Montenegro to require visas for Russia in EU membership bid

Montenegro to impose visa requirement on Russian citizens in EU membership push

The Montenegrin government will introduce visa requirements for citizens of Russia, Belarus, China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey starting November 1, 2026, as part of its European Union accession process. The decision was taken to align with EU standards.

Scraper SystemJuly 27, 2026, 09:02 PM

Montenegro to impose visa requirement on Russian citizens in EU membership push

Montenegro is changing its border policies in line with its goal of joining the European Union. The country will impose visa requirements on citizens of Russia, Belarus, China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey starting November 1, 2026.

"Citizens of countries whose visa regimes were not previously aligned with the European Union (Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey) will be required to obtain a visa to enter Montenegro as of November 1, 2026," the Montenegrin Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The move was presented as part of Montenegro's effort to align its border rules with EU standards as part of its accession process. Montenegro had long been one of the few European countries allowing Russian citizens visa-free travel for up to 30 days. After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many anti-war Russians came to the country.

According to local media reports, after the visa plans were announced, 14,000 of the 21,000 Russians registered in the country left Montenegro. The government announced it had partnered with a visa processing center to mitigate potential negative effects and plans to implement an e-visa system in the future.

Montenegro adopted the euro as its currency in 2002 and applied for EU membership in 2008. It had also followed the EU's financial restrictions and travel bans on Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in June that Montenegro's accession as the bloc's 28th member by 2028 was an achievable goal.

Source: Moscow Times

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