If you are a non-EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and wish to study in Slovenia, you can apply for a temporary residence permit from the administrative unit of your place of residence in Slovenia. If you cannot enter Slovenia without a visa, you should apply for your temporary residence permit at the Slovenian embassy.
If you are applying to the administrative unit in Slovenia, please check whether there is an appointment system. In Ljubljana, you can make an appointment by calling 01 828 16 90 or via the eSamonaročanje application. Go to our page book an appointment to see how to book an appointment to apply for a temporary residence permit. If you can enter Slovenia without a visa or if you already have a visa, apply for the permit before your legal stay ends (e.g. before the 90-day period expires or before the visa expires).
If you need a visa to enter Slovenia, you should apply for it as soon as you are enrolled at the university, preferably 3-6 months before your planned arrival. It is important to emphasize that enrollment takes place in September, so you should know that if you plan to do so, you will probably not be able to start your studies in October, as you will need to obtain a residence permit through the embassy. Please also contact the faculty/academy you wish to enroll in about this. To apply via the embassy, please consult the list of competent Slovenian diplomatic representations here.
Note: The duration of the procedure depends on the administrative office or Slovenian diplomatic mission where you submit the application.
Which documents do you need to submit?
- Signed application form (.doc, .pdf, example)
- Signature form (.pdf)
- Valid passport and copy of a valid passport with validity extending beyond the planned period of residence in Slovenia by at least 3 months1 (photocopy to be certified by a notary, the administrative unit or at the reception desk of the department at Administrative Unit - attach a photocopy and a valid travel document for reference). Where applicable, the border entry stamp in Slovenia, a valid visa or residence permit issued by another EU state must be included in the copy – the date from the entry stamp to Schengen also has to be reflected on the application form, when you are applying for the first time; the date of entry is not obligatory for renewing the temporary residence permit (field 13). Make sure to obtain a border entry stamp when entering Slovenia because it must be included in a copy of a passport.
- Personal photo (35 x 45mm, fit for biometric documents).
- You will be asked for two fingerprints at the Administrative unit or Embassy.
- Proof of enrolment.
- Proof of valid health insurance in Slovenia.
- Certificate of criminal record from home country. It must not be older than three months, officially translated into Slovene and if applicable apostilled or certified – if you are prolonging the permit, you do not need to submit the criminal records for three years.
- Proof of sufficient financial means – statement of your parents/legal guardians, if they are obliged to support you by the law of your country or employment contract or sufficient means - currently EUR 494.09 per month or other proof that you have enough funds available (example)
- Fee (via bank transfer or in person at the registry of the Department for foreign citizens).
Note
1 Passport validity is checked every year. Considering that the student permit is issued every year and it is valid usually until September 30 next year (because of student status), means that passport needs to be valid at least until the end of December next year.
Visiting the administrative unit
About visiting the Administrative unit:
- They might speak only Slovene, so visit with a tutor, buddy or someone who speaks Slovene
- Leave your telephone number and the telephone number of the person speaking Slovene (tutor, buddy).
- Check your email (also spam).
- Pick up the certificate when they call you, and after that register your place of residence (address where you live) at the Administrative unit - bring the documents needed to register (for example apartment contract, landlord's statement…).
- Please, make sure you have written your name and surname on your post mail here in Slovenia, so that you can easily get all important mails from Administrative unit, such as supplementing documentation, invitation to issue a permit, and other. If you would like to receive a confirmation of the submitted temporary residence permit form and via email, please indicate this on the form you are filling out.
Issuing of permit
When you receive an invitation for issuing the permit, you must book an appointment to pick up the permit by eSamonaročanje (select "Vročitev tujci"/"Service on foreign nationals"). Go to our page book an appointment to see the process of booking an appointment.
Costs and fees
- Fee for issuing or renewing a temporary residence permit for a student (form non-EU countries): EUR 50.00.
- Application fee: EUR 4.50.
- Printing for the card: EUR 15.47.
- Documents and translations.
Pexels
Useful advice
If you apply for a permit at the embassy abroad, check the embassy's website before launching an application. Contact your closest embassy to learn about the specific process at that embassy and schedule an interview if needed.
If you can enter Slovenia without a visa, we recommend you launch an application once you are already here! Be sure to bring the required documents with you, especially police clearance, because you cannot easily arrange it here at the embassy of your country. When you enter Slovenia without visa or residence permit (and you plan to obtain temporary residence permit in Slovenia), you should register your stay with the local police station within three days. It is also obligatory to report to police station any change of accommodation and also deregister before leaving Slovenia.
Prolonging the residence permit
If you are prolonging the residence registration certificate, you should deliver the application and documentation to the administrative unit until the day the permit expires (mostly on 30 September)! You can apply for the prolongation 60 days before the permit expires. You can also send the application for renewal and other necessary documentation by post to the address UE Ljubljana, Tobačna ulica 5, 1000 Ljubljana.
Registration of temporary residence
- After obtaining a residence permit
- If you live in the Student Dormitory, Postgraduate Dormitory, etc., the registration of temporary residence is made by the landlord.
- If you live in the private accomodation, you must arrange the registration of temporary residence within 8 days of receiving the temporary residence permit. Bring the documents needed to register (for example apartment contract, landlord's statement…). The apartment contract needs to be valid for the period of the validation of your temporary residence permit. If it is not valid for this period (so mostly 1 year), you will need to report to Administrative Unit about your place of residence again when that contract expires - whether you have extended the contract or moved to another address.
- You will get an informal application form upon receipt of the temporary residence permit, which you must submit along with copy of temporary residence permit by post to the address UE Ljubljana, Tobačna ulica 5, 1000 Ljubljana or email ue.ljubljana@gov.si
Andrea Piacquadio, Pexels
Residing in Slovenia less than 90 days
If you do not require a visa or residence permit for entering Slovenia, and you will be in Slovenia less than 90 days, you should register your stay with the local police station within three days. It is also obligatory to report to police station any change of accommodation and also deregister before leaving Slovenia.