---
title: "Visa regime for Russians and Belarusians: Montenegro prepares a decision in October"
description: "Montenegro may introduce visas for Russians and Belarusians as early as October 1 🇲🇪🚫. This is part of commitments to the EU to harmonize legislation by 2027. In the future, the list of countries requiring visas may expand to include China and Turkey 🌍📝."
date: 2026-07-16T15:02:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/montenegro-introduces-visa-regime-for-russia-and-belarus
tags: [montenegro, russia, belarus, eu, visa-regime]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Visa regime for Russians and Belarusians: Montenegro prepares a decision in October

![Panoramic view of Montenegro's coastline with a historic town and mountains, illustrating the visa regime topic for Russians and Belarusians](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/16/chornogoriya-vvedet-vizoviy-rezhim-dlya-rossii-i-belarusi/chornogoriya-vvedet-vizoviy-rezhim-dlya-rossii-i-belarusi-1.webp)

Montenegro is on the verge of significant changes in its migration policy. The country's authorities are considering the possibility of introducing a visa regime for citizens of Russia and Belarus as early as October 1. This step will be another stage in the process of harmonizing Podgorica's legislation with the norms of the European Union.

### Commitments to Brussels

The decision to introduce visas is directly linked to Montenegro's obligations to the EU as part of the preparation for joining the bloc. According to the reform program approved by the government, the country must fully align its visa rules with European Union legislation by the end of 2027.

The document clearly states that Montenegro is obliged to gradually abandon visa-free agreements with states whose visa policy does not coincide with the European one. Russia and Belarus fall into this category first and foremost.

### Future plan: new countries on the list

Changes will not be limited only to citizens of Russia and Belarus. In the future, the visa regime may be extended to citizens of other states for which the European Union requires visa processing. This list could potentially include:

- Turkey

- China

- United Arab Emirates

- Qatar

- Bahrain

### Implementation of Schengen standards

Alongside changing entry rules, Montenegro is beginning to implement Schengen standards. This implies the mandatory collection of biometric data from applicants. To organize this process, the authorities plan to involve the international operator VFS Global.

The company already cooperates with most countries of the Schengen Zone and specializes in receiving documents and biometrics before their transfer to consulates. This will allow for the creation of a unified system for processing visa applications, similar to the one operating in Europe.

### Context of regional security

Against the backdrop of these events, it is worth noting the position of neighbors. Ukraine, for example, previously stated that even after the end of the war, it does not plan to cancel enhanced control for Russian citizens. Kyiv views the Russian Federation as a potential source of threats to national security and intends to maintain special entry procedures for Russians.

Thus, Montenegro is moving along the path of full integration into the European visa system, which will inevitably lead to stricter rules for tourists and business partners from countries that are not among the visa-free partners of the EU.