What you should do
You should:
Coronavirus
You should follow the advice of the Slovenian Government and your local authority. You can also read our Slovenia travel advice for our latest guidance.
For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Slovenia see our coronavirus travel advice.
Stay up to date
You should:
Attend a citizen outreach meeting
The British Embassy regularly holds events for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizen outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Slovenia.
If you were living in Slovenia before 1 January 2021
If you were legally resident in Slovenia before 1 January 2021, your rights will be protected by the Withdrawal Agreement.
You must apply for a new residence status by 31 December 2021 to secure your rights.
You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.
Visas and residency
If you were legally resident in Slovenia before 1 January 2021 you need to apply for a new residency document. You must apply for this document before your current residency document expires, or before the end of 2021, whichever comes first.
Apply for your new residency document at your local town hall (upravna enota). You may need to book an appointment.
For more information on the new residency document you can read the:
Moving to Slovenia
If you are moving to Slovenia, check the entry requirements for Slovenia and read the Slovenian government’s guidance on entering Slovenia.
Once you’ve held temporary residency in Slovenia for 5 years, you can apply to your local town hall (upravna enota) for a permanent resident certificate (Potrdilo o Stalnem Bivanju).
Healthcare
If you are resident in Slovenia, you must have health insurance.
You should obtain basic state health insurance through the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (Zavod za zdravstveno zavarovanje Slovenije). You can also pay for supplementary health insurance through private insurance providers.
If you do not pay into the Slovene health service, you’ll need private insurance to pay for non-emergency healthcare.
Read the Slovene government’s guidance on eligibility and how to join the state health insurance scheme (in Slovene).
Read our guidance on healthcare options in Slovenia and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.
You can also read:
State healthcare: S1
You may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if you live in Slovenia and you:
- are receiving a UK State Pension
- are receiving some other ‘exportable benefits’
- are a frontier worker who lives in Slovenia and commutes to work in the UK
- have been sent to Slovenia temporarily by your UK employer
Read our guidance on using an S1 form in Slovenia to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
If you are resident in Slovenia, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC or GHIC for healthcare in Slovenia, unless you are a student or a detached (posted) worker. Current EHICs will remain valid until the expiry date on the card.
If you are living in Slovenia you may be eligible for a new UK-issued EHIC or GHIC if you’re:
- a UK student in Slovenia
- a UK State Pensioner with a registered S1
- a frontier worker with a registered S1
The card you receive will depend on when you moved to Slovenia.
Apply now for a new UK EHIC or GHIC.
An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.
For more information read our guidance on healthcare when travelling in Europe and advice on foreign travel insurance.
You should also read guidance on:
Passports and travel
You should carry your residence document, as well as your valid passport when you travel. If you have applied but not yet received your document, carry your certificate of application.
If you have not yet applied for a residence document, you should carry evidence that you are resident in Slovenia. This could include a tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020.
If you cannot show that you are resident in Slovenia, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area, and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Slovenia.
Passports
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You can apply for or renew your British passport from Slovenia.
You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
Renew your passport before booking your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. You may also need to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay.
Entry requirements
You can travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.
To stay longer, than 90 days in any 180 day period, to work or study, or for business travel, you must meet the entry requirements set out by the country you are travelling to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit.
If you stay in Slovenia with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.
Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.
Travel to the UK and Ireland will not change.
Driving in Slovenia
If you are resident in Slovenia, you must exchange your UK driving licence for a Slovene one.
If you were legally resident in Slovenia before 1 January 2021, you must exchange your driving licence for a Slovene licence by 31 December 2021.
If you moved to Slovenia after 31 December 2020, you must exchange your licence within 12 months of becoming legally resident.
To exchange your UK driving licence you will need:
- your current driving licence
- valid medical certificate
- a passport photo
- proof you are a habitual resident in Slovenia
- proof that you were resident in the UK when your UK driving licence was issued. The British Embassy has produced a letter which clarifies that UK driving licences are only issued to UK residents. Contact us if you require a copy
Check with your town hall (upravna enota) what further documentation you may need to exchange your driving licence.
For information on driving in Slovenia, read guidance on:
Driving in the UK with a Slovene licence
You can use your Slovene licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test. We will update these pages if there are any changes to the rules, as soon as information is available.
Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Slovenia
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK
Read the Slovene government’s guidance on car registration in Slovenia. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.
Working in Slovenia
If you were legally resident in Slovenia before 1 January 2021, you have the right to work, as long as you remain legally resident.
Read our guidance on working in an EU country.
You may need to apply for a UK police certificate.
If you are planning to come to Slovenia to work, you may need a visa.
Read the Department for International Trade’s guidance on working or providing services in Slovenia and sign up for their updates.
Frontier workers
If you live in Slovenia and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers. 
Education and professional qualifications
Studying in Slovenia
If you were resident in Slovenia before 1 January 2021, you are eligible for the same tuition fees as Slovenian citizens.
You may not be entitled to maintenance grants or loans in Slovenia unless you have permanent residency or are a worker in Slovenia.
Read our guidance on:
Moving to Slovenia to study
If you are planning to study in Slovenia, make sure you meet all visa requirements before you travel.
Contact the relevant higher education provider in Slovenia to check what fees you may have to pay.
Read our guidance on studying in the European Union.
Professional qualifications
Read the Department for International Trade’s guidance on how to get your qualification recognised in Slovenia and sign up for their updates.
Money and tax
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Slovenia to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.
Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Slovenia have not changed.
Read guidance on:
National Insurance
Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Slovenia.
Banking
You will need to get a tax number from your local tax office before you can open a bank account.
Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.
Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on banking, insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking
Pensions
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Slovenia.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
Read our State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.
If you retire in Slovenia, you can claim:
Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
Benefits
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Slovenia.
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
You may be eligible to claim some Slovenian social security benefits – read guidance on social security benefits in Slovenia and Slovenian social security.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
Voting
If you are registered as a permanent resident (Potrdilo o Stalnem Bivanju) in Slovenia you can vote in local elections. You cannot stand in local elections or vote in European Parliament elections.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections.
Births, deaths and getting married
If your child is born in Slovenia, you will need to register the birth abroad.
If someone dies in Slovenia you can:
You may also need:
Pets
If you have a pet passport issued by Slovenia or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU.
A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. You should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.
Read guidance on:
Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.
Emergencies
You can dial the European emergency number 112 or dial 113 for the police in Slovenia.
If you are the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Ljubljana.
Accommodation and buying property
Read our guidance for buying a property abroad.
Returning to the UK
You must tell the UK and Slovene authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.
To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.
If you get healthcare in Slovenia through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.
Disclaimer
Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Slovenian authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
