Living in Slovenia

This page tells you what to do ahead of the UK leaving the EU. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

The British Embassy regularly holds events across Slovenia for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizen outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Slovenia after Brexit.

You can also:

• signread upLiving forin ourthe emailEU: newsletterprepare for Brexit
• read Livingthe inSlovenian theGovernment’s EU:webpage preparewith their latest information for BrexitUK nationals (in Slovene only)

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Slovenia.

If you plan to stay in Slovenia for more than 90 days you need to register as a resident at your local town hall (Upravna enota) (in Slovene).

You will need:

• your UK passport
• a passport photo
• your EHIC card
• ayour bankwork statementcontract
• youra workbank contract, if you are employedstatement
• a pension statement, if you get a pension
• proof of school enrolment, if you are a student

You must check with your town hall what further documentation you may need to apply for residency.

Once you’ve held temporary residency in Slovenia for 5 years, you can apply to your town hall for a permanent resident certificate (Potrdilo o Stalnem Bivanju). Read the Slovenian government’s guidance on entering Slovenia.

Visas and residency after Brexit

IfUK younationals areregistered residentas inresidents Sloveniawill beforebe theable endto ofstay thein implementationSlovenia periodafter onBrexit. 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.

If there are changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.

Applying for Slovenian citizenship

Once you’ve been officially resident in Slovenia for 10 years (or 1 year if you are married to a Slovene national), you can apply for Slovenian citizenship.

You will need to apply for Slovenian citizenship at your local town hall. You will need to:

• submit a UK criminal records check, known as a DBS check when applying for citizenship, which must be certified and translated into Slovenian
• pass an exam in Slovene

You may also need to obtain a birth, marriage or death certificate from the UK.

You may also be required to have all your UK documents officially translated and legalised (apostilled).

Healthcare

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Slovenia.

Passports and travel after Brexit

After Brexit, the rules on travel will change. Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. During this time you arecan residentcontinue to travel freely in Slovenia,the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you must obtainhave basicat stateleast health6 insurancemonths throughleft on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). If you renewed your current passport before the Healthprevious Insuranceone Instituteexpired, ofextra Sloveniamonths (Zavodmay zahave zdravstvenobeen zavarovanjeadded Slovenije)to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

If there’s no deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You must retain evidence of travel (such as train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence.

Healthcare

Residents must ensure they have basic state health insurance, but you can also pay for supplementary health insurance through private insurance providers.insurance.

Read the SloveneNHS government’s guidance on healthcare arrangementsin Slovenia.

European Healthand Insuranceread CardSlovenia’s (EHIC)

information on health care in Slovenia and health insurance in Slovenia.

If you are resident in Slovenia, you must not use youra EHICEuropean Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK for healthcare in Slovenia.

When you travel from Slovenia for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
• for more information, read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.

You can find an English-speaking doctor in Slovenia.

You must also check your prescriptions are legal in Slovenia.

Healthcare after Brexit

ThereYou willmust besecure nobasic changes to your healthcare accesscoverage beforethrough 31the DecemberSlovenian 2020.National YouHealth canInsurance alsoAgency continuebefore to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.Brexit.

If you are living in Slovenia or move there permanentlyis beforea 31deal Decemberand 2020,you you’llare haveresident life-long healthcare rights in Slovenia asby youthe doend now,of providedthe youimplementation remainperiod, resident.

Passportsyou andwill travel

Youcontinue canto applybe covered for orhealthcare renewas youryou Britishare passport from Slovenia.now.

Passports and travel after Brexit

CheckIf yourthere’s passportno isdeal, valid for travel before you bookmust confirm your trip.residency Yourstatus passportand shoulddecide behow valid for the proposed duration of your stay; you dowill notensure needaccess anyto additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.healthcare.

You’llIf need to renew your passport before travelling if you docurrently not have enough time left on your passport.

Thehealthcare rulescosts onpaid travelfor willby stay the sameUK untilgovernment, thewe endcan ofhelp theif implementation period on 31 December 2020. During this time you canare continueasked to travelpay tofor countriestreatment induring the Schengenfirst area6 ormonths elsewhereafter inBrexit. theTo EUorganise witha yourpayment, UKyou passport.

Wemust willgive updateyour thesehealthcare pagesprovider’s with details of any changes to the rulesNHS asBusiness soonServices asAuthority’s informationOverseas isHealthcare available. You should sign up for updates to this guidance.Services.

Driving in Slovenia

IfYou you are resident in Slovenia, you should exchangeread your UK licence for a Slovene driving licence. You can still use your Slovene licence in the UKNHS forguidance shorton visitshealthcare or exchange it for a UK licencenationals withoutin takingSlovenia aand testhow ifit youmay returnchange toafter live in the UK.Brexit.

ForThe informationUK onhas drivingoffered into Slovenia,continue readpaying guidancethe on:

• drivingcountry licencesyou exchangeslive and renewals
• driving abroad
• road travel in Slovenia

Somefor applicantsyour havehealthcare been asked to prove residency in the UKevent atof theno timedeal, theirjust UKas licenceit wasdoes issued.now. The Britishgovernment Embassy has producedproposed amaintaining lettercurrent whichhealthcare clarifiescooperation thatwith UKSlovenia drivingfor licencesS1 areform onlyholders issueduntil tothe UKend residents.of ContactDecember us2020. ifIf youthere’s requireno adeal, copy.

Bringingand athere UK-registeredis vehicleno toarrangement with Slovenia

Read ourto guidancecontinue onreciprocal takinghealthcare, athose vehiclereceiving outcoverage ofthrough the UK

ReadS1 theform Slovenewill government’snot guidancebe oncovered.

Your carEHIC registrationmay innot Slovenia.be Youvalid mayif bethere’s exemptno fromdeal. someThe ofUK thesehas taxes.offered Ifto so,maintain youthe willEHIC needscheme certificatesif ofthere’s exemption.

Drivingno afterdeal, Brexit

Drivinghowever licencethis rulesis willreliant stayon theSlovenia samecontinuing untilto 31accept DecemberUK 2020.EHICs.

Working in Slovenia

If you are registered as a resident in Slovenia, you have the right to work in Slovenia.

Read our guidance on working in another EU country.

You may need to apply for a UK police certificate.

Working in Slovenia after Brexit

YourIf there is a deal, your right to work will stay the same,same asuntil longthe asend youof remainthe residentimplementation period.

If you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in Slovenia.a regulated profession after Brexit read the guidance on providing services after Brexit.

Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Slovenia to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Read guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• the European Commission’s guidance on paying income tax in Slovenia

You will need to get a tax number from your local tax office before you can open a bank account.

Money and tax after Brexit

Brexit will not change existing double-taxationdouble taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Slovenia. Send your questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

If there’s no deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in the EU. Read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.

National Insurance

Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

If you are employed or self-employed in the EU or EEA and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

Pensions

YouIf willthe needend todate tellon theyour UKform governmentis officesafter that31 dealOctober with2019, youryou benefits,should pensioncontact andthe relevant taxEU, ifEEA or Swiss authority to confirm whether you areneed movingto orstart retiringpaying abroad.social security contributions in that country after 31 October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.

ThereFind willout bemore noabout changessocial beforesecurity 31contributions Decemberafter 2020a tono-deal theBrexit.

Pensions

You ruleswill onneed claimingto tell the UK Stategovernment Pensionoffices inthat thedeal EU,with EEAyour orbenefits, Switzerlandpension asand atax resultif ofyou theare UKmoving leavingor theretiring EU.abroad.

If you retire in Slovenia, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre to claim
• your Slovene state pension from the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute, if you have worked in Slovenia
• pensions from working abroad, if you’ve worked in other EU countries

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

Pensions after Brexit

YouThe canUK government will continue to receivepay youra UK State Pension ifto youthose liveeligible in the EU,EU EEAafter orBrexit. SwitzerlandYour and you can still claim your UK State Pension.

IfPension you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will getbe your UK State Pension uprated everyin yearApril for2020, as2021 longand as2022 you continue to live there. This will happen even if you startlive claimingin yourthe pensionEU, onEEA or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions.Switzerland.

If youthere areis livinga indeal Sloveniaand by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Slovenia, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Slovene pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

Benefits

ThereRead willour beguidance no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claimingpensions UKif benefitsthere’s inno the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.deal.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Slovenia.

• read our guidance on claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad
• use our tool to check which UK benefits you might be able to get while you’re abroad and how to claim them

Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

You may be eligible to claim some Slovenian social security benefits – read guidance on social security benefits – Slovenia and Slovenian social security.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Benefits after Brexit

IfThe youUK aregovernment living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receivepay anychild UK benefits youand alreadydisability receive.benefits Thisto willthose continueeligible forliving asin longSlovenia asafter youBrexit.

If live there andis meeta alldeal otherand eligibility requirements.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Slovenia, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Slovenian contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

Read the guidance on benefits and pensions if there’s no deall.

Driving in Slovenia

If you are resident in Slovenia, you must exchange your UK licence for a Slovene driving licence before the UK leaves the EU. You can still use your Slovene licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

For information on driving in Slovenia, read guidance on:

• driving licences exchanges and renewals
• driving abroad
• road travel in Slovenia.

Some applicants have been asked to prove residency in the UK at the time their UK licence was issued. The British Embassy has produced a letter which clarifies that UK driving licences are only issued to UK residents. Contact us if you require a copy.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Slovenia

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

Read the European Union’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Slovenia. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.

Driving after Brexit

If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.

If there’s no deal and you are unable to exchange your UK driving licence for a local one before the UK leaves the EU, you must do so within 12 months of that date.

Read guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections.

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter to vote

Until the UK leaves the EU, if you are resident in Slovenia, you can vote in local municipal and European parliamentary elections. For more information, read the European Union’s guidance on elections abroad.

Voting after Brexit

AfterUK Brexit,nationals if you are resident in Slovenia you will stillno longer be ableeligible to vote in localEuropean elections.Parliament Youelections willand nostand longerin belocal eligibleelections toafter standBrexit. UK nationals resident in localSlovenia electionswill orstill be able to vote in Europeanlocal Parliament elections.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Slovenia, you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Slovenia you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies
• read guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Slovenia
• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Slovenia

Find out how you can get married abroad.

You may also need:

• notarial and documentary services
• an English-speaking lawyer in Slovenia
• further information on Slovenia

Pets

CurrentYou petwill still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret when the UK leaves the EU, but the rules will staychange. theRead sameguidance untilon 31pet Decembertravel 2020.to Europe.

While the UK is still a Member State, you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport. If you’re travelling with your pet for the first timetime, you must visit your vet to getobtain a pet passport.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.

For moving pet travelhorses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number 112 or dial 113 for the police in Slovenia.

If you are the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Ljubljana.

Accommodation and buying property

Read our guidance for buying a property abroad.

Returning to the UK

You must tell the UK and Slovene authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

• access to benefits and services in the UK if there’s no deal
• bringing your family to the UK
• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding
• importing vehicles back to the UK
• bringing your pet back to the UK
• checking your tax status when you return to the UK.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

If you get healthcare in Slovenia through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Slovenian authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this informationinformation.