As Montenegro enters the final phase of its European Union accession process, the tourism-dependent country could face one of its first significant economic tests when it introduces visas for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia.
The government says the measure, to be introduced in November, will bring Montenegro’s visa policy into line with that of the EU. It will fulfil one of the final requirements in Chapter 24 of the accession negotiations, covering justice, freedom and security – but it has also angered Russia, which complained that it will damage relations between Podgorica and Moscow.
According to official tourism statistics, Montenegro recorded 2.73 million tourist arrivals and 15.37 million overnight stays in 2025. Foreign visitors accounted for 95.8 per cent of overnight stays. After Serbia, tourists from Russia account for the second biggest proportion – 16.4 per cent – of overnight stays in Montenegro, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany and then Turkey at 4.3 per cent.
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