Living in Slovenia

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Slovenian Government and your local authority. You can also read our Slovenia travel advice for our latest guidance.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Slovenia see our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

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

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.

You can also:

• sign up for our email newsletter
• read the Slovene government’s guidance on the Withdrawal Agreement and citizens’ rights

The Withdrawal Agreement

IfThe 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 werecan legallycontinue residentto live, work and study in Sloveniathe EU broadly as you did before 131 January 2021,2020.

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. Youwill mustbe applythe subject of future negotiations. Read this guidance page for more information

In the meantime, make sure you are registered as a newresident residencein statusSlovenia. byWe 31will Decemberupdate 2021this toguidance secureas yoursoon rights.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 wereare legally resident in Slovenia before 1the Januarytransition 2021period youends needon to31 applyDecember for2020, ayou newwill residencybe document. Youable mustto applystay.

If foryou thisplan documentto beforestay yourin currentSlovenia residencyfor documentmore expires,than or90 beforedays theyou endneed ofto 2021,register whicheveras comesa first.

Applyresident for your new residency document at your local town hall (upravna(Upravna enota).enota) (in Slovene).

You maywill needneed:

• your toUK bookpassport
• a anpassport appointment.

  Forphoto

• your moreEHIC informationcard
• a onbank thestatement
• your newwork residencycontract, documentif you canare read the:
  employed
  • Slovenea government’spension guidancestatement, onif residency,you whichget includesa howpension
  • proof toof getschool theenrolment, newif documentyou are a student
  • Slovene

  You government’smust informationcheck documentwith onyour thetown newhall residencewhat documentfurther fordocumentation UKyou nationalsmay andneed theirto familyapply members

for residency.

Moving

Once toyou’ve held temporary residency in Slovenia

If for 5 years, you arecan movingapply to Slovenia,your checktown thehall entryfor requirementsa forpermanent Sloveniaresident andcertificate read(Potrdilo o Stalnem Bivanju). Read the Slovenian government’s guidance on entering Slovenia.

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

Applying for Slovenian citizenship

Once you’ve heldbeen temporaryofficially residencyresident in Slovenia for 510 years,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. (upravnaYou enota)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 permanentbirth, residentmarriage or death certificate (Potrdilofrom othe StalnemUK.

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

Healthcare

If you are residentliving in Slovenia,Slovenia youor mustmove there permanently before 31 December 2020, you’ll have healthlife-long insurance.healthcare rights in Slovenia as you do now, provided you remain resident.

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

Read the Slovene government’s guidance on eligibilityhealthcare and how to join the state health insurance schemearrangements (in Slovene)..

Read our guidance on healthcarewho options in Slovenia.

You can also read:

• the Slovene government’s guidance on healthcare arrangements
• how to access healthcare asin aSlovenia postedand workerhow if your UK employer has sent you to Slovenia temporarily

register.

State healthcare: S1

If you havelive ain registeredSlovenia S1 form and werereceive livingan inexportable SloveniaUK beforepension, 1contribution-based JanuaryEmployment 2021,Support yourAllowance rightsor toanother accessexportable healthcarebenefit, willyou staymay thecurrently samebe ifentitled youto arestate either:

• receivinghealthcare apaid UKfor Stateby Pension
• receivingthe someUK. otherYou ‘exportablewill benefits’
• aneed frontierto workerapply whofor livesa incertificate Sloveniaof andentitlement commutesknown toas workan inS1 the UK

certificate.

Read our guidance on usinghow to get an S1 form in Slovenia to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare..

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Slovenia, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC from the UK for healthcare in Slovenia.

IfWhen you weretravel livingfrom in Slovenia beforefor 1a Januarytemporary 2021,stay youin mayanother beEuropean eligibleEconomic forArea a(EEA) newcountry UK-issuedor EHICSwitzerland, ifyou you’re:

• acan UKuse studentan inEHIC Slovenia
• ato UKaccess Statestate-provided Pensionerhealthcare within athat registeredcountry. S1
During that short stay:
• athe frontierEHIC workercovers withtreatment athat registeredis S1

Applymedically nownecessary foruntil ayour newplanned UKreturn EHIC.

Anhome

• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.

  Forinsurance

• for more informationinformation, read our guidancetravel onadvice healthcare when travelling in Europepages and advice on foreign travel insurance.

There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.

You should also read guidance on:

• healthcare and studying abroad.
• finding an English-speaking doctor in Slovenia
• . *checking your prescriptions are legal in Slovenia

Passports and travel

YouThe shouldrules carryon yourtravel residencewill document,stay asthe wellsame asuntil yourthe validtransition passportperiod whenends youon travel.31 IfDecember you2020. haveDuring appliedthis buttime not yet received your document, carry your certificate of application.

If you havecan notcontinue yetto appliedtravel forto acountries residence document, you should carry evidence that you are resident in Slovenia.the ThisSchengen couldarea include a tenancy agreement or aelsewhere utility bill in yourthe name,EU datingwith fromyour 2020.UK passport.

IfCheck youyour cannotpassport showis thatvalid youfor aretravel residentbefore in Slovenia, you maybook beyour askedtrip. additionalYour questionspassport atshould thebe bordervalid tofor enter the Schengenproposed area,duration andof your passportstay.

You maycan beapply stampedfor onor entryrenew andyour exit.British Thispassport willfrom notSlovenia.

Passports affectfrom your1 rightsJanuary in Slovenia.

Passports2021

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

From You1 canJanuary apply2021, foryou or renew your British passport from Slovenia.

You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Slovenia, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

You will need to Renewrenew your passport before bookingtravelling your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may haveneed to useshow separatea lanesreturn fromor EU,onward EEAticket and Swissthat citizensyou whenhave queueing.enough money for your stay. You may also needhave to showuse aseparate returnlanes orfrom onwardEU, ticketEEA and thatSwiss youcitizens havewhen enoughqueueing. moneyYour passport may be stamped for yourvisits stay.to these countries.

Entry requirements

YouFrom can1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stayThis longer,is thana 90rolling days180-day inperiod.

To anystay 180for daylonger, period, to work or study, or for business travel, you mustwill need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travellingtravelling. to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of stay authorised under a visa or permit will not count against the 90-day limit. Travel to the UK and the Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area.Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Travel to the UK and Ireland will not change.

Driving in Slovenia

IfDriving youlicence arerules residentwill instay Slovenia,the yousame mustuntil exchange31 yourDecember UK driving licence for a Slovene one.2020.

If you wereare legally resident in SloveniaSlovenia, before 1 January 2021, you mustshould exchange your drivingUK licence for a Slovene licencedriving bylicence. 31You Decembercan 2021.

Ifstill youuse moved to Slovenia after 31 December 2020, you must exchange your licenceSlovene within 12 months of becoming legally resident.

To exchange your UK driving licence you will need:

• your current driving licence
• valid medical certificate
• a passport photo
• proof you are a habitual resident in Slovenia
• proof that you were resident in the UK whenfor yourshort UKvisits drivingor licenceexchange wasit issued.for The British Embassy has produced a letter which clarifies that UK drivinglicence licenceswithout aretaking onlya issuedtest to UK residents. Contact us if you requirereturn a copy

Check with your town hall (upravna enota) what further documentation you may need to exchangelive yourin drivingthe licence.UK.

For information on driving in Slovenia, read guidance on:

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

Driving

Some inapplicants thehave UKbeen withasked ato Sloveneprove licence

Youresidency can use your Slovene licence in the UK forat shortthe visits,time ortheir exchangeUK itlicence forwas aissued. UKThe licenceBritish withoutEmbassy takinghas produced a test.letter Wewhich willclarifies updatethat theseUK pagesdriving iflicences there are anyonly changesissued to theUK rules,residents. asContact soonus asif informationyou isrequire available.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.

Working in Slovenia

If you were legally resident in Slovenia before 1 January 2021, you have the right to work, as long as you remain legally resident.

Read our guidance on working in an EU country.

You may need to apply for a UK police certificate.

If you are planningresident to come to Slovenia to work, you may need a visa.

Frontier workers

If you live in Slovenia andon were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 131 JanuaryDecember 2021,2020, you maywill needmaintain ayour permitright to showwork, thatas youlong areas ayou frontierremain worker.resident You must also apply for the new residency document in Slovenia.

If you live in the UK or another EU or EFTA country and regularly commuted to work in Slovenia before 1 January 2021, you may need a permit. The Slovene government has not yet confirmed the process to obtain a frontier worker permit. We will update this guidance as soon as information is available.

Money and tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Slovenia to ensure you 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

National Insurance

Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Slovenia.

Banking

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

National Insurance

WhetherFind UKout banksif you can providepay servicesNational toInsurance customerswhile livingabroad in theorder EEAto isprotect ayour matterState ofPension local law and regulation.entitlement Yourto bankother orbenefits financeand providerallowances.

If should contact you ifare theyemployed needor toself-employed makein anythe changesEU to your product or theEEA wayand they provide it. If you have anya concernsUK-issued aboutA1/E101 whetherform, you mightwill beremain affected,subject contactto yourUK providerlegislation oruntil seek independent financial advice.

Read the Moneyend anddate Pension Service guidance on banking,the insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border bankingform.

Pensions

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Slovenia.

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

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.

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.

Benefits

Pensions after 31 December 2020

ReadThere ourwill guidancebe no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on entitlementclaiming the UK State Pension 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 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 31 December 2020.

If you are considering moving to Slovenia on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

You whilecan continue to receive your UK State Pension if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you can still claim your UK State Pension.

Benefits

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are livingmoving 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 Checktool to check which UK benefits you canmight claimbe able to get while you’re abroad and how to claim them.
  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 31 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 31 December 2020.

If you are considering moving to Slovenia on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Voting

If you are registered as a permanent resident (Potrdilo o Stalnem Bivanju) in Slovenia you can vote in local elections. You cannot stand in local elections or vote in European Parliament elections.

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

Find out how you can get married abroad.

You may also need:

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

Pets

IfCurrent you have a pet passport issued by Slovenia or another EU member state, you can use it to travel withrules yourwill petstay tothe Greatsame Britainuntil and31 elsewhereDecember in the EU.2020.

AIf GB-issuedyou’re EUtravelling petwith passportyour ispet not valid for travel to the EUfirst ortime Northernyou Ireland.must Youvisit should speak to your vet before you travel to get thea necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.passport.

Read guidance on:

• on bringing your pet to GB
• travelling with your pet in the EUUK.
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel..

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 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.information