Montenegro Family Reunification: Residence Permit for Spouses and Children 2026

Once a foreign investor or expat successfully navigates the incorporation (DOO) phase or purchases real estate in Montenegro, the immediate priority becomes legalizing their family’s status. The process for bringing your spouse and dependent children to Montenegro is officially known as 'Family Reunification' (Spajanje Porodice). Striking out on this path blindfolded is a recipe for catastrophic administrative delays.

The Principle of Dependency: Timing is Everything

A deeply entrenched, often misunderstood rule in Montenegrin immigration is the Sequence of Filings:

Dependents (spouse and children) CANNOT apply for their residence permit simultaneously with the main applicant. The Family Reunification application can only be lodged after the main sponsor holds the physical, finalized Residence Card in their hands.

The logic is straightforward: Your family's right to reside in Montenegro is 'Dependent' on your approved right. Therefore, the main applicant goes through the 20–30 day process first. Only then do family members enter Montenegro (usually on a tourist visa) to submit their dependent applications to the Ministry of Interior (MUP).

Critical Documentation & The Apostille Imperative

Your marriage and your children’s births occurred in a foreign legal jurisdiction. As per the Hague Convention, Montenegro will not recognize foreign civil documents unless they bear a sovereign 'Apostille' stamp or undergo full consular legalization.

• International Marriage Certificate: Cannot be older than 6 months from the date of issuance to the date of submitting the MUP file. Must be Apostilled and translated to Montenegrin by an authorized local sworn translator.
• International Birth Certificates: For every minor child under 18, officially Apostilled and translated.
• Police Clearance / Criminal Record: For the spouse and any child over the age of 16, a clean record from the home country (issued within 6 months, Apostilled).

Proving Financial Sovereignty (The Guarantee)

The Montenegrin state demands unequivocal mathematical proof that you, the Sponsor, can financially sustain your family without them becoming a burden on the state apparatus.

You must execute a Notarized Guarantee (Izjava / Guarantor Statement) asserting you will provide accommodation, food, and cover any expulsion costs if necessary. More importantly, you must demonstrate liquid funds in a Montenegrin bank account. Historically, the MUP requires proof of an annualized minimum survival budget per dependent (roughly €3,650 to €4,200 per person in your account, though individual inspector discretion applies). Your dedicated Rona Legal attorney calculates the exact sum prior to filing to eliminate rejection risks.

No Right to Work

It is crucial to note that a Temporary Residence Permit granted through Family Reunification does NOT automatically grant the spouse the right to seek active employment internally within Montenegrin companies. If your spouse wishes to be actively employed, they must transition to an independent Work & Residence permit by either finding a local employer or establishing their own DOO.

Rona Legal's immigration desk orchestrates your entire family's transition with military precision, guaranteeing your documents are impeccably aligned before your family even buys their plane tickets.