How to Get Montenegro CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Not accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Not acceptedNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Authorities can withdraw citizenship from citizens who naturalise abroad.
- Available routes
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Montenegro, subject to the conditions below. Montenegro allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person has been resident in Montenegro for 10 years uninterrupted immediately before the application.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation or automatic loss of citizenship of another country required.
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Command of language of Montenegro required.
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person may not be a threat to the security of the country.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person must have fulfiled tax and other legal obligations.
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Montenegro, subject to the conditions below. Montenegro allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person has been the spouse of a citizen for 3 years and has been resident in Montenegro for 5 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except loss/renunciation of citizenship of another country and language competence).
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Montenegro.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Montenegro to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to two citizens, or to one parent who is a citizen and another parent who is unknown, stateless or of unknown citizenship, or to one parent who is a citizen and the person would otherwise be stateless.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen and the person does not hold citizenship of another country (by registration by parent before the age of 18).
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen (by declaration by person between the age of 18 and 23).
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Montenegro, the rules below set out what applies. Montenegro allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Transfer to a child
Person is a minor both whose parents acquire citizenship by naturalisation, or the parent with whom the child uninterruptedly resides is naturalised. Other conditions: loss or renunciation of another citizenship. Consent is required if child is over the age of 14.
Child coacquisition
Person is a minor both of whose parents are naturalising in Montenegro, or the parent with whom the child uninterruptedly resides is naturalising. Other conditions: loss or renunciation of another citizenship. Consent is required if child is over the age of 14. Child's application must be submitted simultaneously with that of parent(s).
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Montenegro is the basis of this route.
Person is adopted by a citizen and does not have citizenship of another country.
Person is adopted by a naturalised citizen in a weak adoption, resides in Montenegro, and does not have or renounces citizenship of another country. Consent is required if the person is over the age of 14.
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of Montenegro, the rules below set out what applies. Montenegro allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is a descendant up to the 3rd generation of a former citizen and has resided in Montenegro for 2 years immediately before the request for naturalisation, or the person was married to a citizen for 3 years (before death of the spouse) and has been resident in Montenegro for 5 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except loss/renunciation of citizenship of another country and language competence).
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Montenegro, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired.
Person is a former citizen or their descendant up to the 3rd generation who has resided in Montenegro for 2 years immediately before the naturalisation request. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except loss/renunciation of citizenship of another citizenship and language competence).
Person is a former citizen who has lost citizenship due to acquisition of citizenship of another country while resident abroad. Other conditions: loss or renunciation of another citizenship, 1 year uninterrupted residence immediately before the declaration, no threat to the security of Montenegro.
Residence during childhood
This route covers people who lived in Montenegro during childhood, subject to the conditions below. Montenegro allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person has resided uninterruptedly for 10 years in Montenegro before the age of 18 (place of birth is irrelevant). Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except language competence, and proof of accommodation and income).
Refugees
For recognised refugees in Montenegro, the rules below set out what applies. Montenegro allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is a recognised refugee in Montenegro. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except housing and sufficient source of income, and language competence).
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below.
Foundlings
Person is found in Montenegro of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Montenegro to parents of unknown citizenship or stateless.
Stateless persons
Person is stateless and has been resident in Montenegro for 10 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except loss/renunciation of citizenship of another citizenship, housing and sufficient source of income, and language competence).
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Montenegro. Montenegro allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is someone whose acquisition of citizenship would be in special (state, economic, cultural, scientific, sports or other) interest of Montenegro.
Investment
This route concerns people who make a qualifying investment or contribution in Montenegro, subject to the conditions below. Montenegro allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is someone whose acquisition of citizenship would be in the special economic interest of Montenegro.
Not available in Montenegro: Birth in the country, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Very long residence, Public or military service. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is coded as not accepted in Montenegro, for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Authorities can withdraw citizenship from citizens who naturalise abroad
Person voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country. Provision does not apply when a dual citizenship agreement exists with that country.
Compare with neighbours
Check where Montenegro sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Croatia | 8 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
 Greece | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Italy | 10 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Slovenia | 10 years | Assimilation only | Citizens abroad only |
 Spain | 10 years | Test or certificate | New citizens only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 8.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Montenegro Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/montenegro/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/montenegro/">How to Get Montenegro Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Montenegrin citizen?
A foreign resident needs 10 years of residence to meet the condition for naturalisation in Montenegro. Other conditions also apply.
Does Montenegro allow dual citizenship?
No. Montenegro does not accept dual citizenship as a general rule, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Montenegrin citizenship?
The law of Montenegro mentions a language requirement without pointing to a specific exam.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Montenegrin citizenship?
Montenegro does not require applicants to pass a civic knowledge test.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Montenegrin citizenship?
The law of Montenegro requires renunciation of your current citizenship.
Can I get Montenegro citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Montenegro. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Montenegro citizenship by descent?
Yes, Montenegro has a descent route. Procedure: automatic, discretionary, entitlement.
Can I get Montenegro citizenship by investment?
Yes, the data codes an investment route for Montenegro. Check the current programme terms with the official authority.
Related pages
Also see: Montenegro passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.