In Montenegro a citizen who moves must register the new residence or new address within eight days, with the Ministry of the Interior in the municipality where they live. The registration comes with a statement that you have settled at the address and proof of ownership, or for someone else's flat a certified lease agreement. Registering a new address also deregisters the old one, and anyone who does not report the change in time pays a fine of 200 to 1,000 euros.
This guide explains the deadlines, the documents, the address check, reporting a stay abroad and deregistering when you emigrate.
When and where do you register a residence?
| Situation | Deadline | Where |
| Moving to another municipality | eight days from the move | Ministry in the municipality you move to |
| New address in the same municipality | eight days from the change | Ministry in the municipality of residence |
| Settling in Montenegro with no previous residence | eight days from settling | Ministry in the municipality where you will live |
| Stay abroad longer than 90 days | the law sets no specific deadline | Ministry or a Montenegrin embassy |
| Return from abroad | eight days from return | Ministry in the municipality of residence |
- Registering a new address or a new residence also deregisters the previous address.
- For a minor, a parent or guardian files the registration, and if the parents do not live together, the parent the child has been entrusted to.
Which documents do you need?
- A statement that you have settled in the place and at the address given in the registration, on the prescribed form.
- Proof of ownership or co-ownership of the flat or house, or another legal basis for living there.
- For a flat owned by someone else, a certified lease agreement with the landlord.
- For the address of a spouse, unmarried partner or parents, the Ministry uses its own records, and since August 2026 the same applies to a partner in a same-sex life partnership.
- An ID card or another photo document to check your identity.
How do you file, and what if the police check the address?
- You file in person or electronically, signed with an advanced electronic signature.
- The Ministry checks the applicant's identity and issues a confirmation of the registration.
- If it doubts the statement of settlement, the Ministry asks the police for an on-site check within eight days, and the police send a report within 15 days.
- If it turns out you do not live at the registered address, the Ministry rejects the registration by decision.
- If it later turns out you do not live at the address, the Ministry deregisters your residence ex officio by decision, and an appeal is filed within 15 days.
How do you deregister when you emigrate?
- A citizen who emigrates to live permanently in another country may deregister their residence, before emigrating, at the Ministry in the municipality of residence.
- A confirmation of the entry in the deregistration records is issued.
- Anyone who does not do this before emigrating can deregister through a Montenegrin embassy or consulate within 15 days of settling in the other country.
- A citizen with no registered residence who stays in someone else's flat for longer than three days, or in their own for longer than eight days, registers a temporary stay with the police within 24 hours of arrival.
How big is the fine?
- Registering a residence, a new address, a stay abroad or a return after the eight-day deadline carries a fine of 200 to 1,000 euros.
- The same fine applies to a parent who does not register a child and to anyone who does not register a temporary stay within 24 hours.
Activating the electronic ID card and its signature is covered in our guide to the eID card, and the price and validity of the ID card in our guide to the passport and ID card. Leases, termination and deposits are covered in our guide to renting a flat, and a birth register extract for a child in our guide to the birth certificate. Offers for a move within the same town can be found on Glatko.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline for reporting a change of residence? Eight days from the move, at the Ministry of the Interior in the municipality you moved to.
What do I need to register a residence in a rented flat? A statement of settlement on the prescribed form and a certified lease agreement with the owner of the flat.
Can I register my residence online? Yes, if you sign the registration with an advanced electronic signature, for example the qualified signature on the electronic ID card.
What is the fine for registering a residence late? The fine is 200 to 1,000 euros for an individual.
Do I need to deregister my residence when I move abroad? A citizen who emigrates to live permanently in another country may deregister before emigrating, or through an embassy within 15 days.
What if I go abroad for longer than 90 days? You report the departure at the Ministry or an embassy, and you report your return within eight days.
Sources
Deadlines, registration, deregistration, temporary stay and fines come from the Law on Registers of Residence and Temporary Stay, Official Gazette 46/2015 (Articles 10 to 15, 24 and 36), and the statement of settlement, proof of ownership, certified lease, on-site checks and the 200 to 1,000 euro fine from the amendments to that law, Official Gazette 3/2023. The rule for a partner in a same-sex life partnership comes from the amendments of August 2026, Official Gazette 119/2026. The information was checked on 27 September 2026. The rules for foreigners staying in Montenegro are set by a separate law. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not legal advice.