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Citizens of Montenegro require a visa to visit and transit the United Kingdom.

The British Embassy in Belgrade authorises these visas, but you can apply here, at the British Embassy in Podgorica. Your application will be sent to British Embassy Belgrade, and will be returned to British Embassy Podgorica after being processed.

As a Montenegrin citizen, you have an option of applying in Belgrade. If you intend to travel to Belgrade and apply trough Visa Application Centre, please find the instructions for applying at this page.

IF YOU WISH TO APPLY FOR A VISA IN PODGORICA, THE PROCEDURE IS AS FOLLOWS:

·          Fill in the interactive electronic application form, which can be found at the visa4uk website.

·          Once you fill in and save the application, you will receive an automated reply e-mail with an assigned ID application number. Save this number for future reference.

·          Make an online appointment to submit your application. Online appointment calendar will follow just after the application. Visa Section receives applications on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can not submit your application if an online appointment has not been made.

o    You can change the appointment at any time, at the same website, if other appointments available.

o    If at one point you decide not to apply, please cancel the appointment, as soon as possible.

·          Print out the completed application and sign and date it at the appropriate box at the last page.

NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION WHICH YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT:

·          Printed and signed application form

·          One passport sized (45 mm x 35 mm) photograph, with full face (without sun glasses, hats or other accessories which cover the head, except for ethnical or religious reasons). Photograph must be on a white background. Please take a look at our Photograph guidance for applicants for more detailed information.

·          Valid passport (and all previous cancelled passports, if you have them)

·          Proper supporting documentation needed for your type of visa.

·          The exact amount for a visa fee. More information can be found here.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:

Information on supporting documents needed for your application can be found on the here and on www.visainfoservices.com.

Please note that these can vary, depending on the visa type you are applying for, and if you do not present all the necessary documentation, your visa application may be refused.

Submitted documents are not returned. Instead of the original documents, you may submit copies together with the originals. Visa Section will return the originals immediately, once satisfied with the copies.

Applicant has to make copies of documents, as the Visa Section will not make any copies on the applicants’ behalf.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: From 01 December 2009, if you fail to provide English translations for non-English language documents, those documents will not be considered. This may lead to your application being refused.

The UK Border Agency does not expect applicants to translate all documents, but it is advisable to have all the relevant documents translated in English for example: confirmation of employment, leave, and salary.

You are not required to provide translations for work book, student index book, property documents, pension cheques or company registration documents. Cyrillic bank statements or bank letters will not be considered without a translation.

Translations are not required to be official or certified. For example, the applicant, a friend or the employer can provide the translation which will be verified by the UK Border Agency staff.

For certain types of visa you will need a certified translation (such as all Tier applications)!

WHERE TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION:

The application is submitted at the British Embassy Podgorica, Ulcinjska street number 8, at the appointment time you have chosen after filling an application. Please take a look at our Contacts Page for closer information and a Google map.

BIOMETRIC DATA:

All applicants for a British visa of 5 years of age and older must produce biometric data. It includes taking your fingerprints and taking your picture by a digital camera. After submitting the documents, Visa Section collects biometric data.

The finger scan procedure uses an electronic scanner. No ink, liquids or chemicals will be used and the procedure, usually, does not take more than two minutes to complete. If an applicant refuses to provide finger scans, the application cannot be processed.

All applicants should ensure that their fingertips are free from any forms of decoration (henna, for example), abrasions, make-up (liquid powder, etc) or other markings prior to attending the Visa Section, as these may affect their ability to provide acceptable finger scans. Visa applications cannot be processed until applicants are able to provide acceptable finger scans.

All applicants will be required to have a digital photo taken, at the time when taking the finger print scans. The photo will be taken with full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless the head cover is worn for cultural or religious reasons.

After submitting and checking your application, you may be requested to schedule an interview with the Embassy in Belgrade (Resavska street, number 46, Belgrade). Depending on the workload, there may be a waiting period before the interview. Please bear this in mind when making travel arrangements to the UK.

VISA FEES:

All fees for British visas are paid in cash, in Euros, when submitting application at the Visa Section. Visa Section kindly asks all applicants to bring the correct amount. We do not accept debit or credit cards, travellers’ cheques or any other form of payment.

If an application is refused, fees are not refunded. Dependants are charged the same fee as the main applicant. All dependants who are travelling must pay the fee whether or not they are included in the main applicant's passport.

Since rates may vary, please find information on the current visa fees can be obtained at the Fees page, on our website.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Children under the age of 18 years need to declare whether they are travelling alone or with an accompanying adult. If accompanied, the name of this adult and their name will be shown on the child's visa. The visa will not be valid if the child attempts to travel alone, or with a different adult.

Visa Section will accept invitation letters sent to the applicant by fax or as a scan sent by e-mail, unless requested otherwise by your visa type. Detailed information is published on the UK Visas Sponsors webpage. We kindly ask future sponsors not to send any invitation letters to the Embassy, but to the applicant directly. Invitation letters sent to the Embassy shall be destroyed and therefore will not be taken into consideration.

Visa Section’s advice to all applicants is to refrain from purchasing airline tickets, prior to getting a visa.

For any other question you may have, feel free to search for an answer at our Frequently Asked Questions page.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: All Yugoslav passports will expire on 31 December 2009. All holders of valid UK visas in Yugoslav passports should be able to enter UK with expired Yugoslav and new Montenegrin passport together. However, the Embassy must once again emphasise that this will be a decision of the immigration officer at the UK border. The other option is to transfer a valid visa from expired YU passport to the new MNE passport. The new option is available to holders of visas longer than six months and will require submitting a new visa application with a payment of a special category fee (vignette transfer). For more information on visa transfer, please telephone the Embassy.

DECISION OF VISA ISSUING:

Applicants will get feedback within 10-15 calendar days. Visa Section will contact all applicants by telephone as soon as the decision of the visa application is ready for collection.

The procedure may be longer in some cases and in certain periods in a year (around Easter or Christmas), therefore, please take a look at our Contacts Page, containing information on which days the Embassy will be closed for public.

URGENT AND COMPASSIONATE CASES:

Only when an applicant can demonstrate that there is an urgent and compelling reason (e.g. medical emergency or bereavement of a close family member), consideration will be given to carrying out an earlier appointment.

COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES AND OVERSEAS TERRITORIES:

At the British Embassy Podgorica, you can apply for a visa for following Commonwealth countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Gambia, Grenada, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, St Christopher & Nevic, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Swaziland, Trinidad & Tobago, Zambia.

Also, you can apply for the following overseas territories: Anguilla, Ascension Island, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Island, St Helena, Tristan de Cunha, Turks & Caicos Island.

Same instructions on visa application procedure apply for UK visas, Commonwealth Countries visas and overseas territories visas.

We recommend to all applicants to telephone the Embassy prior to applying to these countries, as waiting period for visa for Commonwealth Countries and Overseas territories can be slightly different than for UK visas.