In Montenegro a non-governmental association is founded by at least three persons, one of whom must have residence, stay or a registered seat in Montenegro, while a foundation can be set up by a single person, regardless of residence. An association is founded at a founding assembly, which adopts the founding act and statute and elects the person authorised to represent it. The application for registration goes to the Ministry of Regional Investment Development and Cooperation with NGOs, also online via the ngo.gov.me portal; registration is free and is completed within 30 days of a complete application. On registration the NGO becomes a legal entity. By a decision published on 5 August 2026 the Constitutional Court repealed Article 18a of the law, which required registration to be refused because of the goals in the statute.
This guide explains founders, documents, registration, obligations after registration and the new Constitutional Court decision.
Association or foundation?
| Non-governmental association | Non-governmental foundation | |
| what it is | a voluntary non-profit organisation with members, for common or general goals | a voluntary non-profit organisation without members, with or without initial assets, for general goals |
| founders | at least three persons | one or more persons |
| founders' residence | at least one with residence, stay or seat in Montenegro | not required |
| special rules | a minor aged 14 or over can be a founder with the consent of a legal representative | can also be set up by a will |
| governing body | assembly | board of directors |
- Founders can be domestic and foreign natural and legal persons.
- The law does not apply to political parties, trade unions, sports organisations, business associations and organisations and foundations set up by the state; these are founded under special laws.
What documents are needed for registration?
- The completed application form for the register of associations or of foundations.
- The founding act, i.e. the decision on establishment, with details of the founders (name, personal ID number or passport number for foreigners, signature; for a legal entity its tax number and the signature of an authorised person) and of the organisation (name, address and seat, goals and activities, person authorised to represent it).
- The minutes of the founding assembly.
- The statute, which sets out the name and seat, goals and activities, bodies and decision-making, election and term of the representative, public disclosure, funding and any economic activity.
- The name is registered in Montenegrin and may also be registered in a language in official use and in a foreign language; it must differ from the name of an organisation already registered.
- The name may include the name of a natural person only with that person's consent, or the consent of their heirs.
- For a foundation the founding act also contains details of the board members and of the initial assets, if any.
How do you apply?
| Method | What you need |
| online, via ngo.gov.me | an activated electronic ID card with e-signature and an account on idp.gov.me; documents attached as scans or electronically signed |
| in person or by post | paper documents to the Ministry in Podgorica |
- The same portal is used for requests to change details or delete an entry, and the status of the request and the decision are downloaded there.
- No administrative fee is charged.
How long does registration take?
- The Ministry enters the NGO in the register within 30 days of a complete application.
- If registration is not made within that period, it is deemed made on the first day after the deadline, and the Ministry issues the decision within three days.
- A decision refusing registration can be challenged before the Administrative Court within 20 days of receiving it.
- Register data are public and can be searched on ngo.gov.me.
What did the Constitutional Court decision change?
Article 18a of the law, added by the 2017 amendments, provided that registration is refused if the goals in the statute conflict with the Constitution or the law. On 23 June 2026 the Constitutional Court found that provision incompatible with the Constitution and ratified international treaties and repealed it; it ceased to apply on the day the decision was published in the Official Gazette, 5 August 2026. Banning an organisation that threatens the constitutional order remains within the Constitutional Court's powers.
What obligations does an NGO have after registration?
| Obligation | Deadline or condition |
| reporting any change to registered details | 30 days from the change |
| publishing the annual financial statement on its website | ten days from adoption, if income in the year exceeded 10,000 euros |
| economic activity | only if provided for in the statute and entered in the business register |
| income limit from economic activity | above 4,000 euros in a year the NGO may not carry on that activity directly until the end of the year, unless the income does not exceed 20% of total income in the previous year |
- Income from economic activity above the legal limit is paid into the budget, and profit must be used in Montenegro for the organisation's goals.
- An association is also deleted from the register if membership falls below three and the governing body does not admit new members within a year.
- After registration comes tax registration and opening a bank account, as for any other legal entity.
Online filing needs an activated ID card, as explained in our guide to activating the electronic ID card, and how to check a legal entity in the register in the guide to checking a company. If you are aiming at a for-profit activity, compare with the guide to the sole trader, and how an NGO requests information from public authorities is covered in the guide to freedom of information.
Frequently asked questions
How many founders does an NGO need in Montenegro? An association needs at least three persons, one of whom has residence, stay or a seat in Montenegro; a foundation can be set up by one person.
How much does NGO registration cost? Nothing. No administrative fee is charged for entry in the NGO register.
How long does NGO registration take? Up to 30 days from a complete application; if the Ministry does not decide in time, registration is deemed made the next day.
Can an NGO be registered online? Yes, via the ngo.gov.me portal, with an activated electronic ID card and an account on idp.gov.me.
Can a foreigner set up an NGO in Montenegro? Yes. Foreign natural and legal persons can be founders, and for an association at least one founder must have residence, stay or a seat in Montenegro.
Can an NGO earn money? It can carry on an economic activity set out in its statute if it is entered in the business register, but with an annual limit of 4,000 euros or 20% of the previous year's income.
Sources
Founding, registration and obligations are set by the Law on Non-Governmental Organisations (Official Gazette 39/2011), as amended by 37/2017 (30-day deadline), and Article 18a was repealed by Constitutional Court decision U-I no. 23/18 (Official Gazette 116/2026). Documents, competence and deadlines for online filing are listed on the NGO Register portal, and online registration in the Ministry's announcement. Information checked on 29 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not legal advice.