Arrival of the Head of Diplomatic Mission in Montenegro

The Head of Diplomatic Mission or any legitimate representative of the sending state notifies the Diplomatic Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro of the date and time of the arrival of the Head of Diplomatic Mission-designate and of the means of transport by which he/she will arrive in Montenegro.

If there is a visa requirement between Montenegro and the sending state (also for holders of diplomatic passports), the Head of Diplomatic Mission-designate and persons accompanying him/her must, prior to their arrival acquire a Montenegrin visa.

Arrival by aircraft

If the Head of Diplomatic Mission-designate arrives in Montenegro by aircraft, the flight number and scheduled time of arrival at airport must be communicated in advance to the Diplomatic Protocol.

The newly appointed Head of Diplomatic Mission with the rank of ambassador, is awaited at the airport by the Chief or representative of Diplomatic Protocol if he/she arrives on a working day during working hours.

The newly appointed Head of Mission with the rank of Ambassador is welcomed at the airport by the Chief or a representative of the Diplomatic Protocol, if the time of arrival is on a working day, during working hours.

If the appointed Head of Mission arrives before/after working hours, during a weekend or on a public holiday, welcoming by the Head/representative of the Diplomatic Protocol will be attempted, but cannot be guaranteed. However, the Diplomatic Protocol will arrange the fast and smooth border crossing/shortening of the airport procedures for the newly appointed Head of Mission.

The Diplomatic Protocol provides and bears the cost of the VIP lounge at the airport in Podgorica for the arrival of the newly appointed head of the mission in Montenegro, as well as for their departure from duty. In other cases, the use of VIP lounges, diplomatic missions may directly agree directly with the airport services, at their own expense: https://montenegroairports.com/aerodrom-podgorica/putnici-i-posjetioci/vip-usluga/. 

Arrival by personal vehicle

If the Head of Mission-designate arrive in Montenegro by personal vehicle, the mark, type, color and licence plates of the vehicle and names of the driver and other persons accompanying him/her must be communicated in advance to the Diplomatic Protocol. The border crossing at which the Head of Mission-designate will enter in Montenegro and the scheduled date of the crossing must be communicated in order to enable a fast and unimpeded crossing of the state border.

Order of Precedence

In case there are several Heads of Diplomatic Missions-designate in Montenegro waiting to present their credentials, the order of the presentation of credentials is determined by the date of their request for the presentation of the credentials.

Presentation of copies of credentials of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

The Head of Diplomatic Mission-designate presents copies of the Letter of Credence and the Letter of Recall of his/her predecessor to the Chief of Diplomatic protocol or to the Director General. 

The newly appointed Head of the Diplomatic Mission (Ambassador Designate), who handed over copies of credentials, may perform limited official functions while awaiting the presentation of credentials to the President of Montenegro. During that period, he/she can establish contacts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Diplomatic Corps. It is kindly recommended not to pay visits to the Prime Minister and other members of Government, the President of the Parliament, the President, nor other high-ranking state officials, and to avoid public statements and engagements in Montenegro.

Presentation of credentials by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

At the agreed time, the representative of the State Protocol comes to the residence or official premises of the diplomatic mission, or hotel. The Head of the Mission and the representative of the State Protocol leave the residence, the official premises of the diplomatic mission or the hotel, and go to the President’s Residence in the official vehicle of the State Protocol, on which two Montenegrin flags will be displayed, along a predetermined route, with a police escort. The Head of Mission may be accompanied by a maximum of two members of their entourage. Additional vehicles for the transport of the entourage are optional and must be provided by the mission. As a rule, the Head of Mission is accompanied by members of the Embassy’s diplomatic staff or close family members, and only in exceptional cases may they be accompanied by other persons.

The Embassy must inform the Diplomatic Protocol in advance about the names and titles of the persons accompanying the Head of Mission.

The order of the vehicles, during the ceremony of the presentation of the letters of credence, is as follows:

• Police vehicle
• Ceremonial vehicle with the Head of Mission and Protocol representative;
• Another vehicle with members of the Ambassador’s entourage (optional, provided by the mission).

Before the ceremony, the official vehicle stops in front of the main entrance of the President’s Residence in Cetinje, where the Head of Mission is greeted by the Chief of Diplomatic Protocol or their deputy/highest-ranking diplomat. The flags of Montenegro and the sending country must be displayed above the main entrance of the residence. The Honorary Guard of the Army of Montenegro is lined up on the left side of the red carpet in front of the entrance to the President’s Residence. The Commander of the Honorary Guard Unit greets the Ambassador with an honorary salute.

The Ambassador performs the inspection accompanied by the Chief of Diplomatic Protocol or their deputy, salutes the flag of Montenegro with a turn towards it and a gentle bow, and continues to move along the carpet towards the entrance to the President’s Residence.

In front of the President’s Residence, the Head of Mission is welcomed and greeted by the Head of the State Protocol of Montenegro or his/her deputy. With the Head of the State Protocol of Montenegro on their left and the Head of Diplomatic Protocol on their right, the Head of Mission enters the reception room of the President’s Residence. Their entourage follows a few steps behind.

The Head of Mission proceeds to the hall where the ceremony is held, guided by the Head of the State Protocol of Montenegro (the Chief of the Diplomatic Protocol approaches the Head of Mission from the right). The Head of Mission’s entourage stands behind them, in order of precedence from left to right (viewed from the front).

The President of Montenegro enters the hall from the opposite side and proceeds to stand exactly opposite the Head of Mission.

The Head of the State Protocol of Montenegro introduces the Ambassador to the President of Montenegro by saying aloud their title, first and last name, and the name of the sending country. Immediately after the announcement of the Head of the State Protocol of Montenegro, the Head of Mission addresses the President with the words:

"Your Excellency, (option: Mr President), please allow me to present to you the credentials of "full address and name of the head of the sending state".

After the address, the Head of Mission approaches the President of Montenegro and formally (with both hands) hands over the letter of credence and the letter of recall of their predecessor. They shake hands and on that occasion a photograph is taken. After that, the Head of Mission presents their entourage to the President of Montenegro. After the presentations are over, the President of Montenegro invites the Ambassador and the entourage to the reception room for a brief meeting.

After the meeting is concluded, the Head of Mission bids farewell to the President of Montenegro and is invited to sign the Guestbook with a brief note, e.g. ,,Today, I had the pleasure to present the letters of credence to the President of Montenegro”.

Afterwards, the Head of Mission and members of his/hers entourage are accompanied by the Head of the State Protocol of Montenegro and the Chief of Diplomatic Protocol towards the main exit of the Residence.

After leaving the Residence, accompanied by the Chief of Diplomatic Protocol, the Head of Mission inspects the Honorary Guard Unit of the Army of Montenegro, which is on their right, and salutes the flag, with a turn towards it and a gentle bow. They enter the official vehicle, on which the flag of the sending country is now flying on the right side, and the flag of Montenegro on the left side. Accompanied by a representative of the State Protocol, the Head of Mission returns to their residence, the official premises of the diplomatic mission or the hotel, following a predetermined route.

Presentation of the letter of introduction by a Charge d'Affaires en titre

A Charge d'Affaires en titre is accredited to the Minister of Foreign Affairs  of the receiving state (Article 14 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations). A Charge d' Affaires en titre presents the cabinet letter (letter of introduction) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro or to his/her deputy.

Courtesy calls by an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Prior to the presentation of credentials, the Head of Diplomatic Mission can meet the Chief of Diplomatic Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro of his/her deputy. Other introductory meetings take place after the presentation of credentials.

In the event that an Ambassador presents only the copies of his/her credentials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  of Montenegro and has not yet presented his/her credentials to the President of Montenegro, it is preferred that he/she does not attend events at which the President of Montenegro or other high-ranking state officials are present, or that he/she consults the Diplomatic Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro prior to attending such an event.

After submitting the credentials of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, the diplomatic mission may request, through the Diplomatic Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, the organizing of courtesy calls with the highest state officials.