Instead of taking the exam, they have to leave Montenegro: Students from India waited for months to regularize their stay, eight succeeded

Of the 20 students from India who came to Montenegro in November to study at the Faculty of Economics, 12 were left without a temporary residence permit, and at least two were ordered to leave the country even though they are still full-time students, "Vijesti" has learned.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) claims that these students did not submit all the necessary documentation, while the Border Police Sector of the Police Directorate, in one of the decisions that the editorial team had access to, cites formal problems related to opening accounts in Montenegrin banks as the reason, for which the Indian student was also fined.

"Vijesti" reported in early July that a group of 20 students from India had been waiting for temporary residence permits for months and that due to their unresolved status, they did not even know whether they were legally residing in Montenegro. The students arrived in Podgorica in November 2025, although classes began in September because the visa issuance procedure also took months, and the question is how they will complete the academic year for which they pay 3.500 euros. The Faculty of Economics says that deciding on their status is not within the faculty's jurisdiction, but that they are providing them with support and assistance on a daily basis...

MUP: They did not correct the deficiencies

The Ministry of Interior responded to the editorial staff that after arriving in Montenegro, students from India submitted applications for temporary residence permits based on their education, but that they did not attach all the evidence prescribed by the Law on Foreigners with their applications. From the department Danilo Saranovic They claim that the Podgorica Regional Unit served them with summonses to correct their submission and set a deadline to submit the required evidence.

"After the deadline for correcting the submission expired, the conditions for rejecting the request due to formal deficiencies were met, pursuant to Article 60 of the Law on Administrative Procedure," the Ministry responded.

When asked by "Vijesti" whether the inability to open an account in a Montenegrin bank was the decisive reason for rejecting the application, the Ministry responded that the students did not submit evidence prescribed by the Law on Foreigners and that after the deadline for supplementing the submissions expired, the conditions for rejecting the application due to formal deficiencies were met.

In a decision from the Police Directorate dated August 4, which "Vijesti" had access to, it was stated that the student must voluntarily leave Montenegro within 15 days because he had stayed longer than 90 days in a 180-day period.

The same decision stated that he was issued a misdemeanor warrant and fined 200 euros.

In the explanation of this decision, the Police Directorate also states that the student was not banned from entering Montenegro for "humanitarian reasons".

"The person was not banned from entering for justified humanitarian reasons because he is a full-time student at the University of Montenegro (UCG), Faculty of Economics, and he failed to regulate temporary residence for formal reasons, in connection with opening a bank account in Montenegrin banks," the decision stated.

They are legally residing while the procedure is ongoing.

The Ministry of Interior responded that foreigners can legally reside in Montenegro even after the visa expires until the final completion of the procedure for the application for a temporary residence permit.

They stated that the decision becomes final after the deadline for appeal has expired, if no appeal has been filed, or after the completion of the procedure upon the request.

"From that moment on, if foreigners do not have another legal basis for residence in Montenegro, their continued residence is considered illegal in terms of the provisions of the Law on Foreigners," the Ministry responded.

According to the Ministry of Interior's response, students who were not granted temporary residence continued to reside in Montenegro after the legal basis for doing so ceased to exist. The ministry states that this is why police officers issued decisions on voluntary return for persons who were found to be residing in Montenegro without a residence permit and without a valid visa.

The Ministry of Interior also responded that an appeal against a decision on voluntary return delays its execution.

"Therefore, until the appeal procedure is completed, foreigners can remain in Montenegro," they stated.

The Ministry of Interior also responded that students can go to Serbia, if they meet the conditions for entry into that country, or to another country and contact the diplomatic and consular mission of Montenegro there.

"After obtaining a visa, they can freely enter Montenegro and exercise the rights arising from the approved residence," the Ministry responded.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that when making their decision, police officers took into account "all relevant circumstances", including the fact that the student program that the students are attending is, as they say, of mutual interest to Montenegro and India.

They added that, taking into account these and other mitigating circumstances, it was decided that the students would not be banned from entering Montenegro for humanitarian reasons. The Ministry of Internal Affairs also claims that the procedure was carried out in the presence and constant communication with authorized representatives of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Montenegro.

"Out of 20 people, eight were granted a residence permit while the rest were rejected," they stated.

Faculty: State authorities decide on status

The Faculty of Economics responded to "Vijesti" that issues of issuing visas, approving temporary residence, and deciding on the status of foreign citizens are not within their jurisdiction.

"We emphasize once again that the issues of issuing visas, granting temporary residence and deciding on the status of foreign citizens are not within the competence of the Faculty of Economics, but exclusively of the competent state authorities that act in accordance with applicable regulations," the institution stated, adding that before arriving in Montenegro, the students were informed that these issues were not within the competence of the faculty. They also said that representatives of the institution are in daily communication with the students and that they provide them with support and assistance within the limits of their capabilities and competence, including the situation related to the regulation of residence, but also that they have extended the deadline for settling their financial obligations to the faculty.

"The faculty has shown understanding for students from India and the specific situation they are in, maintaining their status as full-time students even though almost all of them have paid only a quarter of the annual tuition fee, extending the deadline for them to settle their obligations until the status of their residence in Montenegro is regulated," the faculty responded.