Work Permit in Slovenia

Updated on Wednesday 12th October 2022

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A work permit is a document that provides the right of carrying a work activity in this country. The document is required for foreign nationals relocating to Slovenia, but foreigners who are citizens of the European Union (EU) do not need to apply for a work permit if they intend to become employees of Slovenian companies.

The work permit is necessary for most of the third country nationals, but it must be noted that specific exemptions do apply; you may find out more details on the categories of persons who do not need to apply for a work permit from our team of lawyers in Slovenia, who can also help you with the formalities of applying for this document.

What is the single work and residence permit in Slovenia?

The single work and residence permit in Slovenia, as its name suggests, represents a type of immigration document that can be obtained by foreigners, which grants them with the right to temporary residence in this country and the right of working here. The document has become available for foreigners starting with 2015.

The single work and residence permit is regulated under the rules of law of the Employment, Self-employment and Work of Foreigners Act, a legislation which can be detailed by our law firm in Slovenia. The issuance of the document falls under the supervision of the Administrative Unit and the Employment Service of Slovenia; our team of Slovenian lawyers can present extensive information on how to apply for a single permit with these institutions.

Who can apply for a single work and residence permit in Slovenia?

The single work and residence permit in Slovenia (or the single permit) can be obtained by a wide category of foreigners who want to develop a work activity in this country. It can be issued for self-employed persons or for general employment purposes. It is also addressed to those extending their employment contracts or for those who change their workplaces provided by the same employer.

The single permit is also addressed to those who want to become employees in Slovenia under the EU Blue Card, a type of work permit that is addressed only to professionals with extensive experience and knowledge in their respective fields. The document can also be obtained by persons participating in training courses in Slovenia. Additional types of work activities are applicable and you may find out more on this subject from our team of Slovenian lawyers.

What are the characteristics of the employment market in Slovenia?

Foreigners who are interested in relocating to Slovenia for employment purposes should know that the country has a stable, solid employment market, with a low unemployment rate – in 2018, the country achieved its lowest unemployment rate registered in the last decade. Slovenia has numerous foreign workers from neighboring countries, but also workers from third countries. Currently, the Slovenian employment market is characterized by the following:

according to the data provided by the Statistical Office, in the 1st quarter of 2020, the unemployment rate stood at 4.6%;
the total number of employed persons in Slovenia is of 901,728 persons (data gathered at the level of November 2019 and which refers to employees with an age of at least 15 years old employed based on an employment contract or working as self-employed);
in 2018, the country had a total of 3,900 persons registered as foreign daily migrant workers, arriving from countries such as Italy or Austria;
the majority of such workers were men (accounting for 79.4%);
in 2018, Slovenia issued 38,938 single work and residence permits to third country nationals.

Labor force in Slovenia

The quality of the workforce in the country is one of the reasons why foreign investors choose to open companies in Slovenia. Other reasons include the country’s geographical position, the possibility to increase the market share and good infrastructure.

The quality of a Slovenian company is also given by the quality of its employees and Slovenians know this very well. People in Slovenia are qualified and hardworking and are constantly looking to improve their skills. English is the most popular foreign language among Slovenians, followed by German, Italian or Croatian. Most of the population is able to have a conversation in at least two foreign languages: an important asset for foreign investors.

Hiring employees in Slovenia

Employers need to conclude written employment contracts with their employees. The duration of the employment is stipulated in the contract, but special types of contracts include part-time employment contracts and contracts for temporary employment. In Slovenia, the maximum amount of working hours per week is 40.

The labor costs in Slovenia for the employer include the minimum wage, the social security contributions and various reimbursements. Our attorneys in Slovenia can give you detailed information about hiring employees in Slovenia.

How can one obtain a EU Blue Card in Slovenia?

The first condition for obtaining a EU Blue Card in Slovenia is to be considered a highly qualified worker. Our team of lawyers in Slovenia can present the basic requirements that must be satisfied by this category of workers, but it is worth knowing that the applicant must have a university diploma.

The conditions for applying for this immigration document can be presented at length by our law firm in Slovenia, and some of the most important aspects one should satisfy are: having an employment contract with a Slovenian employer signed for a period of at least one year, a statement of the employer which presents the fact that no other Slovenian employee was available for the respective job opening and a filled-out application form, to name a few.

When applying for the EU Blue Card, the employee is also entitled to having a salary 1.5 times higher than the current average salary applicable in this country. You can rely on our law firm in Slovenia for more information on how to obtain a EU Blue Card. At the same time, you can contact our Slovenian lawyers for legal advice and personalized assistance on the issuance of any type of work permit prescribed by the national law.