The key facts

  • From November 1, 2026, entry to Montenegro for Russians is possible only with a visa, including a Schengen visa or one from a number of other countries
  • The expert predicts a 25–30% drop in tourist flow
  • There has been no direct air service between Russia and Montenegro for five years

Visa-free regime abolished

As of November 1, 2026, Montenegro has abolished the visa-free regime for Russian citizens: entry into the country is now possible only with a Montenegrin visa or visas from a number of other states, including Schengen countries. The official notification to the Russian side about the abolition of visa-free travel with this date was sent back on October 21, as Gazeta.Ru reported.

Consequences for tourist flows

Founder and head of the bespoke travel company Mayel Travel Maya Kotlyar, commenting for kp.ru, assessed the consequences of the new rule: according to her forecast, after the introduction of visas, tourist flow from Russia will fall by 25–30%. Some tourists, she said, will prefer countries that are easier to reach, while Montenegro will mainly continue to be visited by those Russians who own property there, hold a residence permit, or have relatives in the country.

The destination was changing even before the visas

The expert recalled that there has been no direct air service between Russia and Montenegro for five years now: travelers have to make connecting flights, which has made the destination less popular. “In general, the Montenegro we knew 5–6 years ago — mass-market, cheap, affordable — is long gone. It has become quite expensive, both in terms of flights and accommodation,” Kotlyar noted. Thus, the introduction of visas reinforces the decline in the destination's accessibility that had already begun. The cost of a visa for Russians was previously mentioned in Gazeta.Ru publications.