Slovenia EU free movement

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and work in Slovenia without a visa or residence permit. Stays over 3 months require a residence registration certificate from the administrative unit of the area of residence, valid for the intended stay or up to 5 years. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9}

Requirements

• Citizens of EU and EEA states and of Switzerland can live in Slovenia without a visa or residence permit. ^{1 8}
• Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid passport or national ID card. ^{1 3}
• After 3 months, work, self-employment, study, or sufficient resources with health insurance is needed. ^{3 9}
• Applicants need adequate health insurance and sufficient means of subsistence, unless they are working, self-employed or providing services. ⁹
• Registration needs a valid ID or passport plus proof of work, study, or resources and insurance. ²
• Workers submit a confirmation from the employer or proof of work; job seekers register with the employment authority; students show proof of admission. ⁹
• Apply at the administrative unit (upravna enota) of your area of residence before the end of the authorised 3-month stay, or right after entry. ⁹
• The residence registration certificate is issued for the intended stay or a maximum of 5 years, and can be renewed. ⁹
• Recognised purposes include work, self-employment, services, job search, study, and family reunification. ⁹
• Permanent residence is acquired automatically after 5 years of continuous lawful residence. ⁴
• After 5 years of lawful, continuous residence a permanent residence registration certificate is issued, for an unlimited period. ⁹

Stay

• No time limit; obtain a residence registration certificate at the administrative unit before the end of the first 3 months.
• First 3 months up to 3 months: Valid ID card or passport only.
• After 3 months: Worker, self-employed person, student, or person with sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance; registration of residence.

Nationality

Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Work

EU citizens may work, be self-employed, or provide services without a work permit; job seekers may also register for residence.

Family

Spouse or civil partner, children under 21, and dependent older relatives may join; non-EU family members get a residence permit after 3 months. Long-term partners and carers are also covered.

Checked 2026-10-10

Official sources

1. Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
2. Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
3. Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
4. Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
5. Work permits · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
6. Work in the public sector abroad · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
7. Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
8. The European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the North · European Parliament · checked 2026-10-10
9. Entry and residence: EU citizens and their family members · Government of the Republic of Slovenia (gov.si) · checked 2026-10-10