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Up-to-date information on travel to Montenegro during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Total infected: 3857
Currently infected: 1104
Hospitalised: 150
Recovered: 2680
Deaths: 73
Under observation: 2172
Montenegro has opened its borders to nationals of certain countries and there are different rules for different countries.
Montenegro has divided the countries that can enter into three lists: green, yellow and red. You’ll need to read the rules carefully to figure out whether you can come to Montenegro and what you’ll need to be able to enter the country.
There has been some confusion about residency vs citizenship and which is valid. The Montenegrin official stance is:
“Upon entry, the country of which the person is a resident is observed, not the country of which the person is a national if it is not the same country. For example: a citizen of a country off the list with a regular residence in the country on the list is treated as a citizen of the country on the list because he or she is a resident of the country on the list.”
Nationals from green list countries are free to enter Montenegro with no restrictions as long as they:
Green list countries are:
Nationals from yellow list countries need to provide a negative PCR, ELISA or ECLIA test that’s no more than 72 hours old. Children under five don’t need to provide a test and can enter freely without one.
Yellow list countries are:
If you’re from any country that’s not on either the green or yellow lists, you’re considered to be from a red list country. That means you can’t enter Montenegro unless you can prove (with a passport stamp) that you’ve spent the last 15 days in a country included on the green list and that you haven’t been to any non-green list country in that time.
There are exceptions to the entry requirements for:
If you’re a Montenegrin citizen or have Montenegrin residency (permanent or temporary), you can enter Montenegro no matter where you’re coming from. The conditions of entry depend on where you're coming from.
You can freely enter Montenegro if:
If you’re returning from a yellow list country you need to provide a negative COVID-19 test that’s no more than 72 hours old and:
Children under five don’t need to be tested.
If you’re returning from a red list country you’ll need to either go into government-provided quarantine or self-isolation. This includes if you’ve stayed in or travelled through any country that’s not on the green or yellow lists.
The Montenegrin airports in both Podgorica and Tivat are open, though there is a reduced number flights. There are flight connections only with countries on the green list.
One of the main issues with flying to Montenegro at the moment is that flights are being cancelled or rescheduled, which makes it hard to guarantee your arrival on time.
The passengers and crew on private planes from any other country must also provide a negative PCR, ELISA or ECLIA test for COVID-19 that’s no more than 72 hours old.
Montenegro’s land borders are open and you can arrive by car to Montenegro, however there are closed borders at:
You do need to adhere to the rules above. So, if you’re travelling on a passport from a green zone country, you can enter via the Montenegro-Croatia border with no test or quarantine required. But if you’re travelling on a passport from a yellow zone country, you’ll need to provide a negative COVID-19 test on arrival. If you’re travelling on a passport from any other country you’ll be denied entry at the border.
All rail travel to Montenegro is suspended.
Montenegro’s ports are open and you can arrive by boat to Montenegro.
All international bus services are currently suspended.
Since Montenegro is very close to Croatia and it’s only a 20 minute drive from Dubrovnik Airport (Čilipi Airport) to the border, flying into Dubrovnik and driving across is a popular way to get here.
To do this you’ll need to satisfy Croatian entry requirements as well as Montenegrin ones. And you may need to adjust your cross-border transport plans since buses and taxis are restricted.
You’ll need to hire a car or arrange transfers because while a Croatian taxi driver can drive you from the airport into Montenegro, a Montenegrin taxi driver can’t drive you back across to the airport because Montenegrins aren’t allowed to enter Croatia yet. A Montenegrin driver can drive you through the Montenegrin border checkpoint, the 5km of no-man’s land to the Croatian checkpoint and you can pass that checkpoint on foot. Then, you can get a Croatian taxi from there. You’ll need a transfer company to arrange this for you because there are no taxis at the Croatian border checkpoint.
Read More: Montenegro Croatia Border >
You’ll also need to fulfil Croatian entry requirements. At the moment, Croatia is open to all EU and EEA nationals. Everyone entering Croatia must fill in an entry form. You can save yourself time by filling it in online instead of doing it at the border, and you can find that form here: https//entercroatia.mup.hr/. The form is valid for 90 days once you’ve filled it in.
If you’re not from an EU/EEA country you must prove that you have an accommodation booking and you have to fill in the form at https://entercroatia.mup.hr/.
You must also:
Masks are compulsory both indoors and outdoors. This is enforced with hefty fines both on businesses and individuals. The exceptions are on beaches, in national parks and for children under seven.
Social distancing of 2m and there are limits to the maximum number of people allowed in a space, for example, one person per 10m2 in shops and gyms.
Businesses must provide hand sanitiser for employees and customers and you’ll find it almost everywhere.
Additional Rules in Podgorica, Cetinje, Pljevlja, Plužine, Žabljak, Šavnik, Nikšić, Danilovgrad, Tuzi, Kolašin, Mojkovac, Bijelo Polje, Berane, Andirjevica, Petnjica, Plav, Rožaje and Gusinje:
If you suspect you have COVID-19 or have come in contact with someone who has the coronavirus you must call 1616 to find out what to do next.
This is a summary of the relevant rules that will affect you if you’re travelling to Montenegro and I aim to keep this as up to date as possible. As the rules and procedures can change at any time, please check the official government websites.
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