The digital nomad visa in Montenegro, or rather, the residence permit for foreigners working in the country remotely is still in the process of study and implementation. For the moment, the legislative framework for its recognition and definition was included in the country’s Immigration Law in August 2022. Subsequent measures have to be issued to detail the requirements, procedures, and forms in which that permit will be presented for the nomads and their close relatives.

A digital nomad is a person who generally works remotely and not in a specific location, making use of digital and telecommunication technologies. This allows them to have a freedom of movement that would be practically impossible to have if she or he holds a common job in a physical company.

Some nomads work on their own, that is, they are Freelancers and offer their services on digital platforms created, among other things, with the purpose of connecting employers with self-employed workers. It is also common for many to have a web page through which they promote their services. On the other hand, there are nomads who are not autonomous and who do work in physical companies, but these allow them to carry out their work in this way. Many work as web designers, content creators, virtual assistants, consultants on various topics, teachers, translators, but there are various other professions that are also practiced remotely.

When we decide and have the opportunity to travel to another country, it is very possible that we require a visa that authorizes us to enter and stay in that place. If we are from a country that does not need a permit, we would surely be entering as tourists, but this does not mean that we can remain in that territory indefinitely, as there are time limits established for this.

The visa or residence permit for digital nomads has been a way to attract people who carry out their work remotely and who, working for companies outside the country that grants the permit, can reside in its territory. This authorization does not allow the person to participate in the local labor market, that is, to work for local companies or employers, but only for their own company or others registered abroad.

Like any program to attract talent or temporary residents in a country, a certain amount of income is required, which can range from a demonstration of monthly income from a certain number, to a bank account whose amount is equal to or greater than the amount monthly multiplied by the number of months the permit lasts. Taking this into account, it is not a cheap program, that is, it is for people who have recurring “high income” from abroad or have a certain amount saved.

For example, Croatia has a program to attract these workers but as an economic requirement it requires that the nomads have funds whose amount is at least 2.5 times the average wage in the country, taking into account their value in the previous year. To give you an idea, at this time the minimum monthly amount required to apply for the permit is around two thousand five hundred dollars a month, either in regular income or in savings.

Other requirements that are usually needed are proof of remote employment and travel insurance. If you also have a family that travels with you, it will be necessary to present additional documentation, in addition to the fact that the monthly amount of income will increase accordingly.

Montenegro adopted a Program to Attract Digital Nomads and recognized that certain regulatory changes are vital in order to regulate the status of these people. First, it  approved their stay in the country, but also wants to define tax exemptions for this category of foreign residents.

The goal is to create an environment where the conditions are met to make Montenegro an attractive destination for digital nomads. The government amended the Aliens Law with the aim of recognizing that category of workers and approving their stay in Montenegro for up to a year with the possibility of extension. At the moment the program exists , so we will have to wait until the set of laws and procedures are completed.