Single permit

The residence and work permit, in the form of a single permit, grants third-country nationals the right to enter and reside in Slovenia, as well as the right to be employed or work in Slovenia. It simplifies administrative procedures for permit applicants according to the "one-stop shop" principle.

Foreign nationals who come to Slovenia for the purpose of employment, self-employment or other work no longer need two different permits; the single permit combines and replaces both the residence permit previously issued by administrative units and the work permit previously issued by the Employment Service of Slovenia.

Applications for the single permit must be submitted to the administrative units. The procedures and conditions for issuing the single permit are laid down in the Foreigners Act and the Employment, Self-employment and Work of Foreigners Act (both in slovenian version).

The application for the first single permit may be lodged with the competent administrative unit if the applicant is an employer or its authorised representative, or with the diplomatic or consular representation of the Republic of Slovenia in the country of origin if the applicant is a foreign national or an employer. In the procedure for issuing or renewing a single permit by an administrative unit, the Employment Service of Slovenia gives its consent to the single permit if the requirements set out for a specific type of approval are met. The administrative unit initiates the procedure for obtaining consent of the Employment Service of Slovenia ex officio.

A permit issued by international agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia (in slovenian) in the procedure of issuing a single residence and work permit is considered to be the consent of the Employment Service of Slovenia.

The new permit indicating the right of access to the labour market for the purpose of employment for foreign nationals who do not have a temporary residence permit in Slovenia

The provisions of the Employment, Self-Employment and Work of Foreigners Act (ZZSDT) (in slovenian) do not apply to foreign nationals who are employed by:

• public sector employers in the health care sector,
• public institutions providing institutional care for adults, special social welfare institutions for adults, care and work centres and by special social care and education centres,
• public institutions providing social assistance services to help families in their own homes, and
• public social security institutions providing social assistance services.

However, a foreign national who:

• resides in Slovenia on the basis of a temporary residence permit that was not issued for the purpose of employment, self-employment or work (e.g. a temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification or study), and
• wants to be employed by the above-mentioned employers in the public sector during the period of this permit’s validity, is obliged, pursuant to paragraph nine of Article 58 of the Foreigners Act (in slovenian), to replace the existing temporary residence permit card with a new card indicating the right of access to the labour market.

The foreign national's employer is not required to submit a job vacancy notice (PDM-1) or, consequently, to obtain a written notification and information sheet from the Employment Service to be issued with a new card. In such a case, the administrative unit competent for the area in which the foreign national resides issues a new card indicating the right to access the labour market based on a submitted employment contract signed by a public sector employer as referred to in point 20 of paragraph two of Article 5 of the Employment, Self-employment and Work of Foreigners Act (ZZSDT).

A foreign national must be issued with a new card indicating their right to access the labour market before the employer can register them for statutory social security scheme with the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia. 

Work permits

• The Employment Service of Slovenia also issues permits granting access to the Slovenian labour market for the purposes of:

  • seasonal work in agriculture for up to 90 days on the basis of the Employment, Self-employment and Work of Foreigners Act; and 
  • employment on the basis of international employment agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia.

Registration of services and the short-term work of a representative

Third-country undertakings providing short-term services for the supply of goods and maintenance in Slovenia must register with the Employment Service of Slovenia when they start providing these services. Short-term services may be provided for a continuous period of 14 days and a total duration of up to 90 days per year.

Foreign nationals who want to work as representatives in Slovenia for a short period of up to 90 days per calendar year must also register at the start of their work. Foreign nationals who want to act as representatives must be registered in the Court Register of the Republic of Slovenia as representatives of legal entities.

Free access to the Slovenian labour market

Foreigners legally residing in Slovenia under other national or international regulations have unrestricted access to the Slovenian labour market. This gives them the right to enter into civil law contracts, to be employed by any employer or to be self-employed under the same conditions as Slovenian citizens.