Residence Permit in Slovenia - Updated for 2023
Legal Requirements for a Residence Permit in Slovenia
Updated on Tuesday 28th March 2023 Rate this article
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The legal requirements for a residence permit in Slovenia depend on the nationality of the individual who wishes to enter the country. Members of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need to obtain entry permits or residence permits if their stay in the country does not exceed a certain amount of time. All other citizens need to follow specific procedures. Our Slovenian lawyers can help you with legal advice on obtaining a residence permit in Slovenia. Our team can also assist in any legal matter regarding the process on immigration to Slovenia.
Persons interested in immigration to Slovenia will be issued with a residence permit in the case in which the duration of their stay in this country is of minimum 90 days. If so, they will be legally required to apply for a temporary residence permit.
The document will be issued based on the reason for which they want to stay in this country (such as employment, which is one of the main reasons for relocation).
A temporary residence permit can be renewed and the foreigner can also be entitled to obtain a permanent residence permit, in the case in which he or she is interested in permanent relocation.
Persons who will apply for a termporary residence permit in Slovenia in 2023 are required to pay a processing fee. The fee charged in 2023 for the issuance of a temporary residence permit is of EUR 50. The same fee is also imposed for the renewal of the document.
Besides this fee, persons applying for this permit have to pay additional fees in 2023. For instance, it is required to pay a small fee, of EUR 4,5 for the application for the issuance of the permit.
After this, for successful applicants, an additional fee, of EUR 15,47, is imposed for the printing of the residence permit card. Persons who arrive here as students are required to provide evidence of an income of EUR 421,89 per month.
Being a permanent resident has many advantages, including the fact that it can open the way to applying for Slovenian citizenship (however, the applicant must comply with many basic requirements).
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Temporary residence permit types | - employment, - business, - study, - family reunification, etc. |
| Time needed to obtain the temporary residence permit (approx.) | up to three months |
| Temporary residence permit validity | 1 year |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence | - recent photo, - evidence attesting the purpose of stay, - travel document, - health insurance, - evidence on having sufficient financial funds, - proof of address in Slovenia, - other papers that can vary based on the purpose of arrival
|
| Mandatory registrations with state authorities (i.e. with the population/municipality register) | With the competent administrative unit in the region where the foreigner has his/ her residence |
| Dependents can join the temporary permit holder | No (it can happen only when the temporary permit is renewed) |
| Temporary or permanent residency for investment purposes | Yes |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence | 5 years |
| Documents for obtaining permanent residence | - identity documents, - proof on the permanent address and on the right to use the respective address (property documents, tenancy agreements) |
| Naturalization requirements | - permanent residency for 5 years and proof of living in Slovenia for 10 years; - tax obligations in Slovenia, - Slovenian language skills |
| Citizenship after permanent residence | It can be obtained in 5 years after becoming a permanent resident, but there are simpler rules for certain categories of individuals. |
Citizens of EU and EEA countries in Slovenia
Citizens belonging to an EU or EEA country only need a valid identity card or a valid passport to be able to enter the Republic of Slovenia. This is applicable for periods that do not exceed three months. If foreign citizens stay longer than three months in Slovenia, they need to register their residency in this country.
The application for a residence registration certificate can be submitted after the three months have passed or immediately after arrival, if the individual knows that he or she will stay longer than three months in Slovenia. The application must be submitted at an administrative unit in the area of the residence and the necessary documents for the application include:
- a proof of employment in Slovenia - a document indicating an employer’s intention for employment or an already existent employment contract;
- a proof of self-employment, if the foreign individual is self-employed in Slovenia;
- a proof of admission from a Slovenian university or other form of education institution for students who attend courses in Slovenia;
- proof of family reunion and proof that the person has sufficient funds for living in Slovenia.
The residence registration certificate in Slovenia is available for a period of five years, after which it can be renewed under the same conditions. Our attorneys in Slovenia can help you apply for a residence permit in Slovenia and can also assist on the legislation regarding the procedure of obtaining the Slovenian citizenship.
Third-country nationals in Slovenia
Individuals who come from non-EU and non-EEA countries are considered third-country nationals and the legal requirements for residing in Slovenia are slightly different for them. A visa is mandatory for any purpose, including touristic activities, business or personal purposes. The visa can be obtained from a consulate of the Republic of Slovenia. Our immigration lawyers in Slovenia can provide further information on the visa application process.
The types of residence permits in Slovenia available for third-country nationals are the following: temporary residence permits, permanent residence permits, employment permits or permits for the purpose of family reunion. The registration of the temporary residence in Slovenia has to be completed in maximum three days since the date in which the temporary residence permit was issued.
The application for obtaining a temporary residence permit in Slovenia has to be completed prior to the person’s arrival in the country, if the foreigner is aware of the fact that his or her stay in the country exceeds the purposes prescribed by a visa.
In this case, it is necessary to apply for a first permit for temporary residence, a procedure which falls under the obligations of the applicant, who must obtain the document from the relevant authorities located in his or her country of residence (a diplomatic mission or a consulate of Slovenia registered in the respective country).
In 2020, Slovenia issued a large number of residence permit for foreigners who were required to have this document - a total of 69,531 permits. The largest number of documents were issued to persons from Bosnia and Herzegovina, accounting for 37,858 permits.
Below, you are invited to watch a short presentation on how to obtain a residence permit in Slovenia:
What is the single residence and work permit in Slovenia?
This type of permit defines a residence permit that grants the right to foreigners of working on the Slovenian market. Of course, because EU citizens benefit from the right of free movement of persons in the EU area, this document is not meant for EU nationals, but for persons who arrive from the non-EU countries, generally referred to as third countries. The procedure on immigration to Slovenia for non-EU nationals is different than in the case of EU citizens, so other immigration rules should be observed.
The single residence and work permit in Slovenia is one of the most common ways to acquire residency in this country, as most of the foreigners arrive here for work purposes. The document is issued under the supervision of the Employment Service of Slovenia, following the rules prescribed by the main legal act regulating the work of foreigners arriving here.
The institution implements the regulations of the Employment, Self-Employment and Work of Foreigners Act; our team of Slovenian lawyers can present the main aspects foreigners should be concerned with that derive from this law. In order to receive the document, it is necessary to address to an administrative unit of the institution, and to submit the required papers.
The documents have to be accompanied by the application for the Single Permit and after the applicant has completed this step, the administrative unit will then request the consent of the Employment Service of Slovenia. Please mind that the application for this permit must contain an extensive set of documents; our Slovenian law firm has prepared a short list of some of the documents that are required:
- a recent photo of the applicant and the passport of the applicant;
- if the person does not want to file his or her original passport, then a certified copy can be attached to the file;
- evidence of having health insurance in the country where the person is a resident;
- the above rule is necessary as long as the person does not have an insurance contract signed in Slovenia;
- evidence on having sufficient financial funds to live in Slovenia;
- a clean criminal record issued by the authorities of the state where the person has his or her residency;
- because the applicant will want to obtain the single work and residence permit in Slovenia, the work contract signed with a local employer will also be required.
Along with these, the applicant must prepare evidence on the fact that he or she has the necessary qualification in the field of work or the necessary experience for the position to be filled in a company in Slovenia (here, the applicant must show that he or she complies with all the requirements of the Slovenian employer).
Another document that has to be filed in this particular case is information regarding the accommodation arrangements made in Slovenia. In the case in which the Slovenian employer will cover the costs associated with accommodation, then a letter in this sense has to be signed by the employer, and provide details on this matter. You can find out more from our immigration lawyers in Slovenia.
If you want to rent a property in Slovenia and if the employer does not cover this, our Slovenian lawyers can help you in the process of finding out a suitable property and can also assist in signing a rental agreement. If you want to relocate here on a permanent basis and you want to apply for permanent residence in Slovenia and purchase a property, our team can also be of assistance.
Please mind that the single work and residence permit in Slovenia can be obtained by foreigners in numerous cases, for a wide range of work activities and various types of employment contracts. Thus, it can be required by those who want to work as self-employed or by those who want to be employed in a local company, that can be Slovenian based or a foreign company that has set up a branch/subsidiary here.
It can be required when the applicant will change the current employer with a new employer in Slovenia, or when the person will change the current workspace with another one, of the same employer, in Slovenia. The document is available for those who work for two employers at the same time as well.
Persons who arrive here for training courses are also entitled to apply for this document, as training is considered work under the Slovenian legislation. For more details on other situations in which this permit can be obtained, our team of lawyers in Slovenia remains at your disposal.
If you want to know more on the conditions to acquire permanent residence in Slovenia, our law firm is also ready to assist you; our attorneys will present all the categories of residence permits available in this country and you can rely on our team on any other matter concerning immigration.
Who can apply for a first residence permit in Slovenia in 2023?
The document is opened for a wide category of natural persons, as prescribed by the Slovenian legislation. The first residence permit in Slovenia can be obtained by athletes and other sport related individuals (such as trainers). It is also available for the parties that are involved in religious communities or for those who perform humanitarian activities, but it is also addressed to the following:
- reporters and media representatives who are accredited in Slovenia for this activity;
- researchers, teachers and professors, college and university associates arriving in Slovenia for research and educational purposes;
- persons who have obtained a Blue Card and their close family members;
- persons who are victims of various illicit activities, such as human trafficking or illegal employment.
The issuance of a permanent residence permit in Slovenia is granted provided that the foreigner has sufficient evidence regarding his or her stay in the country for at least five years. In this sense, it is necessary to provide the temporary residence permit in Slovenia, as well as other documents regarding the application for extension of the temporary residence permit.
The application can be concluded in person by the foreigner who applies for a permanent residency document, but it can also be completed by a legal representative, in which case foreigners can easily address to our team of Slovenian lawyers, who can handle the administrative procedure.
Persons who can obtain residency based on family relations in Slovenia in 2023
If you are a foreigner interested in immigrating to Slovenia in 2023 under a family reunification program, you must know that you will be entitled to a residence permit if you are the family member of a foreigner who already lives here. You can obtain a residence permit as a spouse, as a child of the person living here, as long as you have an age below 21 years old, as well as an older relative, such as the parents.
Our Slovenian attorneys can provide complete information on working in Slovenia and buying a property here. Please contact our lawyers for detailed information; our attorneys can also provide assistance in obtaining a certain type of visa, including the ones available for investment purposes in this country.
