Crossing the state border during the coronavirus epidemic
In this context, certain (temporary) restrictions of traffic are still valid not only on the border with Croatia, but also on the internal Schengen borders (with Italy, Austria and Hungary), where border controls were abolished back in 2007 after Slovenia joined the Schengen area, as the border may only be crossed at checkpoints established for this purpose and only during their operating hours. A few entry and exit requirements have also been changed for foreign nationals and Slovenian citizens.
Do you need our advice during the coronavirus crisis?
We have set up a special email address to provide advice to people who have questions concerning the new measures being implemented to contain COVID-19 and associated movement restrictions. You can send your questions (or concerns) relating to policing to: info.koronavirus@policija.si.
We will be checking for email every day from 8.00 to 16.00 (and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 8.00 to 12.00). Every effort will be made to provide answers and any other useful information or advice in the shortest possible time.
New ordinance on border measures in force from 26 May
More information in press release: New ordinance on measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at border crossing points and checkpoints enters into force (26 May 2020).
Entry into Slovenia without a quarantine
Currently, the following groups of travellers are allowed entry into Slovenia:
- Slovenia citizens,
- foreigners with permanent or temporary residence in Slovenia,
- persons with permanent or temporary residence in Croatia (Croatia is currently on the list of countries whose residents may enter Slovenia without restrictions).
At the border, the police will provide these travellers with Instructions of the National Institute of Public Health on the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 . Instructions are available also in other languages: Slovenian, Italian, Hungarian, German and Croatian.
Entry into Slovenia is not allowed for foreign citizens without permanent or temporary residence in Slovenia who on crossing the border tell the authorities that they are SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) positive or have typical signs of infection with this virus (high fever, cough, shortness of breath).
14-day quarantine and exceptions
Persons with permanent or temporary residence in EU or other Schengen Area member states who are not on the list of countries whose residents may enter Slovenia (so far only Croatia is on the list) have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon entry into Slovenia in accordance with Article 9 of the ordinance. Article 10 lists several exceptions to this restriction.
Incoming travellers from third countries are also required to undergo a 14-day quarantine to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, with some exceptions listed in Article 12 of the ordinance.
Before they draw up a quarantine decision, police officers will take the persons’ details (name and surname, date of birth, address of temporary or permanent residence or place of stay in Slovenia) on entry into Slovenia, which they will submit to the National Institute of Public Health. The persons will be given a quarantine information leaflet, issued by the National Institute of Public Health . Leaflets are available also in other languages: Slovenian, Italian, Hungarian, German and Croatian.
The entry of persons who presumably will not be able to leave the territory of Slovenia on account of measures taken by neighbouring countries shall not be allowed.
The implementation of border control will be adjusted to traffic density and the traveller risk observed at a given checkpoint.
Persons allowed to cross the border at individual checkpoints, which are indicated in the tables below, must also act in compliance with the Ordinance on imposing and implementing measures related to prevent the spread of epidemic COVID-19 at the border crossing points at the external border and inspection posts within national borders of the Republic of Slovenia (in Slovenian) (Official Gazette RS, no. 76/2020, 25. 5. 2020).
Border crossing points at international flight and maritime connections
Checkpoints on international flight connections (Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport and Portorož Airport) and checkpoints on international maritime connections (Koper and Piran border crossing points for international maritime traffic) are being reopened. The opening times are published on our website Border crossings.
Border crossing points at the Slovenia-Austria, Slovenia-Italy and Slovenia-Hungary border
Crossing the Slovenia-Croatia border
Slovenia and Croatia jointly decided to suspend the operation of the 25 border-crossing points for local traffic. Travellers seeking to cross the Slovenia-Croatia border have to go through border crossing points for international traffic.
The ban on cross-border travel to Croatia continues to be in force in accordance with the Government ordinance of 9 May 2020 on temporary restriction on crossing the Slovenian-Croatian border. However, some relaxations have been introduced for EU citizens and their family members, third-country nationals under Directive 2003/109/EC and other relevant EU directives, and holders of national long-stay visas who can enter Croatia if they have business to attend to or if they pursue their economic interests. Travellers must comply with the recommendations of Croatia’s public health authorities handed out by the border police on entry to Croatia. Persons travelling for urgent personal matters can now also enter Croatia.
There are no restrictions in place for transit of heavy goods vehicles towards Croatia. Transit is possible at the border crossing points intended for such freight traffic.
In accordance with the Government’s decision, persons with a permanent or temporary residence registered in Croatia may enter Slovenia without having to quarantine on condition that, on entry into Slovenia, they are not positive for Covid-19 and show no symptoms typical of the coronavirus infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath).
As of 31 March 2020, third-country nationals seeking to enter Slovenia will be checked not only for their fulfilment of regulatory entry conditions but also whether their travel is really essential. This regime will be in operation at all border crossing points along the external Schengen border. For more information go to: Temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU means third-country nationals can enter Slovenia only in urgent cases
Border crossing regime for owners of land on both sides of the national border and tenant farmers
At all four borders, owners of land on both sides of the national border and tenant farmers, who are involved in agricultural activities and arable farming, cross the border in the same way as they did before the coronavirus epidemic by using access pathways and fields set aside for them. However, as they do, they must demonstrate their ownership or tenancy with a proper document (i.e. extract from the land register or a tenancy agreement) in order to carry out their work, i.e. an agricultural activity. This regime, however, does not give a farmer the right to use such a pathway to enter Austria outside an established checkpoint in order to visit a store, for instance. The above regime serves solely the purpose of crossing the border in order to carry out an agricultural activity.
At the borders with Italy, Austria and Hungary, owners of land on both sides of the national border and tenant farmers cross the border at checkpoints. At the Slovenian-Croatian border (i.e. the external Schengen border), however, farmers have to use points of crossing in accordance with the (still applicable) agreement between Slovenia and Croatia on local border traffic and cooperation.
Related content
Current information and instructions are available on the government' Coronavirus disease COVID-19 website: Coronavirus disease COVID-19