CITIZENSHIP

An individual submitting an application for citizenship must provide the following evidence:

1. Birth certificate extract,
2. Certificate of citizenship,
3. Marriage certificate extract (if married),
4. Proof of renunciation of citizenship of another country (after receiving assurance of acceptance into Montenegrin citizenship) or proof that, according to the law of the country of which they are a citizen, they will lose that citizenship,
5. Proof of lawful and continuous residence in Montenegro for 10 years prior to submitting the application for admission to Montenegrin citizenship - issued by the authority responsible for maintaining records of residence and domicile,
6. Proof of secured accommodation - extract from the real estate register issued by the competent real estate authority or a lease agreement for residential premises certified by the competent court,
7. Proof of having a stable source of income in Montenegro in an amount that ensures material and social security - confirmation of permanent employment and salary amount, or proof of pension amount, or proof of other permanent sources of income,
8. Proof of not having been finally sentenced in another country to an unconditional prison term exceeding one year for criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio or for which the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased - proof in the form of a certificate or confirmation issued by the competent authority of the country of which they are a citizen,
9. Proof of not having been finally sentenced in Montenegro to an unconditional prison term exceeding one year for criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio or for which the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased, issued by the competent authority at the place of residence or stay of the applicant,
10. Proof of knowledge of the Montenegrin language - language proficiency certificate issued by a professional organization,
11. Proof of settled outstanding tax obligations - issued by the competent tax authority in Montenegro,
12. Copy of identification document (ID card, passport, etc.).

Montenegrin expatriate and their family member must submit the following documents:

1. Extract from the registry of births,
2. Certificate of citizenship,
3. Extract from the registry of marriages (if married),
4. Proof of being a Montenegrin expatriate, or proof of being a family member of a Montenegrin expatriate (proof of kinship),
5. Proof of legal and continuous residence in Montenegro for at least 2 years before submitting the application for Montenegrin citizenship – issued by the authority responsible for keeping records of residence and domicile,
6. Proof of having secured accommodation – extract from the real estate registry issued by the competent real estate authority or a lease agreement for residential space certified by the competent court,
7. Proof of having a stable source of income in Montenegro in an amount that provides material and social security – a confirmation of permanent employment and salary amount, or proof of pension amount, or proof of other stable sources of income,
8. Proof of not having been finally sentenced in another country to unconditional imprisonment for more than one year for criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio or for which the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased – evidence in the form of a certificate or confirmation issued by the competent authority of the country of which the person is a citizen,
9. Proof of not having been finally sentenced in Montenegro to unconditional imprisonment for more than one year for criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio or for which the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased, issued by the competent authority at the place of residence or stay of the applicant,
10. Proof of settled outstanding tax obligations – issued by the competent tax authority in Montenegro,
11. Photocopy of identification document (ID card, passport, etc.).

An individual married to a Montenegrin citizen must obtain the following documents:

1. Extract from the registry of births,
2. Certificate of citizenship,
3. Proof of being married to a Montenegrin citizen for at least 3 years (extract from the registry of marriages and certificate of Montenegrin citizenship of the spouse),
4. Proof of legal and continuous residence in Montenegro for at least 5 years before submitting the application for Montenegrin citizenship – issued by the authority responsible for keeping records of residence and domicile,
5. Proof of having secured accommodation – extract from the real estate registry issued by the competent real estate authority or a lease agreement for residential space certified by the competent court,
6. Proof of having a stable source of income in Montenegro in an amount that provides material and social security – a confirmation of permanent employment and salary amount, or proof of pension amount, or proof of other stable sources of income,
7. Proof of not having been finally sentenced in another country to unconditional imprisonment for more than one year for criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio or for which the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased – evidence in the form of a certificate or confirmation issued by the competent authority of the country of which the person is a citizen,
8. Proof of not having been finally sentenced in Montenegro to unconditional imprisonment for more than one year for criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio or for which the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased, issued by the competent authority at the place of residence or stay of the applicant,
9. Photocopy of identification document (ID card, passport, etc.).

An individual recognized as a refugee must submit the following documents:

1. Extract from the registry of births,
2. Certificate of citizenship,
3. Extract from the registry of marriages (if married),
4. Proof of having been granted refugee status in Montenegro in accordance with the asylum law – issued by the authority responsible for keeping records of individuals granted refugee status in Montenegro in accordance with the asylum law,
5. Proof of renunciation of citizenship in another country (after receiving a guarantee of acceptance into Montenegrin citizenship) or evidence that, according to the laws of the country of which they are a citizen, they will lose that citizenship,
6. Proof of legal and continuous residence in Montenegro for 10 years before submitting the application for Montenegrin citizenship – issued by the authority responsible for keeping records of residence and domicile,
7. Proof of not having been finally sentenced in another country to unconditional imprisonment for more than one year for criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio or for which the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased – evidence in the form of a certificate or confirmation issued by the competent authority of the country of which the person is a citizen,
8. Proof of not having been finally sentenced in Montenegro to unconditional imprisonment for more than one year for criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio or for which the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased, issued by the competent authority at the place of residence or stay of the applicant,
9. Proof of settled outstanding tax obligations – issued by the competent tax authority in Montenegro,
10. Photocopy of identification document (ID card, passport, etc.).

A citizen of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia who has registered residency in Montenegro before June 3, 2006, may acquire Montenegrin citizenship by admission if the following documents are submitted:

1. Birth certificate,
2. Citizenship certificate,
3. Marriage certificate (if married),
4. Proof of registered residency in Montenegro before June 3, 2006, issued by the competent authority responsible for keeping records of residence and domicile,
5. Proof of renunciation of citizenship of another state (after obtaining assurance of acceptance into Montenegrin citizenship) or proof that, according to the law of the state of which the person is a citizen, they will lose that citizenship,
6. Proof of secured accommodation - extract from the real estate registry issued by the competent authority for real estate affairs or a lease agreement for residential space certified by the competent court,
7. Proof of a stable source of income in Montenegro in an amount that provides material and social security – employment confirmation for an indefinite period and salary amount, or proof of pension amount or other permanent income,
8. Proof of not having been finally convicted in another state to an unconditional prison sentence longer than one year for criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio or where the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased – proof in the form of a certificate or confirmation issued by the competent authority of the state of which the person is a citizen,
9. Proof of not having been finally convicted in Montenegro to an unconditional prison sentence longer than one year for criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio or where the legal consequences of the conviction have ceased – proof in the form of a certificate or confirmation issued by the competent authority at the place of residence or stay of the applicant,
10. Proof of settled overdue tax obligations – issued by the competent tax authority in Montenegro,
11. Photocopy of identification document (identity card, passport, etc.).

The process for acquiring, establishing, and losing Montenegrin citizenship is conducted and decided upon by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The application is submitted to the competent authority either in person or through a representative, using the prescribed form. In exceptional cases, the application may be submitted through a diplomatic or consular mission if the applicant resides in the territory of another state. A decision on the application for acquisition, loss, or re-acquisition of citizenship is made within 12 months from the date of initiating the procedure.

If the application is incomplete, meaning if all necessary evidence is not attached to the application and if the procedure cannot proceed or conclude without certain actions by the applicant, the Ministry informs the applicant in writing that they are obliged to supplement and submit the required evidence within three months, or six months if the individual resides abroad.

If the applicant, despite warnings from the competent authority, fails to take the necessary action within the specified period for the continuation or conclusion of the procedure, it will be deemed that they have withdrawn the application and are no longer interested in continuing the process. A decision to terminate the procedure is then made. This decision includes instructions regarding legal remedies and is subject to judicial review in administrative proceedings.