Israel*

Visa regime

Nationals of Montenegro may enter, pass through and stay in Israel for up to 90 days, with a valid travel document, without a visa.

Bilateral Relations/Diplomatic Relations Overview 

Montenegro and the State of Israel are continuously developing friendly bilateral relations, which are accompanied by a regular political dialogue at the highest level.

Israel recognized Montenegro on 13 June 2006. Diplomatic relations were established on 12 July 2006.

Israel diplomatically covers Montenegro on a non-resident basis, based in Belgrade. The current Ambassador of Israel to Montenegro, Yahel Vilan, took office in Montenegro in February 2021.

Previously, this duty was also performed, also based in Belgrade, by Ambassador Alona Fisher Kam (September 13, 2016 to August 3, 2020), Ambassador Josef Levy (October 6, 2011 to August 12, 2016), Ambassador Arthur Cole September 2007 to 17 August 2011) and Ambassador Jaffa Ben-Ari (13 June 2006 to 2007). 

Mr Nimrod Rinot was appointed Honorary Consul of Montenegro in Israel, stationed in Tel Aviv, on June 10, 2009.

Ambassador Tamara Mugoša served as the first non-resident Ambassador of Montenegro to Israel, based in Skopje, from June 2014 to May 15, 2018. Since February 2019, this duty, also on a non-resident basis, based in Brussels, has been performed by Ambassador Ivan Leković.

The Honorary Consulate of the State of Israel was officially opened on July 16, 2020, headed by Honorary Consul Miloš Komnenić.

Political Contacts 

The President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović, participated in the World Forum on the Holocaust, held in Jerusalem on January 22 and 23, 2020. 

On March 27, 2019, the President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović, visited Israel at the invitation of the President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin.

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Srdjan Darmanović, paid an official visit to the State of Israel on July 16 and 17, 2018.

The Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel (Deputy of the  Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Benjamin Netanyahu), Yuven Rotem, visited Montenegro on July 4 and 5, 2018, as part of a visit to the region.

Economic Cooperation / International Trade 

During the period January-October 2021, trade amounted to 11,5 million euros (imports: 10.6 million euros; exports: 0.9 million euros), while in 2020 it amounted to 2.6 million euros (imports 2.2 million; exports 0.4 million euros);

Direct investment: During the period from January-October 2021, direct investments from Israel amounted to EUR 1,08 million, while in 2020 they amounted to EUR 0.1 million, in 2019 2, 8 million euros; 

In October 2017, the Economic Forum "Gateway to Montenegro" was held in Podgorica, attended by 28 Israeli companies and more than 50 business people and experts in the field of agriculture, tourism, cyber security, IT technology and medicine.

During the period of January-October 2021, 17,496 tourists visited Montenegro, who spent 49,646 nights. While in 2020, in the basic types of accommodation, Montenegro was visited by 558 Israeli tourists, who spent 3760 nights. In 2019, our country, in all types of accommodation, was visited by 40,764 Israeli tourists, who spent 111,978 nights.

Overview of other information

Montenegro and the State of Israel have developed cooperation and communication when it comes to the legal framework, since nine bilateral agreements are in force, including in the fields of culture, mutual protection and investment promotion, as well as cooperation of chambers of commerce.

Several more bilateral agreements are in the process of harmonization.