From 1 November 2026, Montenegro requires a visa from Turkish citizens. Who can still enter visa-free, how to apply, and what it means for your Kotor and Budva plans.
Important: This post is based on news reports and applies to holders of Turkish passports. Before you travel, always check the latest rules on the official pages of Montenegro’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and VFS Global.
One of the things that made Kotor, Budva and Perast so appealing to travellers from Turkey was that they were visa-free. That’s changing: as part of its EU accession process, Montenegro will start requiring visas from Turkish citizens on 1 November 2026.
If you live abroad on a Turkish passport, or you’re planning a trip with Turkish family or friends, here’s what you need to know.
What’s changing?
- Since 23 December 2025, the visa-free stay had already been cut from 90 days to 30 days.
- Until 31 October 2026, Turkish citizens can enter Montenegro visa-free for up to 30 days.
- From 1 November 2026, a visa is required; applications go through VFS Global.
Who can still enter without a Montenegrin visa?
According to the reports, Turkish citizens holding a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa, or a residence permit from one of those countries, will be able to enter Montenegro for up to 30 days. Make sure your visa is valid for your whole trip. This is especially good news for Turks living in the EU, the UK or the US.
How does this affect your plans?
If you’re planning Kotor or Budva for November or later, allow at least a few weeks for the visa application. If you’d rather build your Balkan route around visa-free countries, Albania (Ksamil, Berat), North Macedonia (Skopje, Ohrid) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo, Mostar) are still visa-free for Turkish citizens, and you can even enter them with a Turkish national ID card.
