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Temporary Residence for Family Reunification

MontenegroFamily

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Which family relationships qualify?

Close family members are: spouses; their minor children born in or out of wedlock; children of one spouse and adopted children up to 18 years of age; and parents or adoptive parents of minor children. A same-sex life partner is also covered. Exceptionally, another relative may be treated as a close family member if there are special, personal or humanitarian reasons for family reunification in Montenegro.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The same-sex life partner is listed as a separate beneficiary category in Article 44(1), which lists the sponsors (R2), not in this close-family list.

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The permit is issued to a foreigner who is a close family member, or a same-sex life partner, of: a Montenegrin citizen; a foreigner granted permanent residence in Montenegro; or a foreigner granted temporary residence in Montenegro. It is not issued to a family member or same-sex life partner of a foreigner who holds a residence and work permit for seasonal employment.

See recorded sources

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

The permit is refused if the marriage or same-sex life partnership is found to be one of convenience, meaning it was concluded with the intention of achieving the foreigner's entry or stay in Montenegro contrary to the law. Circumstances that may indicate this include: the spouses/partners do not maintain a marital or partnership community; do not fulfil the obligations arising from it; did not meet before concluding it; do not speak a language both understand; did not give truthful personal data before concluding it; material means were given for concluding the marriage (other than a dowry custom where that is customary); or there is evidence they previously concluded such a marriage or partnership of convenience in Montenegro or another state. The official source does not list the documents needed to prove the relationship.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The law does not list specific documents for proving parentage, custody or dependency of children or other relatives.
  • https://wapi.gov.me/download/b123dbc2-dfce-4751-9086-322072f9d7f3?version=1.0
    Dozvola za privremeni boravak radi spajanja porodice neće se izdati strancu ako se utvrdi da je brak, odnosno životno partnerstvo lica istog pola zaključeno iz koristi.
  • https://wapi.gov.me/download/b123dbc2-dfce-4751-9086-322072f9d7f3?version=1.0
    Brakom, odnosno životnim partnerstvom lica istog pola iz koristi, u smislu stava 1 ovog člana, smatra se brak odnosno životno partnerstvo lica istog pola koje je zaključeno sa namjerom da se ostvari ulazak ili boravak stranca u Crnoj Gori suprotno ovom zakonu.
  • https://wapi.gov.me/download/b123dbc2-dfce-4751-9086-322072f9d7f3?version=1.0
    Okolnosti koje mogu ukazivati da je brak, odnosno životno partnerstvo lica istog pola zaključeno iz koristi su da: 1) bračni supružnici, odnosno partneri u zajednici života lica istog pola ne održavaju bračnu, odnosno zajednicu života partnera; 2) bračni supružnici, odnosno partneri u zajednici života lica istog pola ne izvršavaju obaveze koje proizilaze iz braka, odnosno životnog partnerstva lica istog pola;
  • https://wapi.gov.me/download/b123dbc2-dfce-4751-9086-322072f9d7f3?version=1.0
    3) se bračni supružnici, odnosno partneri u zajednici života lica istog pola nijesu upoznali prije zaključenja braka, odnosno životnog partnerstva lica istog pola; 4) bračni supružnici, odnosno partneri u zajednici života lica istog pola ne govore jezikom koji oboje razumiju;
  • https://wapi.gov.me/download/b123dbc2-dfce-4751-9086-322072f9d7f3?version=1.0
    5) bračni supružnici, odnosno partneri u zajednici života lica istog pola ne daju istinite lične podatke prije zaključenja braka, odnosno životnog partnerstva lica istog pola; 6) su za zaključenje braka data materijalna sredstva, a nije u pitanju običaj davanja miraza, kad bračni supružnici dolaze iz zemalja u kojima je davanje miraza običaj; 7) postoje dokazi da su bračni supružnici, odnosno partneri u zajednici života lica istog pola i ranije zaključivali brak, odnosno životno partnerstvo lica istog pola iz koristi u Crnoj Gori ili u drugoj državi.

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The general permit conditions include having means of support, secured accommodation and health insurance. Health insurance means travel health insurance from an authorised insurer, health insurance under an international treaty, or health insurance in accordance with the law. For a family-reunification permit for a close family member or same-sex life partner of a Montenegrin citizen, proof of means of support is not required.

See recorded sources

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

The family-reunification permit is issued for up to one year, or until the expiry of the temporary residence permit of the foreigner with whom reunification is sought. Temporary residence is normally extended only on the same legal basis as the previous grant, but a close family member or same-sex partner of a Montenegrin citizen or of a permanent resident may have temporary residence extended for family reunification regardless of the earlier basis, if the request is filed before the permit expires. The permit may be extended after the death of the Montenegrin citizen or permanent-resident sponsor, or after the end of a marriage or same-sex partnership that lasted at least three years in Montenegro; it is extended or issued to a child who has come of age if they meet Article 43(1) points 1 to 8 and had three years of continuous family-reunification residence; and it may be extended for a victim of domestic violence regardless of the length of the marriage or partnership. A family member of a Montenegrin citizen or permanent resident may work without a separate work permit; a family member of a foreigner holding a temporary residence permit for work may work after one year from obtaining the permit. The official source does not state the application process.

See recorded sources

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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