Montenegro's visa-free policy adjusted!
Since November 1st, regular Chinese passports have gone to Montenegro for attention.
Attention, friends planning a trip to Europe!
As of 1 November 2026, Montenegro will adjust its visa policy for several countries, including China.
Why did Montenegro suddenly tighten its visa waiver policy? Can we still go with American Schengen visas? If so, what materials should be prepared in advance?
1. Since 1 November, Montenegro ' s visa-free policy has been adjusted
On the basis of the " Amendment to the Visa System " published by the Government of Montenegro, the relevant amendments were adopted on 23 July 2026 and made public on 27 July.
According to the announced arrangements,1 November 2026From now on, Montenegro will cancel its targetChinaExemptions and related visa facilitation policies for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
The Chinese Embassy in Montenegro also issued a relevant consular reminder on 13 August.
This policy adjustment involves a number of countries, not just Chinese citizens.
Montenegro is a candidate for the EU and in recent years has been advancing the process of accession to the EU. This adjustment is related to the visa policy coordination requirements in its accession negotiations, with the central aim of bringing the national visa system closer to European Union standards.
In short, Montenegro adjusted its visa-free policy this time mainly to promote EU accession, rather than targeting Chinese tourists alone.
II. Why would Montenegro prefer to lift the visa waiver and align itself with the EU?
Understanding this policy change requires understanding Montenegro ' s accession goals.
Montenegro is located in the Balkans and is one of the smaller countries in Europe. Despite the limited size of its territory and population, it has been actively pursuing the process of accession to the European Union, with the goal of accession around 2028.
In the EU accession negotiations, visa policy coordination is one of the important issues.
The European Union hoped that the candidate countries would gradually adjust their visa systems in line with the EU Common Visa Policy, particularly with regard to the entry of third-country citizens.
Inconsistencies in visa policies may arise if candidate countries continue to exempt some countries from visa requirements imposed by the EU on their citizens.
Montenegro therefore needs to gradually narrow the gap with the EU visa system.
From this point of view, this adjustment is not difficult to understand.
In the case of Montenegro, a short-term reduction in the entry of tourists from some countries in exchange for policy coordination in the accession process may be a choice to face.
Of course, the lifting of the visa waiver does not amount to a ban on entry. For Chinese tourists, there is a real need to focus on how to travel to Montenegro after 1 November.
III. Can third-country visas be exempted from entry?
Prior to this policy adjustment, ordinary Chinese passport holders travelled to Montenegro, where several different entry facilitation arrangements existed.
Participation in eligible travel missions
Previously, eligible Chinese tourists could be exempted from entry through specific travel arrangements.
The relevant arrangements usually require that travel agents and the Montenegrin side sign the corresponding agreements on market access for tourism and are endorsed by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro.
In addition, certain conditions must be met, such as:
- At least two groups are usually required;
- (b) Collective entry, stay and departure of members of the Mission, as required;
- (b) Provision of the travel itinerary for which payment has been made and the relevant documents for return;
- The stay does not exceed 30 days.
It should be noted here that the “cancellation waiver” of this adjustment is the policy. In the past, Montenegro had never opened free and unconditional waivers to the ordinary Chinese passport, and in the past, only groups had been exempted from the two entry routes with valid third-party visas.This is the cancellation of the group exemption.
2. Possession of a third-country visa or residence permit
Previously, eligible Chinese ordinary passport holders who held valid multi-entry Schengen, United States, British or Irish visas or residence permits from the countries concerned might also enjoy exemption from entry into Montenegro.
In accordance with previous relevant arrangements, the stay does not normally exceed 30 days, but does not exceed the period of validity of the relevant visa or permit.
According to official sources,After 1 November, this facilitation arrangement will continue to apply!
IV. If a Montenegrin visa is required, what should be prepared?
If you do not have a national visa for the United States, England, Schengen etc., after 1 November, Chinese tourists who plan to travel to Montenegro will need to know in advance about the visa application.
Based on previous experience, short-term stay usually involves a category C visa and usually does not exceed 90 days.
It is important to note that the specific time for approval, the channel of application and the material requirements should be based on the latest regulations published by the receiving body.
It would be preferable for friends planning to travel to set aside sufficient time to begin studying the visa issue without waiting for the airline ticket and the hotel to be fully identified.
V. Will visa centres be located in China?
In addition to the change in the visa exemption policy, Montenegro ' s future visa application channels are also of concern.
On the basis of previously published information, Montenegro plans to gradually receive visa applications through the VFS Global Visa Centre and to consider establishing relevant service points in China.
However, the full list of sites in which the new policy will be implemented, when it will be officially opened, and now needs to be made public.
Therefore, before the relevant channels are officially opened, applicants who plan to travel to Montenegro should promptly follow up on the latest circular from the diplomatic service of Montenegro and the relevant diplomatic and consular offices, confirming through which channel they should submit their application.
Relatively convenientA 10-year-old, British, Schengen visa is more appropriate.
In Montenegro, the size of the country is approximately the same as that of the company and the population is relatively small. It is located in the Balkans and has a windfall off the Adriatic Sea and is a destination of interest to some European travellers.
Today, as visa policies are adjusted, more preparation may be required to travel to the country.
Have you ever been to Montenegro?