As part of the changes made to Slovenia's Foreigners Act, the authorities have announced that stricter rules will now apply to expats seeking permanent residence permits. Find out what it takes to get a residence permit in Slovenia in 2025

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Slovenia is a small country in the heart of Europe, famous for its high quality of life, beautiful nature, rich culture and promising economy. These and other factors encourage citizens of different countries of the world, including representatives of Israel, the Philippines, Australia and South Africa, to move to Slovenia for permanent residence. However, in order to legally stay in the country, you must have the appropriate documents.

The procedure for obtaining a residence permit in Slovenia in 2025 is further in this article.

What is a residence permit in Slovenia?

A residence permit in Slovenia is a document issued to a foreigner and allows him to stay in the country for a certain period (from 12 months with the right to extend). The document also gives its holder the right to visit the Schengen countries without obtaining an entry permit.

Applicants can apply for a resident card of the Republic of Slovenia if they have legal grounds for staying in the country.

Advantages of a residence permit in Slovenia

- The right to reside in the country for a certain period of time with an unlimited number of border crossings.

- The ability to travel within the Schengen area without visa restrictions (up to 90 days in total out of 180 consecutive days).

- The right to obtain tax residency in the republic six months after moving (for example, for future pension contributions).

- With a certain category of residence permit - access to the European labor market with the opportunity to have the same working conditions as the local population.

- The ability to obtain education (including at state expense) at local universities, which is also available to the children of the permit holder.

- The prospect of naturalization in the republic and obtaining an EU passport.

Who needs to obtain a residence permit in Slovenia?

The legal requirements for a residence permit in Slovenia depend on the nationality of the person wishing to enter the country:

- Representatives of the member states of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) do not need to obtain entry permits or residence permits if they do not stay in the country for a certain period of time.

- Citizens of the rest of the world must follow certain procedures.

Residence requirements in Slovenia for EU citizens

Citizens of the European Union have the opportunity to reside permanently in Slovenia without obtaining the status of a local resident. Applicants only need to register their address in the republic by contacting the relevant administrative unit (municipality) within 3 months of moving.

If a relative who does not have an EU passport immigrates with a foreigner, he or she must apply for a local residence permit for family reunification.

EU passport holders have the right to work, study, and receive services in Slovenian banks and hospitals on the same terms as the indigenous population.

You will need health insurance to safely move and find employment in a new country. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

Types of residence permits in Slovenia

Third-country nationals, in accordance with the “Law on Foreigners”, can obtain a temporary residence permit in Slovenia on the following grounds:

- Employment

Foreigners who have been hired by a private or state local organization can apply for a temporary residence and work permit in Slovenia.

The inviting company in Slovenia organizes a request for employment of an immigrant. After approval by the authorities, the parties sign an employment contract, with which the applicant visits the diplomatic mission of Slovenia and issues a resident card.

It is also possible to employ a foreigner as a seasonal worker with a permit for 6-9 months.

- Self-employment (starting a business)

Self-employed persons have the opportunity to obtain a residence permit in Slovenia subject to approval by the Commercial Register. The applicant can open a business and work in their specialty as an individual entrepreneur without the possibility of employment at other enterprises in the republic. The state does not set any restrictions on the size of the starting capital of an individual entrepreneur, however, the applicant must have sufficient funds to ensure their stay in the country – approximately 600-700 euros per month as of 2024.

- Migration of employees within the corporation

Residents of Slovenia can be persons sent on business trips or transferred to the Slovenian branch of an international organization. A residence permit is also issued to persons for intra-corporate transfers in EU countries. When submitting an application, it is necessary to have an employment contract or similar confirmation of the activities to be carried out in the republic.

- Highly qualified employment (EU Blue Card)

Together with other EU countries, Slovenia provides foreigners with the EU Blue Card – a special type of residence and work permit for persons with demanded qualifications. The applicant must be employed in the republic in their specialty, have appropriate education and a future salary of one and a half times the average wage for the chosen profession in the country. Unlike a regular residence permit, the EU Blue Card is issued to a foreigner for two years at once with the right to reissue for another 36 months.

- Education

Issuance of a Slovenian residence permit is available to foreigners who plan to study in the republic. This category of applicants includes students of domestic and foreign universities (as part of student exchange programs), postgraduate students, doctoral students. Foreigners can attend language courses in Slovenia to obtain a residence permit, come as unpaid interns or persons wishing to improve their qualification level in their existing specialty. This type of temporary residence permit allows applicants to work, as well as apply for a resident card to search for suitable vacancies after graduation.

- Family reunification

Residents of Slovenia can be persons who plan to move to a close relative who holds a passport, residence permit or permanent residence permit in Slovenia.

Eligible family members are legal spouses, children under 18 years of age, parents of a minor of the host country. Other relatives of citizens or residents of Slovenia can apply for a residence permit if they or the inviting person need constant care and/or nursing care.

- Humanitarian reasons

A temporary residence permit in Slovenia is granted to recognized refugees, persons in need of temporary asylum as a result of military aggression, persons requesting international protection for various reasons (e.g. due to persecution in their homeland due to Nazism or racism).

- Other grounds

The status of Slovenian resident is available to: volunteers within the framework of accredited European Union programs, teachers of educational institutions, religious figures, employees of scientific and research organizations, owners of real estate in the republic who reside in it, other applicants, provided that it is in the interests of the state.

Documents for obtaining a residence permit in Slovenia

The main documents for obtaining a residence permit in Slovenia are:

- passport,

- color photo,

- health insurance,

- certificate of no criminal record,

- financial support,

- confirmation of the right to obtain a residence permit (for example, an invitation from a local company, documents about enrollment in a university, confirmation of family ties),

- receipt for payment of the administrative fee.

A foreigner must translate the documents into Slovenian with a sworn translator, affix an apostille or have them notarized.

An expat submits an application for a Slovenian residence permit to the consulate or embassy in the country of residence.

How long is a residence permit in Slovenia valid and its cost?

The main card of a resident of Slovenia is issued to the applicant for a maximum of one year with the right to renewal. Most types of residence in the country can be extended if the applicant maintains legal grounds for staying in the country.

A foreigner can apply for permanent resident status 5 years after receiving the first residence permit, and after 10 years, they can expect to receive Slovenian citizenship.

The deadlines for making a decision on the request are not regulated by law, but, according to expats, it takes up to 2-3 months from the moment of application to issue a residence permit in the republic.

The cost of issuing an initial residence permit in Slovenia is 215 euros.

New requirements for expats to obtain a residence permit in Slovenia in 2025

From November 1, 2024, Slovenia has made basic language skills mandatory for applicants for a permanent residence permit. Those who want to extend their permit on the basis of family reunification are now also subject to this requirement.

According to the authorities, this group of applicants will need to have knowledge of the country's language at the A2 level.

By introducing this requirement, the Slovenian Ministry of the Interior said that the country wants to ensure that foreigners with permanent residence do not find themselves in unpleasant or difficult situations due to the language barrier.

Foreign relatives of Blue Card holders do not need to prove their language skills. The requirement also does not apply to family members of those conducting research in Slovenia, those who have a residence permit issued in another EU country and are conducting research in Slovenia, and those who are transferred within a company.

In addition, this requirement will not apply to those who apply for a residence permit after five years of continuous residence in Slovenia.

The basic test of knowledge of the Slovenian language will be administered by educational institutions or organizations participating in non-formal adult education programs in the Slovenian language. The first test can be taken free of charge.

Victims and refugees will be offered a free 180-hour training program. Data from the Slovenian Ministry of the Interior show that more than 25,000 participants attended the programs this year.

When can a residence permit in Slovenia be refused?

- A temporary residence permit in Slovenia is not issued to persons who try to obtain it using forged documents or false information about themselves.

- A frequent reason for refusal to issue a residence permit is the lack of certain certificates or incorrect completion of the dossier.

- Applications for a resident card are not approved for persons convicted of various crimes (including abroad) and those who may pose a threat to the republic.

A residence permit in Slovenia opens up the opportunity for foreigners to settle in a European country, although the procedure for obtaining it may seem complicated, this document will provide the applicant with many advantages.

Reminder! Luxembourg is a small country in the heart of Europe that has been attracting more and more expats in recent years. However, moving here comes with some legal complications. We have already talked about 7 important aspects that regulate migration, work and residence in Luxembourg.

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.