English 
Français The short version
- Montenegro has the lower entry bar: €1,800 per month versus €1,840 for Sri Lanka.
- Montenegro grants a longer initial stay (24 months vs 12), and it is renewable.
- Tax treatment differs: Montenegro — foreign income exempt; Sri Lanka — standard resident taxation. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Montenegro DNV | Sri Lanka DNV |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €1,800 (better) | €1,840 |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 2 years (better) | 1 year |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | 4 years | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | No | No |
| Path to citizenship | No | No |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax treatment | Foreign income exempt (Digital-nomad foreign-income exemption (Personal Income Tax Law; commonly cited as Art. 32d)) | Standard resident taxation |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit), min. €30,000 | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €47 (better) | ≈ €460 |
| Where to apply | In country, Embassy / consulate | In country, Online |
| Processing time | 6–8 weeks | 1–6 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Montenegro DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Sri Lanka DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government Digital Nomads - Government of Montenegro official portal (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Legal status for nomads - digitalnomads.gov.me (Law on Foreigners; eligibility = foreign employer / own company not registered in Montenegro; up-to-2-year permit extendable 2 more years; ~40-day decision; in-person MUP application; health insurance required document) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Montenegro: Digital Nomad Permit, Visa Pathways Available - Fragomen (2y + 2y validity, max 4y, 6-month re-apply rule, D-visa route, foreign-company work only) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Montenegro - Digital Nomads obtaining Residence Permits - JPM & Partners (legal basis Off. Gazette 12/18, 3/19, 86/22; 3x-minimum-wage income test over prior year; 40-day processing; 6-month cooldown) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa - Citizen Remote (3x minimum wage; older ~EUR 1,350 figure [outdated]; government fees EUR 60-100; tax residency 183 days; in-country MUP / diplomatic mission) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa in 2026 - iWorld (3x minimum wage = EUR 1,800-2,400 via EUR 600/800 split; residence-permit fee EUR 47, extension EUR 27, visa EUR 35; ~2-month processing; Art. 32d PIT foreign-income exemption; programme ends 31 Dec 2026, no confirmed successor) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Tax, Cost, Expiry (income EUR 1,800-2,400; EUR 30,000 insurance minimum; ~EUR 67 government fee; 0% tax on foreign income; ~40-day decision; programme to 31 Dec 2026, no extension announced as of 24 May 2026) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Montenegro Wages 2026 - Take-profit.org (statutory minimum wage; dual structure ~EUR 670 / EUR 800 net since Sept 2024, basis for the 3x income formula) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Taxes in Montenegro 2026 - Immigrant Invest (183-day tax-residency rule; progressive PIT 9-15%; digital-nomad foreign-income treatment) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Digital Nomad Visa Category - Department of Immigration & Emigration, Sri Lanka (official category sheet) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Digital Nomad Visa Category PDF - USD 2,000/month main applicant + USD 500/month per dependent beyond 2; proof of remittance required (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Digital Nomad Visa Category PDF - required International Health Insurance covering Sri Lanka + Medical Clearance Report (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Digital Nomad Visa Category PDF - 1-year duration, USD 500/year fee per person, submission to Residence Visa Division, tax-registration required for extension (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government IRD Notice PN/IT/2025-01 (26.03.2025) - Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No. 02 of 2025: 15% max tax on service exports & foreign-source income remitted via bank, effective 01.04.2025; exemption removed (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Sri Lanka launched a new digital nomad visa: How to apply (CNBC) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Sri Lanka Unveils Digital Nomad Visa With $2,000 Minimum Monthly Income (IMI Daily) - launch early Feb 2026, online applications, $500/dependent beyond 2 (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Sri Lanka Investor Visa & Digital Nomad Visa 2026 (DL&F De Saram, law firm) - duration, fees, renewal tax-registration (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation Sri Lanka: 15% Tax on Foreign Income Introduced (HKTDC Research) - effective 1 April 2025, applies to remitted foreign-currency service income; >=15% foreign tax exempt (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Who is liable to pay income tax in Sri Lanka - Resident vs Non-Resident (Taxpro.lk) - 183-day residency rule, worldwide income for residents (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Sri Lanka Healthcare System & Medical Insurance Options for Expats (Expat Financial) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15