Montenegro
Customs Administration of Montenegro (UPRAVA CARINA):
Website: http://www.upravacarina.gov.me/en/administration
Email: kabinet.direktora@carina.gov.me
Address: Oktobarske revolucije 128, 81000 Podgorica, Crna Gora
Telephone: + 382 20 442 000, + 382 20 620 433, + 382 20 620 322
Fax: + 382 20 620 459
Chamber of Economy of Montenegro
Website: http://www.privrednakomora.me/en
Email: pkcg@pkcg.org
Address: Novaka Miloševa 29/II, Podgorica 81000, Crna Gora
Telephone: +382 20 230 545
Fax: +382 20 230 493
Montenegro is a small Balkan country with the republican form of government. Montenegro is a civil, democratic, ecological state of social justice based on the rule of law.
Almost 80% of the territory of Montenegro consists of forests, pastures and meadows. It has one of two European rain forests, the southernmost fjord in the world, the largest lake in the Balkans, river with the deepest canyon in Europe and the second in the world. It has beautiful rugged mountains, medieval villages and a narrow strip of beaches along its Adriatic coastline.
Montenegro economy is on the path of expansion, with increased focus on attracting foreign investment. The Montenegrin government has privatized the nation’s aluminum complex and financial sector, both of which are dominant contributors to Montenegro economy industry. Existing Montenegro laws treat foreign and domestic capital similarly. Also, starting a business in Montenegro takes 13 days on an average, in comparison to the world average of 38 days. This is reflective of the nation’s highly conductive business environment.
Montenegro’s customs administration simplified trade by eliminating the requirement to present a terminal handling receipt for exporting and importing. Exporting a standard container of goods requires 6 documents, takes 14 days and costs about $985. Importing the same container of goods requires 5 documents, takes 14 days and costs $985.
Montenegro exporting and importing documentation includes the following documents:
bill of lading, certificate of origin, commercial invoice, customs export declaration, packing list, technical standard/health certificate.
Duties on goods imported into the customs territory of the Republic shall be based on the Law on Customs Tariff.
In exceptional cases, a uniform rate in the amount of 5% of the customs value of goods may be applied to goods of a non-commercial nature that are carried by a traveller, or for goods received by a natural person in the post from another natural person.
The Government shall determine the value of goods, including the kinds of goods to which the uniform rate cannot be applied.
The Government may adopt specific regulation to determine export duties on certain products.
Goods brought into the customs territory of the Republic shall, from the time of their entry, be subject to customs supervision and customs control in accordance with regulations.
Goods remain under customs supervision for as long as necessary to determine their customs status.
Import procedure
Goods imported from abroad, for which exemption from payment of import duties is not provided, shall be cleared for customs at border crossing points using the regular procedure. The Party involved in the customs procedure is a person on the basis of whose application the customs procedure is initialed.
Documents, certificates, declarations used during import procedure:
1. Single Administrative Document (SAD) as a regulated form and used as a written customs declaration. It has to be signed and contain all information necessary for the application of the regulations regulating the import of goods.
2. Import invoice is a document on the basis of which delivered goods are paid, and it is issued by the seller of goods. The invoice specifies the date of issue, quantity of goods, description and characteristics of goods, unit price presented in agreed currency and measurement units, total value of goods, the place of dispatch, the date of the invoice, the address of the buyer, signature of the seller etc.
3. Transport documentation regulates the shipping and transport of goods. The most important documents regarding transport are the following:
- CMR;
- railway consignment note (CIM);
- bill of lading;
- air waybill (AWB).
CMR contains information about: the sender's company, the recipient company, a detailed description of the goods, the markings of the vehicle, transport costs and customs duties, as well as a list of documents attached to the waybill.
4. Certificate of origin is not a mandatory document, but it is of essential importance for the importer because it indicates possible preferential origin of goods in the country of the importer and thus reduces the costs for customs clearance. The certificate of origin is issued by competent authority from the country of origin of the goods.
5. Veterinary or phytosanitary certificate (for agricultural products) is a mandatory document that must accompany goods of plant or animal origin, which provides that the package meets the specific requirements.
6. In general, the import of goods into Montenegro is free. However, the import of certain types of goods requires a import license due to their specific nature.
Export procedure
Persons engaged in export must present proper documentation required for the purpose of the application of the rules regulating this customs procedure.
Documents, certificates, declarations used during export procedure:
1. Export declaration as the basic document lodged for any goods intended to be exported. It shall be submitted in a prescribed form. It must be signed by an authorized person and must contain all information necessary for the application of the regulations regulating the customs procedure for which the goods are declared.
2. Invoice is a document on the basis of which delivered goods are paid, and it is issued by the seller of the goods. The invoice specifies the date of issue, quantity of goods, description and characteristics of goods, unit price presented in agreed currency and measurement units, total value of goods, the place of dispatch, the date of the invoice, the address of the buyer, signature of the seller etc.
3. Transport Documentation regulates the dispatch and transport of goods. The most important documents regarding transport are the following:
- CMR;
- railway consignment note (CIM);
- bill of lading;
- air waybill (AWB).
CMR is issued by the shipper and is a document serving as evidence that the goods have been accepted for transport. The waybill contains information about: the sender company, the recipient company, a detailed description of the goods, the markings of the vehicle, transport costs and customs duties, as well as a list of documents attached to the waybill.
4. Certificate of Origin is not a mandatory document, but it is of essential importance because it indicates possible preferential origin of goods and thus reduces the costs for customs clearance. The origin of goods determines whether a preferential customs rate shall be applied for the particular goods. The certificate on preferential origin is issued by the customs authority, whereas the certificate on non-preferential origin is issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro.
5. Veterinary or Phytosanitary Certificate is a mandatory document that must accompany goods of plant or animal origin in export. This document shows that the package meets the specific requirements.
6. Generally, the export of goods from Montenegro is free. However, the export of certain types of goods requires a export license due to their specific nature. The Ministry of Culture decides on applications for issuance of licenses to export products of artistic, cultural and archaeological value.
Sources:
http://www.upravacarina.gov.me/en/administration
http://www.privrednakomora.me/en/chamber-economy
http://www.icaew.com/en/library/subject-gateways/doing-business-in/montenegro
