A first stay permit in the Republic of Slovenia can only be issued to you in the form of a temporary residence permit. The application can be submitted to the diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Slovenia abroad, which will be sent for consideration to the competent administrative-territorial authority of the Republic of Slovenia.
If all the necessary conditions are met, the administrative-territorial authority will issue a permit and send it back to the diplomatic mission of the consular office of the Republic of Slovenia abroad, where it will be handed over to you. A first temporary residence permit must be obtained before entering the country, except in cases specified by law.
The exception to the rules according to which a permit for the first temporary residence must be obtained before arriving in the Republic of Slovenia, under certain conditions, applies to the following categories of persons:
researchers, teachers, and staff of higher education institutions (HEIs) with a residence permit for university researchers or university staff issued in another Member State of the European Union;
victims of human trafficking;
holders of an EU Blue Card issued in another EU Member State and their family members;
victims of illegal employment;
international students who were in another EU Member State on the basis of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of the study;
long-term residents of another Member State of the European Union and their family members.
In addition to the basic conditions for issuing a permit for the first temporary residence, you must also fulfill other conditions, which, in turn, depend on the purpose of your stay in the Republic of Slovenia.
You must have:
valid passport (valid for at least three months after the expiration of the stay in the Republic of Slovenia);
an appropriate health insurance policy for traveling abroad, which, at minimum, provides coverage for the costs of emergency medical care in the Republic of Slovenia;
sufficient amount of money for living, namely: the amount per month, which must be not less than the minimum wage in the Republic of Slovenia;
notarized police clearance from your country, translated into Slovenian (if the country issues such certificates), issued no earlier than three months before entering the country;
photo; at the diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Slovenia abroad, you must also take 2 fingerprints for their further digitization.
In addition to the above evidence, you must also indicate one of the justified reasons or purposes for which you plan to reside in the Republic of Slovenia and fulfill the conditions specified by law for issuing a separate type of residence permit in the country (for example, a work permit when obtaining a temporary residence permit for the purpose of employment or work).
More details about the requirements and the package of necessary documents for obtaining a temporary residence permit can be found on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit in the country are the continuous legal stay of a foreigner in the Republic of Slovenia for five years on the basis of a temporary residence permit, as well as the fulfillment of the conditions necessary for obtaining a temporary residence permit. You can submit an application with a request for a permanent residence permit yourself or it can be submitted by your legal representative or an authorized person to the administrative-territorial authority on which territory you live. During the period of consideration and decision-making regarding your application, you must stay in the Republic of Slovenia on the basis of a temporary residence permit.
The period of stay on the basis of a long-term residence visa is credited to you during the period for issuing a permanent residence permit if before the expiration of the visa you applied for a temporary residence permit and you were issued a residence permit as a person with a long-term residence visa.
The period of stay on the basis of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of education and vocational training, when calculating the period for issuing a permanent residence permit, is counted only as half the term.
The accrual of the period for issuing a permanent residence permit does not include the time spent in the Republic of Slovenia on the basis of a temporary residence permit for an employee for the purpose of performing seasonal work, an employee sent to perform work, or a person under temporary protection.
If you are the holder of an EU Blue Card, then in the five-year period for issuing a permanent residence permit you will also be credited with possible periods of stay in other EU member states on the basis of an EU Blue Card.
If you have a permanent residence permit or refugee status in the Republic of Slovenia, your family members may be issued a permanent residence permit after two years of continuous legal residence in the Republic of Slovenia on the basis of a temporary residence permit or confirmation of a submitted application with a request to extend or issue a further temporary residence permit.
To obtain a residence permit in Slovenia, as in most EU countries, applicants need solid reasons:
Employment in Slovenia (Please note that in this case, the applicant must know the Slovenian language at a good level)
Studying in Slovenia (students have the right to live in Slovenia with the entire family, however, taking into account the new immigration policy, their documents will be checked especially carefully)
Marriage to a Slovenian citizen
Please note that, unlike many European countries, buying property in Slovenia is not a basis for issuing a residence permit. For each category of applicants, there are certain quotas and restrictions on obtaining and extending a residence permit in Slovenia.
More details about the requirements and the package of necessary documents for obtaining a temporary residence permit can be found on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The rules and regulations for obtaining citizenship in the country are described in the Law "On Citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia" (Zakon o držавljanstvu Republike Slovenije), adopted on June 5, 1991. According to this document, you can become a citizen of Slovenia either by birth (being a blood relative of a Slovenian) or by the naturalization procedure. Foreigners are offered the second option, and the country's legislation provides for 2 methods – a standard and preferential naturalization procedure in Slovenia.
Standard naturalization
The standard procedure provides for 10 years of residence in the country without a criminal record and with sufficient financial support. At the same time, for the first 5 years, the applicant is staying in Slovenia with a temporary residence permit, which changes the permanent residence permit for the next term.
Preferential naturalization
Reduction of compulsory 10-year residence to 1 year is possible for the following categories of applicants:
ethnic Slovenes - those who have a strong affinity with the citizens of the country in the 2nd and 3rd generations;
official spouses of citizens of the country;
those whose parents became citizens of Slovenia as a result of naturalization;
applicants who have special merits to the country in the field of science, sports or culture.
Documents required for registration of Slovenian citizenship:
the applicant's birth certificate;
applicant's passport;
copy of domestic passport;
marriage certificate (if any);
birth certificates of parents;
official biography (brief information about the applicant).
Mandatory requirements:
Absence of criminal and administrative violations
Successful passage of the Slovenian language proficiency exam
Proof of sufficient financial security.
Please note: although second citizenship in Slovenia is allowed, the naturalization procedure provides for the renunciation of the first citizenship.
More details about the requirements and the package of necessary documents for obtaining citizenship can be found on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Dual citizenship is allowed in Slovenia unless persons acquire Slovenian citizenship by naturalization — in this case, they are usually obliged to renounce any foreign citizenship they have.
An application for a permit of this type can be submitted by a foreigner who plans to perform or continue working in a profession requiring high qualifications in Slovenia.
In Slovenia, the EU Blue Card is issued for a period of up to two years and gives the right to enter, live, work, leave and re-enter Slovenia within the period for which it was issued.
As a rule, you apply for a Blue Card at the Slovenian Consulate in your country of citizenship or country of residence. You can also apply for a Blue Card directly in Slovenia at the relevant foreign police station if you are legally residing in Slovenia.
Additional information on the conditions for obtaining a Blue Card and a list of required documents can be found on the European Immigration Portal: https://ec.europa.eu/immigration/slovenia_en
Slovenia