Montenegro's Cabinet approves Bill on Foreigners

Podgorica, Montenegro (31 July 2014) – At today's session, Montenegro's Cabinet approved the Bill on Foreigners, which for the first time defines and regulates this area in a comprehensive way.

The bill eliminates almost all administrative barriers and creates conditions for foreigners to resolve their status issues, including labour and employment ones, in a single procedure at a single institution – the Ministry of the Interior, Abid Crnovršanin of the Ministry told the press earlier today.

The implementation of new legal solutions is expected to decrease illegal migrations, eliminate disproportion between issued residence and work permits and applications for compulsory insurance, harmonise the number of foreigners in Montenegro's labour market with employers’ needs, increase collection of taxes and contributions, and boost foreigner’s motivation to invest in real estates in Montenegro, Mr Crnovršanin explained.

He added the Bill on Foreigners prescribes for a new reason for a foreigner’s stay in Montenegro, namely the use of a real estate he/she she owns. On this basis, a foreigner can obtain a residence permit up to an year, instead of 90 days which have been envisaged to date.

According to the Bill, the foreigner intended to work in Montenegro will obtain residence and work permits as a single document, which, in this case, as well as in case of temporary and permanent residence, will be issued in the form of an identity document with biometrical data, Mr Crnovršanin concluded.