Sanitary health check and health booklet (sanitarna knjižica) in Montenegro 2026: who needs it, what it costs, how often and what to bring

In Montenegro the mandatory sanitary health check applies to employees who handle food at any stage of production, sale and distribution, work in public drinking water supply, in care and cleaning in nurseries, schools and residential homes, on high-risk hospital wards, with medicines, in cosmetics and beauty services, and to anyone doing a compulsory work placement in those jobs. For work with food the check is repeated every six months, and for hairdressers and beauticians once a year. Since January 2026 the checks are done by the Institute of Public Health and state health institutions, and the employer pays. Tivat Health Centre, for example, charges 32 euros for staff working with food and drinking water.

This guide explains who needs the sanitary check, what it covers, how often it is repeated, where it is done and what to bring, what it costs, what the health booklet is, how the hygiene training works and what the fines are.

Who needs a sanitary health check?

• Employees in public drinking water supply and in handling food at any stage of production, sale and distribution.
• Employees in care and cleaning in nurseries, schools, residential facilities for children and young people and social care institutions.
• Health institution staff on wards with a higher risk of infectious diseases, in diagnostics, treatment, care, patient meals and cleaning.
• Employees in the production, sale and dispensing of medicines and medical devices.
• Employees in hygiene care and beauty treatments for the face and body, in non-medical cosmetic procedures that break the skin, and in the production and sale of cosmetics.
• People doing a compulsory placement in those jobs during their education.

Anyone who has not taken the mandatory check, has certain infectious diseases or carries certain microorganisms and parasites may not work or do a placement in those jobs. The obligation also applies to foreign nationals employed in those jobs, and RoNa Legal explains how work permits for foreign staff work.

What does the check cover and how often?

• In every category a chest X-ray is added if the doctor suspects tuberculosis.
• The check can be ordered more often on epidemiological or clinical grounds, on the proposal of an epidemiologist, the employer, the chosen doctor or a sanitary inspector.
• After a positive result the health institution informs the employee, the employer and the inspectorate.

Where is the check done and what should you bring?

• The check is carried out by a specialist in epidemiology at the Institute of Public Health and at health institutions founded by the state, and the laboratory tests are done in their microbiology laboratories.
• The Institute of Public Health in Podgorica does sanitary checks on working days from 8:00 to 14:00, and the hygiene and epidemiology services of health centres also do them.
• Bring an identity document with a photo, your health booklet if you already have one, with your details filled in and a photo attached, and one stool sample in the prescribed container.
• Nails must be short and tidy at the check, without polish and without artificial nails.
• The check is paid in advance, into the institution's bank account or at its cash desk.

How much does a sanitary check cost?

• Each institution sets its own price, so check it before paying.
• The cost of the mandatory check for employees is borne by the employer, sole trader or other person running the business.

What is the health booklet (sanitarna knjižica)?

• The results of the mandatory health checks are entered in the health booklet.
• The employer keeps the booklet on the business premises and must show it to a sanitary inspector on request.

Hygiene training

• Staff in premises under sanitary supervision and in food handling must complete training on personal hygiene and protection against infectious diseases before starting work and then every five years.
• The training is run by the Institute of Public Health and by health centres with a hygiene and epidemiology service, which issue a certificate that the employer keeps on the premises.
• The training lasts 16 hours for work with food and 10 hours for other staff, and the employer pays for it.
• Staff with a completed degree at level VII1 in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, sanitary engineering, food safety, biochemistry, food technology, nutrition, biology, biotechnology or veterinary science do not need the training.

What are the fines?

Seasonal work and wages are covered in our guide to jobs in Montenegro, and registering an employee for insurance in our guide to the JPR form. Choosing a doctor is explained in our guide to the chosen doctor, and opening a business in our guide to sole traders.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a sanitary health check cost in Montenegro? The price depends on the institution and the job: Tivat Health Centre charges 32 euros for work with food and water, and Pljevlja Health Centre charges 20 euros.

How often is the sanitary check repeated? Every six months for work with food and drinking water, and once a year for hairdressers, beauticians and storage of packaged food.

Who pays for the sanitary check? The employer bears the cost of the mandatory check for employees.

Where is the sanitary check done in Podgorica? At the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro, on working days from 8:00 to 14:00.

What should I bring to the sanitary check? An identity document with a photo, your health booklet if you have one, and one stool sample in the prescribed container.

Do hairdressers need a sanitary check? Yes, hairdressers and beauticians have a check of skin, nails, hair and mucous membranes once a year.

Sources

Who needs the check, who carries it out and pays for it, the health booklet, training and fines are set by the Act on Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases (Articles 24, 43, 85, 91 and 93), published in Official Gazette 2/2026. The content and frequency of the checks are set by the Rulebook on mandatory and recommended health checks (Articles 5 to 14), and the length of the training by the Rulebook on the training programme (Article 4), both applying until new rules are adopted. What to bring is explained in the Institute of Public Health instructions, and opening hours in the Institute's notice. Prices are published by Tivat Health Centre and Pljevlja Health Centre. The information was checked on 27 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not medical or legal advice.