Schengen and visa policy

As a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, Slovenia implements the common EU visa policy. The visa regime it applies is part of the acquis communautaire of the European Union, divided into countries whose nationals require a visa to enter the Republic of Slovenia and countries whose nationals do not.

Slovenian diplomatic missions and consular posts issue Schengen (A and C) and national visas (D). In order to be issued with a visa, the third-country national must present the required documentation and comply with the requirements imposed by law.

Short-stay visa (C and A)

Type A visa

The Airport Transit Visa “A” is issued to foreigners when crossing the international transit area of an airport situated on the territory of the Member States in transit and not entering the Schengen Area. This type of visa is only issued to nationals of the countries listed in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 – Visa Code.

• Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code) (2009/810)

Type C visa

Type C visa is an entry permit issued to a third-country national for a so-called short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). The number of days allowed can be calculated by means of an online calculator. The visa is issued in the form of a sticker attached to a valid passport.

An application for a visa shall be submitted specifically to the Schengen state that is the primary destination of travel. This type of visa may also be issued by other Schengen States on behalf of Slovenia, provided that Slovenia has concluded a representation agreement with them.

In accordance with Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, nationals of certain third countries are subject to prior consultation with the central authorities of other Member States.

In order to obtain a visa at a Slovenian diplomatic mission or consular post, it is necessary to submit in person the visa application below, the required documentation and fingerprints.

VIS (EU Visa Information System)

During the visa procedure, the applicant is required to submit all 10 fingerprints to be identified in the VIS system together with the photograph. The data shall be retained for 5 years from the end of the procedure. The system is in place to facilitate the identification and exchange of data between Member States.

You may request consultation, modification or deletion of data from the VIS.

Family members of EU citizens subject to Directive 2004/38/EC

• Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2004/38/EC of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States amending Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68 and repealing Directives 64/221/EEC, 68/360/EEC, 72/194/EEC, 73/148/EEC, 75/34/EEC, 75/35/EEC, 90/364/EEC, 90/365/EEC and 93/96/EEC. Text with EEA relevance. (2004/38)

Family members of EU citizens who have exercised their right to free movement (meaning that an EU citizen resides in a Member State other than his or her country of origin or travels to another Member State) receive certain procedural facilitations.

The basic requirements for the applicant to be considered under this category include:

• An EU citizen has exercised his or her right to free movement
• The family member (applicant) belongs to one of the categories covered by Directive 2004/38/EC
• A family member (applicant) accompanying or joining an EU citizen in the Schengen Area destination

Family members of EU citizens subject to Directive 2004/38/EC are entitled to:

• Priority treatment in determining the time limit for submitting an application if the time limit is required
• Processing of visa applications free of charge
• Processing of visa applications under a fast-track procedure

Long-stay visa (D)

A type D visa is an entry and residence permit of no less than 90 days and no longer than one year, allowing the holder, in accordance with the provisions of the Foreigners Act, to apply for a residence permit directly at the administrative unit in duly justified cases. Type D visa cannot be extended. The application for this type of visa may be filed by third-country nationals belonging to one of the groups defined in Article 20 of the Foreigners Act. Third-country nationals coming from non-visa countries may also apply for a D visa.

• Foreigners Act (ZTuj-2)*

In order to obtain a D visa, it is necessary to submit in person the visa application and the required documents.

Residence permit of a foreigner in the Republic of Slovenia

A foreigner desiring to reside in the Republic of Slovenia for reasons other than those allowed on the basis of a visa must obtain a residence permit. A residence permit allows the holder to enter and stay in the country for a fixed period of time and for a specific purpose, or residence for an indefinite period of time in case the conditions for permanent residence are met. The conditions for issuing the permit are laid down in the Foreigners Act. The competent decision-making authority is the Administrative Unit. The first residence permit in the Republic of Slovenia is issued as a temporary residence permit and must be obtained by a foreigner before entering the country (more at Infotujci.si).

• Foreigners Act (ZTuj-2)*

Personal data protection information

Personal data are processed for the purposes of visa application in administrative procedures. Your data are entered into the National Visa Information System of the Republic of Slovenia, where they are stored for five years after the expiry of the visa or, in the event that the visa is not issued, five years after the final decision to refuse the visa. Your data will also be entered and stored in the Visa Information System (VIS) for a maximum of five years, during which it will be accessible to the visa authorities and the authorities responsible for the implementation of visas at the external borders of the European Union, including to the immigration and asylum authorities in the EU Member States.

VFS Global processes personal data on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and is bound by standard contractual clauses for ensuring the same standard of personal data protection as the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

The controller of personal data processed in visa procedures is the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Prešernova cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, T: 01 478 2000, E: gp.mzz@gov.si.

You can contact the Data Protection Officer at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia at dpo.mzz@gov.si.   

You have the right to lodge a complaint concerning the processing of personal data with the Information Commissioner of the Republic of Slovenia (in Slovene), Dunajska cesta 22, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.