Relocation and Settlement Support in Montenegro
The permit is approved and the company is running; now the family has to actually live here. We find the home directly with owners, place the children in school, arrange health insurance, exchange your driving licence, import the car and connect the utilities, so the first months feel settled rather than improvised.
- 0%
- agency commission on homes we source directly
- several
- international schools in Podgorica and on the coast
- 12
- months to exchange a foreign driving licence after residence
- 1
- point of contact for every settlement task
What Relocation Support Includes
- Long-term housing search directly with owners and lease negotiation
- International school and kindergarten applications and enrolment
- Public health insurance registration and private health cover
- Exchange of your driving licence for a Montenegrin one
- Car import, customs clearance, homologation and registration
- Utilities, internet, mobile contracts and pet import formalities
How Settlement Support Works
- 1Week 1
Family brief
Household size, school needs, budget, preferred area and arrival date are set out in a single checklist.
- 2Weeks 1-4
Home and school
Shortlist of homes from owners with viewings, and school visits or online interviews booked for the children.
- 3Weeks 3-8
Registrations
Health insurance, address registration, driving licence exchange and car import are filed in the right order.
- 4Ongoing
Living here
Utilities, internet, banking links and a local contact for anything that comes up in the first year.
Settling in Montenegro: Practical Rules
Renting a home
Leases are usually twelve months with one or two months' deposit, signed in Montenegrin with a translation. Owners often prefer tenants with a registered company and residence permit. We source directly, so there is no agency commission, and we register the lease, which you also need for the residence address.
Schools and kindergartens
International schools teaching in English operate in Podgorica, Tivat, Kotor and Budva, with waiting lists for some year groups, alongside public schools that teach in Montenegrin. We handle applications, document legalisation and enrolment timing around the school year.
Health, licence and car
Residents employed through their company are covered by public health insurance via payroll contributions; private insurance tops this up. A foreign driving licence must be exchanged within a set period after residence is granted, and an imported car pays customs and VAT before Montenegrin plates are issued, with certain exemptions when you move your household.
Utilities and pets
Electricity, water and waste accounts are transferred into your name with the lease and ID, and fibre internet is widely available in cities and on the coast. Pets enter with a microchip, valid rabies vaccination and an EU-style passport or veterinary certificate.
Relocation Questions
Relocation Questions
Can you find a home before we arrive?
Yes. We shortlist, do video viewings and hold the property with a deposit so you move straight in on arrival.
Are there English-language schools?
Yes, in Podgorica and on the coast. Places are limited in some year groups, so applications should start a few months before the school year.
Can I use my foreign driving licence?
For a limited period after residence is granted, after which it must be exchanged. We file the exchange so you do not fall outside the window.
How much does it cost to import my car?
Customs duty and VAT depend on the car's value, age and origin, with exemptions in some household-move cases. We calculate it before the car is shipped.
Moving Your Family to Montenegro?
Tell us who is moving, when, and what you need first. You receive a settlement checklist and a fixed fee for the package.
No company or residence permit yet? Start with Montestart.
Company formation, residence and work permits, family reunification and the digital nomad permit, at fixed prices by the same team. Montenext takes over the day your permit is issued.
Start with Montestart- Company formationd.o.o. registered in 5-7 business days.
- Residence and work permitTemporary residence through your company.
- Family and digital nomadPermits for your family or remote work.
Montestart
24/7 Support for Your Next Step in Montenegro
- Honest and reliable live support
- Advice tailored to your plans
- Leave your number and we call you back