Is health insurance compulsory for foreigners in Montenegro? Yes. For a temporary residence permit a foreigner must have health insurance: travel health insurance from an authorised company, insurance under an international agreement or insurance in accordance with the law. Employees and sole traders with residence become insured with the Fund.
Anyone who moves to Montenegro soon finds that residence and health insurance are not the same thing. Searches show it: people ask "is healthcare free in montenegro" and look for "montenegro healthcare for expats", while local searches add "u crnoj gori" (in Montenegro), "crna gora" and "cijena" (price) to "zdravstveno osiguranje za strance" (health insurance for foreigners).
This article explains who is insured with the Health Insurance Fund under the Law on Compulsory Health Insurance, what applies to a foreigner with permanent and with temporary residence, what insurance the Law on Foreigners requires for a permit, how family members are insured and what the insurance covers.
Who is insured with the Fund
The insured are Montenegrin citizens with residence and foreigners with approved permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro, if they fall into one of the categories in the law. For foreigners the most important are:
| Category | Note |
| Employees | Of a company, another legal entity, an authority, a sole trader or a private individual |
| Sole traders and self-employed persons | As their main occupation |
| People doing temporary and occasional work | And other work under a special employment contract |
| Unemployed people registered with the Employment Agency | Who receive a cash benefit |
| Pension recipients | Under the pension and disability insurance rules |
A person insured in another country cannot be insured here unless an international social security agreement provides otherwise. That is why the Fund asks a foreigner registering for the first time for proof of deregistration from health insurance in the country they come from and for the temporary residence permit.
A foreigner who receives a permit for employment therefore becomes insured as an employee. How that procedure works is explained in our article on work permits for foreigners.
Permanent residence: insured even without a job
Besides these categories, foreigners with approved permanent residence who are not insured on any other basis also become insured. The Fund determines their status on request, with a personal identification document. According to the Fund's instructions, the request is filed at a branch office with a copy of the ID card.
This rule does not cover a foreigner who has only temporary residence. Which years count towards permanent residence is explained in our article on permanent residence and citizenship.
Temporary residence without a job: a policy for the permit
A foreigner with temporary residence who does not work in Montenegro, for example on the basis of property or as a digital nomad, falls into none of the categories in the table. The Law on Foreigners nevertheless requires, for a temporary residence permit, that the foreigner has health insurance. Since the 2026 amendments the law states what that means:
- travel health insurance provided by an authorised insurance company;
- health insurance provided under an international agreement;
- health insurance in accordance with the law.
The price of such a policy is set by the insurer and is not prescribed by law. The conditions for other residence grounds are described in our article on the digital nomad permit and a DOO, and the order of the first steps after arrival in our article on the first 90 days.
International social security agreements
Citizens of countries with which Montenegro has concluded an international social security agreement receive health care to the extent set by that agreement. Check with your own health insurer before moving whether your country has such an agreement and what it covers.
Family members
Family members of an insured person become insured if they are not insured on another basis, have residence or approved permanent residence in Montenegro and are not insured in a country with which an international agreement has been concluded.
- Immediate family: a spouse or unmarried partner, a same-sex life partner, children born in or out of wedlock, stepchildren, adopted children and children without parental care supported by the insured person.
- Family with temporary residence: members of the immediate family who hold a temporary residence permit for family reunification or for education may also become insured, if they are not insured in a country with which an international agreement has been concluded.
- Children have rights until the end of their education, at the latest until the age of 26.
Registration requires a birth certificate for a child, a marriage certificate for a spouse and, for an unmarried partner, a statement certified by a notary.
What the insurance covers and from when
The right to health care and to reimbursement of travel costs starts on the day of insurance. Sick pay requires an insurance record of at least two months without interruption or four months with interruptions in the last 12 months, except for emergency medical care and injuries at work.
| Question | Rule |
| What it includes | Prevention, examinations and diagnostics, treatment at all levels, hospital treatment, emergency care, medicines on the list and medical aids |
| Primary dental care | Diagnostics and treatment for groups named in the law, for example children up to 18, people over 65 and pregnant women |
| Co-payment | Insured persons contribute to the cost of examinations, medicines, hospital treatment and other services; the services and amounts are set by the Government |
| Exempt from co-payment | Among others children, women during pregnancy and for one year after childbirth, and insured persons over 65 |
Short checklist for your situation
| Situation | What applies |
| You are employed in Montenegro | You are insured on the basis of employment |
| You have a registered business as your main occupation | You are insured as a sole trader |
| You have permanent residence and no other insurance basis | The Fund determines your status on request |
| You have temporary residence and no job in Montenegro | For the permit you need travel health insurance from an authorised company, insurance under an international agreement or insurance in accordance with the law |
| Family with temporary residence for family reunification | May become insured through the insured person |
| You are insured in another country | You cannot be insured in Montenegro unless an international agreement provides otherwise |
If you are only planning the move, you can find flats to buy and to rent in our real estate category.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner with temporary residence join the Fund without a job? The law provides no such basis. Without a job, foreigners with approved permanent residence become insured if they are not insured on another basis.
What health insurance is accepted for a residence permit? Travel health insurance from an authorised insurance company, insurance under an international agreement or insurance in accordance with the law.
How much does health insurance for foreigners cost? The price of a private or travel policy is set by the insurer and is not prescribed by law. Insured persons with the Fund pay a co-payment for certain services, and the amount is set by the Government.
Are family members insured? Family members of an insured person become insured if they meet the legal conditions; members of the immediate family with a permit for family reunification or education can also become insured.
From when does the insurance apply? The right to health care starts on the day of insurance. Sick pay requires an insurance record of at least two months without interruption or four with interruptions in the last 12 months.
Sources
The insured, foreigners, family members, rights, co-payments and exemptions are governed by the Law on Compulsory Health Insurance (Official Gazette of Montenegro 145/2021, articles 5 to 8, 10 to 15 and 17; the amendments in Official Gazette of Montenegro 48/2024, 98/2026 and 114/2026 do not concern these articles). Health insurance as a condition for temporary residence is governed by article 43 of the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro 12/2018), and the accepted types of insurance by the 2026 amendments (Official Gazette of Montenegro 3/2026). The documents for registration are listed by the Health Insurance Fund. Fijaka is a listings platform and does not give legal advice; for a specific case, contact the Fund or a lawyer.