Under the Law on Protecting the Population from Infectious Diseases, in force since 17 January 2026, a parent must make sure that a child of preschool and school age receives mandatory vaccination, unless there is a permanent medical contraindication. Completed mandatory vaccination is a condition for attending a public or private kindergarten, and the certificate can be issued only by the child's chosen doctor at the local health centre. A parent who does not arrange vaccination pays a fine of 300 to 2,000 euros, and a kindergarten that takes an unvaccinated child 1,500 to 20,000 euros.
This guide explains the mandatory vaccines, the schedule by age, the kindergarten certificate and the fines.
Which diseases is vaccination mandatory against?
- For children of a certain age, vaccination is mandatory against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B and pneumococcus.
- The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) is recommended: it is in the schedule, but there is no fine for refusing it.
- Every vaccination given is entered in the electronic immunisation record.
Which vaccine does a child get at which age?
| Age | Vaccine |
| At birth | BCG, against tuberculosis |
| At 2 months | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB, the six-in-one vaccine |
| At 3 months | PCV, against pneumococcus |
| At 4 months | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB |
| At 5 months | PCV |
| At 6 months | DTaP-IPV-Hib |
| At 12 months | PCV and MMR, against measles, mumps and rubella |
| At 18 months | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB |
| From 5 to 8 years, on starting primary school | DT-IPV-aP or dT-IPV-aP and the second MMR dose |
| From 9 to 14 years | HPV, one dose, recommended |
| From 13 to 15 years, final year of primary school | dT-IPV |
| From 17 to 19 years, final year of secondary school | dT |
- A newborn whose mother is HBsAg positive also gets the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, at 1 month, 2 months and 12 months.
- Young people aged 15 to 18 who have not had the HPV vaccine can also get it, as one dose.
- Missed doses are made up under the catch-up scheme published by the Institute of Public Health.
What do you need for kindergarten?
- Completed mandatory vaccination is a condition for a child to attend a public or private kindergarten, unless there is a permanent medical contraindication to a particular vaccine.
- The certificate of completed mandatory vaccination can be issued only by the child's chosen doctor at the local health centre.
- Since 3 July 2026 the certificate contains the child's full name, personal identification number, date of birth and address, vaccination status, date of issue, stamp and signature, and it can include the doctor's notes.
- If the child was vaccinated abroad, bring their vaccination record to the chosen doctor so they can establish the vaccination status.
What are the fines?
| Who | Offence | Fine |
| Parent, adoptive parent or guardian | does not arrange the child's mandatory vaccination | 300 to 2,000 euros |
| Individual | refuses mandatory vaccination | 300 to 2,000 euros |
| Kindergarten | lets a child attend without mandatory vaccination | 1,500 to 20,000 euros, and the responsible person 250 to 2,000 euros |
| Doctor | issues the certificate without being the child's chosen doctor | 200 to 2,000 euros |
How to enrol a child in kindergarten and what it costs is covered in our guide to kindergartens, and how to choose a doctor and book an appointment in our guide to the chosen doctor. Schools for foreign children are covered in our guide to schools for foreign children, and the newborn payment and child benefit in our guide to child benefit.
Frequently asked questions
Which vaccines are mandatory for children in Montenegro? Vaccines against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B and pneumococcus are mandatory.
Can an unvaccinated child go to kindergarten? No, because completed mandatory vaccination is a condition for attending a public or private kindergarten, unless there is a permanent medical contraindication.
Who issues the vaccination certificate for kindergarten? Only the child's chosen doctor at the local health centre.
What is the fine if a parent does not vaccinate a child? A parent, adoptive parent or guardian who does not arrange mandatory vaccination pays 300 to 2,000 euros.
Is the HPV vaccine mandatory? No, it is recommended: one dose is given between 9 and 14 years, and young people aged 15 to 18 can get it if they have not had it before.
When does a child get the MMR vaccine? The first dose at 12 months and the second between 5 and 8 years, on starting primary school.
Sources
Mandatory vaccination, the kindergarten condition, the certificate and the fines are set by the Law on Protecting the Population from Infectious Diseases, Official Gazette 2/2026 (Articles 33, 37, 41, 42, 83, 86 and 91), and the content of the certificate by the Rulebook on the content of the certificate of completed mandatory vaccination, Official Gazette 88/2026. Ages and vaccines come from the Institute of Public Health's routine vaccination schedule, which it publishes with the immunisation programme and the catch-up scheme on its vaccination programme page. The information was checked on 27 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not medical or legal advice.