Most buyers can own an apartment or a house in their own name. For some land and for some larger projects, a Montenegrin company is the usual route, and it is simpler than it sounds.
- A company is mainly needed for certain types of land, not for most homes.
- Registration is quick once the documents are ready; the paperwork takes longer than the process.
- Plan for yearly accounting and filing from the first year.
When a company is needed
Whether you need a company depends on what you are buying. Apartments and most houses can be bought directly. Some agricultural land and larger plots are usually bought through a company registered in Montenegro.
We confirm the right route for each property before anything is signed, together with our partner lawyer.
The steps
- Choose the company name and prepare the founding documents.
- Sign the documents in front of a notary, in person or through a power of attorney.
- Register the company and open a local bank account.
- Sign the purchase contract in the company's name and register the property.
The process is short. Gathering the right documents is what takes time.
What it costs to keep
A company has running costs every year: accounting, the annual financial statements and any local fees. They are modest, but they belong in the budget from the first year, not as a surprise in the second.
- Bookkeeping and annual statements
- Bank account fees
- Registered address and local representation
How long it takes
Once the documents are ready, registration itself usually takes days rather than weeks. Translations, apostilles and bank checks are what set the pace, so we start them as soon as a property is chosen.
Common mistakes
- Starting the company before the property is confirmed.
- Forgetting the yearly filing after the purchase.
- Mixing personal and company payments for the property.
We handle company setup, accounting and filing in house, so the purchase and the company stay in step.
