Do I need a visa to enter Slovenia?

THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS who wish to enter and reside in Slovenia for the purpose of tourism, business, personal visit, employment, study, family reunification or other purposes of residence must obtain a visa (if required for entry into the territory of Slovenia) and/or a residence permit from a diplomatic mission or consulate of the Republic of Slovenia abroad before entering Slovenia. Read on for more information.

A third country is any country that is not a member of the EU, the EEA (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or the Swiss Confederation.

Content

Efa Pearle Infographic On Visas
EFA – Pearle*: Cookbook – Visas for third country national artists travelling to the Schengen area; see under useful links.

What is a Schengen visa?
In case of a short-stay visa …
In case of a long-stay visa …
If you don’t need a visa but have a residence permit …
Visa procedure
What if my visa is refused (appeals procedure)?
The Entry/Exit System (EES)
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
Is there a special visa for artists?
Useful links

Slovenian diplomatic missions and consulates issue Schengen visas (type A and C short-stay visas) and national visas (type D long-stay visas). To be issued a visa, a third-country national must provide the required documentation and meet the conditions laid down by law. For artists and cultural workers, only type C or D visas are relevant (a type A visa only allows the holder to transit through a Schengen airport).

The visa regime in force in the Republic of Slovenia is a part of the acquis of the European Union. It is divided into countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Slovenia and countries whose nationals do not. Check whether you need a visa.

The EU currently has a visa-free regime in place with 61 third countries. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are also included. Under this regime, third-country nationals with a biometric passport can enter the Schengen area for short stays without needing a visa.

Certain third-country nationals with biometric passports enjoy facilitated procedures for entry into the Schengen area for stays of 90 to 180 days. This means simplification relating to the supporting documents required, reduced or no fees for certain categories of applicants, faster processing times for visa applications and provisions on issuing multiple-entry visas with extended validity.

What is a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa is an authorisation issued by a Schengen state that allows travellers to enter the Schengen area for:

  • intended short stays in or transit through the territory of a Schengen state (short-stay visa);
  • transit through the international transit areas of airports of the Schengen states (airport transit visa).

Short stays are stays of no more than 90 days within any 180-day period.

ATTENTION: The Schengen visa does not also allow a work permit. In addition, the EU does not regulate work or work permits for artists or cultural workers. Always check with your local organisation or employer what the rules are in the country where you will be performing or staying.

If you need a short-stay visa to enter Slovenia …

A type C visa is an entry permit issued to a third-country national for a so-called short stay of up to 90 days.

The visa application must be lodged with the Schengen state that is the main destination of your trip, and not with any other Schengen state. Other Schengen states may also issue this visa on behalf of Slovenia, provided that Slovenia has a representation agreement with them.

Holders of a type C visa issued by a Schengen state may, during the visa validity period, enter the Republic of Slovenia and stay in its territory, provided that the total length of their stay in Schengen states does not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period, or until the expiry of the visa, whichever is sooner.

The permitted number of days of your stay can be calculated using this online calculator (in English). The authorised stay and validity are indicated on the visa sticker.

A type C visa can be extended due to exceptional circumstances that prevent the holder from returning to their country of origin.

If you need a long-stay visa to enter Slovenia …

A type D visa is a permit for entry and stay of not less than 90 days and not more than one year. These visas are different from Schengen short-stay visas, as they are issued on the basis of national law for stays of more than three months in the country concerned, usually to individuals who intend to study or work in one of the Schengen states.

It allows the holder to apply for a residence permit directly with an administrative unit. A type D visa cannot be extended (but you can make arrangements for a residence permit before the visa expires). Artists or cultural workers who are third-country nationals can apply for it, and must submit an opinion from the competent ministry to prove their interest. The following documentation must be submitted: the work/cooperation contract; the opinion of the Ministry of Culture; proof of sufficient means of subsistence and travel health insurance. Third-country nationals who do not need a visa to enter the Republic of Slovenia can also apply for a type D visa (if they are going to extend their authorised period of stay).

Holders of a type D visa issued by a Schengen state may enter the Republic of Slovenia with this visa and a valid travel document and stay in its territory, provided that the total length of their stay in Schengen states, except in the Schengen state that issued the long-stay visa, does not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period, or until the expiry of the long-stay visa, whichever is sooner.

If you don’t need a visa to enter Slovenia but have a residence permit …

Holders of a residence permit issued by a Schengen state may enter the Republic of Slovenia with this residence permit and a valid travel document and stay in its territory, provided that the total length of their stay in Schengen states, except in the Schengen state that issued the residence permit, does not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period, or until the expiry of the residence permit, whichever is sooner.

For more information on the residence and work permit for third-country nationals in Slovenia, see here.

Visa procedure

The visa procedure is managed by a diplomatic mission or consulate.

Check Slovenia’s missions abroad and find out in good time whether you can complete part of the visa procedure online.

You must apply for a visa with the appropriate visa application and the required documentation, which may vary depending on your country of origin. The list of documents is published on the websites of the diplomatic missions and consulates responsible for issuing the visa. Forms for entry into Slovenia are available here.

In the visa application procedure, the applicant must also submit a letter of guarantee (this is used in cases where the foreigner cannot prove sufficient financial means or cannot prove that they are able to legally obtain these means and the guarantor guarantees them) or an invitation letter, which has been certified and registered at an administrative unit. In all other cases, the invitation letter is used.

The documents provided by the guarantor must clearly show the purpose of the third-country national’s entry into the country, the period of their stay in and the address in Slovenia at which they will be staying. The guarantor must complete and sign the letter of guarantee or invitation letter, stating information relevant to the visa procedure. The letter of guarantee or invitation letter must be certified at an administrative unit before it is sent to the third-country national.

What if my visa is refused (appeals procedure)?

The applicant can appeal against the decision in the visa procedure. The appeal must be in writing, in Slovenian and formulated in a way to contain the elements of the appeal as set out in the Administrative Procedure Act. The appeal must be submitted within eight days to the diplomatic mission or consulate that processed the application. The consular fee for appeals is €153. No new visa application can be processed while the appeal is pending.

Entry/Exit System

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering third-country travellers, both short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travellers, every time they cross an EU external border. The system records the person’s name, the type of travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit, with full respect for fundamental rights and data protection. The EES will enter into force in the second half of 2024.

Find out more on the website of the European Commission and EES.

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

The ETIAS will apply to third-country nationals who are visa-exempt. They will need to obtain a travel authorisation before travelling via an online application form. For each application, the applicant will have to pay a travel authorisation fee of EUR 7. The ETIAS will enter into force in mid-2025.

Find out more on the European Commission website here and on the ETIAS website.

Is there a special visa for artists?

No, the EU does not provide a visa for artists.

Generally, even the Visa Code contains no specific provisions for artists.

However, during the visa procedure, please check whether you can indicate “culture” or “cultural” as the purpose of your trip on the application form. You should also check whether you are exempt from the visa fee, e.g. representatives of non-profit organisations, under 25, etc.

Artists or cultural workers who are third-country nationals and wish to work and stay in Slovenia for more than 90 days can apply for a type D visa.

Useful links

Link to legislation:

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