Most tourists coming here often wonder: Is Montenegro in the EU or not? The short answer is no, Montenegro is not in the European Union. However, many are confused by the fact that the national currency here is the Euro. The question isn’t that complicated, and many people just mix up the terms. Let’s clear things up.

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montenegro eu euro area schengen nato
Here, for example, is a map of countries where the Euro is the currency. Montenegro is not on this map, even though its official currency is the Euro. How did this happen? Read on to find out.

Types of Unions in Europe: EU, Schengen, Eurozone, NATO

When tourists ask me if Montenegro in the European Union, almost 90% of the time, they actually mean something else. They want to know if a Schengen visa is required to enter the country and what the currency is. For many, there is no distinction between the European Union and the Eurozone.

Below, in the simplest terms, is everything about Montenegro and the unions it belongs to or doesn’t. This knowledge will also help you understand the situation in other European countries.

  • The European Union (EU) is a political union consisting of 27 European countries. They have a president and a parliament. The goal of the EU is a unified policy in the economic, social, and cultural life of its member states.
    • Here is the latest information on the EU member states on Wikipedia.
  • The Eurozone is a monetary union of 19 countries where the Euro is the primary currency.
  • The Schengen Area is a visa and customs union comprising 30 countries with no border controls between them, and unified visa rules.
  • NATO is a military alliance that includes most European countries, as well as Canada and the USA.
Any European country can belong to any of these unions and not belong to another.
montenegro eu or not
A map of European Union member states. Candidate countries, including Montenegro, are marked in light blue.
montenegro schengen or not
This is a map of the Schengen Area. It shows that Montenegro is not part of this union.

Which Unions Montenegro Belongs to and Which It Doesn’t

Now back to Montenegro. For detailed information about Montenegro on the world map Montenegro on the world map, its neighbors, and more, check out the linked article. In short, this Balkan country is a member of the following organizations/unions:

  • Montenegro is NOT part of the Eurozone or the Euro Area (which are the same), but the official currency in the country is the Euro.
    • This means the country was not formally included in the Eurozone, but it has unilaterally adopted the Euro as its national currency.
    • For detailed information about money in Montenegro, cards, banks, and how to pay, check out the article: the currency of Montenegro.
  • Montenegro is not in the European Union. However, it is an official candidate for membership. Previous candidates’ experience shows that a country can remain in this status for decades.
  • Schengen Area – Montenegro is not part of this union. The country has its own visa regime and entry requirements for foreigners.
    • To visit Montenegro, it doesn’t matter if you have a Schengen visa in your passport or not.
    • Read all about the visa to Montenegro in a separate article. There will also be entry rules and what else is required besides a passport.
Additionally, Montenegro is a NATO member. There are usually no questions about this, as people typically don’t confuse NATO with the EU.
montenegro eurozone or not
A map of the Eurozone. The “unofficial users” of the Euro, Montenegro and Kosovo, are highlighted in yellow, as they use the currency without EU permission.

Is It Correct to Say that Montenegro in the EU?

Now you definitely know the answer to this question. Montenegro is not in the European Union or the Schengen Zone, and it uses the Euro without EU permission. (Some mistakenly believe this means Montenegro is in the Eurozone, but officially, it is not.) And yes, these are all different concepts—though for many, they seem either the same or closely related.

Here are some interesting examples of European countries:

Poland:

Poland has long been a member of the European Union (EU), it is also part of the Schengen Area and NATO. However, the country has its own currency, the Zloty, and does not plan to join the Eurozone.

Switzerland:

Switzerland is not part of any union except the Schengen Area.

I also recommend reading two articles that will answer many general questions for those planning to visit:

In conclusion, I hope everything is now clear in your mind, with less confusion. The answer to the question of whether Montenegro is in the European Union is simple and obvious. However, this is often not what many people are actually curious about. Most want to know about the country’s currency and visa regime.

Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Montenegro

  • WayAway: Cheap flights and best deals.
  • Car rental in Montenegro:
    • LocalRent – works with local rental companies. Leader in car rental in Montenegro.
    • DiscoverCars – a large international platform.
  • Budget-friendly vacation packages to Montenegro: CheapOair.
  • Hotels and apartments all over the country:
    • Trip.com – the most popular accommodation booking platform
    • TripAdvisor compares the prices among dozens of other booking services and offer the best price
  • Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
    • GetYourGuide – more than 800 tours
    • Viator – 1000+ excursions and activities throughout the country
  • Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
  • Internet and Calls:
  • Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel