Visa Requirements For Slovenia Travel

If you're a citizen of the EU or the Schengen Area, you can enter Slovenia with a valid passport or ID card and stay for up to three months without a visa. However, if you're a citizen of a country outside the EU and the Schengen Area, you can still enter Slovenia without a visa, but you can only stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This rule applies to the Schengen Area as a whole, so if you enter Slovenia and then travel on to another Schengen country, this will count as part of your 90 days. If you want to stay in Slovenia for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a long-stay 'D' visa or a residence permit.

Do US citizens need a visa to enter Slovenia?

US citizens do not need a visa to enter Slovenia if they are travelling for tourism or business purposes and their trip will be shorter than 90 days within a 180-day period. This is because Slovenia is part of the Schengen Area, which allows border-free travel between 26 European countries.

However, US citizens travelling to Slovenia must have a valid passport and may need to:

• Show a return or onward ticket
• Prove they have enough money for their stay
• Get their passport stamped on entry and exit

If US citizens wish to stay in Slovenia for longer than 90 days, they will need to apply for a long-stay "D" visa or a residence permit. This requires submitting an FBI criminal records certificate, less than three months old and apostilled by the Department of State.

How long can you stay in Slovenia without a visa?

If you are a citizen of a country within the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you do not need a visa to enter Slovenia. You can enter the country with a valid identity card or passport and stay for up to three months.

Citizens of several countries outside of the EU and the EEA, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Japan, can also travel to Slovenia without a visa. However, these "third-country nationals" can only stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This rule applies to the Schengen Area as a whole, so if you enter Slovenia and then travel on to another Schengen country, this will count as part of your 90 days. You must provide a valid passport upon entry and may need to show a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds for your stay.

If you wish to stay in Slovenia for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a long-stay "D" visa or a residence permit. This process is time-consuming and requires several forms of documentation, including proof of financial stability, proof of no recent criminal history, and proof of health insurance.

It is important to note that the rules for working in Slovenia are different, and you will need a separate permit for employment. Additionally, all non-EU citizens staying longer than three days must register with the police within 72 hours of arrival. This can usually be done by the hotel or guest house where you are staying. Failure to register can result in fines.

What are the passport validity requirements for Slovenia?

To enter Slovenia, you must have a passport that meets the following requirements:

• It must be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.
• It must have a 'date of issue' less than 10 years before the date you arrive. If you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago.

If you are a citizen of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you can enter Slovenia with a valid identity card or passport and do not need a visa or a residence permit.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU and the Schengen Area, you can travel to Slovenia without a visa, but only for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. This includes citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Japan. You will need to provide a valid passport upon entry.

If you wish to stay in Slovenia for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a long-stay "D" visa or a residence permit.

What are the rules for working in Slovenia?

Employment Contracts

Employment contracts must be concluded in writing and signed before or on the first day of work. A draft of the contract must be provided to the employee at least three days before the commencement of employment. The written form is not a prerequisite for the validity of the employment relationship, but it is not common or advisable to forgo one. Employment contracts can be concluded for a fixed-term or an indefinite period. The latter is the rule, and fixed-term contracts can only be concluded under specific statutory conditions.

Working Hours

Regular weekly working time amounts to 40 hours, with a paid lunch break of 30 minutes included. Employees are entitled to a daily minimum rest period of at least 12 hours, as well as a weekly minimum rest period of at least 24 hours. Full-time weekly working hours should not exceed 40 hours on average, with a maximum permissible daily quota of 10 hours. In the event of unevenly distributed working time, the maximum permissible daily quota is 13 hours, and the weekly working hours must not exceed 56 hours, including overtime work.

Overtime

Overtime work is only allowed in exceptional circumstances, such as an exceptionally increased amount of work or to prevent material damage. Written form is required, and it should be ordered by the employer in writing prior to commencement. Employers cannot demand more than a maximum of 170 hours of overtime work per year, 20 hours per month, and 8 hours per week.

Pay

The minimum gross wage for full-time work is €1,253.90. Employers must comply with the minimum wage laid down by law or a collective agreement specific to the activity. Payment for work under an employment contract comprises a salary, which is always in monetary form, and any other types of remuneration if provided for by a collective agreement. The salary consists of basic pay, performance-related pay, and supplements (e.g. for night work, overtime, Sunday work).

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to annual leave of at least four weeks in every calendar year, regardless of whether they work full-time or part-time. Employees are also entitled to additional days of annual leave on the basis of criteria such as age, disability, children, and physical disability.

Termination

The methods of terminating an employment contract vary depending on whether the worker has a fixed-term or open-ended contract, whether the contract is annulled by agreement, or if notice of termination is given by one party. A fixed-term employment contract expires without a period of notice at the end of the period for which it was concluded. The contracting parties may annul a contract at any time by written agreement or if one of the contracting parties gives notice of termination. The termination of an employment contract may take place under an 'ordinary' or 'extraordinary' procedure.

Special Protection

Slovenia provides special protection for some categories of workers, including worker representatives, women, workers during pregnancy and parenthood, workers under the age of 18, and disabled persons and older workers.

Trade Unions

A union acts as a social partner and negotiates to improve working conditions and pay, including wage supplements. Membership of a trade union is voluntary. Unions provide representation of employees, collectively and individually, including judicial protection through the exercise of legal remedies.

What are the rules for taking money into Slovenia?

Slovenia uses the Euro (EUR) as its official currency. There are no restrictions on the amount of cash that can be brought into the country by EU citizens. However, if you are a citizen of a country outside the EU, you may bring a maximum of €10,000 in cash. Larger amounts must be declared to customs officials using an EU cash declaration form. This applies to cash and the following:

• Banknotes and coins (including currency that is no longer in circulation but accepted for exchange by banks)
• Bearer negotiable instruments (e.g. traveller's cheques and cheques, promissory notes or money orders signed but without a named beneficiary)
• Coins with a gold content of at least 90%
• Bullion such as bars, nuggets or clumps with a gold content of at least 99.5%

If you do not submit a cash declaration, or the declaration is incorrect or incomplete, you may be subject to penalties. Customs authorities can carry out individual checks, as well as checks on your baggage and vehicle. They will also intervene if there are indications that the cash is linked to criminal activity, even if the amount is below the threshold.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Slovenia, with Visa being the most recognised, followed by Mastercard and American Express. However, smaller shops and venues may only accept cash. ATMs are easily accessible, especially in urban areas, where you can withdraw cash 24 hours a day.

Other restricted items

There are strict rules about prohibited goods that you can take into or out of Slovenia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. This includes:

• Meat, milk or products containing them (some exceptions include powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons)
• Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages (restrictions apply)
• Firearms (you must declare your firearm to customs and present a firearm certificate and documents indicating your intended use)
• Narcotics, unlicensed weapons and ammunition, explosives, and medicines (unless for personal use)
• Items of cultural or historical value, such as works of art (you will need a certificate from the seller to export these)

Frequently asked questions