New tariffs for notary services in Montenegro from April 2026

New Tariffs for Notary Services in Montenegro from April 2026

Updated tariffs for notary services officially came into effect in Montenegro in April 2026. This is the first significant update in recent years, directly impacting the cost of real estate transactions and legal procedures.

Major Changes

The main innovation is the introduction of a new progressive tariff scale and increased oversight of the actual value of transactions. Notaries are now required to rely on market data and official registries, significantly complicating the undervaluation of a property in a contract.

New mandatory fees and additional paid services related to the digitalization of processes and the safekeeping of funds have also been introduced.

Current Fee Schedule for 2026

The cost of notary services depends on the property price:

• up to €20,000 — €180
• from €20,000 to €40,000 — €250
• from €40,000 to €60,000 — €350
• from €60,000 to €80,000 — €420
• from €80,000 to €120,000 — €480
• over €120,000 — an additional €13 for every €15,000
  A 21% VAT is mandatory and must be added to this price.

The maximum notary fee has been increased to €8,000.

Important New Features

1. Preliminary Agreement
   This fee is 50 percent of the full fee. If the main contract is drawn up by the same notary, this amount is included.
2. Additional Agreements
   Annexes and terminations are estimated at approximately 30 percent of the base rate.
3. Mortgage Processing
   Security deposits account for approximately 80 percent of the rate, which is important when purchasing real estate with a mortgage.
   New Mandatory Fees

Additional fees have been introduced since 2026:

• Digital document processing — approximately €6 plus a per-page surcharge
• Notary deposit — approximately 0.3 percent of the transaction amount
• Notary travel — an additional 25 percent plus the hourly rate

This means that the final cost of processing may be higher than the base rate, especially for complex transactions.

Cost of individual services

• Notarized power of attorney — approximately €60
• Simple power of attorney — approximately €30
• Signature certification — approximately €3.50
• Inheritance cases — from €65 to €350

What does this mean for real estate buyers?

These changes have several implications for the real estate market in Montenegro:

• Transactions become more transparent
• The possibility of undervaluation decreases
• The role of the notary as a financial intermediary increases
• The overall cost of registration increases

For example, when purchasing a property priced at approximately €120,000–€130,000, notary fees can be approximately €600–€800 or more, depending on additional services.

Conclusion

Since April 2026, the notary system in Montenegro has become more structured and aligned with European standards. The new tariffs make the market more transparent but require more precise financial planning on the part of buyers.

When purchasing real estate, it's important to consider not only the property's price but also updated notary fees to avoid unexpected expenses and properly budget the transaction.