Unique Master Citizen Number in Montenegro
The Unique Master Citizen Number (Montenegrin: Jedinstveni Matični Broj Građana, or simply JMBG) is a 13-digit national identifier used by the Government of Montenegro to manage employment contracts, taxation, healthcare, and public benefits for its residents and citizens. It follows this format:
‘DD MM YYY RR BBB K’
Example JMBG: 0704986225004,
The first seven digits (in bold) represent the individual’s date of birth, in this case 07.04.1986.
The next two digits (underscored) indicate the municipality where the person was born (for Montenegrin natives) or where their residence permit was issued. For example, 22 is the code for the coastal city of Bar.
The next three digits indicate the individual’s gender: numbers from 000–499 are assigned to males, while 500–999 are assigned to females. In the example above, the digits 500 fall within the female range, meaning the individual is female.
The 13th digit is just a control number, which is calculated from the other 12 digits to check the JMBG for potential errors.
The Importance of the JMBG
Similar to the Social Security Number in the United States, the JMBG in Montenegro is used to track each individual’s social security contributions, which are crucial for calculating future retirement and disability benefits. Additionally, the Unique Master Citizen Number is needed to register an individual for the public health insurance scheme.
Possessing a JMBG is a prerequisite for employment and is also required before starting a business in Montenegro and obtaining residency as the company director. Employers in Montenegro use the JMBG to deduct social security contributions from employees’ monthly salaries and remit them to the government.
Here are some other reasons why you might need a JMBG:
- To open a bank account in Montenegro
- To change your place of residence
- To apply for a Health ID
- To sign work contracts
- To enroll at a university
- To receive pension benefits
- To obtain a driver’s license
- To apply for loans
- To file your personal income taxes
- To pay property taxes