Importing Personal Effects into Montenegro: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2026 · Download the Montenegro Import Guide (PDF)

Personal Effects – Diplomats

• Copy of passport (page with photo and personal data)
• Pro forma invoice with goods value
• List of paintings (title, author’s name and technique used) in Word or Excel file and colour copies of paintings
• Duties and taxes exemption documents (franchise) from Montenegrin MFA
• Power of attorney for import customs clearance on the letterhead of the customs agent.

• Food and alcohol are also duty/tax free, but separate customs declaration must be issued.

Personal effects – Foreign Citizens (temporary import)

• Detailed inventory list with quantity and approximate value of each item
• List of paintings (title, author’s name and technique used) in Word or Excel file and colour copies of paintings
• Temporary residence permit
• Power of attorney for import customs clearance on the letterhead of the customs agent

• Import is tax free if client provides a bank guarantee during complete period of his stay for the determined amount of duties and taxes
• Food, alcohol and all consumables are not allowed to be imported on a temporary basis
• Temporary import is allowed for a period of up to 2 years
• Client must close the temporary import by exporting the same goods he imported when he leaves the country
• In the case of smaller shipments, permanent import is a preferable option with duties and taxes of roughly 30% of shipment value

Personal effects – Returning Montenegrin Citizen and other permanent imports

• Copy of personal MNE ID card and passport
• Detailed inventory list with quantity and approximate value of each item. Notarized, original needed
• List of paintings (title, author’s name and technique used) in Word or Excel file and colour copies of paintings
• Power of attorney for import customs clearance on the letterhead of the customs agent

• If client worked abroad for more than 12 months (and if he can prove it with Certificate from Montenegrin Embassy or other relevant institution from origin country) import is duty and VAT free
• Food products, alcohol and consumables are not allowed
• Paintings may be valued by an expert if the Customs officer considers the declared value as underestimated

Plants

• Phytosanitary examination is needed (one at Montenegrin border)

• Not all customs offices have a phytosanitary equipment. This may cause a delay in transport and delivery

Montenegro Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-09-05 · Download the Montenegro Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.

• Copy of passport (page with photo and personal data)
• Pro-forma invoice with goods value
• List of paintings (title, author's name, technique) in Word or Excel, plus color copies of the paintings
• Duties and taxes exemption document (franchise) from the Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
• Power of attorney for import customs clearance on the letterhead of the customs agent

• Detailed inventory list with quantity and approximate value of each item
• List of paintings (title, author's name, technique) in Word or Excel, plus color copies of the paintings
• Temporary residence permit
• Residence/work permit issued by the Ministry of Police (procedure takes approximately one month; client must be present to apply)
• Power of attorney for import customs clearance
• List of books (name, author, year of publishing, publisher, place of publishing)
• List of electrical/electronic appliances with brand, model, and serial number

• Copy of personal Montenegrin ID card and passport
• Detailed inventory list with quantity and approximate value of each item (notarized original required)
• List of paintings (title, author's name, technique) in Word or Excel, plus color copies
• Power of attorney for import customs clearance
• Certificate from the Montenegrin Embassy or other relevant institution in the country of origin confirming the citizen worked abroad for more than 12 months
• List of books (name, author, year of publishing, publisher, place of publishing)
• List of electrical/electronic appliances with brand, model, and serial number

Specific Information

Diplomats: Household goods are duty and tax free. Food and alcohol are also duty/tax free for diplomats, but a separate customs declaration must be issued for these items.

Foreign citizens (temporary import): Import is tax-free if the client provides a bank guarantee for the full period of stay, covering the determined amount of duties and taxes. Temporary import is allowed for a period of up to 2 years. The client must close the temporary import by exporting the same goods they imported when leaving the country. Food, alcohol, and all consumables are not permitted under temporary import. For smaller shipments, permanent import (with duties and taxes of roughly 30% of shipment value) may be preferable to the bank guarantee requirement.

Returning Montenegrin citizens: If the citizen worked abroad for more than 12 months (proven with a certificate from the Montenegrin Embassy or equivalent), import is duty and VAT free. Food products, alcohol, and consumables are not allowed in duty-free shipments.

Paintings and artwork: All paintings must be listed with title, author, technique, year, and dimensions. Color copies must be provided. Customs officers may require paintings to be valued by an expert from the National Museum if they consider the declared value to be underestimated. Items defined as antique (over 30 years old) must be clearly marked on the original packing list with photographs and descriptions.

Inventory valuation: Valued inventory lists for temporary imports are for customs purposes only. The value does not need to match the value used for insurance purposes. It is strictly advised not to enclose the insurance valuation list with the shipping documents. Declare conservative values for temporary imports.

Duties & Taxes

Montenegro is an EU candidate country and a member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). Tariffs range from zero to 30%, and trade policy is characterized by low customs duties and the absence of non-tariff trade barriers. Import duties are harmonized with EU legislation.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

• Weapons of all kinds [Permit Required]
• Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
• Pornographic materials
• Toxic materials
• Radioactive materials
• Counterfeit and pirated goods
• Plants without phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin

Alcohol and tobacco in unaccompanied shipments is prohibited and will be confiscated by customs. If a client wishes to bring alcohol or tobacco into Montenegro, they must carry it with them personally. Sending these items in household goods shipments is not permitted. Diplomats are the only exception, and even they require a separate customs declaration.

Travellers must declare currency exceeding EUR 10,000 (or equivalent) upon entry or exit. Luxury goods, jewelry, paintings, and computer equipment should also be declared to avoid fines. Currency declaration forms are available at ports of entry.

Several import permits are required depending on the type of rifle or firearm being imported. Contact the destination agent before shipping.

CITES certificates and animal health certificates are required.

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea / road shipments. Before importing any special item (antiques, firearms, stuffed animals, etc.) to Montenegro, confirm the specific permit requirements with the destination agent.

Ports of entry: The principal sea port is the Port of Bar on the Adriatic coast. Air shipments arrive via Podgorica Airport (TGD) or Tivat Airport (TIV). Road shipments enter through border crossings with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo, and Croatia.

Customs clearance (temporary import): All temporary import shipments must be cleared via a bonded warehouse. All items must be used.

Phytosanitary inspections: Not all customs offices have phytosanitary equipment. Shipments containing plants may experience delays in transport and delivery.

Export requirements: Foreign citizens who imported temporarily must export the same goods in the same quantity, weight, and value when leaving. Books require an export permit from the National Library and Ministry of Culture. Paintings require an export permit from the National Bureau for Protection of Monuments and Ministry of Culture.

Electrical standard: Montenegro uses 230V, 50Hz with European-style two-pin plugs (Type C and Type F).