Montenegro plans to introduce visas for Russians, Belarusians and Chinese.

Montenegro is considering the possibility of introducing a visa regime for citizens of Russia, Belarus and China in preparation for joining the European Union and compliance with Schengen visa standards, according to the DAN portal, citing government sources. At the moment, Russian citizens can stay in Montenegro for up to 30 days without visa restrictions. After that, many of them commit so—called "border crossings" - they cross the border, for example, with Serbia or Bosnia, in order to return and start a new period of stay without a visa. If visas for Russians are introduced, this scheme will stop working, which will make it more difficult for Russian citizens to stay in the country for a long time.

The introduction of a visa regime may also affect the tourist attractiveness of Montenegro. The country is traditionally popular with Russian tourists, and tourism from Russia occupies a prominent place in the economy of Montenegro. It is expected that the introduction of visas will lead to a decrease in the number of Russian tourists, which may negatively affect the income of local businesses, especially during the summer season. Nevertheless, the Government of Montenegro considers this measure as part of the mandatory steps within the framework of European integration.

Similar changes are also being discussed in Bosnia, where the introduction of visas for citizens from non-EU countries is also linked to the requirements of European integration. At the same time, Serbia stated that it does not plan to introduce a visa regime for Russians, which may make it even more attractive for tourists from Russia, Belarus and other countries.