Looking for advice: renting, moving with family & registering business

Jack1987 Member

1POSTS

11 years ago

Hi guys,

I have been long planning with my partner to move out of the UK, but only recently we thought of moving to Montenegro. This is now our prime choice, due to; the beauty and wilderness of this place, its climate, cuisine, its economy, education system and also because I can understand Balkan languages in writing and a little spoken so would be quick and easy to learn local language for me and for kids as they are very young.

I run an UK-based business that should require us to only keep things going by phone and emails by January next year and not having to physically stay in the UK to make a living we would like to live somewhere else. I am looking for some advice, or perhaps links or contacts to people who can help with the following:

1. Advice on renting a place to live for family (searched in local language but online ads are few and most are outdated; how realistic is finding accommodation below 500 Euros/month?)
2. Obtaining a visa or residence permit for me and my family (one EU national, and three UK, we are not married)
3. Is visa required before first time trip to MN? How long does it last (how long do I have to settle ourselves)
4. Advice on how to employ 1-2 people for start and then hopefully expand into the local market by employing more locals (would prefer to not open up same company in MN unless necessary)
5. If required, I would love some advice on how to register a business (seen many posts with advice, would appreciate links or contacts to people who deal with this)
6. Having family a car is necessity; how does it work with driving, insurance etc. in MN as EU national (UK license)
7. Finally, how realistic is finding English-speaking employees in Montenegro?
8. How much schools cost? (private, public; are foreign children entitled to free education as well?)
9. Advice regards healthcare (I assume we would be entitled if I run my business there)

I am looking forward to hear from you guys,

Regards,
Jack

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Tsarine Serial expat

444POSTS

11 years ago

Welcome!

Jack1987 wrote:
1. Advice on renting a place to live for family (searched in local language but online ads are few and most are outdated; how realistic is finding accommodation below 500 Euros/month?)

Do your search in English you will find very easily the listings of the only agency specialized in long-term rentals "Rentals Montenegro" (listings in English and up-to-date). Type "long term rentals montenegro" in google and you'll find the listings. About prices, the agency made a research based on the offer it has and has come up with a grid of prices depending on the size and the quality. Have a look here.

Jack1987 wrote:
2. Obtaining a visa or residence permit for me and my family (one EU national, and three UK, we are not married)

The most common way for foreigners to get residence permit is to first get a work permit - in your case you could set up a company and employ yourself - and then apply for residence permit (1 year to renew each year and after 5 years you can apply to obtain ID for foreigner living in Montenegro, valid 5 years). Not sure about the rest of your family?

Jack1987 wrote:
3. Is visa required before first time trip to MN? How long does it last (how long do I have to settle ourselves)

Depending on your nationality you can first visit MN on a "tourist visa". I think for all EU and UK citizen you can stay up to 90 days. You have obligation to report your stay at the tourist office and pay the tourist tax (c. 70 or 80c per day).

Jack1987 wrote:
4. Advice on how to employ 1-2 people for start and then hopefully expand into the local market by employing more locals (would prefer to not open up same company in MN unless necessary)

Hard to advise without knowing the field of business.

Jack1987 wrote:
5. If required, I would love some advice on how to register a business (seen many posts with advice, would appreciate links or contacts to people who deal with this)

Usually a simple accountant can do the procedure of opening up the company for you. Some private companies offer the service, but will charge a lot for a little work. Opening a company in Montenegro is a very simple procedure which only takes a few days. Min. capital can be 1€. Monthly costs: each month you will have to pay for the accountant, and the salary of your Director (can be yourself) and social contributions. The salary (min. salary is c 190€/month) goes back in your pocket, but the accountant and contributions account for c. 250€/month.

Jack1987 wrote:
6. Having family a car is necessity; how does it work with driving, insurance etc. in MN as EU national (UK license)

That's a bit tricky. You can import your car, but only if it is not too old (it has to respect some Euro (3?) norms. In that case you get to have local plates, and local insurance. Otherwise, you can bring an older car, and insure it in Montenegro but only for third party damage... Finally you can buy a car in Montenegro, but not in your personal name, only in your company name. In that case you can get a green card for your car from a local insurer. Most expats have their foreign cars with them. Your UK driving licence is fine to drive in MN.

Jack1987 wrote:
7. Finally, how realistic is finding English-speaking employees in Montenegro?

Not so easy but getting better... It's a small country, so the "offer" is small! You'll find a lot of young people who studied either tourism (and usually speak English or Italian) or maritim studies.

Jack1987 wrote:
8. How much schools cost? (private, public; are foreign children entitled to free education as well?)

In Tivat you now have 2 international schools, but they are not cheap. KSI (part of Porto Montenegro) costs around 1000€/month, and Arcadia is about half price. I believe public schools are free and accessible to foreign children.

Jack1987 wrote:
9. Advice regards healthcare (I assume we would be entitled if I run my business there)

You get some healthcare with your social contributions, but not so sure how it works... Once in MN you'll find other expats who have more experience with this especially for the kids, and can ask them.

I hope I helped a bit!

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Nemanja Contributor

106POSTS

11 years ago

Hi Jack,

I will just add some things to this post posted by experienced expat Tsarine.

1. You can find nice place for 500 euro, if you are not able to do it by yourself, you can pay to agency to do it for you.

2. When you get visa for yourself, you can apply for rest of your family (gathering the family basis) but you will have to get married for this, otherwise you will need to employ your women too. Minimum expenses are 120 euro per worker for deductions and 70 for bookkeeper.

4. Unemployment is big here, during winter especially so it will not be a problem to find people. Specially because there are a lot of people from region (Serbia and Bosnia and hercegovina) coming here to find work.

5. Agencies are doing this job for 300 euro, lawyers for 500 euro. If you are doing serious business,my advice is to hire lawyer on monthly (or yearly) basis and this job will be included. Depending how much job will be for them in representing you they will give price.

6. After getting residence visa, you can register can on your personal name, registration will last until visa expires, and you need to extend it same time when extending visa, it will be 30e more then regular (around 300e per year) and will loose ween or two (it will last week or two less then a year)

9. Health care is ok, but you have just village doctors,since there are no big cities at the coast (10-15 000 people) so for anything more serious you will need to go to Belgrade, and you will find very good doctors from Montenegro working there

1 member reacted to this post

mouser New member

5POSTS

11 years ago

Good Luck.

alexasavich Member

19POSTS

11 years ago

Podgorica also has fine medical center facilities. Doctors in small towns are dedicated and competent and live there because they own properties inherited by their families for centuries.