Slovenia
Slovenia is an EU and Schengen member state. Third-country nationals access residence through temporary residence permits (employment/single permit, EU Blue Card, self-employment, study, research, digital nomad, family reunification), leading to permanent residence after 5 years and citizenship after 10 years. Since November 2024, language requirements (A2 for permanent residence) apply, and a new digital nomad permit took effect 21 November 2025.
Immigration Pathways
(12) Last updated: Jun 19, 2026 · 1 months agoNo pathways match your search.
A combined residence-and-work permit for third-country nationals with a job offer or contract in Slovenia, subject to labour-market consent from the Employment Service (ESS/ZRSZ).
- Processing time
- 1 month, extendable to a maximum of 2 months (ZUP/ZTuj-2); in practice 1-3 months due to labour-market consent
- Validity
- Issued for the duration of the employment contract, up to a maximum of 2 years initially. Renewal may be granted for up to 3 years (extended from the previous 2-year renewal cap, effective 21 May 2025 under ZTuj-2I/ZZSDT-E).
- Language requirement
- None for the permit itself
- Documents
- 7 required
- Permanent residence
- Yes · 5 years continuous lawful residence
- Citizenship
- Yes · 10 years total (incl. continuous 5 years before application)
Allows managers, specialists, and trainee employees of multinational companies to be transferred to a Slovenian entity of the same corporate group for up to 3 years (managers/specialists) or 1 year (trainees). Implements EU ICT Directive 2014/66/EU. Requires at least 9 months prior employment in the sending company (6 months for trainees) and a capital relationship of at least 10% between the sending and host entities.
- Processing time
- Not specified; standard processing under the single permit system applies (up to 1 month, extendable to 2 months).
- Validity
- Issued for the duration of the transfer specified in the employment contract and transfer act, up to a maximum of 1 year per permit. Maximum cumulative stay: 3 years for managers and specialists (across all EU Member States); 1 year for trainees.
- Language requirement
- None specified.
- Documents
- 12 required
Residence and work permit for highly qualified third-country nationals with a higher-education degree and a high-salary employment contract.
- Processing time
- 1 month, extendable to a maximum of 2 months (ZUP/ZTuj-2)
- Validity
- Contract duration + 3 months, max 2 years, extendable up to 3 years
- Language requirement
- None for the permit itself
- Documents
- 6 required
- Permanent residence
- Yes · 5 years continuous lawful residence
- Citizenship
- Yes · 10 years total (incl. continuous 5 years before application)
Temporary residence permit for third-country nationals enrolled at an accredited Slovenian education institution.
- Processing time
- 1 month, extendable to a maximum of 2 months (ZUP/ZTuj-2)
- Validity
- 1 year, extendable for the duration of studies
- Language requirement
- None for the permit itself (institution language requirements may apply)
- Documents
- 5 required
- Permanent residence
- Yes · 5 years continuous residence, but study time counts at half-rate toward permanent residence
- Citizenship
- Yes · 10 years total (study counts at reduced rate toward residence)
Permits third-country nationals to perform seasonal work in agriculture, forestry, hospitality, and tourism in Slovenia. Short-term stays up to 90 days use a work permit (employer-applied); stays over 90 days use a single residence and work permit, capped at 6 months (or 7 months in exceptional cases) per calendar year. Seasonal residence periods do not count toward permanent residence.
- Processing time
- Not specified on official portal; standard administrative unit processing applies.
- Validity
- Up to 90 days (short-term work permit) or up to 6 months per calendar year (single permit for seasonal work over 90 days; 7 months in exceptional cases).
- Language requirement
- None specified.
- Documents
- 7 required
Residence permit for third-country nationals performing independent professional or business activity in Slovenia, with company formation via the SPOT one-stop system.
- Processing time
- 1 month, extendable to a maximum of 2 months (ZUP/ZTuj-2)
- Validity
- Up to 2 years, renewable
- Language requirement
- None for the permit itself
- Documents
- 4 required
- Permanent residence
- Yes · 5 years continuous lawful residence
- Citizenship
- Yes · 10 years total (incl. continuous 5 years before application)
Residence permit allowing family members to join a third-country sponsor lawfully resident in Slovenia.
- Processing time
- 1 month, extendable to a maximum of 2 months (ZUP/ZTuj-2)
- Validity
- Tied to sponsor's permit; renewable
- Language requirement
- From 1 November 2024, adult family members must present a certificate of passing the Slovenian language test at 'survival level' (preživetvena raven) upon renewal of their permit. This is distinct from the A2 level required for permanent residence. Exemptions apply for persons over 60, those with medical conditions preventing testing, family members of EU Blue Card holders, family members of researchers, those who completed education in Slovenia, and cases serving Slovenia's national interest.
- Documents
- 5 required
- Permanent residence
- Yes · 5 years continuous residence (2 years for family of a citizen / permanent resident / refugee)
- Citizenship
- Yes · 10 years generally; 3 years marriage + 1 year residence for spouses
Residence permit for researchers hosted by a Slovenian research organisation or higher-education institution under a hosting agreement.
- Processing time
- 1 month, extendable to a maximum of 2 months (ZUP/ZTuj-2)
- Validity
- Up to 1 year, annually renewable
- Language requirement
- None for the permit itself
- Documents
- 5 required
- Permanent residence
- Yes · 5 years continuous lawful residence
- Citizenship
- Yes · 10 years total (incl. continuous 5 years before application)
Temporary residence permit (effective 21 November 2025) for remote workers employed by or self-employed for a business based outside Slovenia.
- Processing time
- 1 month, extendable to a maximum of 2 months (ZUP/ZTuj-2)
- Validity
- Up to 1 year, non-extendable; may reapply 6 months after expiry
- Language requirement
- None
- Documents
- 5 required
Facilitated naturalization for Slovenian emigrants and their descendants, with reduced or no continuous-residence requirement.
- Processing time
- Decided by the Ministry of the Interior; no fixed statutory period published
- Validity
- Permanent (citizenship)
- Language requirement
- Personal connection to Slovenia; for some categories ~5 years' active involvement in Slovenian organisations abroad
- Documents
- 2 required
- Citizenship
- Yes · Emigrants and direct descendants to 4th degree: 1 year residence; descendants to 2nd degree and indigenous-minority members: no continuous-residence requirement
Permanent residence after five years of continuous lawful temporary residence, requiring an A2 Slovenian language certificate for applications from 1 November 2024.
- Processing time
- 1 month, extendable to a maximum of 2 months (ZUP/ZTuj-2)
- Validity
- Permanent
- Language requirement
- Slovenian language test at level A2 (for applications from 1 November 2024)
- Documents
- 5 required
- Citizenship
- Yes · Counts toward the 10-year naturalization requirement
Slovenian citizenship by naturalization, ordinarily after 10 years' residence, with reduced requirements for spouses, national interest, and emigrants/descendants.
- Processing time
- Decided by the Ministry of the Interior; no fixed statutory period published
- Validity
- Permanent (citizenship)
- Language requirement
- Certificate of a passed Slovenian language test (active command, written + oral); exam fee set by examining institution (commercially ~EUR 150-200, not published officially)
- Documents
- 4 required
- Citizenship
- Yes · Ordinary: 10 years total incl. continuous 5 years immediately before application; marriage: 3 years married + 1 year residence; extraordinary/emigrants: 1 year residence