Foreign Diploma Recognition in Montenegro
Diploma nostrification is the process of officially recognising your foreign educational document in Montenegro. The procedure confirms that your diploma meets local educational standards and requirements.
Current as of August 2026
When nostrification is needed for a residence permit
Nostrification (or the confirmation of a filed recognition request) is mandatory for an employment-based boravak in any position that requires a qualification — including secondary and vocational education (levels III–V). Only unqualified (NK) positions are exempt. The “level VI and above” threshold relates not to nostrification but to the minimum salary: €800 net applies to those positions. Real estate and family reunification permits do not require diploma recognition.What we need from you
- Applicant’s passport
- Educational document (diploma or school certificate)
- Grade transcript — supplement to the diploma/certificate
- Archive certificate — optional but recommended (see below)
What you receive
If the archive certificate is provided
A final diploma recognition decision from the Montenegro Ministry of Education.If the archive certificate is not provided
A confirmation of document receipt for nostrification — this is sufficient for the boravak application. However, after one year you will need to contact the Ministry again to obtain the final decision.What is an archive certificate?
An archive certificate is an official document issued by the educational institution where you studied. It confirms the authenticity of your diploma and contains key details about the educational programme: list of subjects, number of hours, and final grades.
If you provide the archive certificate upfront, you will receive the completed nostrification in the shortest possible time and avoid having to reapply after a year.
What to do if you don’t have an archive certificate?
If the archive certificate is not provided, the Montenegro Ministry of Education will issue only a confirmation of document receipt. This confirmation is sufficient to apply for a boravak. However, after one year you will need to contact the Ministry again to obtain the final decision — the process can be lengthy, especially if you are abroad at that point.
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