Published: July 30, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Montenegro Travel Advisory and Montenegro Country Information Page.
Embassy Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Podgorica
Dzona Dzeksona 2, 81000 Podgorica.
Tel: +382 20 410 500; After-hours emergencies: +382 20 410 547.
Hours: 0700 – 1800.
OSAC Country Chapter
Currently, there is no active Country Chapter in Podgorica.
Contact OSAC’s Europe team with any questions.
Montenegro Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise normal precautions in Montenegro.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Podgorica as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Montenegro.
Podgorica is relatively safe for a European capital city. Crimes affecting the U.S. and international communities consist of theft and opportunistic burglary. There is a significant increase in thefts and street crimes during the summer (between May and September) due to the large number of tourists visiting the coastal region. Violent crime (e.g., assaults, robberies, home invasions) are rare, but it is possible for U.S. visitors or residents to become victims. Any U.S. traveler witnessing a fight or other altercation should refrain from intervening, depart the area immediately, and notify the authorities.
There is a significant organized crime element in Montenegro, with numerous criminal gangs involved in loan sharking, drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking. Violence between members of these groups or their affiliates is somewhat common, with car burnings, shootings, and the use of improvised explosives devices (IEDs) to eliminate or intimidate rival groups. This violence does not usually target or impact civilians, including the expatriate community, although it is always possible that expatriates could become victims due to circumstance or proximity.
Although relatively rare and unrelated to organized crime, there have been at least two mass shooting in Montenegro that have garnered significant attention from the public. A mass killing in the town of Cetinje that occurred in January 2025 resulted in significant protests and calls for high-ranking members of the government to resign.
Theft at ATMs increases during the tourist season. Protect your PIN when using ATMs and monitor card activity.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Montenegro.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Podgorica as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Montenegro.
There are no specific terrorism threats to U.S. nationals or organizations. Uncertainty surrounding the return of foreign terrorist fighters amplifies terrorism concerns throughout Europe. Non-specific and aspirational threats from international terrorist organizations also exist in the region.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Podgorica as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Montenegro. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Montenegro is a mixed parliamentary and presidential republic with a multiparty political system. Most recently, parliamentary and presidential elections were held in 2023. The current governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajic, is relatively stable.
Protests & Demonstrations
Demonstrations are frequent, but usually small and non-violent. Clashes between police and demonstrators occur sporadically; the last such incident occurred in 2023. More recently, there were reports that police used pepper spray against protesters during a demonstration in downtown Podgorica in July 2025. Causes for demonstrations are typically economic (e.g., pension/wage grievances) or political in nature. Demonstrations can occur during politically significant holidays and international events and can block major roads that traverse the country, impacting emergency vehicle response times
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
There is no strong anti-U.S. sentiment in Montenegro. There are sometimes sensitivities s vocalized around the NATO and U.S. involvement the Balkan regional conflicts in the 1990’s and a narrative amongst some of the population that the U.S. was responsible for civilian deaths during the bombing campaign. There are also sensitivities around Montenegro’s decision to join NATO.
Law Enforcement
The National Police Force, which includes Border Police, is responsible for maintaining internal security. It is organized under the Police Administration within the Ministry of Interior and reports to the police director and, through the director, to the minister of interior and prime minister. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. There are reports that some members of the security forces have committed past human rights abuses.
Police Response
Consider having a speaker available with working knowledge of Montenegrin when contacting any emergency services, since English speakers in those institutions are relatively rare.
The emergency line in Montenegro is 112.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Montenegro, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Montenegro. If you are arrested or detained, ask police or the investigating judge to notify the U.S. Embassy.
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials and corruption remained a significant problem. There were numerous media and NGO reports that both the previous and current governments continued old patterns of corruption. The public viewed corruption in hiring practices based on personal relationships or political affiliation as endemic in the government and elsewhere in the public sector at both local and national levels, particularly in the areas of health care, higher education, the judiciary, customs, political parties, police, the armed forces, urban planning, and the construction industry.
The government has made some progress in the fight against corruption, according to the European Commission annual progress report for Montenegro’s EU candidacy. In early 2024, Montenegro established a National Council for the Fight against Corruption, and later the same year, the Government of Montenegro adopted the 2024-2028 National Anti-Corruption Strategy and its Action Plan, approved by the European Commission as part of the EU integration process. The government is also in the process of establishing a registry of ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) for registered businesses in Montenegro.
Cybersecurity
Reports of cybercrime and other nefarious cyber-activity are increasing. Malicious actors engage in unsophisticated website defacement and attempt to obtain personal data. There has also been an uptick in reports of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on government institutions and media organizations. A large ransomware attack in August 2022 crippled numerous government systems, including basic email servers and payroll. The Montenegrin Statistical Agency also suffered a ransomware attack in November 2024 but recovered thanks to backup protocol. The banking sector is a target of more sophisticated attacks, although this sector has demonstrated some institutional capacity to detect and defend itself. Montenegro passed an amended Law on Information Security in November 2024 to bring the country into compliance with EU NIS2 requirements and establish a National Cybersecurity Agency to set cybersecurity standards across critical infrastructure. However, as of the release of this report, the government has yet to appoint an Acting Director to standup the organization.
Import/Export Restrictions
Montenegro has basic import / export regulations requiring proper importation license.
There are no restrictions on satellite phones in Montenegro.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
