EU programmes

Montenegro is a partner country of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), the European Union’s flagship programme for youth volunteering, solidarity, and civic engagement. This status provides valuable opportunities for both organisations and young people from Montenegro to engage in European-level volunteering activities and intercultural exchange.

Under the current framework, the following options are available:

• Organisations in Montenegro are eligible to apply for and obtain a Quality Label, which certifies their capacity to participate in the ESC and is a mandatory requirement for involvement in volunteering actions.

• Accredited organisations (either with a valid Erasmus+ European Voluntary Service accreditation or the ESC Quality Label) can act as sending or hosting organisations, enabling young people from Montenegro to participate in short- and long-term volunteering projects abroad, as well as host international volunteers within Montenegro.

Several Montenegrin organisations currently hold a Quality Label. A regularly updated list of accredited organisations is available on the European Youth Portal.

While the participation of Montenegrin youth in the ESC has been steadily growing, it is important to note that a systematic national reporting and monitoring mechanism for participation in EU volunteer programmes is still under development. According to the European Commission’s 2020 Progress Report on Montenegro, six young volunteers from Montenegro took part in ESC projects for the first time in that reporting year.

Other programmes

Montenegro does not currently have international volunteering programmes that are state-funded at a level of at least 50% of the total budget and implemented on a larger scale, i.e., widely deployed across the country.

However, it is important to highlight that the National Voluntary Service (ADP-Zid) is actively engaged in two major international networks: the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations and Service Civil International (SCI). These networks offer cross-border volunteering opportunities in various formats, including international work camps, allowing young people from Montenegro to participate in short-term collective volunteer projects abroad and host international volunteers in Montenegro.

Several key actors in the field of youth volunteering in Montenegro play an important role in promoting and facilitating international exchange and solidarity:

• The Red Cross of Montenegro regularly hosts and sends volunteers through EU-funded programmes, with a focus on humanitarian support, disaster response, and youth development. It also runs national volunteer initiatives aimed at strengthening community resilience and social inclusion.

• UNICEF Montenegro collaborates with youth organisations and institutions to promote youth participation, skills development, and volunteering in child protection, education, and social inclusion. Through its U-Report platform and various youth-led campaigns, UNICEF empowers young people to actively contribute to policy discussions and community change.

Montenegro’s growing integration into European and international volunteering schemes marks a positive step toward strengthening youth engagement, intercultural learning, and the development of civic competencies among young people.

Legal framework applying to foreign volunteers

According to the Law on Voluntary Work, individuals who are not citizens of Montenegro are entitled to engage in volunteering within the country, provided that they possess a valid temporary or permanent residence permit and fulfill the additional conditions prescribed by the Law (Article 19). International volunteers enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as Montenegrin citizens engaged in volunteering.

The conditions for the stay of foreign nationals in Montenegro are regulated by the Law on Foreigners (Zakon o strancima, Official Gazette of Montenegro Nos. 12/18 and 3/19). Detailed information on visa regimes for foreign citizens is available on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro. 

The Law on Foreigners stipulates that a temporary residence permit for volunteer service within the framework of the European Voluntary Service (EVS) may be issued to a foreign national aged between 18 and 30, provided they meet the requirements for residence permits outlined by the Law and submit a signed agreement on volunteer service as proof of purpose (Article 58). It is also important to note that this provision is specifically governed within the context of the bilateral agreement between Montenegro and the European Union related to the EVS programme.