The tourist route popular among citizens of Russia and Belarus is set to undergo significant changes. Montenegro has officially announced the cancellation of the visa-free regime for travelers from these countries. As of November 1, 2026, entry into the republic will only be possible with a valid visa.

The decision was made by the Government of Montenegro on July 23, 2026. According to RBC-Ukraine, citing official sources, this step is necessary to harmonize national legislation with European Union standards. The country is on the path to full membership in the bloc, and the introduction of visa control is one of the key requirements of negotiation chapter 24 "Justice, Freedom and Security".

Who will be affected by the new rules?

It is important to understand that the visa regime is being introduced not only for citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus. Montenegro is reviewing entry rules for all states whose regulations were previously not aligned with EU policy. As of November 1, 2026, visas will be required for citizens of five countries:

  • Russian Federation;
  • Republic of Belarus;
  • China;
  • Saudi Arabia;
  • Kazakhstan.

This step allows the country to fulfill the obligations of the State Reform Program and move closer to the standards of the Schengen Area.

How to get a visa: new centers and technologies

To simplify the document processing procedure, the authorities of Montenegro have entered into a partnership with the international company VFS Global. In the first stage, the network of visa centers will be deployed in the following countries:

  • Russia;
  • Belarus;
  • China;
  • Saudi Arabia;
  • Kazakhstan.

In the near future, the geography of application acceptance will be expanded. The list of countries where visa centers will open will include Pakistan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, and the Philippines.

In addition to the physical expansion of the network, Montenegro is implementing digital solutions. A Visa Information System compatible with EU registries is being created in the country. This opens up prospects for launching electronic visas (e-Visa) and submitting documents online, which will significantly simplify the process for tourists in the future.

Context: tightening of visa policy in Europe

Montenegro's decision fits into the general trend of tightening visa control in Europe. Earlier, Polish ministers Radosław Sikorski and Marcin Kerwiński supported an initiative by 11 countries demanding that the European Commission strengthen the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens.

At the same time, Estonia put forward a radical initiative: it called on EU countries to permanently close the Schengen zone to Russian military personnel involved in the war against Ukraine. Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that such individuals could pose a threat to the security of the entire continent.

The European Commission has already limited the issuance of multiple-entry Schengen visas for Russians. Although existing visas remain valid, obtaining new multi-entry visas has become significantly more difficult. Montenegro, following a course of integration with the EU, is synchronizing its policy with these European trends.