Gateway to Europe from Montenegro: Get Your Schengen Visa with Local Status
Although Montenegro is located in the heart of Europe, it is not yet part of the Schengen area. However, as a Turkish citizen or foreign investor living in Montenegro, you can apply for a visa for your European travels directly through the consulates in Podgorica without having to go to Turkey.
At Rona Legal, with our Budva-based office and expertise in local bureaucracy, we manage your Schengen visa process in accordance with Montenegro regulations and the local requirements of consulates.
The Most Critical Question: Who Can Apply from Montenegro?
The one and most important requirement to request a visa from embassies in Podgorica: You must have a Valid Residence Permit (Boravak) in Montenegro.
❌ Tourists Cannot Apply
If you are in Montenegro on tourist status (visa-free 90 days or tourist visa), you cannot apply for Schengen from here; you must apply from your country of citizenship (e.g., Turkey).
✅ Residence Card Validity
Your residence card must be valid for at least 3 months from the date you return from your Schengen trip. If your card is about to expire, your application will be rejected.
💡 Important: If you don't have a residence permit or your validity period is insufficient, you need to complete your Montenegro residence process first. We can help you with this as well.
Consulate Network and Representatives in Podgorica
Since Montenegro is a small country, not every European country has its own consulate here. Applications are handled through a "Representative" system. At Rona Legal, we ensure your file is submitted to the correct authority:
🇸🇮 Embassy of Slovenia (Podgorica)
Not only for Slovenia, but the main center that accepts visa applications on behalf of many countries such as Denmark, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal.
⚠️ The busiest office - Getting an appointment is difficult
🇩🇪 Embassy of Germany
Accepts its own applications directly.
Other Representatives
Croatia, Austria, Greece, Italy: Process through their own representatives.
🎯 Rona Legal Service: Whichever country you want to visit, we identify the authorized representative of that country in Montenegro and arrange your appointment from there.
Rona Legal Visa Consultation Services
We don't leave the process to chance. We prepare your file with a "local perspective", from your bank statements in Montenegro to your local company documents.
1. Appointment Management
Finding an appointment at consulates in Podgorica is very difficult, especially during pre-season periods. We regularly monitor the systems and secure the earliest appointment for you.
2. Local Document Compliance
Unlike applications from Turkey, here the letters from your Montenegro company, bank account statements, and tax records must be presented properly in English or local language (Montenegrin).
3. Travel Planning and Insurance
Filing the €30,000 coverage Travel Health Insurance required by consulates, and your flight and hotel reservations (not dummy, confirmable).
4. Interview Preparation
Consulate officials may question your ties to Montenegro (whether you're permanent here). We prepare you for possible interview questions and build a file structure that proves your "Intent to Return".
Common Mistakes and Warnings
⚠️ Main Destination Rule
If the country of first entry is different from the country where you'll stay the longest, deciding which consulate to apply to is a strategic decision. The wrong consulate is a direct reason for rejection.
⚠️ Account Transactions
"Unexplained" large cash deposits in your Montenegro bank account in the last 3 months create suspicion. You must present your financial situation correctly.
Plan Your Trip from Montenegro to Europe
Contact us to check your residence card validity and travel plan suitability. Our office is in Budva.
Get Visa Consultation