Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – According to President of the Foundation for the Future of Montenegrin Tourism and Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the German-Montenegrin Business Club Mihael Bader, the Law on Foreigners should be improved with a focus on balanced regional development, preserving Montenegro’s attractiveness as an investment destination, and strengthening legal certainty.

He believes that the current single value threshold for temporary residence based on ownership of real estate, should be abandoned and replaced with regionally differentiated criteria, in line with real market differences between the northern, central, and southern regions, with the possibility of exemptions for underdeveloped municipalities.

“As an alternative and more stable long-term solution, criteria based on a minimum residential floor area could be introduced (20 square meters for the right holder, plus an additional ten square meters for each additional family member), as a more objective and predictable basis for exercising the right to residence, independent of market fluctuations and regional price disparities,” Bader said.

He noted that, in the section pertaining to the extension of residence and work permits based on the payment of taxes and contributions, the introduction of a phased model of fiscal obligations is proposed, instead of the current requirement of a minimum annual payment of €5,000.

“A gradual increase in obligations would enable the sustainable growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, prevent the shutdown of companies in the early stages of business, and ensure more stable long-term budget revenues,” Bader said.

He believes that it is necessary to introduce more flexible rules for entrepreneurs and craftsmen, bearing in mind the seasonal and occasional nature of their activities, as well as regional differences in economic capacity.