Living in Slovenia

Stay up to date

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Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts to this guidance
• follow the British Embassy in Ljubljana on Facebook

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.Slovenia.

You can also:

• sign up for our email newsletter
• read Livingthe inSlovene government’s guidance on the EU:Withdrawal prepareAgreement forand Brexitcitizens’ rights

The Withdrawal Agreement

The Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for a deal on citizens’ rights. It sets out a transition period which lasts until 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to live, work and study in the EU broadly as you did before 31 January 2020.

If you are resident in Slovenia at the end of the transition period, you will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, and your rights will be protected for as long as you remain resident in Slovenia.

Any rights that are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement will be the subject of future negotiations. Read this guidance page for more information

In the meantime, make sure you are registered as a resident in Slovenia. We will update this guidance as soon as more information becomes available.

You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Slovenia.

Residency

If you are resident in Slovenia before the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.

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
• a bank statement
• your work contract, if you are employed
• 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

If you are resident in Slovenia before the end of the implementation period on 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.

If there are changes to residency registration processesprocesses, 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

If you are living in Slovenia or move there permanently before 31 December 2020, you’ll have life-long healthcare rights in Slovenia as you do now, provided you remain resident.

If you are resident in Slovenia, you must obtain basic state health insurance through the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (Zavod za zdravstveno zavarovanje Slovenije). You can also pay for supplementary health insurance through private insurance providers.

Read the Slovene government’s guidance on healthcare arrangements.

Read our guidance on who can access healthcare in Slovenia and how to register.

State healthcare: S1

If you live in Slovenia and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

Read our guidance on how to get an S1 form.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Slovenia, you must not use your 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

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Passports and travel

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Entry requirements

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Driving in Slovenia

Driving licence rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

If you are resident in Slovenia, you should exchange your UK licence for a Slovene driving licence. 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 Slovene government’s guidance on car registration in Slovenia. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.

Driving after Brexit

Driving licence rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

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 anotheran EU country.

You may need to apply for a UK police certificate.

Working

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Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxationdouble taxation agreement with Slovenia to ensure peopleyou do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Slovenia have not changed.

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-taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Slovenia. Send your questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

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

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

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 Brexit31 December 2020

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If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance..

If you are living in Slovenia 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 the31 endDecember of the implementation period.2020.

Benefits

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Benefits

You will need to tell the EU.UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

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 – in 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 Brexit31 December 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live there and meet all other 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 the31 endDecember of the implementation period.2020.

Voting

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Voting after Brexit

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You may be able to vote in some UK elections.

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

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

Pets

Current pet travel rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you must visit your vet to get a pet passport.

Read guidance on bringing your pet travelto the UK..

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.

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 ForeignForeign, and Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information