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Interest in second citizenship programs is growing with each passing year. Which is quite logical, since passport programs offer a variety of new opportunities for investors. Previously, it was possible to obtain a European citizenship through investing in a Cypriot, Maltese or Bulgarian economy. This year, the second citizenship market welcomes a new member, Montenegro. That is why many are already seeking to find out how profitable the Montenegrin CBI program is and what are the ways to enter it. After all, the program looks quite good, at least, at a first glance.
But is the program actually worth your attention? What is the difference between the Montenegrin citizenship and Caribbean passports, or citizenships of EU member states, Cyprus and Malta? Which is better, the Montenegrin citizenship or Portugalβs Golden Visa program? We have looked into the nuances of the newest CBI program and are ready to share our findings with you. It is up to you, however, to have the final say.
Montenegro is drawing the attention of many investors from Russian and other CIS countries. From 2008 to 2018, direct investment from Russia amounted for more than a third of this country’s GDP. Additionally, about 30% of all foreign companies in Montenegro had been founded by Russian citizens, according to RIA Novosti agencyβs interview with Marko MilaΔiΔ, a Montenegrin journalist, politician, and former participant in the 2018 presidential election. Russians are investing mostly in real estate, hotel businesses, cafes and restaurants. About 200,000 Russian citizens visit Montenegro every year, with 40,000 being local homeowners. According to the Russian Embassy in Montenegro, about 6,000 citizens of the Russian Federation are permanent residents of Montenegro. A Montenegrin passport allows visa-free entry to 125 countries. The country’s economy is recognized as one of the fastest growing in the Balkans. Montenegro is a member of NATO and the lead candidate for EU accession. Thus, in addition to visa-free travel in the Schengen countries, all citizens of Montenegro will soon have the opportunity to reside, study and work in the EU. The Montenegrin CBI program became the 17th in the world. The spouse of the principal applicant, their children under 18 years of age, and parents may also apply for a passport. The paperwork takes up to six months, and citizenship is then issued for life. It is worth noting that in recent years more and more wealthy investors are receiving their second passports in exchange for investment. According to the 2019 Global Wealth Migration Review, 108,000 dollar-millionaires (HNWIs)migrated in 2018, compared to 95,000 in 2017. Most of these individuals moved to the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Cyprus.
To obtain a Montenegrin passport, an investor needs to fulfill the two investment requirements:
In total: The minimum investment amount is β¬550,000 if purchasing real estate in the south of Montenegro, and β¬350,000 for investing in northern property.
In this article, we will overview just the key points of the Montenegrin CBI program; here, you can learn more about the application submission process. Today, the Montenegrin real estate market is stable. But practice shows that in smaller countries that have their own second passport (CBI) programs, real estate tends to be overvalued β which is and has been true for Cyprus, for instance. In the Caribbean Basin, prices are also over-hiked by 30β50%. In Montenegro, there are additional prerequisites for increasing prices per square meter:
Choosing a decent real estate project in Montenegro, though it may prove to be not that effortless, isnβt impossible. Investors are especially interested in real estate in Budva, Herceg Novi, Tivat in the south, and KolaΕ‘in and Ε½abljak in the north. Real estate in these cities is considered to be rather liquid. Over time, it is possible either to sell oneβs real estate object and get the invested funds back, or to keep possession and earn from 4% to 6% as an annuity. As for the per-square-meter prices, there is a clear gradual increase from Ulcinj towards Herceg Novi.
The tax system of Montenegro is quite lax and not at all complicated. Tax rates imposed on property buyers, sellers and owners are among the lowest in Europe.
Note: To save your time, we have created a cost calculator that would allow you to find out how much youβll be required to pay for additional fees for your type of family. Follow this link, fill in necessary fields and your manager will send you the total cost of obtaining citizenship of Montenegro.
The Montenegrin immigration program has the following advantages:
Since 2012, over 7,000 financially independent individuals have taken part in a certain European CBI program, the Portuguese Golden Visa β an alternative name for obtaining this countryβs residence permit in exchange for investment. Portugalβs Golden Visa program (ARI) offers a number of unique advantages:
It is possible to do a side-by-side comparison of the Montenegrin CBI program with any of its competitors, as we have developed a tool to help our clients see pros and cons of any given programs and do price comparisons. Will Montenegroβs brand new CBI program send the popularity of the Portuguese Golden Visa into a nosedive? Unlikely. Granted, it is only possible to become a fully-fledged citizen in five years, but the requirements of Portugalβs passport program are quite permissive. Besides, Golden Visa holders get instant access to Schengen Area states, and have the opportunity to return the investment in full. And, finally, the emergence of the Montenegrin passport program will likely create a stir within the market, which will lead to overvaluing properties. A similar situation may be observed in Cyprus… but not in Portugal.
Cyprus and Malta are two other European countries offering their citizenship in exchange for investment. Citizens of these countries actually have more advantages than holders of Montenegrin passports. With a Cypriot/Maltese passport:
Compared to Maltese and Cypriot passports, the passport of Montenegro is, in essence, a Schengen visa. Montenegrins will be able to enjoy all the advantages of a European citizenship only once their country joins the EU, which wonβt happen until 2025. Also, Montenegrin passport holders will have to obtain a visa to enter the US. Currently, it would seem that the Montenegrin CBI program wins only in terms of its cost: β¬350,000 versus at least β¬880,000 in Malta versus at least β¬2,150,000 in Cyprus. The Cyprusβ passport program requires a non-refundable donation of β¬150,000, and the Maltese one, β¬650,000.
This is how the passport of Montenegro differs from those of Caribbean countries and Vanuatu:
| Cyprus | Malta | Caribbean | Montenegro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min investment amount | from β¬2,150,000 | from β¬880,000 | from $100,000 | from β¬350,000 |
| Investment object | β¬2 million in real estate acquisition (commercial and residential); Donation of β¬150,000 |
Donation of β¬650,000; β¬150,000 in govt bond acquisition; β¬350,000 in real estate acquisition, or β¬16,000 in rent |
Real estate or state fund donation | Donation of β¬100,000; β¬250,000 in real estate acquisition |
| Processing | 6 months | 14 months | 2β6 months | up to 7 months |
| Visa-free entry | 173+ countries, including the UK, EU & Schengen countries, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Australia | 182+ countries, Including the US, the UK, EU & Schengen countries, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea |
129+ countries, including the UK and Schengen countries | 124+ countries, including Schengen countries |
| Visa-free entry into the US and Canada | Visa required for the US; eTA/180 days for Canada |
eTA /90 days for the US; eTA/180 days for Canada |
Visa required | Visa required, possible to obtain E-2 visa to the US |
| Visa-free Schengen Area | 365 days/year | 365 days/year | 90 days/6 months | 90 days/6 months |
| Visa-free UK | 365 days/year | 365 days/year | 180 days/year | Visa required |
| Who can apply | Ivestor (age 18+); spouse; children under 28 years of age; parents |
Ivestor (age 18+); spouse; children under 28 years of age; parents over 55 years of age |
Ivestor (age 18+); spouse; children under 30 years of age; parents over 55 years of age |
Ivestor (age 18+); spouse; children under 18 years of age; parents |
| Peculiarities | Number of applicants capped at 700/year | Number of applicants capped at 1800, (not counting dependents) | Choosing real estate from a government-approved list | Number of applicants capped at 2000 (not counting dependents) |
Although the Montenegrin CBI program is an anticipated one and has caused quite a stir, we cannot say for sure whether it will become a worthy competitor to other European CBIs. In case you are seriously considering obtaining Montenegrin citizenship, there is little time for hesitation, as the program will only be in effect until December 31, 2021, and the authorities will only approve 2,000 applicants. Certainly, making up oneβs mind about second citizenship acquisition may take some time, and we understand fully that any steps require thorough examination. Each program has its pros, cons, and pitfalls. We have compared the most popular investment programs, and we hope our analysis will help you make your choice; however, it is also a possibility you will come to the conclusion that a second citizenship is not something you need at the moment. In any case, our main goal is to explain the details and intricacies of a given CBI program during the consultation, go over relevant cases, and Β talkΒ about both the advantages and disadvantages β all this so our clients can make an informed choice.
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