Consular district

The Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland is responsible for matters relating to and applications from Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Matters relating to and applications from other US states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are handled by:

Consular hours

The Consulate General periodically organizes consular hours in cities under its jurisdiction (Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa and Colorado). Once the date for the consular hours is set, precise information is published in the news section of our website and Facebook page.

Consular fees

Consular fees have to be paid by:

• money order,
• cashier's check or certified check made out to "Consulate General of Slovenia Cleveland",
• cash.

We do not accept personal checks or credit/debit cards!

If your application is done during consular hours, the only accepted methods of payment are money order and cashier's check or certified check. We do not accept cash during consular hours.

Passport

Who can request a new passport and where?

Citizens with permanent or temporary residence outside Slovenia can apply for a new passport at the Embassy in Washington DC or Consulate General in Cleveland, OH. You can also apply during consular hours which the Consulate General periodically organizes in cities under its jurisdiction. You can not apply for a new passport at the Honorary Consulates.

For the purpose of identification and fingerprinting the applicant has to apply for a new passport in person.

Republic of Slovenia issues four types of passports:

• For a citizen below 3 years of age the passport is issued with the validity of 3 years - Consular fee is 64 USD. 
• For a citizen from 3 to 18 years of age the passport is issued with the validity of 5 years - Consular fee is 85 USD. 
• Citizens above 18 year of age obtain a passport with the validity of 10 years - Consular fee is 129 USD.
• In exceptional cases, when fingerprinting is impossible due to serious health reason or if a citizen has lost more than one passport, the passport is issued with the validity of 1 year - Consular fee is 53 USD.

Please contact us at 216 771 7010 regarding instructions for payment.

Appointment and questionnaire

An appointment is necessary. Please request one by email to sloconsulate.cleveland@gov.si and suggest a day and hour within Office hours. If the suggested date is not confirmed, we will offer you another date as soon as possible. When you are requesting the appointment for the passport application, please also attach a filled out questionnaire that enables us to check existing information in our records and determine if additional updates are necessary.

What needs to be updated before a new passport can be issued

Name - if you have changed your name because of marriage during the validity of your passport, the procedure of the registration of marriage has to be conducted before a new passport with a new name can be issued.

Permanent Residence (Address) - Before you apply for a new passport, your permanent or temporary residence (address) must be updated in the Slovenian records.

What you need to bring with you to the appointment

The (expired) Slovenian passport

If you do not have one, then a color ID and proof of Slovenian Citizenship is required.

Photo

One photo (please consult the attached instructions accurately and warn the photographer about the requirements).

Prepaid express envelope with tracking number (i.e. US Postal Service, UPS, etc.; must have tracking number)

addressed from the Consulate General in Cleveland to your address, if you wish to receive the passport back by mail. Consulate General in Cleveland does not take the responsibility for a lost passport. If you wish to receive the new passport by mail please submit the statement of permission to mail passport.

If the prepaid express envelope is not provided with the application, the passport must be collected in person at the Consulate General in Cleveland. No exceptions!

Biometric data

Control of biometric data written on the chip can be implemented solely when crossing a border by comparing the biometric characteristics of a person who is crossing the border with the biometric characteristics of facial image and fingerprints contained on the chip.

The Slovenian legislation stipulates the following regarding the use of biometric data:

• fingerprinting is obligatory for every applicant above 12 years of age;
• during the application process, the applicant's fingerprints are obtained from both index fingers using an electronic device (special fingerprinting scanner). If health reasons prevent the fingerprinting of the index fingers, other fingers can be scanned for prints (print of the middle finger, ring finger or a thumb);
• in case of an acute medical condition (e.g. burns, cuts or other injuries which are expected to heal within a year) preventing fingerprinting, a passport containing only facial image biometric data is issued with the validity of 1 year;
• in case of a lasting medical condition (e.g. a person without fingers or with lifelong injuries) preventing the fingerprinting a passport containing only facial image biometric data is issued with a standard validity;
• fingerprints are not kept in the system once the receipt of the passport is registered in the system.

Citizenship

Registration of a child (under the age of 18)

A child born in a foreign country to a parent who is a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia at the time of the child’s birth, obtains citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia by origin, this child has to be registered by the age of 18.

PLEASE NOTE: Parents' marriage and other status changes (address, name change, etc.) must be registered with Slovenian Authorities prior to the submission of the citizenship application.

IF BOTH PARENTS ARE SLOVENIAN CITIZENS, please use the form for persons under the age of 18 or the form for persons above the age of 18. 

Documents to be submitted:

1. Completed and signed application form, must be filled out and signed by the parent, who is a Slovenian citizen. If child's age is between 14 and 18 please fill this form (Child's signature is required).
2. Child's Birth Certificate with an Apostille Seal and a translation to Slovenian language. Click here for more information. The Apostille seal has to be obtained from the local State Department Office in the State which issued the Birth Certificate.
3. 15 USD Consular fee for registration
4. Completed form for Registration of Permanent Address
5. Completed form for Registration to the Electoral Roll (Please note: the child is registered into the Electoral Roll AT BIRTH/REGISTRATION OF BIRTH)
6. Completed and signed permission to copy personal documents
7. Prepaid express courier envelope (i.e. US Postal Service, UPS, etc.; must have tracking number) addressed from the Slovenian Consulate to your address to receive the Slovenian Birth Certificate back by mail.

Please, do not forget to enclose a cover letter with your contact information, stating what you are applying for, and a complete list of enclosed documents.

Registration of an adult (age 18 to 36)

A child born in a foreign country to one parent who is a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia at the time of the child’s birth, with the other being a foreign citizen, and who was not registered for citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia by his parents before the age of 18, acquires citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia by origin, if he/she registers for citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia prior to reaching the age of 36 years.

Documents to be submitted:

1. Completed and signed application form
2. Birth Certificate with an Apostille Seal and a translation to Slovenian language
   The Apostille seal has to be obtained from the local State Department Office in the State which issued the Birth Certificate.
3. 15 USD Consular fee for registration
4. Completed form for Registration of Permanent Address
5. Completed form for Registration to the Electoral Roll
6. Completed and signed permission to copy personal documents
7. Prepaid express courier envelope (i.e. US Postal Service, UPS, etc.; must have tracking number) addressed from the Slovenian Consulate General to your address to receive the Slovenian Birth Certificate back by mail.

Extraordinary naturalization (Article 13 of Citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia Act)

Individuals of Slovenian descent (up to the second generation in direct descent), who cannot register to citizenship (are older than 36 or none of the parents is a registered Slovenian Citizen), may apply for Slovenian citizenship according to the provisions of Article 13 of Citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia Act.

The provision of Article 13 of the Citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia Act allows for the granting of citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia to persons if it is in the interest of the country due to scientific, economic, cultural, national or other similar reasons. The existence of circumstances that justify the reasons for this kind of citizenship being granted is established by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on the basis of the opinion of the competent authority.

In the procedure, the applicant must demonstrate:

1. Slovenian descent (up to the second generation in direct descent)
2. a multiannual active connection with the Republic of Slovenia; and
3. at least 5 years of activity in Slovenian associations, schools of Slovene language or Slovenian expatriate, emigrant or minority organizations.

Exceptions from above mentioned criteria can only be granted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.

Documents to be submitted are listed in the application form:

1. Completed application form; must be filled and signed by the applicant himself. The list of required documents to be submitted is contained in the application.
2. FBI criminal history search - U.S. citizen can apply directly to the FBI for a criminal history search. The first step is to download the FD-258 fingerprint card and application form from the FBI website.
3. Consular fee - 395 USD
4. Completed and signed permission to copy personal documents

All documents must be filed in Slovenian.

Please note that Slovenian Consulate General does not offer translation services! Slovenian Consulate General only authenticates the translation provided by the applicant (confirms that the translation corresponds to the original text). Translations using Google Translate are not adequate!

To request the authentication, please submit a Request for authentication and pay a Consular fee of 16 USD per document. For translator info please contact us at sloconsulate.cleveland@gov.si (Slovenian Consulate General does not guarantee the quality of the translation).

Please, do not forget to enclose a cover letter with your contact information, stating what you are applying for and a complete list of enclosed documents.

Additional clarifications:

• US documents must be accompanied with an Apostille Seal. United States of America is a member of The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. First you should obtain the original document by the appropriate US authority (example: Vital records for Birth and Marriage certificates and local FBI office for FBI no criminal record certificate) and then verify with the responsible authority (usually local State Department Office) on the procedure of obtaining the Apostille seal.
• Slovenian documents are officially recognized without an authentication, and no additional certification is needed. For official Slovenian documents, copies will be accepted.
• As the citizenship application according to the provisions of Article 13 can be time consuming and as all the documents are required to be translated to Slovenian, we do recommend having a legal representative in Slovenia (family member, friend, legal advisor). With a power of attorney, the person can file the application on your behalf. In this case, you do not need to file the application with the Slovenian Embassy/Consulate General of Slovenia, as we do not process applications. Also, administrative fees are different (lower, as no postage and additional cost are necessary), and to be verified with Administrative Units in Slovenia by your representative.
• If you decide to file your application at the Consulate General of Slovenia, please contact the Consulate by e-mail to sloconsulate.cleveland@gov.si prior to sending the application to make sure you have all the documents.

Marriage and Divorce

Marriage Registration

If you have married in the territory of the US, you are also obliged to register your marriage in the Slovenian Vital Records.

All documents need to be translated into Slovenian.

In order to register your marriage the following documentation is required:

1. Marriage certificate - original with an Apostille seal (more information), both translated into Slovenian.
   Please note the Embassy does not offer translation services! The Embassy only authenticates the translation, provided by the applicant (confirms that the translation corresponds to the original text). Translations using Google Translate are not adequate! To request the authentication, please submit a Request for authentication. For translator info please contact us at sloconsulate.cleveland(at)gov.si (General Consulate does not guarantee the quality of the translation).
2. Copy of passport or birth certificate of your spouse
3. Statement of the name chosen after your marriage
   In case this is not your first marriage, you need to submit a proof of a divorce, notarized by District court in Slovenia or other appropriate document (i.e Death Certificate of the previous spouse,...)
4. Completed and signed permission to copy personal documents 
5. Consular fee for authentication of translation in the amount of 16 USD (per document)
6. Prepaid express courier envelope
   (i.e. US Postal Service, UPS, etc.; must have tracking number) addressed from the Consulate General to your address to receive the Slovenian Marriage Certificate back by mail. If the envelope is not submitted, the Marriage certificate will be sent back by ordinary USPS mail. In this case the Slovenian Consulate General does not guarantee the shipment will be delivered.

Please do not forget to enclose a cover letter with your contact information, stating what you are applying for and a list of enclosed documents.

Divorce Registration

Registering divorce processed in the US Courts is divided into two phases:

1. RECOGNITION OF THE FOREIGN COURT DECISION – done by the District Court in Ljubljana

This part of the procedure is done by the applicant HIM/HERSELF.

For this procedure, you need:

• Final Divorce Decision - original with Apostille (more information)
• Translation into Slovenian BY A COURT CERTIFIED TRANSLATOR (list)

More information on the procedure is available on the website of the District Court in Ljubljana.

The Court is willing to help the applicants directly in determining the requirements for a specific procedure.

PLEASE NOTE! Applicants with decisions from US Courts usually encounter problems with providing the Certificate of Finality of the Decision, as the US courts do not issue such certificates.

We recommend the applicants authorize a representative for the service of documents in the Republic of Slovenia.

The payment of the court fee is done on the basis of a Payment Order issued by the Court upon receipt of the Request for Recognition of a Foreign Court Decision. The Order includes the information on payments from abroad.

After this part of the procedure is concluded, the Court is willing to send the final Decision to the competent Administrative Unit, provided they are supplied with the information on the competent Administrative Unit, Reference Number and that the request is contained in the Request for Recognition of a Foreign Court Decision. The Request is written by the applicant (there is no form!).

2. REGISTRATION IN THE VITAL RECORDS IN SLOVENIA – done by the Administrative Unit

For this procedure, you need:

• Recognized Foreign Court Decision (the result of the procedure under A)
• Statement on the Choice of Name after the Divorce – to be done at the Embassy/Consulate
  The change to maiden name in the first 6 months after the divorce is free of charge; after this period the name change has to go through the ordinary name change procedure to which consular fee applies.
  
  The Embassy/Consulate sends the Statement to the competent Administrative Unit with notice that the recognized Foreign Court Decision will be submitted upon completion of the court procedure.
  
  You receive the reference number to be included in the Request for Recognition of a Foreign Court Decision from the Embassy/Consulate.
• Consular fee for registration of divorce in the amount of 31 USD

Weddings in Slovenia

Foreigners wishing to have a wedding in Slovenia need to submit the following documents to the competent Administrative Unit:

• Extract from the Birth Records (Birth Certificate) - if not submitted on an international form, Apostille is required (more information)
• Citizenship Certificate with Apostille or Valid passports
• Certificate of Single Status - Duly Authenticated

The documents must not be more than 6 months old and have to be translated into Slovenian BY A COURT CERTIFIED TRANSLATOR.

For any additional information please contact the Administrative Unit, competent for the location where the wedding is to take place.

More information for American citizens is available on the website of the US Embassy in Ljubljana.

Change of Address

Change of permanent address

In accordance with the Residence Registration Act, citizens of Slovenia intending to permanently emigrate outside of Slovenia, are obligated to register their new permanent address with the Slovenian authorities (Administrative unit, Embassy, Consulate or the Ministry of Interior).

The legislation differentiates between a permanent residence in the Republic of Slovenia and a permanent address abroad.

If the exact address is unknown at the time of leaving, they can notify the authorities any time thereafter, including through the Embassy. The exact address and updates thereof are important for the exercise of the voting rights of the Slovenian citizens, as all Slovenian citizens are registered in the electoral roll. The election material is sent to the address on file by mail, therefore the registration and updating of the permanent address is important for receiving the election materials in due time.

Permanent address abroad for a child can be registered by both parents, or one of the parents with the consent of the other, or other legal representative. For the form please click here.

There is no need for the consent of the other parent in the following cases:

• if they register the child at an address which is identical to the address of both parents;
• if the registration is performed for a foreigner's child;
• if the child's address is registered by the parent to whom he is entrusted with the care and education;
• if the child's place of residence is determined by an agreement on the protection, education and maintenance of children or the decision of the competent court;
• if the residence of the other parent is unknown;
• if the parent's right parental rights or competence have been revoked;
• if the other parent is prevented from exercising the parental right

Permanent address abroad registration also has consequences on tax obligations.

More information on international taxation is available on the website of the Ministry of Finance here.

In order to register your new address abroad please send the following form and proof of your new address to the Slovenian Consulate General email address.

Certificates

Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia can upon request issue the following certificates:

1. Certificate of permanent residence / permanent address abroad
2. Certificate of previous permanent residences / permanent addresses abroad
3. Certificate of address for service
4. Certificate of temporary residence / temporary address abroad
5. Certificate of previous temporary residences / temporary addresses abroad
6. Certificate from a household record with personal data of all members
7. Certificate from household records on the number of members

The fee for a certificate outside of the change procedures is 16 USD.

Notarizations and authentications

Diplomatic - Consular representations of the Republic of Slovenia offer administrative notarizations of signatures on private documents, authentications of copies and translations. An authentication does not verify the authenticity or truthfulness of the content of a document. An authentication is not performed for documents, signatures or manuscripts when the content of the document in question is not permissible by norms of public order.

Notarizations of signatures

Notarization of a signature at the Consulate General

Notarization of a signature at the Consulate General is to be done in person at the Slovenian Consulate General. The request form can be obtained here, a consular fee for authentication of translation in the amount of 22 USD per document has to be paid.

Please request an appointment by e-mail to sloconsulate.cleveland@gov.si. Suggest a day and hour within official hours.

Please verify with the Slovenian authorities, which you need to submit the document to, if the authentication from the Slovenian Consulate General is sufficient!

Notarization of signature by a Notary Public and Apostille certification

The Republic of Slovenia and the United States of America are members of The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (please see here for further information). A document having an Apostille will be directly accepted in Slovenia without needing any further authentication by a Slovenian representation.

Please note: Apostille is a separate piece of paper attached to the original document by the responsible authorities.

Your signature has to be authenticated by a Notary Public, then you need to verify with the responsible authorities in the US the procedure for obtaining the Apostille on the document.

Authentications of photocopies or translations

Can be done by mail. Fill in the request form, provide the original document and a photocopy/translation of the document with the application and also a prepaid express courier envelope (i.e. US Postal Service, UPS, etc.; must have tracking number) addressed from the Consulate General of Slovenia to your address to receive the authenticated documents back by mail.

Consular fee for authentication of photocopies or translation in the amount of 16 USD per document is to be paid.

Please note the Slovenian Consulate General does not offer translation services!
Slovenian Consulate General only authenticates the translation provided by the applicant (confirms that the translation corresponds to the original text). Translations using Google Translate are not adequate. For translator info please contact us at sloconsulate.cleveland@gov.si (Consulate General of Slovenia does not guarantee the quality of the translation).

Birth, death and marriage certificates

Please submit a filled out application form for a birth or marriage certificate or a death certificate, recorded in the Republic of Slovenia to the Consulate General of Slovenia.

Consular fee is 30 USD per certificate.

We strongly suggest you include with your application a prepaid express envelope with tracking number (i.e. US Postal Service, UPS, etc.) addressed from the Consulate General of Slovenia to your address, if you wish to receive the certificate back by mail.

If the prepaid express envelope is not provided with the application, the certificates will be sent by ordinary mail. In this case, the Consulate General of Slovenia does not take the responsibility for a lost shipment.