01.08.2021

The Ministry of Health has adopted a new set of measures that apply to all municipalities in Montenegro. New measures come into force on 02.08. and will be valid until 20.08.2021

Entering and leaving Montenegro

Entering Montenegro 

The obligation to take the test  does NOT  apply to children up to the age of five.

• Montenegrin citizens entering Montenegro from the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Albania, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, Ukraine, the Republic of Northern Macedonia, EU Member States and Israel, the Swiss Confederation, Moldova, Kingdom Norway and the Republic of Kazakhstan, the United States of America, Canada, as well as citizens of those countries and foreigners who have permanent or temporary residence or have resided continuously in those countries for at least 15 days before entering Montenegro, may enter Montenegro, without having a new coronavirus test (SARS-CoV-2) or evidence that they have been vaccinated with a second dose of the new coronavirus vaccine at least seven 14 days before entering Montenegro, subject to health measures,in accordance with the health warning of the Institute.
• The health warning is available at all border crossings in Montenegro and is published on the website of the Ministry of Health and the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro.
• Montenegrin citizens and foreigners, exceptpersons from the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Kosovo, the Republic of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Albania of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, Ukraine, the Republic of Northern Macedonia, the Member States of the European Union and Israel, the Swiss Confederation, the Republic of Moldova, the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Kazakhstan. The country, Canada, can enter Montenegro through all border crossings with a negative PCR test result for the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), issued by a registered laboratory and not older than 72 hours, with a positive serological test - antibodies IgG class, issued by a registered laboratory and not older than 30 days, negative result of a rapid antigen test for a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) - BAT,which are mutually recognized by the Member States of the European Union and are on the Joint List of Rapid Antigen Tests published by the European Commission, issued by an authorized laboratory and not older than 48 hours until the time of entry into Montenegro, with proof that at least 14 days before entry into Montenegro fully vaccinated with the prescribed number of doses of vaccine against new coronavirus, issued by an authorized health institution, or with a positive result of PCR test for new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 issued by a registered laboratory older than 14 days from the date of arrival at the border crossing and not older than 90 days,confirming that the owner has recovered from COVID-19 infection Montenegrin citizens and foreigners can enter the ports of Montenegro by vessels in addition to the above conditions with a negative result of PCR test for new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) issued by registered laboratory and was not older than 72 hours when boarding the vessel.
• Montenegrin citizens and foreigners with permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro, who do not have a PCR test for new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), negative result of rapid antigen test for new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) - BAT, who mutually recognize Member State of the European Union and is on the Joint List of Rapid Antigen Tests published by the European Commission, issued by an authorized laboratory and not older than 48 hours until the time of entry into Montenegro, a positive serological test - IgG antibodies or evidence that fully vaccinated against the new coronavirus, can enter Montenegro, with the determination of quarantine or self-isolation for 14 days, and self-isolation means staying in family accommodation or another facility, monitoring the health of that person,as well as all members of his joint family household by the competent epidemiological service, in accordance with the decision of the sanitary inspection.
• Within the framework of the agreement, the Government of Hungary and the Government of Montenegro mutually accept and recognize the official certificates of vaccination against the COVID-19 virus. Persons who have not been vaccinated due to their age (under the age of 18) can enter the territory of Montenegro and Hungary without a test and quarantine, accompanied by family members who have a vaccination certificate.

Entry into Montenegro - special categories

In accordance with the recommendations of the European Commission, certain categories of persons necessary for the normal functioning of vital services and persons representing a clear economic interest are excluded from the above criteria:

• health workers (s), health researchers and scientists;
• persons performing or providing transport of passengers and goods;
• diplomats accredited in Montenegro, staff of international organizations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the performance of their functions;
• certain categories of passengers in transit;
• persons in need of international protection or coming to Montenegro for other humanitarian reasons (the principle of non-refoulement is respected);
• foreign seafarers in transit embarking or disembarking in the ports of Bar, Budva, Kotor, the Port of Kumbor-Portonovi and Tivat (Gat I and Gat II);
• foreigners who drive motor vehicles that transport goods, with special health surveillance measures.

You can download the form with recommendations and contacts of health centers here .

Joint list of rapid antigen tests published by the European Commission

Traveling abroad

Each country has its own rules and procedures for entering the country, which may be subject to change. To get relevant and up-to-date information, we suggest you visit the embassy website of the country you want to visit. There are also state portals of the country you want to visit.

Embassies in Montenegro

General measures

General / personal measures

Mandatory proper wearing of the mask indoors.

It is obligatory to wear the mask properly in an open space when it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 2 m.

Mandatory physical distance in the open and indoors.

The obligation of the media is to ensure the wearing of a protective mask on the face that covers the nose and mouth of employees and persons participating in the broadcasting of the program, including persons who are guests in media shows.

Proper wearing of a protective mask means wearing the mask so that it covers the nose and mouth.

Physical distance means maintaining a distance of at least two meters between persons who are not members of the same household.

Movement and gatherings

Mass / social gatherings (festivals, etc.) can be held with the possession of the National Digital COVID certificate or one of the following evidence:

• Completely vaccinated or vaccinated with one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
• Negative PCR test for SARS-Cov-2 not older than 72h 
• Evidence that the person has survived COVID-19 (not less than 14 days and not more than 180 days have passed since a positive PCR or rapid antigen test)
• Negative antigen rapid test-BAT not older than 48h

It is forbidden to gather the population in closed and open public places.

Exception

• professional, scientific meetings, work and official activities, in compliance with the prescribed measures;
• public events, political and private gatherings, celebrations, parties, weddings, as well as other events in open public places and terraces / gardens of the catering facility in the presence of up to 100 people. A company, ie an entrepreneur who organizes a celebration, party, wedding or other private gathering on the terrace / garden, in the presence of up to 100 guests, is obliged to appoint a person responsible for controlling the application of prescribed measures.
• Activities in the field of culture that involve the simultaneous presence of several people in the same space (theaters, cinemas, museums, galleries) are allowed in compliance with the Recommendations for cinemas and Recommendations for cultural events developed by the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro and available on the Internet : https://www.ijzcg.me/me/savjeti/covid-19

Prohibited visits

• Visits to persons undergoing hospital treatment in health care facilities are prohibited;
• Visits to detainees and persons serving a prison sentence in the Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions are prohibited.

Exception: 

• Visits are allowed except for lawyers and court experts by court decision and close family members , respecting the recommendations of the Institute; 
• Visits of spouses and children to detainees and persons serving a prison sentence in the Administration for Execution of Criminal Sanctions are allowed in special rooms with a negative PCR test result not older than 72 hours .
• Visits to persons accommodated in social and child protection institutions are allowed in accordance with the recommendations of the Institute of Public Health

It is forbidden to gather in a group of more than a hundred adults in the open

• The presence and detention of more than one hundred adults in an open public place (sidewalks, squares, streets, promenades, beaches, etc.) is prohibited, in compliance with the prescribed measures;

This measure does not apply to persons who perform their regular work tasks on the basis of a certificate issued by the employer, with a decision or employment contract.

Religious communities are obliged to adapt their activities to the current epidemiological situation

• Religious rites in the presence of believers, in a religious building , performed with the provision of at least 10m2 of space per person;
• Religious rites in the presence of believers in the open to perform with the provision of at least 4m2 per person. It is obligatory to adhere to the measures related to the proper wearing of the mask and maintaining a distance of two meters. It is forbidden to hold for more than 30 minutes.
• Religious communities are obliged to designate one or more persons to exercise control during religious ceremonies. Namely, these persons will control whether persons wear protective masks and respect the measure of minimum physical distance when entering and staying in religious buildings.
• At the entrance / exit from religious buildings, it is necessary to provide means for hand disinfection and clearly state the notice on the number of persons who can be in the religious building at the same time. Also point out notices about the obligatory wearing of a mask, with the necessary physical distance of at least 2m.
• It is forbidden to touch or any physical contact with objects of common use .
• Religious communities are obliged to broadcast activities, whenever possible, via radio or TV programs, or otherwise, which will allow believers to attend religious activities without going to religious facilities.

Adapt funerals to the current epidemiological situation

• Burials of the deceased are performed with a ban on receiving condolences in the presence of up to 100 people and the obligatory wearing of protective masks.

Traffic and travel

Special measures in traffic and travel

• Transport of passengers in public transport (bus or van), passengers in road transport (intercity, suburban, urban), railway and maritime transport is carried out with the implementation of prevention measures (wearing protective masks, disinfection of hands at entry / exit of the vehicle, without possibilities of standing passengers in the vehicle / vessel);
• Taxi transport - The carrier is obliged to ensure that passengers and the driver wear protective masks. The driver has the obligation to disinfect the surfaces that are most often touched by passengers (handles and internal parts of doors and seats) with disinfectants after the ride;
• All foreign civil servants and state employees employed in state bodies, state administration bodies, administrative bodies, and civil servants and state employees employed in local self-government bodies are prohibited  , except in cases when the trip is of state interest, with the prior consent of the head of the body;
• It is forbidden to organize all school excursions, trips, educational gatherings, etc. abroad .
• It is allowed to organize school and student excursions and trips in Montenegro for up to 100 students. The organizer of school and student excursions and excursions is obliged to appoint a person responsible for controlling the application of the prescribed measures.
  

Companies and entrepreneurs

In accordance with the area of ​​the facility and the number of users, provide one or more persons who will control compliance with the measures - responsible persons

• Companies and entrepreneurs engaged in retail trade (markets, supermarkets, hypermarkets, shopping centers, stands / stalls, etc.), including green markets, as well as state bodies, state administration bodies, administrative bodies, local self-government bodies, public institutions and other entities exercising public authority, banks, post offices and other legal entities, which directly provide services to citizens in counter halls, are obliged to designate one or more persons who will be responsible for compliance with measures of wearing a protective mask and keeping physical distance of citizens, that is, service users when entering these facilities.
• at the entrance / exit of the facility in a visible place display a notice of the prescribed measures, with instructions for their application,
• provide / mark a distance of at least two meters between consumers / visitors who are in front of the facility,
• provide means for disinfection of consumers '/ visitors' hands at the entrance / exit to / from the facility,
• provide funds for disinfection of employees' hands,
• provide regular maintenance of hygiene and disinfection of common areas,
• provide marked places for hygienic waste disposal;
• Persons in charge of controlling the prescribed measures must be clearly identified in order to clearly identify their role and duty specified in this paragraph.
• Also, legal entities and entrepreneurs are obliged to designate a person who is responsible for compliance with the measure of wearing a personal protective mask, except for those legal entities and entrepreneurs who have up to three employees .
• The responsible person is the person in charge of supervising the observance of measures related to wearing a personal protective mask and physical distance in the facility, and who will wear a clear mark indicating his work tasks.
• It is forbidden to keep players in / in front of the facilities of the organizers of games of chance (betting shops and casinos), in compliance with the prescribed measures;

Children's playrooms are allowed in the period from 07.00 to 22.00

Provide at least 10m2 of net area per customer and limit the number of customers accordingly

• The obligation for all shops and stores refers to limiting the number of customers who can stay in their space at the same time,  ie for each customer must be provided at least 10 m² net area with the obligation to respect the physical distance of at least two meters;
• It is necessary to clearly display the notice at the entrance to the facility about the largest number of persons who can stay in the facility at the same time.
• The obligation for all shops, stores and shopping centers is to take additional measures during the expected arrival of a larger number of customers (discounts, pre-holiday discounts, etc.) to prevent violations of epidemiological measures in terms of simultaneous stay in the facility of more customers than allowed.

Net area includes only store / store sales space.

Catering and tourist facilities

Entry into the interior of restaurants (restaurants, cafes, etc.), as well as entry into nightclubs and discos (either open or closed) is possible with at least one of the following elements of the National Digital COVID certificate:

1. Completely vaccinated or vaccinated with one dose of COVID-19 vaccine

2. Negative PCR test for SARS-Cov-2 not older than 72h

3. Proof that the person has survived COVID-19 (not less than 14 days and not more than 180 days have passed since a positive PCR or rapid antigen test)

4. Negative antigen rapid test-BAT not older than 48h

• One of the elements of the National Digital COVID certificate must be met by all workers in the hospitality industry
• Owners of catering facilities are obliged to designate a person who will control the possession of at least one of the elements of the National Digital COVID certificate
• Persons under the age of 18 are not required to meet any of the requirements of the National COVID certificate except when entering nightclubs and discos

Companies and entrepreneurs engaged in retail trade, organizers of games of chance and companies, other legal entities and entrepreneurs performing craft - service and catering activities in catering facilities (restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, hotel restaurants and similar catering facilities), except for guests staying at the hotel, they are obliged to: 

• At the entrance to / exit from the facility, a notice on the prescribed temporary measures for prevention and control of infection caused by COVID-19 , with instructions for their application, as well as contact details of the person (name, surname, telephone number and e-mail address of the responsible person) for compliance and control of prescribed measures);
• The person responsible for compliance and control of the prescribed measures in the facility is a legal entity and does not have to be clearly identified. 
• Provide hand disinfection at the entrance / exit of the facility;
• All employees and guests wear protective masks  during their stay in the restaurant (inside the building and on the terrace / garden), except during direct consumption of drinks, after which the mask is immediately returned to the face, and during food consumption the mask is returned to the face immediately after the meal. ;
• Provide disinfectants ( disinfectant  gel or wet wipes)  on all tables ;
• Inside the building, the tables must be separated by transparent plexiglass plates / panels or other opaque material suitable for disinfection, 170 cm high;
• On the terrace / garden of the catering facility, the distance between the tables must be at least 2m;
• A maximum of four guests sit at the table inside and on the terrace / garden of the restaurant
• They organize the preparation and issuance of food, food to order, without detention and consumption in front of the facility that operates food from 7:00 to 00:00 with the confirmation of the employer with a decision or employment contract;
• Disables self-service , standing and staying in front of the bar and high tables intended for standing;
• Provide regular hygiene and disinfection of common areas, furniture, equipment, etc. , in accordance with the recommendations of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro;
• In the catering facility (inside the facility and on the terrace / garden) provide marked places for hygienic waste disposal;
• Prohibit the stay of minors without the presence of a parent / adult in restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, hotel restaurants and similar catering facilities.
• Prohibit the performance of a music program with the participation of singers and musicians , except on the terrace / garden in the period from 8 pm to midnight .
• Prohibition of playing and dancing.

Obligation of disco clubs / bars and night clubs / bars to organize work in accordance with the recommendations of the Institute as well as to designate one or more persons responsible for controlling the application of prescribed measures

Obligation of companies and entrepreneurs to organize music events in open public places in accordance with the recommendations of the Institute, as well as to designate one or more persons responsible for controlling the application of prescribed measures.

Recommendations of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro for the work of night clubs and bars, as well as Recommendations for the organization and holding of events with accompanying outdoor music content are available at: https://www.ijzcg.me/me/savjeti/covid- 19

Companies, other legal entities, entrepreneurs and natural persons who perform tourist and catering activities providing accommodation services, ie accommodation and preparation and serving of food, beverages and beverages, are obliged to: 

• provide space for self-isolation of guests, at least 10% of the capacity of accommodation units, or at least one room, if the accommodation capacity is less than five units,
• designate a person responsible for communication with the competent health center, ie epidemiologist and sanitary inspection, in case of symptoms of the disease in guests, in accordance with the Guide through safety and health protocols for COVID-19 (hereinafter: the Guide), established by the Ministry of Health , Ministry of Economic Development and the Institute, and is published on the website of the Ministry of Health www.mzdravlja. gov.me and the Institute www.ijzcg.me,
• provide information and training to employees on the implementation of procedures for the protection of employees, as well as procedures in case of symptoms of illness in guests and sanitary protocols, in accordance with the Guide;
• obligations of companies, other legal entities, entrepreneurs and individuals engaged in the provision of travel agencies, rafting, travel guides, escorts, animators and agents, in cultural, nautical, rural / rural, health, religious, congress, sports, youth, hunting and fishing, sports-recreational and adventure, ecotourism and other forms of tourism, on bathing areas and providing other tourist services to organize their work and take measures, in accordance with the Guide;
• obligation of companies, other legal entities and entrepreneurs engaged in the provision of tourist services at beaches and beaches, to organize their work in such a way that:
• at the entrance / exit to the beach / beach in a visible place display a notice of the prescribed measures (schedule of beach furniture, disinfection, the maximum number of guests present at the same time, etc.),
• provide regular maintenance of hygiene and disinfect beach furniture and equipment (deck chair, changing cabins, shower cabins, toilets, props for children, etc.), in accordance with the recommendations of the Institute,
• in showers, fountains and toilets on the beach / beach, be sure to install disinfectants, in accordance with the recommendations of the Institute,
• provide marked places for hygienic waste disposal on the beach / beach,
• take other measures, in accordance with the Guide;
• the obligation of companies, ie legal entities and entrepreneurs that provide car rental services, to disinfect the interior of the rental vehicle with disinfectants before the service user enters the vehicle, as well as after the return of the vehicle by the service user, in accordance with the recommendations of the Institute; ”.

Construction

Obligation of legal and natural persons who perform construction works or performance of individual works to organize the work in such a way that: 

• Ensure respect for epidemiological measures, in particular respect for the social distance between employees and other occupational health and safety measures;
• In a visible place on the construction site, they shall display a notice on the prescribed temporary measures for the prevention and control of the new coronavirus - COVID-19;
• All employees who perform construction work on the construction site, during working hours, are prohibited from leaving the construction site to purchase groceries, etc .;
• They deliver food to employees who perform construction work on the construction site;
• During the organized transportation of employees to and from the construction site (bus or van), they schedule employees in such a way as to ensure their physical distance.

Health and social and child protection institutions

Organize the work of health care institutions in compliance with special measures.

Obligation of employees in health care institutions and social and child protection institutions to deliver to the employer on the first working day after the use of annual leave or part of annual leave:

- negative result of PCR test for new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), issued by an authorized laboratory and not older than 72 hours, or

- proof that they have been fully vaccinated with the prescribed number of doses of vaccine against the new coronavirus or the first dose of vaccine, issued by an authorized health institution.

Dental health institutions are obliged to organize their work in the following way: 

• to provide a system of mandatory patient appointments;
• that at the same time only one patient can stay in the waiting room in 10m² of space, while respecting the physical distance of at least 2mbetween patients with the obligatory wearing of a protective mask;
• to provide means for disinfection of patients' hands on entering / leaving the office;
• that all employees respect work procedures and wear personal protective equipment, in accordance with the recommendations of the IPPC and the recommendations of the Dental Chamber of Montenegro.

Other health care institutions are obliged to: 

• Ensure that all patients wear protective masks during their stay in the health facility (provided that wearing the mask allows the patient's clinical condition and that the mask does not compromise the patient's respiratory function) and ensure respect for a physical distance of at least 2m between patients;
• In a visible place in the health institution, display the notification on temporary measures of prevention and suppression of COVID-19 prescribed by this order;
• Provide disinfectants for patients' hands at the entrance / exit of the health facility.

Sports and recreation

Attendance of the audience at outdoor or indoor sports events is possible with the possession of at least one of the following elements of the National Digital COVID certificate:

1. Completely vaccinated or vaccinated with one dose of COVID-19 vaccine

2. Negative PCR test for SARS-Cov-2 not older than 72h 

3. Proof that the person has survived COVID-19 (not less than 14 days and not more than 180 days have passed since a positive PCR or rapid antigen test)

4. Negative antigen rapid test-BAT not older than 48h

Obligation of owners and users of sports facilities and sports organizations to limit the number of spectators or fans to a number that cannot exceed 30% of the number of seats during sports competitions and sports tournaments in sports facilities (indoor and outdoor - courts and swimming pools), in compliance with the recommendations of the Institute;

Companies and entrepreneurs who provide services in fitness centers and gyms are obliged to organize their work in such a way that:

• only one person can stay in the facility at the same time for 10m² of free space intended for exercise (space where there are no equipment and training machines), with the obligation to respect a distance of at least 2m between service users;
• provide means for disinfection of the hands of service users on entering / leaving the facility;
• employees wear a protective mask, except during active training / exercise;
• when changing the place of training and changing the device on which they train, the service users are obliged to disinfect the surface and the device where they trained with an appropriate disinfectant;
• at the entrance clearly define the number of persons who can stay in the facility and the person responsible for monitoring compliance with the prescribed measures.

It is allowed to organize entertainment, sports and recreational activities for children and adults in open public places (amusement park, carousel, group training, etc.), with the presence of up to 100 people

Obligation of sports organizations, owners and users of sports facilities to organize trainings, sports competitions and tournaments of athletes in smaller indoor sports facilities (balloons, etc.) in accordance with the recommendations of the Institute

Recommendations of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro for the operation of open and closed sports facilities as part of the application of prevention measures COVID-19, are available at: https://www.ijzcg.me/me/savjeti/covid-19

Cyclists are not required to wear protective masks during individual rides or joint rides by members of the same family household.
Cyclists in the group must wear protective masks.

Further information: https://www.covidodgovor.me/    https://www.gov.me/en/government-of-montenegro/welcome

Forthcoming