Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Montenegro, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In Montenegro, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. Likewise, driving under the influence is illegal and you could go immediately to jail. There are also some things that might be legal or not frequently enforced in Montenegro, but are still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Montenegro, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go. 

Persons violating Montenegrin laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Montenegro are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Carrying of weapons is forbidden.

Arrest notifications in Montenegro: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Dual U.S.-Montenegrin nationals may be subject to laws that impose special obligations on Montenegrin citizens. If you were considered a dual citizen of Montenegro and another country before Montenegro declared its independence on June 3, 2006, Montenegro still recognizes that dual citizenship. If you became a dual citizen after June 3, 2006, Montenegro will only recognize your dual citizenship if it is with a country with which Montenegro has signed a bilateral agreement. Currently, Montenegro has signed  bilateral citizenship agreements, with very few countries but it still abides by the bilateral consular agreement between Yugoslavia and the United States. This restriction on dual citizenship most often affects children born after June 3, 2006 with claims to both United States and Montenegrin citizenship, as well as individuals seeking to obtain Montenegrin citizenship after June 3, 2006, who are requested by Montenegro to renounce citizenships of other countries before receiving Montenegrin citizenship. As of August 30, 2006, Montenegrin men are no longer required by Montenegrin law to perform military service. 

There are occasional water and electricity outages throughout the year.

LGBT RIGHTS: LGBT individuals are protected by anti-discrimination laws in Montenegro, and there are no legal or governmental impediments to organizing LGBT-related events. In practice, however, LGBT individuals are subject to widespread societal discrimination, ostracism, and harassment. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our Information for LGBT Travelers page.

Athletic Contract Disputes: U.S. citizen athletes who are considering playing for professional teams in Montenegro, particularly outside the capital, should be aware of reports of disputes regarding contracts not being honored and treatment and living conditions not matching expectations. We recommend that U.S. citizen athletes obtain and carefully review proposed contracts and research the team, living arrangements, and city where they will be playing prior to accepting offers or commencing travel.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Montenegro, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. Montenegro passed a law on spatial planning and construction in August 2008 regulating the accessibility to public facilities; however, this law only applies to future services and construction. Some structures built recently do meet those standards. The law mandates that all public facilities must be adjusted to allow access to persons with disabilities, but many public facilities have not yet been made fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. The country has all normative regulations for protection of persons with disabilities, including access to transportation and communication. It also has a general anti-discrimination law. However, these regulations have not been adequately implemented in practice and everyday life. Accessibility for those with disabilities, including on public transportation, is lacking throughout the country. The overall geography is mountainous and often steep, including along the coast, which presents challenges to some persons with disabilities. Outside of urban areas, accessibility is limited.