A temporary residence permit can be based on property ownership (since 2026 the home generally needs a tax-assessed value of at least €150,000), employment or family ties; permits run for a year, are renewable, and require health insurance.
A few things to line up early:
Visa rules change often — treat this as a starting point and confirm the latest official requirements before you plan.
Remember: buying a home and gaining the right to live there are usually separate steps. See how ownership works in Montenegro, and what it costs to live there in our cost-of-retiring guide.
Montenegro taxes residents' income, including foreign pensions, on a low progressive scale, nothing on roughly the first EUR 700 a month, then 9% and 15% above that, so a typical pension faces only a modest effective rate. It uses the euro despite being outside the EU.
Public healthcare is modest, so most expats use private clinics locally or travel to nearby Croatia or Serbia for bigger procedures; private insurance and treatment are relatively inexpensive. Facilities are best around Podgorica and the coast. Montenegro is safe and laid-back; they drive on the right, English is widely spoken among younger people and in the tourist towns, and its small size makes it easy to get around.
Kotor and its dramatic bay for scenery and history; Tivat for the smart Porto Montenegro marina; Budva for beaches and buzz; and Herceg Novi for a sunny, greener setting near the Croatian border.
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