The new ordinance amends the rules on imposing quarantine on the basis of the recommendation of the European Commission. The yellow list of countries is being replaced by the orange list (countries with a worsening epidemiological situation). Countries that are not on the green list (safe countries) or on the red list (countries with a worsened epidemiological situation) are placed on the orange list.

Entry from countries on the green list

The rule that no quarantine is imposed on those who enter Slovenia from countries on the green list continues to apply. Under the new ordinance, a person is also considered to come from a country on the green list if they have resided in that country continuously for at least 14 days before entering Slovenia and can provide appropriate proof thereof.

Entry from countries on the orange and red lists without quarantine now also possible on the basis of a negative test

A person entering Slovenia who has residence in a country that is on the red or orange list or arrives from such a country will be required to quarantine for a period of ten days due to possible SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, a person will not be required to quarantine if, on crossing the border, they submit a negative SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) test, which must not be older than 48 hours and was performed in another EU Member State or Schengen Area country or Slovenia by an organisation or sole trader that has been recognised as appropriate and credible by the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology and the National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food and is listed on the website of the National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food.

Exceptions to the quarantine and negative test requirements upon entry from any of the countries on the red or orange list

A total of 12 exceptions have been defined where no quarantine or negative test is required upon entry. Entry from any country on the red or orange list is allowed to the following persons:

1. daily commuting cross-border workers who have an employment relationship in another EU Member State or Schengen Area country, of which they provide proof or a signed statement justifying the reason for crossing the border as a daily commuting cross-border worker;
2. persons posted to carry out tasks in international transport or returning from such tasks;
3. persons engaged in trade who carry out the transport of goods or persons into Slovenia or from Slovenia or carry out the transport of goods and passengers in transit and exit Slovenia within 12 hours of entry;
4. persons transiting the territory of Slovenia and exiting Slovenia within 12 hours of entry;
5. persons with diplomatic passports;
6. members of foreign delegations who are entering Slovenia on the basis of a certificate or an official invitation from a competent state authority or members of an official delegation of Slovenia who are returning from abroad;
7. representatives of foreign security authorities (the police or a judicial authority) who carry out official tasks and exit Slovenia as soon as possible after completing these tasks;
8. members of the Slovenian Armed Forces, the police or employees of state authorities returning from secondment abroad and employees of state authorities on a business trip abroad (they are required to test for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) upon entering Slovenia);
9. persons who cross the border (daily or occasionally) for reasons of education and training or scientific research in Slovenia or abroad and provide appropriate proof thereof and their parents or other persons transported by them who return across the border within 24 hours of entry;
10. persons who cross the border due to urgent unavoidable personal errands or for urgent business reasons and provide appropriate proof thereof and who return across the border in the shortest possible time required for completing the errand and in any case no later than within 48 hours of crossing the border (this also applies to their immediate family members);
11. persons who have been transported to Slovenia in an ambulance or other medical vehicle and the accompanying medical staff in said vehicle;
12. persons who provide proof of a scheduled urgent medical examination or procedure in another EU Member State or Schengen Area country and return across the border immediately after the medical examination or procedure or as soon as their medical condition allows (accompanied by their attendant when that is absolutely necessary due to their medical condition).

An example of appropriate proof of urgent unavoidable errands referred to in point 10 would be court decisions or other similar acts by which a person exercises their right to have contact with their children.

Persons with a laissez-passer travel document issued by an international organisation and with an invitation or certificate issued by a state authority of the Republic of Slovenia proving that they are visiting Slovenia for business purposes are treated the same as holders of diplomatic passports (point 5).

Entry from neighbouring countries on the orange or red list

Three additional exceptions have been defined where quarantine is not imposed and a negative test is not required. Entry from neighbouring countries regardless of whether they are on the orange or red list is allowed to the following persons:

1. persons who own or lease land in the border area or on both sides of the state border and cross the state border with a neighbouring country for the purpose of carrying out agricultural and forestry works (this also applies to their immediate family members);
2. Slovenian citizens or foreigners residing in Slovenia who own real estate or a habitable recreational craft in a neighbouring country or have the right to use real estate, a habitable recreational craft or a plot in a recreational vehicle park in a neighbouring country from which they are entering Slovenia under a leasing, rental or other agreement, and provide appropriate proof thereof, if they are returning to Slovenia within 48 hours of exiting (this also applies to their immediate family members);
3. persons who assist a Slovenian citizen or a foreigner residing in Slovenia who owns or leases agricultural land in a neighbouring country in the seasonal harvesting of agricultural products, and provide appropriate proof thereof, if they return across the border within 24 hours of exiting Slovenia.

Entry from EU Member States or Schengen Area countries on the orange list

An additional exception to the quarantine and negative test requirements has been laid down for:

1. persons entering Slovenia from another EU Member State or Schengen Area country that is placed on the orange list.

Testing is allowed during quarantine

A person who has been ordered to quarantine by way of a decision may test for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) during the quarantine. If they test negative, the competent authority will set aside the decision.

Entry into force of the ordinance

These amendments will enter into force on Monday, 28 September 2020.