Ciudadanía de Montenegro por Programa de Inversión

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Montenegro Citizenship by Investment Program

What is a Citizenship by Investment Program in general? And what are the conditions under which Montenegro has recently started to offer its passport to a small number of qualified investors?

Citizenship by Investment (CIP) programs are paid investment schemes that mostly ask for real estate investments or state donations In return, investors and their families are granted citizenship. All applicants are subject to a strict process of background checks and due diligence. At this moment (2020), there are 11 programs to choose from, and Montenegro’s is one of them.

In the recent «Best Citizenships rankings» for 2020, Montenegro was ranked 3rd best citizenship by investment program. The method takes into account a whopping 31 decision factors that are of importance to potential applicants.

Here is an overview of the metrics used in the analysis:

As you can see, after taking into consideration a myriad of factors, Montenegro is well-positioned and has a very competitive citizenship program that is already attracting a lot of international attention.

Let us see what exact investment options you have in Montenegro.

(1) Invest in the less-developed Montenegro’s Northern Region

(2) Invest in the capital city of Podgorica and Coastal Montenegro

If you add up the numbers you will see that as a foreigner you are required to invest at least 350,000€ (+fees) to acquire citizenship in Montenegro. If you invest in the more developed regions, the amount will increase to 550,000€ (+fees). Note: A very nice benefit is the option to get your dependents (spouse and children) a passport for a small fee, too.

The Government of Montenegro has officially launched its program in 2019 and is offering 4 government-approved real estate projects at the moment. At the same time, you do not need to know the Montenegrin language and national history, and there are no obligations to live or spend any number of days in the country each year.

The program is limited to 2,000 people.

Overview of the investment projects

(1) The Westin Ski Resort Kolasin

The Westin Ski Hotel will have a capacity of 93 accommodation units and an estimated investment value of 11 million Euros. It is located in the center of the Ski Resort Kolasin, which is a hotspot for Montenegro’s winter tourism. Kolasin is a small town in northern Montenegro and is easily accessible by road and rail. Its location on the foot of the Bjelasica and Sinjajevina mountains makes it a great destination for skiing. The hotel offers a fitness facility, Spa Centers, and conference rooms.

If you invest €250,000 in this hotel and pay an additional €100,000 (State donation) you will receive Montenegrin citizenship and passport within 3 months. The citizenship scheme is limited to 2000 applicants and will close by December 31st, 2021.

(2) Hotel Breza Kolasin

The Condo Hotel Breza will be located in Kolasin, the mountain resort town that is very popular with downhill skiers and nature lovers. At an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level, Kolasin is globally recognized for its pure air and natural beauty. It is located not far from the international airport in Podgorica. The Condo Hotel Breza will feature 188 refined units of variable sizes, which must be kept for a period of 5 years to honor the citizenship scheme. 

Again, a total investment of about 400,000€ would grant Montenegrin citizenship to you and your family of four (spouse and two children).

(3) Durmitor Hotel and Villas Zabljak

The Durmitor Hotel resort will have 55 luxurious Suites and 12 villas, when it will officially open its doors in May 2022. Durmitor is Montenegro’s largest National Park. The Park is located in the northwestern part of Montenegro, surrounded by the rivers and canyons of Tara and Piva.

The «Hotel Kraljicina Plaza» is a modern remake of an old hotel that once was at the same place – right in the heart of the «Milocer Park». The picturesque park is located on the Queen’s Beach at the Budva Riviera, not far from Sveti Stefan and Budva, a historic resort town that is very popular with tourists. The nearby international airports of Tivat (TIV) and Dubrovnik (DBV) are only 30km and 80 km away.

You will be able to choose among the 60 standard hotel suites and 66 apartments. The single or double-room suites will be between 30 and 70 square meters, whereas the apartments will be of bigger size, ranging from 62 to 317 square meters. The apartments will feature an entrance hall, two to four bedrooms (with a bathroom and a cloakroom each), a study, and a terrace with green plants. 11 suites for handicapped people will be found on the ground floor.

Being so far the only project located in the more affluent south of Montenegro, you need to invest 550,000€ (+fees) in order to participate in this program.