Expert Tips for Moving from the UK to Montenegro

20.06.2025

Expert Tips for Moving from the UK to Montenegro - Whether you’re seeking a laid-back lifestyle by the sea, retiring abroad, or investing in a new adventure, Montenegro is fast becoming one of the most attractive destinations for UK nationals. From the breathtaking Bay of Kotor to the vibrant town of Budva, this small Balkan gem offers natural beauty, a growing expat community, and a warm Mediterranean climate - all within easy reach of the UK.

If you're considering making the move, here are some expert tips from the team at CMM Montenegro to help ensure a smooth transition.

Understand the Residency Requirements

Since the UK is no longer part of the EU, you’ll need to apply for temporary or long-term residency in Montenegro. The most common ways to qualify include:

• Property ownership

• Employment or business registration

• Family reunification

• Retirement or independent means

Most British buyers opt for residency through property ownership. You can apply for a temporary residence permit (valid for one year and renewable) by showing proof of property ownership and sufficient funds to support yourself.

Tip: At CMM Montenegro, we assist clients with the residency application process, connecting you with trusted legal experts and translators to simplify the paperwork.

Choose the Right Location

Montenegro may be small, but each region offers a distinct lifestyle:

• Budva: Great for nightlife, beaches, and modern living.

• Kotor: UNESCO-listed old town with stunning views and historic charm.

• Tivat: Home to the luxurious Porto Montenegro and close to the international airport.

• Bar and Ulcinj: More affordable options with authentic local living.

• Herceg Novi: A quieter coastal town with a strong expat presence.

Plan Your Finances and Banking

Montenegro uses the Euro (€), even though it’s not yet an EU member. The cost of living is generally lower than in the UK, especially for groceries, property taxes, and utilities.

You’ll need to open a Montenegrin bank account to pay bills, set up utilities, and receive residency approval.

Tip: Bring your UK bank statements and identification documents, and allow time for account approval. We can recommend expat-friendly banks that offer English-speaking support.

Healthcare and Insurance

Montenegro has both public and private healthcare systems. Once you gain residency, you’re eligible to register with the state healthcare system, but many expats also take out private health insurance for faster access to care and English-speaking professionals.

Tip: Check with your current insurer or consider local providers offering tailored expat coverage.

Learn the Basics of the Language

Montenegrin (a variant of Serbo-Croatian) is the official language. While many younger people and professionals speak English, especially in coastal towns, learning basic phrases will greatly improve your experience and integration.

Tip: Take online lessons or join local language classes after you arrive—many towns have friendly meetups for language exchange.

Get Help with the Move

Relocating internationally can be stressful, but working with local professionals makes it easier. From customs paperwork to choosing reputable movers, a guided approach saves time, money, and hassle.

Tip: At CMM Montenegro, we offer relocation support, including property management, utility setup, and assistance with finding schools, services, and tradespeople.

Adjust to the Local Lifestyle

Life in Montenegro is slower-paced than in the UK. Don’t expect 24/7 services or the same bureaucracy speed, but embrace the Mediterranean rhythm - long coffee breaks, friendly locals, and scenic sunsets.

Tip: Join local Facebook expat groups, explore farmer’s markets, and support family-run restaurants to integrate more easily into the community.

Ready to Make the Move?

Whether you’re moving for retirement, lifestyle, or investment reasons, Montenegro offers a warm welcome, strong investment potential, and an unmatched quality of life. And with expert guidance from CMM Montenegro, you don’t have to navigate the process alone.

Contact CMM Montenegro Today

Let us help you find your dream home and settle into your new life abroad with confidence. From property sourcing to relocation support, CMM Montenegro is your trusted partner for every step of your move from the UK to Montenegro.

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Reviews

• In period May-August 2022 we sold our flats in St-Petersburg Russia and  have bought two  ones here in Montenegro, Becici. We decided to move here and make new home and business with my husband. Our agent Milica Zugic  is really became our angel - provider here in Montenegro. She is very reliable, responsible , professional  employee of CMM Budva department. She has developed intuition and found very fast necessary properties which we needed. Also she helped us to speed up the process of registration documents in MUP.( list nepokretnosti, etc). She was our real provider here. Very appreciated her and all staff of Budva department for there assistance. Separately to lawyer Ivan and his legal team. Very recommended choose Milica Zugic as real estate manager when you search for assistant in this complicated and important field as buying property in Montenegro.

  Liudmila Nosova St-Petersburg Russia , 13.09.2022 10:20:09

• At the beginning of April 2022, our family living in Prague bought a house in Sutomore with the assistance of your company.
  Let me express my gratitude to the management of your company for the service provided, and especially to your employees - Anastasia Zeyak, Alexei Grachev and Elena Bozhovich for their attention, patience and even care for the whole time of buying real estate and the services provided after the purchase.
  I would really like all companies to work with the same quality of service. After coming into contact with this kind of attitude towards the client, all our environment, if necessary, will refer to your company only.
  With gratitude on behalf of our family.

  A.V. Ter-Gazaryan, 12.07.2022 11:32:19

• Based on my experience with CMM in Budva, Montenegro, I can say that they are reliable, fast, and they deliver what they promise. They take really good care of their clients. For instance, I was offered a lift from the airport, and they would take me back and forth from Tivat to Budva and Becici to see various properties. They would answer all of my questions and respond promptly. They have an excellent team: Katarina, Alexander, Natasha, Martin and some other guys whose names I don’t remember. Katarina, my wonderful agent, went to every length to help me find a perfect home. Unfortunately, my situation changed and I had to postpone my relocation to Montenegro.
  I would strongly recommend this company to anyone who is looking for a property in Montenegro.
  

  Val , 13.05.2022 03:18:13

• We were introduced to CMM by friends who had already done research on Montenegro and CMM. We purchased our apartment in Dobrota, just outside Kotor, all remotely from South Africa, during the lockdown. Everything was seamless without any problems at all. All the CMM departments work together well from the sales team, head office, legal, interior design and rental department. Every detail was well communicated with an abundance of zoom meetings, videos, emails etc
  We are thrilled with the outcome and enjoyed working with the CMM team. They were incredibly professional.
  After sales service is also excellent as we move into the rental phase of the apartment and over all management of the apartment including maintenance.
  We have been directly and indirectly involved with many houses/apartments all over the world and this was the up there with the best service we have received.
  Thanks to everyone we dealt with at CMM it has been an absolute pleasure dealing with you all. We look forward too many happy years working with you on our rental.
  

  Mandy and Antoine, 06.10.2021 09:56:22

• Biz Montenegroda CMM komandayla  tanish olmushug. Snejana ve Milan bize cox  yaxshi destek olublar. Artig bizim burada evimiz de var. Bize gosterdiler cox yuksek service, ve artig butun bizim senedler de gaydasindadir. Boyuk hormetle onlara Cox sagol bildiririk!

  Dilara, 01.10.2019 07:17:27

• Last year we decided to find a new home close to the sea. It was quite difficult in the beginning to make the right choice. Once we found CMM Company was a great luck! We immediately received detailed consultation on the country and purchase opportunities. Being attracted by Kotor - one of the most amazing parts of the coast, we decided to take a family trip and maybe make our dream of new home come true. As just discoverers of Montenegro, we were accepted like at home which was a one more pleasant surprise. The most important, we received all detailed information about country regions and procedure of buying property during the first few days. And how beautiful the car journeys were! Difficult choice, but when you find the home you want you can't refuse it. CMM did best to help us with this finding! All the purchase procedure passed well with CMM professional work! Now we are happy owners of a wonderful house with a Kotor bay view, being perfectly served by CMM Management company (of course, we've chosen CMM as professional house manager). Hope our friends and relatives would also move to Montenegro with the CMM help soon !!!

  Kate, 22.03.2019 12:06:21