How do you cross Montenegro's borders in 2026? The police show live cameras at 10 road crossings with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia. At the Croatian border, non-EU travellers have been registered with a face photo and fingerprints in the EU Entry/Exit System since 12 October 2025, fully since 10 April 2026. From 1 November 2026, citizens of 5 countries, Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, need a visa to enter Montenegro.
Border rules change often, so this guide uses only official sources: the Ministry of the Interior, the Decree on the Visa Regime and the European Commission, checked on 25 September 2026.
Which are the main crossings?
| Neighbour | Crossing | Road |
| Croatia | Debeli Brijeg | Herceg Novi to Dubrovnik |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Sitnica | Herceg Novi to Trebinje |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Ilino Brdo | Nikšić to Trebinje |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Vraćenovići | Nikšić to Bileća |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Šćepan Polje | Nikšić to Sarajevo |
| Serbia | Dobrakovo | Bijelo Polje to Prijepolje |
| Serbia | Ranča | Pljevlja to Prijepolje |
| Serbia | Dračenovac | Rožaje to Novi Pazar |
| Albania | Božaj | Podgorica to Shkodër |
| Albania | Sukobin | Ulcinj to Shkodër |
These are the 10 crossings on the Ministry of the Interior's camera page, which shows the queue on both sides before you set off. There are smaller crossings too, such as Kobila, on the old road from Herceg Novi to Croatia.
What happens at the Croatian border?
Croatia uses the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which registers non-EU nationals on a short stay each time they enter or leave the Schengen area. The first time, the officer takes a photo of your face and scans your fingerprints, and your passport is no longer stamped. Records of entries and exits are kept for 3 years. The EES does not apply to EU citizens or to holders of residence permits and long-stay visas.
| System | Status on 25 September 2026 | What it means for you |
| EES | In full operation since 10 April 2026 | Photo and fingerprints on your first crossing, then quicker checks |
| ETIAS | Not yet in operation | When it starts, visa-free travellers to 30 European countries will pay 20 euros online |
| Short stay in Schengen | Up to 90 days in any 180 | Days in Croatia count; days in Montenegro do not |
Montenegro is not in the EU or the Schengen area, so a stay in Montenegro does not use up your 90 Schengen days.
Who needs what to enter Montenegro?
| Traveller | Document | Stay without a visa |
| Citizens of EU countries, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Switzerland and a few others | National ID card | Up to 30 days |
| Citizens of about 90 countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and Ukraine | Passport | Up to 90 days |
| Holders of a valid Schengen, UK, US, Irish, Canadian, Australian, Japanese, New Zealand, Bulgarian or Romanian visa or residence permit | Passport with that visa or permit | Up to 30 days, and no longer than the visa is valid |
| Citizens of Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye | Visa from 1 November 2026, unless they hold one of the visas or permits above | Until 31 October 2026 up to 30 days; Chinese citizens only in an organised tourist group or on a business passport |
The Government amended the Decree on the Visa Regime on 23 July 2026 to align Montenegro with the EU's visa list. Who keeps visa-free entry after 1 November, and how the exemptions work, is explained by RoNa Legal's guide to visa-free nationalities.
What should you have in the car?
- The vehicle's registration document and, for a foreign car, valid insurance; a green card or cover for Montenegro is explained in our guide to car insurance.
- Cash of 10,000 euros or more must be declared on entry and exit, as our guide to bringing cash into Montenegro explains.
- A pet needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination and a pet passport, as set out in our guide to travelling with a dog or cat.
If you would rather not drive to Dubrovnik yourself, local guides offering day trips can be found through Glatko's city and culture tours.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter Montenegro with an ID card? Yes, if you are a citizen of an EU country, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo or Switzerland, for up to 30 days.
Where can I see the queue at the Montenegrin border? On the Ministry of the Interior's camera page, which shows 10 road crossings live.
What is the EES at the Croatian border? The EU Entry/Exit System: non-EU travellers give a face photo and fingerprints on their first crossing, and passports are no longer stamped.
Do I need ETIAS to go from Montenegro to Croatia? Not yet. ETIAS was not in operation on 25 September 2026; when it starts, it will cost 20 euros.
Who needs a visa for Montenegro from 1 November 2026? Citizens of Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, unless they hold a valid Schengen, UK, US or similar visa or residence permit.
How long can I stay in Montenegro without a visa? Up to 90 days with a passport for about 90 nationalities, or up to 30 days with an EU or regional ID card.
Sources
The list of crossings comes from the Ministry of the Interior's border camera page. Entry rules are from the Decree on the Visa Regime, Articles 1, 2, 4 and 7, and the 1 November 2026 change from the Government's announcement. The EES and ETIAS are described on the EU's Travel to Europe site and in the European Commission's notice that the EES is fully operational. The Kobila crossing is described on Wikipedia. Checked on 25 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform and does not give legal advice; check the rules for your nationality before you travel.