Work & Settle in Slovenia

About Slovenia

Slovenia is a small, mountainous country in Central Europe, bordering Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia, with a short coastline on the Adriatic Sea. It’s known for its diverse landscapes, rich history, and cultural heritage. Slovenia is a small but diverse Central European country, famous for its stunning natural beauty, including the Alps, karst caves, and Adriatic coastline, as well as its rich cultural heritage and history. Germany was the country with the most tourists visiting Slovenia, followed by Italy and Austria. Slovenia’s cost of living is generally lower than in many Western European countries, but it’s also pricier than some Eastern European nations, making it a moderate choice for settling and working.

Quick Facts

  
Official Name

Republic Of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija)

Location

Slovenia Is A Country In Central Europe.

Borders

It Shares Borders With Hungary To The East, Italy To The West, Croatia To The South And Austria To The North.

CapitalLjubljana
Language

Slovenian

Official Currency

The Euro

Slovenia Gdp

$ 70 Billion

Slovenia Population21.2 Lakhs (2023)
Slovenia Area

20,271 Km²

Slovenia Visitor

6.58 Million Visitors

Slovenia Shares SimilaritiesAustria & Croatia

Slovenia Residence

Slovenia offers a good quality of life with a peaceful and safe environment, a high quality of living, good healthcare and education, and access to nature, making it an attractive place for residence.
To reside in Slovenia, non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens generally need a residence permit, which can be temporary or permanent, and must be obtained before entering the country, or at a Slovenian embassy if a visa is required.

Types of Residence Permits for Slovenia

Depending on your reason for residence in Slovenia; you can apply for one of the following permits:

  1. Temporary residence permit (začasno prebivališče). The temporary residence permit is issued to foreigners visiting Slovenia with a long-stay visa. The temporary residence permit is valid for three years at most. However, your initial permit is issued only for a year. 
  2. Permanent residence permit (stalno prebivališče). Foreigners who have resided in Slovenia continuously for five years can apply for a permanent residence permit. The permanent residence permit is valid for ten years and can be renewed. 
 Temporary Permanent 
Duration:1-3 years10 years
Conditions:You need to have a reason behind your stay. This can be either a work permit or a student visa.You must have lived in Slovenia with a temporary residence permit for 5 consecutive years.
Benefits: You can work and study in Slovenia until your temporary residence permit expires.You receive the same benefits as a Slovenian citizen under a permanent residence permit. 

Temporary Residence Permit for Slovenia

To get a temporary residence permit in Slovenia, you must fulfill the following steps:

  • Firstly, get a long-stay visa for study, work, or family purposes. You will need a long-stay visa to enter the country and retrieve your residence permit. 
  • Secondly, prepare the required documents for your temporary residence permit. 
  • Thirdly, submit your application at the same embassy where you apply for a long-stay visa, or after you enter the country, apply at an administrative unit in Slovenia. 
  • Finally, register your residence and retrieve your temporary residence card.

Document Checklist for Slovenian Temporary Residence Permit Application

General Documents
1. Valid Passport or ID
2. Application Form
3. Passport-Sized Photos
4. Signature Form
5. Proof of accommodation

Documents Related to Purpose of Stay

1) Proof of Purpose of Stay

2) Employment
3) Studies
4) Family Reunion
5) Other Purposes

Extending a temporary residence permit

To extend a temporary residence permit in Slovenia, you must submit an application to the competent authority before the permit’s expiration date, demonstrating continued compliance with the conditions under which the permit was issued.

How to Get Permanent Residence in Slovenia?

To gain permanent residency in Slovenia, you generally need :

  • Legal Residence: You must have been a legal resident of Slovenia with a temporary residence permit for at least five consecutive years.
  • Application: After the five-year period, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

Requirements

  • Continuous Residence: You must have lived in Slovenia continuously for the required period.
  • Financial Stability: You need to demonstrate that you can support yourself and your dependents without relying on social assistance.
  • Slovenian Language Proficiency: You may need to demonstrate basic Slovenian language skills (A2 level).
  • Good Moral Character: You must have no criminal convictions.
  • Permit Validity: The permanent residence permit is valid for ten years and can be renewed.

Document Checklist for Slovenian Permanent Residence Application

1) Valid Passport
2) Completed Application Form
3) Recent Passport-Sized Photos
4) Proof of Health Insurance
5) Proof of Sufficient Financial Means
6) Criminal Record Certificate
7) Proof of Address in Slovenia

Slovenia Residence Card

A Slovenian residence card, or residence permit, allows non-EU/EEA citizens to enter, live, and work in Slovenia, and travel to other Schengen countries for up to three months, and comes in temporary and permanent forms.

How Long After Permanent Residency Can I Apply for Slovenian Citizenship? 

After obtaining permanent residency in Slovenia, you can typically apply for Slovenian citizenship after 10 years of continuous residency, with the last 5 years being immediately before the application.

You can acquire Slovenian citizenship in several ways, but the most common include:

  1. By birth.
  2. By naturalization.
  3. By marriage.

How to Obtain Residence Through a Business Investment in Slovenia

Setting up a business in Slovenia is a step-by-step process and a great deal of paperwork has to be completed, documents provided, and filed with the relevant authorities. There is also more documentation necessary when applying for a residence permit through investment. At Citizen Lane we understand the many steps of this process and we can be your trusted immigration advisor. With the assistance of our immigration lawyers, we can assist you in this process. 

As the Slovenian law does not restrict the investor to invest in a business area that the authorities deem especially beneficial to the country it is much easier to apply for an investor visa in Slovenia than in many other European countries. The investor is more free to choose his business venture, in order to apply for a residence permit.

The Path to Permanent Residency in Slovenia and Slovenian Citizenship

A permanent residence permit is possible after five years of residency in Slovenia and if the company is still running and in a good financial position. In addition, the residence permit applicant must be able to prove, that he can pay his personal expenses.

Residency can also open the path to citizenship. For a resident to become a citizen you must be a legal resident of Slovenia for at least 10 years. You must be able to prove that you can support your dependents without requiring social assistance and you must have adequate Slovenian language skills. You must be of good moral character, which means having no criminal convictions.

Immigration to Slovenia

Entry and residence in the Republic of Slovenia is possible with valid documents and a residence permit. Slovenia also offers international protection and integration of foreigners into the Slovenian society.

Permits for entry into the Republic of Slovenia

Citizens of the European Union Member States (and of the Member States of the European Economic Area – EEA) may enter the Republic of Slovenia with a valid identity card or a valid passport and do not require a visa or a residence permit. A more favourable treatment for entry and residence is also accorded to their family members.

Third-country nationals must acquire a visa or a residence permit from Slovenia’s diplomatic mission abroad before their arrival in the Republic of Slovenia.

Integration into Slovenian society

Slovenian society’s approach to integration, while aiming for equality and mutual cooperation, faces challenges in truly integrating immigrants, particularly in areas like language and cultural understanding, and requires ongoing efforts to ensure inclusivity.

Citizens of EU and EEA countries in Slovenia

Citizens of the European Union do not need a visa or residence permit to enter the Republic of Slovenia. Entry is permitted on the basis of a valid identity card or a valid passport, irrespective of the reason for entering or the reason for residing in the country – employment, study, self-employment, relocation, etc.

Work in Slovenia

Slovenia offers a good work-life balance, a high quality of life, and a welcoming environment for both expats and locals, with a focus on employee well-being and fair working conditions.
1. In-Demand Jobs:
Some of the most in-demand jobs in Slovenia include healthcare professionals, engineers, IT professionals, and skilled trades.
2. Safe and Stable Country:
Slovenia is a politically stable and safe country, ensuring a secure environment for families and communities.
3. Growing Economy:
Slovenia has a growing economy, with opportunities in various sectors, including IT, tourism, and manufacturing.
4. Remote Work Opportunities:
Many IT companies offer remote working opportunities, allowing employees to achieve a better work-life balance.
5. English Widely Spoken:
English is widely spoken, especially in larger cities and tourist areas, making it easier for expats to find work and integrate into the community.

Presentation of areas of work in Slovenia

Slovenia’s job market offers opportunities in diverse sectors, with in-demand roles including
1. Healthcare:
2. IT and Technology:
3. Construction:
4. Manufacturing:
5. Engineering:
6. Hospitality:
7. Agriculture:
8. Accounting and Auditing
9. Law and Social Sciences
10. Human resources
11. Administration
12. Commerce
13. Management, business consulting, organisation
14. Teaching, Translation, and Culture:
15. Research and Development

Work permit and residence permit in Slovenia

However, Non-EU nationals may only be employed in Slovenia on the basis of a work permit and a residence permit, which must be obtained beforehand.

Work and residence permits are regulated under the Employment, Self-employment and Work of Foreigners Act, which was enacted in 2015. The permits are obligatory for all non-EU nationals who wish to be employed in Slovenia. Unless they can be considered for an exception. Exceptions to the requirements of work and residence permits are the following:

  • refugees,
  • immediate family members of Slovenian citizens,
  • non-EU nationals with a permit for permanent residence,
  • non-EU nationals who have obtained the status of a long-term resident in another Member State of the EU after residing in the Republic of Slovenia for one year,
  • non-EU nationals of Slovenian origin up to the third successive generation.

Single Residence permit for work and residence in Slovenia

To obtain a long-term work permit, an individual should apply for the Single residence permit for work and residence in Slovenia (The Single Permit). It enables professional immigration to Slovenia. Although this is only one of several ways to obtain a work and residence permit, it is one of the most reliable ones. It provides a fallback in case the individual’s business endures a setback and/or negative projections.

Single Permits are issued by The administrative unit (“Upravna enota”) with the consent of the Employment Service of Slovenia (“ESS”) on the basis the Employment, Self-employment and Work of Foreigners Act and corresponding regulation. After submitting the application for The Single Permit, The administrative unit will automatically begin the process of obtaining consent from the Employment Service of Slovenia. An application for The Single Permit may be submitted by a foreigner or by his employer.

The Single Permit is issued for the following

  • employment, self-employment and work;
  • employment, extending employment, written approval because of changing workplaces with the same employer, changing employers or because of employment with two or more employers;
  • EU Blue Card;
  • posted workers;
  • training or further training courses for foreign nationals;
  • individual foreign national services;
  • work from an agent lasting longer than 90 days in a calendar year or seasonal work in farming lasting longer than 90 days.

Slovenia Business Visa Requirements

1. Valid Passport
2. Visa Application Form
3. Passport-Sized Photos
4. Travel Health Insurance
5. Proof of Financial Means
6. Proof of Accommodation
7. Covering Letter
8. Travel Itinerary

Salary in Slovenia

Slovenia, the average monthly gross salary was around €2,394.92 in 2024, with the minimum wage set at €1,277.72 per month .

Seek expert guidance from Coraledu, the leading Overseas Consultant, for your work and settlement in Slovenia, the world’s No.1 destination.

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