Montenegro
Do you have a temporary protection status in Montenegro? This page will help you find more information about your rights and access to services in Montenegro, as well as about administrative procedures that you need to complete in Montenegro before your departure to Ukraine, if you consider returning to Ukraine permanently.
Please note that the temporary protection status in Montenegro has been extended two times since its activation in March 2022. The current temporary protection status is valid until 11 March 2025.
Consular services in Montenegro
If you are in need of consular services such as issuance of passport, certificate for return to Ukraine or other, please contact the Embassy of Ukraine in Montenegro.
81000, Montenegro, Podgorica, Serdara Jola Piletica br. 15
Short and extended stay in Ukraine
If I decide to return to Ukraine, what will happen to my temporary protection status?
The national legislation of Montenegro does not contain a provision that requires cancellation of your temporary protection status in case of your permanent return to Ukraine. If you decide to leave Montenegro and return to Ukraine permanently, you will keep your temporary protection status for the entire duration of your current permit. However, the law requires from you to return your temporary protection certificate to the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro once its validity expires.
There are no provisions in the national legislation of Montenegro that prevents you to reapply for temporary protection in case you change your decision to stay in Ukraine, until the temporary protection regime is valid in Montenegro. In any case, you may consider communicating with Montenegrin authorities your intention for permanent return to Ukraine before you make the final decision on return.
If I decide to return to Ukraine for a short visit, what will happen to my temporary protection status?
The temporary protection permits that have been issued in Montenegro are valid until 11th March 2025. You will be able to return to Montenegro as long as temporary protection is in place. Upon your return, you will automatically continue to benefit from temporary protection for as long as your permit is valid.
If I return to Ukraine for visit but decide to remain in Ukraine for good, how can I inform the authorities in Montenegro?
If you are in Ukraine for a visit and decide to stay, you can inform the Embassy of Montenegro in Ukraine on your decision and give back your temporary protection residence permit.
The Montenegrin Embassy in Ukraine is located in Kyiv, Ivana Fedorova 12. You can contact the Embassy at +380 44 287 78 11 – Fax +380 44 287 78 08 and email: [email protected].
If I decide to return to Ukraine permanently, whom should I inform?
If you are still in Montenegro, you should inform the Ministry of the Interior’s Directorate for Integration in Podgorica, that issued your temporary protection residence permit. If you are in Ukraine, you should inform the Embassy of Montenegro in Ukraine.
The Montenegrin Embassy in Ukraine is located in Kyiv, Ivana Fedorova 12. You can contact the Embassy at +380 44 287 78 11 – Fax +380 44 287 78 08 and email: [email protected]
If I decide to return to Ukraine permanently, can I deregister and inform the relevant authorities in Montenegro online or should I go in person?
Montenegro does not have possibility for online registration/deregistration of your temporary protection status. You have a possibility to inform the Ministry of the Interior’s Directorate on Integration by email [email protected]. However, please have in mind that your temporary protection certificate must be returned once its validity expires.
If I decide to return to Ukraine permanently, what will happen to the assistance that I am receiving in Montenegro?
If you are living in an accommodation facility in Montenegro, provided by the state, it is important for you to know that unjustified abandonment of facilities results in a revocation of the reception entitlements.
People housed in the state provided accommodation have the option of asking for permission from the Ministry of the Interior (directly or through the management of the facility) to leave for shorter periods, justifying the reason for the request.
Can I travel back to Ukraine permanently and re-enter Montenegro if/when I want to?
In case that you lose your temporary protection status in Montenegro, because of a permanent return to Ukraine you can re-enter Montenegro with your biometric passport for the purpose of short stay (up to 90 days, that can be extended for additional 90 days).
If you want to stay for a long term (more than 180 days), you must regularize your presence upon arrival by going to the Ministry of the Interior’s branch office in the municipality of residence to initiate process for one-year temporary residence. In that case, it will be good that you familiarize with the provisions of Montenegrin Law on Foreigners, to check whether you meet the law requirements for the status of foreigner with temporary residence.
As explained in the point 1, until the temporary protection regime is valid in Montenegro, you may opt to apply for temporary protection again.
Border crossing
Is it allowed to enter Ukraine without an international passport?
No, you should contact the Ukrainian Embassy in Montenegro to communicate your need and obtain an identity document, with temporary validity, to re-enter the country.
The Ukrainian Embassy is located in Podgorica, Serdara Jola Piletica 15. The Consular Department of the Embassy receives Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 12:00, only by appointment. You can contact the Embassy at +382 20 320 400 – Fax +382 20 320 403 and email: [email protected] or [email protected].
I do not have any identification documents – can I enter Ukraine?
No, you should contact the Ukrainian Embassy to communicate your need and obtain an identity document, with temporary validity, to re-enter the country.
The Ukrainian Embassy is located in Podgorica, Serdara Jola Piletica 15. The Consular Department of the Embassy receives Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 12:00, only by appointment. You can contact the embassy at +382 20 320 400 – Fax +382 20 320 403 and email: [email protected] or [email protected].
I am of a nationality other than Ukrainian, I used to live in Ukraine before the war, however, I fled due to the war. Can I return to Ukraine?
If you are not a citizen of Ukraine and you are staying in Montenegro under the temporary protection status, you should be able to return to Ukraine using your Ukrainian residence permit. For more information, please contact Ukrainian authorities.
The Ukrainian Embassy is located in Podgorica, Serdara Jola Piletica 15. The Consular Department of the Embassy receives Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 12:00, only by appointment. You can contact the embassy at +382 20 320 400 – Fax +382 20 320 403 and email: [email protected] or [email protected].
Health
I have a disability document/ID issued in Montenegro, will it be recognized in Ukraine?
You will need to obtain a disability certificate issued in Ukraine. It can be done on arrival or remotely – please check the instructions on the governmental portal.
Please note that even if your disability certificate obtained in Ukraine has expired, the document is automatically extended and is considered valid till the end and 6 months after the end of martial law in Ukraine.
Is it possible to collect my health records if I decide to return to Ukraine permanently? If yes, how and where?
The set of health records produced during a course of treatment or hospitalization at an Montenegrin health facility, including all diagnostic and therapeutic activities, nursing care, and the patient’s clinical information, is called a “medical record”. In Montenegro, every patient has the right to receive a copy. For this purpose, it is necessary to file a specific request directly to the health facility, enclosing a copy of your personal ID.
Education and child protection
My child(ren) is/are enrolled in school, do we need to take any specific steps before returning to Ukraine?
It’s advised by the Ukrainian government that returning children need to take a list of requirements from the school abroad where they studied. The checklist can be found here.
The Ministry of Education of Ukraine advises collecting all the documents from the previous school where the child studied: subjects taken, exam results, evaluation system, etc. Please ask directly the Montenegrin school where your child is enrolled for more information on how to obtain the relevant documentation.
If no documents are present, the child can pass a pre-evaluation exam and still enrol in a Ukrainian school. Please note that the child cannot be refused enrolment even with incomplete documents or missed subjects. Read more about school enrolment in Ukraine from the Ministry of Education and Science.
Can an unaccompanied child (below 18) return to Ukraine on their own?
Children shall be subject to the same entry and exit control as adults, as such, they will need an identity document valid for travelling. In case of need, they should contact the Ukrainian Embassy to obtain an identity document, with temporary validity, to re-enter the country.
The Ukrainian Embassy is located in Podgorica, Serdara Jola Piletica 15. The Consular Department of the Embassy receives Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 12:00, only by appointment. You can contact the embassy at +382 20 320 400 – Fax +382 20 320 403 and email: [email protected] or [email protected].
Livelihoods
How to sort out my bank account if I decide to return to Ukraine permanently?
Your bank accounts remains open as long as your residence permit is valid, even if it is inactive due to your decision to move back to Ukraine for a longer period. If you want to close your bank account, you must do it personally.
How to sort out my social insurance in Montenegro if I decide to return to Ukraine permanently?
Ukrainian citizens who have regularly worked in Montenegro and paid national insurance contributions have the same right to a pension as any Montenegrin citizen. The pension benefit is not lost when they decide to return to their country of origin, even if no reciprocity agreement has been stipulated between Montenegro and Ukraine: the basic requirement is that they have fulfilled the requirements established by Montenegrin law.
How can I check for my pet documentation if I want to return to Ukraine permanently?
The pet will need to have a pet passport and all vaccinations. The pet passport in Montenegro is issued by the veterinary services of the local health authority at the request of the owner. Please contact your local health authority for additional information.