According to Serbian Economist, Montenegro has significantly tightened payment rules for real estate transactions: deals worth more than EUR 10,000 must now be processed through the country’s banking system. The new requirements are aimed at strengthening control over the origin of funds, combating money laundering, and increasing transparency in the real estate market.
The law applies to real estate transactions worth more than EUR10,000.
The key requirement is that payment for the transaction must be made from or to a bank account opened in Montenegro. At least one of the parties to the transaction must have an account with a Montenegrin bank. This means that the buyer can transfer funds from a foreign bank directly to the seller’s account in Montenegro, provided the seller has such an account.
If payment was made before the contract was signed, the notary will have to request a bank statement confirming the transfer. A simple statement by the parties that the payment has already been made will not be sufficient. This strengthens the role of notaries and banks as participants in ensuring the integrity of the transaction.
In effect, Montenegro is closing the door on informal payments in the real estate market, which has actively attracted foreign buyers in recent years. Violations are subject to fines ranging from EUR 3,000 to EUR 20,000.
For foreign buyers, the new rules mean they must verify the banking aspects of the transaction in advance. If the seller is a resident of Montenegro and has a local bank account, the buyer will generally be able to pay for the property via a SWIFT transfer from their foreign account. However, in more complex cases—for example, if the seller is a non-resident, the transaction involves a legal entity, or the parties wish to manage payments through the buyer’s account—it may be necessary to open an account at a Montenegrin bank.
In such cases, banks may request documents regarding the source of funds: proof of income, sale of assets, investment documents, or other sources of capital. This aligns with the general logic of European financial compliance, although Montenegro is not yet an EU member.
For the Montenegrin real estate market, the effect will be twofold. On the one hand, the new rules may complicate and slow down transactions, especially for non-residents who are accustomed to more flexible payment schemes. On the other hand, increased transparency may strengthen the confidence of banks, notaries, and foreign investors in the market, particularly against the backdrop of expectations regarding Montenegro’s accession to the EU.
Montenegro remains one of the most popular real estate markets on the Adriatic for foreign buyers. Demand is driven by buyers from Europe, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and the Balkans.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2843
According to Serbian Economist, Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović has called for a suspension of the process to transfer the airports in Podgorica and Tivat to a concession, stating that the current model could cost the state hundreds of millions of euros.
A statement from the President’s Office notes that the government is implementing the concession procedure for Aerodromi Crne Gore based on a model developed back in 2019, even though the value of the airports and passenger traffic have increased significantly since then. Milatović believes that the current process does not reflect the true value of the assets, does not protect the state’s interests, and leaves airport employees without sufficient guarantees.
The President’s Office has sent a request to Montenegro’s Ombudsman for an urgent legal and financial analysis of the concession. The statement emphasizes that this concerns strategic infrastructure, and that, according to Milatović’s assessment, the government is attempting to shift responsibility for the controversial decision onto parliament.
Montenegrin authorities had previously proposed transferring the airports in Podgorica and Tivat to a 30-year concession to the South Korean Incheon Airport Consortium. The government claims that upon the concession’s expiration, all infrastructure will remain state-owned, and the total benefits from the deal could exceed EUR 1 billion.
According to the government, the terms of the deal involve investments in the reconstruction and development of airport infrastructure, the construction of new terminals, and the modernization of existing facilities. Supporters of the concession believe that without a major foreign operator, the airports will not be able to quickly reach a new level of service and capacity.
Milatović, on the other hand, insists that the new deal must take into account the current value of the assets. According to the State Property Agency, the value of Aerodromi Crne Gore is approximately EUR264.4 million, which is nearly double the previous 2018 valuation.
The president proposes revising the terms of the deal. Among the parameters that, according to his office, should be included in a fair concession model are a minimum one-time payment of at least EUR200 million, a mandatory increase in passenger traffic of at least 7% per year, investments of at least EUR300 million, the preservation of existing employee rights, and a guarantee of no technological surplus in the first five years.
Milatović also warned that a poorly structured concession could lead to a reduction in the number of flights, higher airfare prices, and employee layoffs.
The airports in Podgorica and Tivat have different economic significance. Podgorica is the main business and administrative hub, while Tivat is critical for tourist traffic to the coast, including Budva, Kotor, Herceg Novi, and other resort areas. Therefore, the concession issue concerns not only airport management but also the entire model of tourism development, investment, and the country’s transport accessibility.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2819
According to Serbian Economist, the silver-striped pufferfish Lagocephalus sceleratus, known as the fugu and considered one of the most dangerous invasive species in the Mediterranean, is being spotted with increasing frequency in the waters of Montenegro, reports the Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Montenegro.
Alexander Joksimović, a scientific advisor at the Institute of Marine Biology, stated that these are no longer isolated findings. According to him, this species has been present off the coast of Montenegro for nearly ten years and has already established a stable population in the Adriatic Sea.
Recently, a pufferfish was found again off the coast of Budva: the fish got caught in a fishing net. Experts are warning fishermen and tourists that this fish is not safe to eat and that they should not attempt to clean or prepare it themselves.
The main danger is associated with tetrodotoxin—a potent neurotoxin that may be present in the organs, skin, and tissues of this fish. Studies on the species Lagocephalus sceleratus in the Adriatic confirm the presence of tetrodotoxin, and this toxin is dangerous to humans if the fish is consumed.
Experts emphasize that heat treatment does not make this fish safe. Therefore, the main practical advice for fishermen and vacationers is not to consume any fish they find, not to sell it, and to report any findings to the relevant authorities or the Institute of Marine Biology.
The spread of pufferfish in the Adriatic is linked to warming sea temperatures and changes in the Mediterranean ecosystem. The species originates from the Indo-Pacific region and is spreading into the Mediterranean as an invasive species, including via the Suez Canal. In 2025, scientists also reported finding this fish off the coast of Croatia, marking one of the northernmost confirmations of its presence in the Mediterranean.
For Montenegro, the emergence of a stable pufferfish population has not only ecological but also economic significance. The fish can harm local fisheries, get caught in nets, damage the catch, and pose additional risks to coastal tourist regions. Budva, the Bay of Kotor, Bar, and other areas where fishing and tourism are closely linked to the marine ecosystem may be particularly vulnerable.
According to Serbian Economist, Montenegro’s long-term residential rental market entered a cooling phase in 2026: following the rapid growth of previous years, oversupply began to shift the balance in favor of tenants.
Currently, studios in Montenegro are offered at an average price of 300–400 euros per month, one-bedroom apartments at 400–800 euros, two-bedroom apartments at 600–1,200 euros, and houses starting at 1,000 euros. In the premium segment, villas and luxury properties can cost from 2,000 to 10,000 euros per month and higher.
The main reasons for the market stagnation are the decrease in the number of foreign residents staying in the country long-term and the accumulated oversupply. According to a representative of a local real estate agency, property owners are increasingly finding that apartments remain vacant longer than they did a year ago, while tenants have more room to negotiate prices and terms.
The market is no longer operating according to the 2022–2024 model, when owners could quickly rent out properties amid an influx of foreigners and limited supply. Now, in a number of locations, tenants are increasingly choosing between several options, securing discounts, or demanding better terms regarding the lease, furnishings, and utility bills.
For Montenegro, this shift is significant not only for the housing sector but also for the broader demand model, which in recent years has relied heavily on the influx of foreigners, relocators, and investors. If the number of long-term tenants continues to decline, some landlords may increasingly switch to short-term rentals or adjust their price expectations downward.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2698
According to Serbian Economist, Ulcinj, Montenegro, has welcomed a group of Ukrainian children who lost one or both parents as a result of the war. As reported by Montenegro’s Ministry of Human Rights and Minorities, an eight-day vacation with additional activities and optional excursions was organized for 40 Ukrainian children and the teachers accompanying them.
According to the ministry, the program was implemented in cooperation with the Ukrainian Embassy in Montenegro, the Municipality of Ulcinj, and the Ulcinj Tourism Organization. The children were shown the city, its natural landmarks, and historical sites, and walks in the surrounding areas were organized.
For Montenegro, such initiatives have not only humanitarian but also socio-political significance. Since 2022, Montenegro has remained one of the most welcoming countries for Ukrainians relative to its own population, and supporting children affected by the war reinforces Montenegro’s image as one of Ukraine’s most committed partners in the Balkans.
According to UN data, more than 200,000 Ukrainian citizens have entered the country since the start of the war, although a significant portion subsequently moved on. Currently, according to various estimates, at least 10,000 Ukrainian citizens reside in Montenegro. This makes Montenegro an important humanitarian and social hub for Ukrainians in the Adriatic region, despite the country’s relatively small size.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2677
According to Serbian Economist, Europol has reported new progress in the investigation against the so-called “Balkan Cartel”: one of the alleged key members of the network, which investigators link to the supply of large shipments of cocaine from South America to the European market, has been detained in Montenegro. According to the agency, the case involves the smuggling of 2.7 tons of drugs.
As Europol clarifies, Montenegrin judicial authorities have filed charges against several suspects, and the investigation is focused on the international logistics of drug trafficking, financial flows, and the coordination of shipments within Europe. This involves a network that, according to investigators, operated across several countries and used the Balkans as part of a broader criminal network.
Earlier, in December 2025, the agency reported on a separate operation in Germany targeting key figures in this network; at that time, three individuals were detained and assets worth approximately 5 million euros were seized.
For Balkan countries, such cases have not only a criminal but also an economic dimension. Intensified international investigations, expanded data sharing between police and financial intelligence agencies, and pressure on illicit cross-border flows are becoming part of a broader agenda to reduce reputational and institutional risks in the region. For Montenegro, Serbia, and neighboring markets, this is also important from the perspective of investment image, as the fight against organized crime remains one of the EU’s key evaluation criteria.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2642
