Business Customs
After regaining its independence in 2006, the Government of Montenegro began a program of comprehensive economic reforms. Now as a leading EU accession candidate, Montenegro is actively working to align its legal and regulatory framework with the EU acquis communautaire. Harmonization with EU standards, particularly in areas such as competition policy, public procurement, digital regulation, and trade facilitation, is an ongoing process and a central element of the country’s integration agenda.
Business laws have been adopted with the goal of removing barriers for doing business and attracting foreign investors. Nevertheless, Montenegro retains some aspects of its bureaucratic, patronage-based system, which hinders its further development.
Business managers in Montenegro are generally familiar with Western-style market economic philosophy, customs, and business practices. Management is typically concentrated at the level of the managing director who is the key decision-maker in non-controversial processes. However, mid-level managers often do not feel empowered to take independent action on more controversial matters or where there are unclear lines of authority or multiple stakeholders. Business relationships in Montenegro traditionally have been founded on prior relationships, with significant time and energy invested in developing trust among the parties.
Travel Advisory
Please see Montenegro International Travel Information available at: Montenegro International Travel Information
Visa Requirements
The U.S. Embassy in Podgorica is able to process non-immigrant visas in its Consular Section. However, the Embassy does not process immigrant visas. For citizens of Montenegro, immigrant visas are processed by the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia.
Other useful links:
American Embassy Podgorica, Consular Section: https://me.usembassy.gov/visas/
American Embassy Belgrade, Consular Section: https://rs.usembassy.gov/visas/
U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States are advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following link(s): State Department Visa Website
Currency
The Euro has been officially used in Montenegro since 2002. Montenegro is one of a few countries that do not belong to the Euro zone but use the Euro as its official currency without any formal agreement with the European Central Bank.
Credit cards and bank cards are used in most shops and restaurants.
Telecommunications/Electronics
The principal service providers in the Montenegrin telecommunications market are German-based Deutsche Telekom subsidiary Crnogorski Telekom (“Montenegro Telecom”, a fixed line and GSM operator), One (the first GSM mobile service provider in the country purchased by the Hungarian 4iG in December 2021), and M-tel (a subsidiary of Serbia Telekom). Montenegro had approximately 1.43 million active mobile connections, representing 224 percent of the population, with 89.7 percent of these connections supporting broadband (3G, 4G, or 5G). Internet penetration stands at 89.8 percent, about 572,000 users, while connection speeds are strong, with average mobile internet download speeds around 76 Mbps and fixed broadband speeds of roughly 91 Mbps. The sector is fully privatized and regulated by the Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services, established in 2008 to ensure fair competition, manage spectrum, and oversee tariffs.
Montenegro continues to expand its fixed broadband infrastructure, with fiber networks now accounting for nearly 40 percent of all connections, gradually replacing older copper-based systems. This growth is narrowing the urban–rural digital divide and improving access to reliable internet in more remote areas. In cities and major tourist destinations, high-end hotels almost universally offer free Wi-Fi to guests, while smaller accommodations also typically provide internet access, though speeds and reliability can vary in rural or mountainous regions.
The country uses a 230 V / 50 Hz electrical standard. U.S. visitors will need a plug adapter and, for devices that are not dual-voltage, a voltage converter.
Montenegro’s country code is + 382 and was assigned in 2006.
Transportation
Montenegro has two international airports, Podgorica (TGD) and Tivat (TIV), with regular connections to major European hubs, enabling one-stop connections to the United States via cities such as Vienna, Frankfurt, Istanbul, or Belgrade. Podgorica Airport, the country’s main hub, is located 12 km from the capital and handles over one million passengers annually, with year-round flights to Belgrade and other European destinations, plus seasonal service from low-cost carriers like Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet. Tivat Airport serves the coastal region and handles most tourist arrivals in summer, with direct flights to regional and European cities.
Montenegro’s road network is improving but still below EU standards in some areas. A key 41-km section of the Bar–Boljare Highway opened in July 2022, significantly reducing travel time between Podgorica and the north; further sections toward the Serbian border are planned. The government also aims to build the Adriatic–Ionian Highway, linking country with Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania.
The Port of Bar is Montenegro’s primary seaport, handling both cargo and passenger ferries to Italy. Smaller ports in Kotor, Tivat, and Zelenika accommodate cruise ships and private vessels. The Belgrade–Bar railway offers freight and limited passenger services, while other lines are mostly used for cargo.
For business travelers, road access between Podgorica, coastal resorts, and key industrial zones is available, and both airports provide straightforward access to European and U.S.-bound flights. Travel times by car to coastal destinations can vary by season and pending road developments and repairs.
Montenegro’s rivers are generally not navigable except for tourist activities, such as rafting on the Tara River.
Language
The predominant language in Montenegro is Montenegrin, a dialect of Serbo-Croatian. Many Montenegrins speak foreign languages, mostly English and Italian, with some German and French. In the southern parts of Montenegro, mainly close to the Albanian border and in a few northern cities close to the Kosovo border (Rozaje, Gusinje, Plav), many people are fluent in Albanian. Montenegro has also experienced an increase of Russian and Ukrainian speakers following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Health
Medical facilities are available but can be limited in terms of specific services. Several new private medical clinics have opened up in the last few years.
No specific immunization for travel is needed.
In the case of a medical emergency, please go to the Clinical Center in Podgorica. The first private hospital (the Codra Hospital) opened in Montenegro in 2006. A number of private facilities in a variety of medical fields operate in Montenegro. Users should expect to pay at the time of service.
Contact information:
Clinical Center of Montenegro
81000 Podgorica, Krusevac bb
Phone: +382 20 412 412
Codra Hospital
81000 Podgorica, Radosava Burica bb
Phone: +382 20 648 334
Polyclinic and Hospital Konzilijum
81000 Podgorica, Skadarska street 2
Phone: +382 67 650 670
Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays
Local time is GMT+01:00 or generally 6 hours ahead of East Coast Time; usual business hours for the government are from 07:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday.
View the 2026 Holiday calendar, including U.S. holidays: https://me.usembassy.gov/events/
The following holidays may also be observed by Montenegrin citizens who practice the following faiths:
December 25 Christmas (Catholic)
Easter (Catholic)
Ramadan Bairam (Muslim)
Yom Kippur (Jewish)
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings
There are no restrictions or duties to be paid on the temporary entry of materials and personal belongings. However, items that are temporarily imported have to be reported to custom officials at the point of entry by filling out a designated form.