnia and Herzegovina—3,800
Kosovo—3,100
Albania—3,100
Azerbaijan—2,600
Ukraine—1,600
North Macedonia—1,200
Germany — 1,100
Thus, Russians, Serbs, and Turks alone account for about 63% of all foreigners with residence permits in Montenegro. That is why any changes to visa and immigration policies have a particularly significant impact on the real estate market, the rental market, small businesses, and the service sector.
digital nomad, MIGRATION, MONTENEGRO, REAL ESTATE, RESIDENCE PERMIT
According to the Serbian business media outlet Parametar, Croatia is claiming property worth over $2.7 billion located in Montenegro that remained there following the breakup of Yugoslavia. And this is by no means limited to the well-known training sailing ship “Jadran.”
This was stated by Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman during a visit to Montenegro. Zagreb has documentation regarding property that ended up on Montenegrin territory and was sold or transferred to other owners after the breakup of Yugoslavia.
Among these, the minister specifically mentioned military ships, submarines, and a military hospital.
The “Jadran” has become the most well-known part of the dispute. The training sailing ship was built in the 1930s and was used by the Yugoslav Navy. The vessel is currently in Montenegro, while Croatia insists on its return.
But the property dispute is only part of a much broader list of Zagreb’s demands on Podgorica.
The Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the following among the unresolved issues:
– the return of the “Jadran” and the settlement of other property claims;
– compensation for former Croatian prisoners of the Morin camp;
– the search for 14 people who are still considered missing in action following the war of the 1990s;
– the investigation and prosecution of war crimes;
– the return of property belonging to Croatian families in Montenegro and the conclusion of protracted court proceedings;
– the preservation of a memorial plaque at the site of the former Morin camp;
– renaming the swimming pool in Kotor named after Zoran Hopčević;
– resolving the maritime border between the two countries.
These issues take on particular significance in light of Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations.
Croatia is already using its status as an EU member state to block the closure of certain negotiation chapters. In September, a planned intergovernmental conference had to be postponed after Zagreb refused to agree to the closure of several chapters.
Currently, Croatia is blocking the closure of chapters related to transport policy, foreign policy and security, the judicial system and fundamental rights, as well as justice, freedom, and security.
Podgorica hopes to conclude negotiations and become the 28th member of the European Union in 2028. However, this date is not guaranteed: the consent of EU member states is required for progress and final accession.
At the same time, Croatia is currently the main source of bilateral demands on Montenegro, which directly affect the negotiation process. There is currently no comparable official set of claims from other EU member states.
This creates a rather interesting situation: the closer Montenegro gets to the EU, the greater the significance of long-standing disputes dating back to the breakup of Yugoslavia.
And Croatia’s property claims, totaling more than $2.7 billion, are now becoming not only a matter of relations between Zagreb and Podgorica but also a potential factor capable of influencing the timing of Montenegro’s accession to the European Union.
According to an analysis by the Serbian business portal Parametar, starting November 1, 2026, Montenegro will introduce a visa requirement for citizens of Russia, Belarus, and Turkey, which could significantly impact the country’s tourism, labor market, rental sector, and real estate market.
On September 24, the Montenegrin government confirmed the initiation of the procedure to terminate the existing visa-free travel agreements with these three countries. The decision was made as part of efforts to bring the country’s visa policy into line with European Union regulations. As early as July 23, the government approved changes to the visa regime, which are set to take effect on November 1.
Until October 31, citizens of Russia and Belarus may enter Montenegro without a visa and stay there for up to 30 days. A similar visa-free regime applies to Turkish citizens. Once the new rules take effect, holders of ordinary passports will need a Montenegrin visa. Regarding Turkey, Podgorica plans to conclude a separate agreement, maintaining visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic, service, and special passports.
However, there are significant exceptions. Citizens of these countries who hold a valid Schengen, U.S., British, or Irish visa or a corresponding residence permit will, as before, be able to enter Montenegro without a separate Montenegrin visa for up to 30 days.
The new regime also does not require a tourist visa for foreigners who already hold a valid temporary or permanent residence permit in Montenegro or a permit for temporary residence and work.
According to data from the Montenegrin Ministry of the Interior cited by Parametar, as of the end of 2025, 20,793 Russian citizens and 13,506 Turkish citizens held temporary or permanent residence permits. Together, these two communities account for approximately 5.5% of the country’s population, which totals about 624,000 people.
The Belarusian community is significantly smaller. According to the latest census, as of late October 2023, 738 Belarusian citizens had permanent residence in Montenegro; more recent data on Belarusians is not currently available.
Tourism could become one of the most vulnerable sectors. In 2025, Russian tourists accounted for 16.4% of all overnight stays by foreign visitors in Montenegro, while tourists from Turkey accounted for another 4.3%. In the private accommodation segment, the Russian market’s share reached 22.1%, while the Turkish market’s share was 4.9%. Thus, these two countries accounted for more than a quarter of all foreign overnight stays in apartments, villas, and other private accommodations.
According to Parametar’s assessment, the most noticeable impact may not be among Russians and Turks who already legally reside in Montenegro, but rather among new tourists, real estate buyers, renters, and those considering the country as a place to relocate. This is particularly important for Budva, Bar, Tivat, Kotor, and Herceg Novi, where foreign demand plays a significant role in the rental, real estate, hospitality, and service markets.
The changes may also affect the labor market. In 2025, 10,346 temporary residence and work permits were issued to Turkish citizens, and 7,429 to Russian citizens. Turkey has become the largest source of foreign labor in Montenegro. The introduction of an additional visa procedure for new workers could potentially delay their recruitment in the construction, hospitality, and other sectors.
The visa reform is linked to Montenegro’s EU accession process. The country’s government notes that full alignment of visa policy is one of the conditions for closing Negotiation Chapter 24, “Justice, Freedom, and Security.” Fulfilling this condition also paved the way for receiving approximately 4 million euros under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
As part of a broader reform of Montenegro’s visa regime, visa requirements will also apply to citizens of China and Saudi Arabia starting November 1, since Podgorica’s previous policy toward these countries was also not in line with EU regulations. However, the government’s September 24 decision to suspend international agreements directly concerns Russia, Belarus, and Turkey.
According to Parametar, Montenegro will host the Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit on October 21–22. The meeting will take place at the Sveti Stefan resort and will be the main event of Montenegro’s presidency of this regional forum in 2026, the country’s government announced.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are scheduled to open the summit.
Leaders of six Western Balkan countries—Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Kosovo—have been invited to Sveti Stefan, along with representatives of Berlin Process member states, EU leadership, international financial institutions, and regional organizations.
For Serbia, this meeting will be important primarily in terms of regional trade, transport and energy links with the EU, a common regional market, and the further economic integration of the Western Balkans.
Montenegro will hold a series of sector-specific meetings leading up to the October summit. Economy ministers will meet on September 30 in Cetinje, foreign ministers on October 1 in Budva, and events dedicated to the digital agenda, Roma community issues, and science and research will also take place in October.
What is the Berlin Process?
The Berlin Process was launched by Germany in 2014 as a framework for EU cooperation with the six countries of the Western Balkans. Its goal is to accelerate regional economic integration, the development of transportation and energy infrastructure, and the free movement of people and businesses, as well as to help countries in the region align with EU standards. However, the Berlin Process does not replace official EU accession negotiations; rather, it complements them with specific regional initiatives and projects.
In addition to the countries of the Western Balkans, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, and Bulgaria are participating in the process, as well as EU institutions and international organizations.
