Opening a company in Montenegro: locals, foreigners, freelancers and digital nomads

At a glance: d.o.o. with 1 euro capital, registered at the Central Register of Business Entities (CRPS) in about 4 working days for about 10 euros plus publication, no notarial deed, corporate tax 9 to 15 percent progressive, 21 percent VAT from 30,000 euros turnover, euro currency, digital nomad residence permit for up to 4 years. Legal forms. Entrepreneur (preduzetnik): no capital, personal liability, registered at CRPS. Limited liability company (drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu, d.o.o.): minimum capital 1 euro, one or more members, an executive director who may be a non-resident foreigner. Joint-stock company (akcionarsko drustvo, a.d.): 25,000 euros. Also partnerships and the part of a foreign company (dio stranog drustva). Registration. CRPS inside the Tax Administration is the one-stop shop: founding act and articles with signatures certified by a notary or court (about 20 to 50 euros), IDs of members and director, registered address; fee about 10 euros plus about 12 euros for Official Gazette publication; the decision is due within 4 working days with the tax number (PIB). Foreign founders usually file through a local lawyer or agency (300 to 800 euros) by power of attorney. Total excluding capital: about 100 euros yourself, 400 to 1,000 euros with help. Taxes 2026. Corporate income tax 9 percent on profit up to 100,000 euros, 12 percent on the band to 1.5 million, 15 percent above. Dividends 15 percent withholding for resident and non-resident shareholders alike, treaties reduce. VAT 21 percent, reduced 15 and 7 percent; registration from 30,000 euros turnover in the previous 12 months. Salary tax 0 percent up to 700 euros gross a month, 9 percent to 1,000 euros and 15 percent above, plus a municipal surtax of 13 percent (15 in Podgorica and Cetinje) on the tax. No health or employer pension contribution; the employee pays 10 percent pension and 0.5 percent unemployment. Freelancers and the self-employed. A freelancer registers as an entrepreneur at CRPS; entrepreneurial income is taxed 0 percent up to 8,400 euros a year, 9 percent to 12,000 and 15 percent above, plus surtax, annual filing by 30 April. Small entrepreneurs may opt for lump-sum taxation (pausalno oporezivanje) in fixed monthly amounts. Pension contribution 10 percent on a base tied to the minimum wage, roughly 60 to 80 euros a month at the minimum; no health contribution. Foreigners. 100 percent foreign ownership, no restricted sectors beyond licensed ones such as banking and gaming, no local director requirement. A foreign founder who manages the company from Montenegro needs a temporary residence and work permit from the Ministry of Interior as executive director of the own company: accommodation, health insurance, clean record, proof of funds; one year, renewable; the company must be active and pay at least the minimum wage. Registration works by power of attorney; banks require the director in person. Branch of a foreign company. The part of a foreign company (dio stranog drustva) registers at CRPS with the parent's register extract, articles, resolution and representative appointment, apostilled and translated; no capital, taxed on Montenegrin profit at the 9 to 15 percent scale as a permanent establishment, no branch remittance tax. A representative office may only promote and research. A d.o.o. subsidiary with 1 euro capital is the usual choice. Digital nomads. Yes: temporary residence for digital nomads (privremeni boravak za digitalne nomade) for foreigners who work online for a foreign employer or their own company registered outside Montenegro; proof of that work and of means, accommodation, health insurance, clean record; up to 2 years, extendable once by up to 2 years; family members may join. The personal income tax law exempts their foreign income. The law sets no fixed income figure, so check current Ministry of Interior practice. Changed recently. Progressive corporate tax and 0 to 15 percent personal tax (2022); Europe Now 2: employer pension contribution abolished, minimum wage 600 and 800 euros (October 2024); 15 percent VAT rate introduced (January 2025); Law on Foreigners amendments with the 150,000 euro property rule and clearer founder and nomad rules (January 2026); global minimum tax law for large groups (early 2026); BEPS convention in force (September 2026). Figures checked October 2026 from the Central Register of Business Entities, the Tax Administration of Montenegro, the Ministry of Interior, PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries and Montenegrin legal and press sources; thresholds and fees change yearly. Confirm with a licensed adviser in Montenegro before you file.