The Ministry of Diaspora announced that the response of Montenegrin emigrants to register in the diaspora register is "increasing", but that so far, not even an approximate number of emigrants has been registered in relation to the total estimates of the Montenegrin diaspora.
The registry of Montenegrin citizens in the diaspora has been available on the official website of the Ministry since March last year. The project aims to consolidate data on Montenegrin emigrants around the world and thereby improve the state's cooperation with the diaspora.
Members of the diaspora register electronically, via the eUprava.me portal, and the registration form is available in English, Turkish and Spanish, in addition to Montenegrin.
The Ministry of Diaspora, in response to a question from "Vijesti" about the response from the Montenegrin diaspora, stated that, given that this is a pilot project, and also a major innovation in the field of emigrant registration, they can currently state that the response from the diaspora is "on the rise".
They emphasize that the Ministry of Diaspora has created all the legal prerequisites for the functioning of the registry, and that it is up to the diaspora to recognize its importance, because this type of record will contribute to mapping their knowledge, experiences and potential, which would become part of numerous initiatives and development projects in Montenegro.
In order to contribute to the implementation of this project, which, as they state, will only be fully realized in the coming period, the Ministry of Diaspora will, in cooperation with the NGO sector, implement several programs this year under the title "Montenegro, where the roots are", including the promotion of the register. According to the department, 190.000 euros have been allocated for these activities, and the competition will be announced in a few days.
"We can freely say that we have a long and complex process ahead of us, and at the same time a unique opportunity for our country to finally obtain a realistic estimate of the number of its citizens living in the diaspora, which will create a stable basis for creating and implementing policies that, in accordance with EU practice, enable the inclusion of the diaspora in socio-economic processes related to the development of the country, and in general, the public interest," the Ministry of Diaspora responded to "Vijesti".
Minister of Diaspora Mirsad Azemović previously announced that the assumption is that there are around 600.000 emigrants and that with the Diaspora Registry they will get an approximately accurate number of emigrants.
When asked whether the approximate number of emigrants mentioned by the minister had registered in the register, the managing department stated that the register has been in operation for a year, but given that this is a project whose full implementation requires more time, the approximate number of emigrants in relation to the total estimates of the Montenegrin diaspora has not yet been registered.
They emphasize that there is no deadline for registering with the diaspora registry, and that the process is continuous and open.
"In the context of this topic, we would like to inform you that the Ministry, in accordance with the new Law on Cooperation of Montenegro with the Diaspora - Emigrants, adopted in December 2025, is currently working on adopting a rulebook on the method of registration and deletion from the register, which will further improve the transparency of the process and strengthen the trust of our diaspora-emigrants in the institutions of their home country, which is also one of the primary goals of our Ministry," the Ministry of Diaspora announced.
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