Living in Slovenia

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens about moving to or living in Slovenia. Read about how our embassy in Ljubljana can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should obtainget definitive information from the Slovene authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

To stay up to date:

• sign up for email alerts
• follow the British Embassy inLjubljana Slovenia on Facebook and Twitter

If you were living in Slovenia before 1 January 2021

Some parts of this guide only apply if you werehave been legally living in Slovenia since before 1 January 2021. TheseYou areshould indicatedread withthis sub-headings.in addition to the rest of the guidance in each section.

You should also read our Living in Europe page for detailed guidance about citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Coronavirus

YouFollow should follow the advice of the Slovene government and your local authority. You canshould also read FCDOthe Slovenia travel advice.

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

Visas and residency

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

Check the entry requirements for Slovenia and read the Slovene government’s guidance on entering Slovenia.

You should apply for a residence permit as a third country national. A third country national is someone who does not have EU, EEA or Swiss nationality.

Your local town hall (‘upravna enota’) deals with all residence matters. By law, they must provide services in Slovene. If you weredo legallynot speak Slovene you may need an interpreter. After you have held temporary residency in Slovenia for 5 years, you can apply to your upravna enota for a permanent resident certificate (‘Potrdilo o Stalnem Bivanju’).

Visas and residency if you were living in Slovenia before 1 January 2021

If you needapplied tofor applyyour fornew biometric residence permit by 31 December 2021, your rights are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement pending a decision on your application. You should continue the process to get your new biometric residence permit.card Youif mustyou applydo fornot thishave permitit beforeyet. In the meantime your currentcertificate residencyof documentapplication expires,(a orletter beforeyou 31should Decemberhave 2021,received whicheverwhen comesyou first.applied) is proof of your status in Slovenia. If you have not had a response to your application you should contact your upravna enota.

ApplyWhen for your new biometric residence permit expires, you must renew it at your ‘upravna enota’.

Appeal process

If your application is refused, you will be told how to appeal in your notification letter. If you need a lawyer but cannot afford to pay for one, contact your local town hallhall’s (‘upravnaresident enota’).legal Youadviser for information.

If your appeal is rejected, you may needbe able to bookapply anfor appointment.a residency visa as a third country national. Alternatively, you may be able to apply for a long term tourist visa.

Late applications

ForThe moredeadline informationfor onapplying thefor a new biometric residence permitstatus read:

• was 31 December 2021. You can still apply if you have reasonable grounds for missing the deadline. Read the Slovene government’sgovernment guidance on residencylate applications,. whichApplications includeswill informationbe considered on howan individual basis. You should apply as soon as possible.

  Family members

  When your residency status is confirmed, your close family members continue to getbe theable newto biometricjoin residenceyou permit

• and settle in Slovenia at any point in the Slovenefuture. government’sFind guidancemore information on who this applies to in the newLiving residencein documentEurope guidance. forThey UKmust nationalstravel to Slovenia and theirthen familysubmit, members
• oureither guidancein onperson howor tothrough geta legal representative, a biometric residence permit application as your family member

.

Nationals of certain non-EU countries may need a visa before travel. The Slovene authorities should issue family reunion visas free of charge.

Passports and travel

Coronavirus travel restrictions may affect travel to and from Slovenia.

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

Check the Slovenia travel advice for Slovenia for passport validity requirements.

Always carry your passport when travelling within the Schengen area. If you have citizenship of an EU /or European Free Trade AreaAssociation (EFTA) country, in addition to your British citizenship, you should enter and leave Slovenia using your EU /or EFTA passport.

If you stay in Slovenia with a Slovene residence permit or long stay visa, this time does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.

If you visit other Schengen area countries outside Slovenia, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.

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

If you were living in Slovenia before 1 January 2021

When you travel, especially within the Schengen area, carry your residence document (‘dovoljenje za začasno prebivanje’ or ‘dovoljenje za stalno prebivanje’) or frontier worker permit issued under the Withdrawal Agreement, in addition to your valid passport.

You must proactively show your residence document, or other evidence of residence status, if you are asked to show your passport at border control. If you have applied for, but not yet received, your residence document, carryshow your certificate of application.

If you cannot prove that you are a resident in Slovenia, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the SchengenEU. area,Your and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Slovenia.

Ifthe youcountry haveor rightscountries underwhere the Withdrawal Agreement you dolive not need any extra months on your passport to enter or exitwork. EU countries.

Moving to Slovenia

If youa arepassport movingis tostamped, Slovenia, check the entrystamp requirementsis forconsidered Slovenianull and readvoid thewhen Slovenianyou government’scan guidanceshow onevidence enteringof Slovenia.lawful residence.

If you arrived in Slovenia after 1 January 2021 you do not have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.Agreement, You should apply for a new residence permit as a third country national. Separate arrangements apply if you arecan aenter closeand familyexit memberSlovenia ofwith a UKvalid nationalpassport. whoYou hasdo beennot continuouslyneed residentany sinceextra beforevalidity 31on Decemberthe 2020.

Afterpassport youbeyond havethe helddates temporaryon residencywhich in Slovenia for 5 years, you canare apply to your local town hall (‘upravna enota’) for a permanent resident certificate (‘Potrdilo o Stalnem Bivanju’).traveling.

Healthcare

Read our guidance on healthcare in Slovenia and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.

ReadTravel theinsurance Sloveneis governmentnot guidanceintended onto cover healthcare arrangementscosts if you live overseas.

IfRead you’re leaving the UKSlovene withgovernment medicine that contains a controlled drug, check with the embassy about the rules for the country you’re going to before you travel and the guidance from NaTHNaC on besthealthcare practice when travelling with medicinesarrangements.

You should also read our guidance on:

• finding an English-speaking doctor in Slovenia
• healthcare when travelling inwith Europemedicines
• advice on foreign travel insurance
• bringing medicine containing a controlled drug into the UK

Working in Slovenia

If you are planning to move to Slovenia and work, you may need a visa. Read the Slovene government’s guidance on working in Slovenia as a foreign national and how to get a visa. To apply for a job you may need to provide a UK police certificate.

Read:

• working or providing services in Slovenia
• working in an EU country
• EU guidance on working in an EU country

If you were living in Slovenia before 1 January 2021

You have the right to work under the Withdrawal Agreement, if you appliedhave for a ‘dovoljenje za začasno prebivanje’ or ‘dovoljenje za stalno prebivanje’ residence document.document, or have applied for one.

If you live in Slovenia and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Professional qualifications

You may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in Slovenia.

Read guidance on:

• recognition of professional qualifications
• how to get your qualification recognised in Slovenia

If you were living in Slovenia before 1 January 2021

If the relevant regulator in Slovenia officially recognised your professional qualification before 1 January 2021, or you started the recognition process by this date, make sure you understand the terms of your recognition decision. SeekYou should get advice from the regulatorrelevant if needed.regulator.

Studying in Slovenia

If you plan to study in Slovenia, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.

Contact the relevant higher education provider in Slovenia to check what fees you may have to pay.

Read guidance on:

• continuing your studies in the EU
• studying in the European Union
• healthcare for students in Slovenia

If you were living in Slovenia before 1 January 2021

The studying in the European Union includes specific information forif thoseyou who were already living in Slovenia before 1 January 2021.

Money, tax and bankingTax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Slovenia toso ensurethat you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Slovenia. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Slovenia.

Read guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• tax if you get a pension and live abroad
• paying income tax in Slovenia
• EU guidancefactsheet on taxbuying andgoods customs, including online shopping from the UK websites
• EU

National guidanceinsurance onand customssocial includingsecurity preferentialcontributions

National originInsurance-type contributions

EU guidance(NIC) onare excisecalled duties

National‘social Insurance

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

UK banking

WhetherYou UKcan banksrequest canproof providefrom servicesHMRC toof customersthe livingtime you’ve worked in the EEAUK dependsand onyour localUK lawsNational andInsurance regulation. record.

Read theguidance Moneyon:

• national andinsurance Pensionfor Service’sworkers MoneyHelperfrom guidancethe onUK banking,working insurancein andthe financialEEA servicesor changesSwitzerland
• social security contributions for moreworkers informationcoming onto cross-borderthe banking.
  UK from the EEA or Switzerland

PensionsBenefits

UK benefits

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

IfCheck youwhich areUK movingbenefits oryou retiringcan claim while abroad, youand musthow tellto claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Slovene benefits

You may be eligible to claim some Slovene social security benefits. You should read the UKSlovene government officesinformation thaton dealthe withtype yourof benefits,benefits pensionavailable and tax.the EU information about when and how you can claim social security benefits in Slovenia.

Pensions

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

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Slovenia, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre tofor claimfurther information
• pensionspensions, from abroad, if you’ve worked in other EU countries

Read the Money and Pension ServiceService’s MoneyHelper 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 must respond as soon as possiblepossible. -Your your payments may be suspended if you do not.

BenefitsMoney and banking

ReadWhether our guidance on entitlement to UK benefitsbanks andcan pensionsprovide whileservices youto arecustomers living in Slovenia.

Ifthe youEEA aredepends movingon orlocal retiringlaws abroad,and youregulation. mustRead tell the UKMoney governmentand officesPension thatService’s dealMoneyHelper withguidance youron benefits,banking, pensioninsurance and tax.

Checkfinancial whichservices UKfor benefitsmore youinformation canon claimcross-border whilebanking.

Accommodation abroad and howbuying to claim them.

property

ManyRead income-relatedour benefitsguidance suchfor asbuying Pensiona Creditproperty andabroad.

Driving Housingin BenefitSlovenia

You cannot berenew paidor ifreplace you’reyour abroadUK, forGibraltar, moreJersey, thanGuernsey 4or weeks.

YouIsle canof requestMan prooflicence fromif HMRCyou oflive thein timeSlovenia. you’veRead workedthe inguidance theon UKwhat andyou ofmust yourdo UKto Nationaldrive Insurancelegally record.in Slovenia.

Slovenian benefits

YouRead mayguidance beon:

• what eligibleyou need to claimdrive somein Slovenianthe socialEU
• driving securitylicence benefits.rules Youin shouldSlovenia readif guidanceyou onlive socialthere
• road securitytravel benefits in Slovenia and Slovenian social security.

Accommodation

Exchanging andyour buyingUK, property

ReadGibraltar, ourJersey, guidanceGuernsey foror buyingIsle aof propertyMan abroad.

licence

Driving in Slovenia

If you arelive resident in Slovenia, you must exchange your UK driving licence for a Slovene one.

Ifone youwithin were12 legallymonths residentof inbecoming Slovenialegally beforeresident. 1You Januarycannot 2021,use youan mustInternational exchangeDriving yourPermit driving(IDP) licenceinstead forof aexchanging Sloveneyour licence by 31 December 2021.licence.

IfYou youcan movedexchange toyour Slovenialicence afterwithout 31having Decemberto 2020,take youa musttest exchange your licence within 12one monthsyear of becoming legally resident.

To exchange your UK driving licence you will need:

• your current driving licence
• a valid medical certificate
• a passport photo
• proof you are a habitual resident in Slovenia
• proof that you were resident in the UK when your UK driving 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

Check with your town hall (‘upravna enota’) what further documentation you may need to exchange your driving licence.

Disabled drivers

ForIf informationyou onhave drivinga inUK Slovenia,Blue readBadge guidanceand on:

• drivinglive licencesin exchangesSlovenia, andyou renewals
• drivingmust abroad
• roadreturn travelit into Slovenia

Driving in the original UK withissuing aauthority. SloveneContact licence

You can use your Slovenelocal licence‘upravna inenota’ the(in UKSlovene) forto shortfind visits,out orhow exchangeto itapply for a UKSlovene licenceBlue withoutBadge.

Read takingthe aEU test.guidance Weon will update these pages if there are any changes to the rules,EU asparking sooncard asfor informationpeople iswith available.disabilities.

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 carimporting registrationvehicles ininto Slovenia and the Slovene government’s guidance on car registration.

Driving outside Slovenia with a Slovene licence

You maycan beuse exemptyour fromSlovene somelicence ofwhen thesevisiting taxes.the UK. Keep up-to-date with the UK Highway Code.

If so,you go to live in the UK, you willcan exchange your Slovene licence for a UK one without taking a test.

To drive in another country, in addition to your Slovene licence you may need certificatesto ofapply exemption.for an International Driving Permit (IDP).

Read the EU guidance on:

• EU driving licences and insurance
• driving licence exchange and recognition 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. You can:

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

Births, deaths, marriagesmarriage and civil partnerships

If your child is born in Slovenia, you willcan register the birth with the UK authorities in addition to registering locally. If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth abroadwith the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

If someone dies in Slovenia read our guidance on:

• what to do after someone dies abroad
• readbereavement guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Slovenia
• findfinding a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Slovenia

Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

You may also need:

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

Pets

If you have a pet passport issued by Slovenia or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU. Ensure that your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up-to-date before you travel. Vets in Great Britain cannot enter rabies vaccination details in non-UK issued pet passports.

A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. YouSpeak should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’reyou compliantcomply with the EU Petpet Traveltravel Regulations.regulations.

Read guidance on:

• bringing your pet to GB
• travelling withto yourNorthern petIreland inwith theyour EUpet
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet
• travelling with your pet in the EU

CheckBefore you travel, check the rules offor the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.requirements.

Emergencies

YouDial can dial the European emergency number 112 in Slovenia for the police, ambulance or fire brigade, or dial 113 for police.

YouDial can dial the EU 116 000 hotline to report a missing child in the EU country where you live or in another EU country.

If Ityou alsoneed providesguidance on child abduction, read the guidance andon supportinternational toparental child abduction; the familiesEU ofguidance missingon children.child abduction and EU guidance on child abduction to another EU country.

If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisiscrisis, abroad, contact the British embassyEmbassy Ljubljana.

Returning to the UK

YouCheck mustthe tellCOVID-19 travel guidance for entering the UK.

Tell andthe Slovene and UK 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.

Useful information

Support for British Nationalsnationals abroad: a Guideguide sets sets out how to stay safe abroad, and explains how the Foreign,FCDO Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can support you if you get into difficulty.

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.