Living & Traveling in Slovenia

Entering Slovenia

Visitors

U.S. citizens must have a valid passport to enter Slovenia, but do not require a visa if they intend to stay for less than 90 days as a tourist or for routine business purposes. Once this 90-day maximum is reached, then the traveler must depart from Slovenia for a period of another 90 days before returning.

All non-EU citizens staying longer than 3 days in Slovenia must register with the local police within 3 days of arrival and inform the office about any change in their address. Registration of foreign visitors staying in hotels or accommodations rented through an accommodation company is done automatically by the hotelier or accommodation company, but visitors staying with family members must register themselves.  Registration is available 24 hours a day at police stations and is free of charge. Failure to register can result in a significant fine of up to 400 euros.

U.S. military personnel may enter Slovenia by presenting their military identification cards and valid NATO orders, and do not require visas for stays of less than 90 days.

If you wish to stay in Slovenia for longer than 90 days, then you will first require a residence and/or work permit.

For more information:

• Slovene Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Slovene Embassy in Washington, DC
• Slovene E-Government Web Site

The Schengen Zone

A number of European countries have joined together to create an area in which there are no border controls between them. This area is known as the Schengen zone, named after the town in Luxembourg where the agreement was signed in 1985. Slovenia joined the Schengen zone on December 21, 2007, meaning that there are no longer any checkpoints on Slovenia's borders with Austria, Hungary, and Italy.  Slovenia's neighbor Croatia is not yet a member of the Schegen zone.

U.S. citizens may enter the Schengen zone without a visa for a period of up to 90 days, traveling anywhere within the zone. After 90 days total anywhere in the zone, including Slovenia, U.S. citizens must then depart from the Schengen zone entirely for a period of 90 days before returning.

For more information:

• European Union's Schengen Zone Web Page