(PODGORICA) Montenegro ended visa-free entry for Turkish citizens on October 30, 2025, introducing an immediate visa requirement for ordinary passport holders after a week of unrest in the capital, Podgorica, that included a stabbing, street protests, and attacks on Turkish-owned businesses. The government said Turkish citizens must now apply for visas through Montenegro’s embassy in Ankara or consulate in Istanbul, while those holding valid multiple-entry visas or residence permits from Schengen countries, the United States 🇺🇸, United Kingdom, Canada 🇨🇦, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Japan may still enter visa-free for up to 30 days.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić announced the move on October 26, saying it would be adopted through an urgent procedure in response to escalating tensions tied to the stabbing of a 25-year-old Montenegrin, identified as M.J., in the Zabjelo neighborhood.
“Tomorrow, through an urgent procedure, we will make a decision on the temporary suspension of visa-free entry for Turkish citizens,”
said Spajić. The decision took effect four days later and immediately altered travel plans for Turkish citizens who had relied on the longstanding exemption.
Authorities said the stabbing followed a verbal altercation with several Turkish nationals and quickly triggered protests in Zabjelo, where crowds chanted anti-Turkish slogans. Vandalism was reported against Turkish-owned businesses in the city, including the destruction of a bar and the burning of a vehicle. Police detained about 45 Turkish nationals in connection with violent altercations over the weekend, according to officials familiar with the response. The weekend detentions, along with images of damaged storefronts, intensified public debate over the role of the visa-free regime and how fast the government moved to curb it.
The new entry rules end more than 15 years of liberal travel between the two countries under a visa exemption agreement signed in Ankara on January 18, 2008. That deal had allowed both Turkish and Montenegrin citizens to travel visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Under the policy announced this week, ordinary Turkish passport holders must now secure a visa before travel to Montenegro, applying at Montenegrin diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul. Holders of diplomatic, service, and special passports remain exempt for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, in line with previous practice. Turkish citizens who possess valid multiple-entry visas or residence permits from Schengen states or from the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Japan may still enter Montenegro without a Montenegrin visa for stays up to 30 days.
The sudden change rippled through travel plans and businesses that had grown around easy movement. Airlines moved to cushion immediate disruption. Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines announced that passengers who purchased tickets before the new requirement took effect may change or cancel their tickets free of charge until November 10, 2025. Carriers and tour operators fielded calls from customers uncertain whether their existing visas for other countries would suffice for entry to Montenegro and how long they could stay if exempt. Officials reiterated that the 30-day visa-free entry under the exceptions applied only to those with valid visas or residence permits from the specified countries and regions.
President Jakov Milatović criticized the government’s approach, warning of fallout for bilateral ties and Montenegrins living and working in Turkey. He said the government failed to assess
“the possible counter-reaction of Turkey,”
and the measure could
“jeopardize economic cooperation between the two countries.”
His remarks underscored concern within Montenegro’s leadership that the accelerated move, taken amid protests and police activity, could complicate a relationship that spans trade, tourism, and a growing Turkish diaspora in the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Ervin Ibrahimović described the decision as
“premature,”
cautioning that a step taken at speed, and under pressure, risked undermining relations with Ankara. His warning echoed criticism from analysts who argued that policy should be driven by measured assessments rather than street-level tensions and short-term containment. Journalist Srdan Kosović said:
“The suspension of the visa-free regime is open to debate, but the way the decision was communicated to the public is extremely problematic. The timing is also concerning: at a moment of high tension, the government almost admits that the security problem arose because of the visa-free regime and implies it can be resolved the same way. I do not believe this reflects reality; it seems a hasty move masking a lack of immigration policy and effective action by the competent authorities.”
Ankara responded through diplomatic channels, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaking to Prime Minister Spajić and Deputy Prime Minister Ibrahimović to press for steps that would ensure the safety and rights of Turkish nationals in Montenegro. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said it is in
“close and continuous contact and coordination”
with Montenegrin authorities, signaling that both governments are working to reduce tensions and prevent further incidents as the new rules take hold.
Montenegro estimates that approximately 13,300–14,000 Turkish nationals live in the country, a community that has grown in recent years amid rising investment and tourism. The shift from visa-free access to a visa requirement introduces administrative steps for routine travel, family visits, and cross-border business that had previously been straightforward. While the policy retains a path for Turkish citizens holding valid visas or residence permits from Schengen countries and several Anglophone destinations to enter visa-free for 30 days, the new limits are tighter than the 90-days-in-180-days standard that had been in place since 2008.
The government framed the measure as temporary and tied to public order. Officials did not set an end date, and Prime Minister Spajić’s announcement emphasized urgency rather than duration. The move comes as Podgorica has, in recent years, tightened some visa-free arrangements with other countries; Montenegro previously suspended visa-free regimes for Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Egypt. Those decisions reflected a trend toward closer alignment with European Union entry standards and concerns about irregular migration, though authorities did not link the Turkish decision to any broader migration trend beyond the week’s violence.
In Zabjelo, where the stabbing took place, the unrest set off a chain reaction—first the crime, then the protests, then smash-and-burn attacks—that quickly drew national attention. The police response included detentions of Turkish nationals believed to be involved in altercations, but also deployments to protect sites at risk of reprisal. Community leaders and local officials warned that spontaneous rallies fueled by social media posts risked spiraling into broader anti-foreign sentiment, mirroring the president’s concerns about the tone of public debate. Videos of a wrecked bar and a charred vehicle circulated widely, giving immediate, shocking images to a policy change that otherwise might have been confined to government notices and consular advisories.
For Turkish citizens planning to travel, the rules now depend on passport type and whether they hold third-country visas or residence permits. Ordinary passport holders without such documents must seek a Montenegrin visa via the country’s embassy in Ankara or consulate in Istanbul before departure. Those with valid multiple-entry visas or residence permits from Schengen states or from the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Japan may still enter Montenegro visa-free for up to 30 days. Holders of diplomatic, service, and special passports remain visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Prospective travelers and residents are being directed to contact Montenegrin consular offices for procedures and to monitor official updates from the Montenegro Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Travelers caught mid-journey or with tickets purchased before the change have some relief from airlines. Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines said customers who bought tickets before October 30, 2025 can rebook or cancel without fees until November 10, 2025, a measure meant to minimize out-of-pocket costs due to the sudden policy shift. Travel agencies in Istanbul and Ankara, meanwhile, fielded inquiries about processing times, appointment backlogs at the consulate and embassy, and what documents would be needed for a visa—questions likely to shape decisions around winter holidays and business trips.
Turkey’s diplomatic outreach stressed the safety of its nationals in Montenegro as protests spread in the days after the stabbing. The statement that it is in
“close and continuous contact and coordination”
with Montenegrin authorities signaled a focus on consular protection and communication lines as the countries adjusted to the new normal. Montenegro’s leadership faced cross-pressures: a public order crisis unfolding in a residential neighborhood, calls for swift action from some quarters, and warnings from the president and deputy prime minister that policy by emergency could carry longer-term costs.
The legal scaffolding of the previous visa-free regime—a 2008 agreement that facilitated short stays within a 180-day period—had shaped travel, study, and small-business ties for years. The interruption, even framed as temporary, now inserts uncertainty into a community of up to 14,000 Turkish nationals in Montenegro and a wider pool of visitors who counted on seamless entry. For many, the 30-day visa-free exception tied to Schengen or Anglophone visas will offer a workaround; for others, especially those without such documents, travel will depend on securing appointments and approvals from the embassy or consulate. The distinction between passport categories also matters: diplomatic, service, and special passport holders keep their 90-day allowance, preserving official and some institutional travel even as ordinary passport holders adjust.
Politically, the timing has sharpened debate about how Montenegro manages migration and public safety. Spajić’s pledge—
“Tomorrow, through an urgent procedure, we will make a decision on the temporary suspension of visa-free entry for Turkish citizens”
—was a clear signal to a domestic audience that the government was acting decisively. Milatović’s warning that the decision failed to consider
“the possible counter-reaction of Turkey,”
and could
“jeopardize economic cooperation between the two countries,”
articulated the risks: consular friction, reciprocal measures, or a chilling effect on investment and tourism. Ibrahimović’s description of the move as
“premature,”
and Kosović’s criticism that
“the way the decision was communicated to the public is extremely problematic”
and that
“it seems a hasty move masking a lack of immigration policy and effective action by the competent authorities,”
together framed a deeper question about the balance between rapid response and durable policy.
On the streets of Podgorica, calm began to return as police presence remained visible and community appeals urged residents to avoid collective blame. Officials did not provide further details about the condition of M.J., the 25-year-old stabbing victim, or the status of investigations into the suspects. Nor did they specify how long the suspension of visa-free entry would remain in place. The absence of a timeline leaves travelers, residents, and businesses watching for cues from both Podgorica and Ankara about whether the requirement will be tightened, relaxed, or maintained as-is once the immediate tensions subside.
Until then, the rules are clear for Turkish citizens: visa-free entry to Montenegro for ordinary passport holders has ended, replaced by a visa requirement unless travelers qualify under the limited 30-day exception tied to Schengen and other listed visas or residence permits. Those already holding tickets have until November 10, 2025 to change or cancel without penalty, and those planning new trips are being advised to check with Montenegrin missions in Ankara and Istanbul. As both governments emphasize communication—Turkey underscoring
“close and continuous contact and coordination,”
and Montenegro positioning the measure as a temporary suspension—the people most affected are adjusting plans, gathering documents, and waiting to see whether the door that was once visa-free will open wide again.
This Article in a Nutshell
Montenegro ended visa-free entry for Turkish ordinary passport holders on October 30, 2025, after violent unrest in Podgorica including a stabbing and attacks on Turkish-owned businesses. Turkish citizens must now obtain visas from Montenegro’s embassy in Ankara or consulate in Istanbul, though those with valid multiple-entry visas or residence permits from Schengen states, the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or Japan can still enter visa-free for up to 30 days. Authorities detained around 45 Turkish nationals; airlines offered ticket flexibility until November 10, 2025. Officials called the move temporary, with no end date specified.
