Temporary residence, permanent residence and citizenship of Slovenia
General concepts and basic immigration terms
Contents
Temporary residence permit
A temporary residence permit is a temporary authorisation for long-term residence in the country. The first temporary residence permit in Slovenia is usually issued for 2 years (Blue Card - up to 2 years), with subsequent extensions. A residence permit for study is issued for the duration of the studies, for a maximum of 1 year with annual renewal.
Rights with a temporary residence permit
With a Slovenian temporary residence permit, you can:
- Travel freely across Schengen countries without visas
- Open bank accounts in the EU
- Children of residents can attend state schools free of charge on equal terms with citizens
Permanent residence
Permanent residence in Slovenia is granted for 10 years and is then renewed automatically. It grants almost all the rights of citizens (working without restrictions, using healthcare and social insurance, studying at universities on state-funded places, and so on) except for political rights (you cannot vote or be elected).
Conditions for obtaining permanent residence
Continuous residence of 5 years on a temporary residence permit. There is a nuance for students: years of residence on a student temporary residence permit count for half (1 year as 6 months) - therefore, if all 5 years you held a study-based permit, you will need to reside for 10 years to obtain permanent residence.
Slovenian citizenship
Slovenian citizenship is the highest status. Conditions: 10 years of residence (5 years on a temporary residence permit + 5 years on permanent residence) for business immigration or employment. Reductions: if you obtain higher education in Slovenia, you can apply 7 years after your first temporary residence permit.
On this topic
Terms
- Apostille
- CRP (central population register)
- Residence permit for a family member of an EU or Slovenian citizen (dovoljenje za prebivanje za družinskega člana)
- Permanent residence: dovoljenje za stalno prebivanje
- Temporary residence permit (dovoljenje za začasno prebivanje)
- Study permit (dovoljenje za začasno prebivanje zaradi študija)
- Slovenian citizenship by naturalisation (državljanstvo)
- Single permit (enotno dovoljenje)
- Samozaposlitev (single permit for self-employment)
- eUprava (e-government portal)
- Guarantee and invitation letter (garantno pismo, povabilno pismo)
- Slovenian language exam (izpit iz znanja slovenščine)
- MNZJU (Ministry of the Interior and Public Administration)
- Renewing a residence permit (podaljšanje dovoljenja za prebivanje)
- Criminal record certificate (potrdilo iz kazenske evidence)
- Address registration (prijava prebivališča)
- Appeal against a refusal (pritožba)
- Court interpreter (sodni tolmač)
- Upravna enota (administrative unit)
- D visa (vizum za dolgoročno bivanje)
- Schengen C visa (vizum za kratkoročno bivanje)
- Temporary protection (začasna zaščita)
- Sufficient means of subsistence (zadostna sredstva za preživljanje)
- Family reunification (združitev družine)
- ZTuj-2 (Zakon o tujcih, Aliens Act)
Frequently asked questions
- How long does the law allow for deciding on a residence permit?
- Which conditions apply to every residence permit in Slovenia?
- How much is the state fee for a temporary or permanent residence permit?
- Can I travel to other Schengen countries with a Slovenian residence permit?
- How long can I stay in Slovenia after my residence permit expires?
- All questions on this topic
Want to find out your chances and the timeframe for obtaining a residence permit?
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Get a consultationThe information on this page is general and current as of the publication date; it is not individual legal advice. Rules and figures change - confirm the exact conditions for your case at a consultation.