How to Obtain Slovenian Citizenship in 2026

Slovenian citizenship may be acquired by descent from a parent, by birth, or through naturalisation after 10 years of residence in the country. Foreign nationals who live in Slovenia and make a significant contribution to the country through their work or the advancement of science, the economy, or culture, and whose activities serve the national interest, may be granted citizenship without meeting the standard residence period. Descendants of Slovenian emigrants may apply through a repatriation procedure after living in Slovenia for at least one year.

Other applicants can generally obtain a Slovenian passport only after 10 years of residence in the country. Another route to EU citizenship is a simplified procedure available in several EU member states.

With the support of our lawyers, you may be able to obtain citizenship of an EU member state through a simplified programme in as little as 12 months. The resulting passport allows you to live and work freely in other EU countries, including Slovenia. Migration specialists will identify a suitable route and guide you through every stage of the application.

Obtaining a Slovenian Passport: Benefits, Drawbacks and Challenges

As Slovenia is a member of the European Union, its citizens can exercise their EU rights throughout the bloc. Key benefits include:

• visa-free travel to more than 170 countries worldwide;
• the right to work for employers across the EU and access competitive salaries on the same terms as other EU citizens, without a separate work permit;
• the ability to run a business in an economically stable environment;
• access to financing on favourable terms;
• eligibility for state benefits and allowances;
• access to state-funded university places and scholarships;
• access to healthcare subject to the applicable insurance conditions.

Despite these benefits, obtaining a Slovenian passport also involves several drawbacks. In most cases, applicants must formally renounce their existing citizenship because Slovenia generally does not recognise dual citizenship. When visiting their former country of citizenship, they would then be treated as foreign nationals and may need the relevant entry or residence permission.

Requirements for Slovenian Citizenship

Under the applicable legislation, residents must generally meet the following conditions before applying for Slovenian citizenship:

• be at least 18 years old;
• provide written evidence of renunciation of their previous citizenship;
• reside in Slovenia under a temporary or permanent residence permit, with the required period depending on the basis of residence used for the citizenship application;
• have a stable monthly income of at least the minimum basic amount set in Slovenia for each household member;
• demonstrate spoken and written Slovenian sufficient for everyday communication;
• meet all tax obligations on time;
• have no criminal record and pose no threat to national security.

A Slovenian passport may be refused if you do not have a stable income at the required level, fail to meet the residence requirements, do not renounce your existing citizenship when required, have a criminal record, or are serving a sentence for an offence. Incomplete or inaccurate information may also result in refusal by the Slovenian immigration authorities. Any outstanding debts to public authorities should be settled before the application is submitted, as these may also affect the decision.

6 Ways to Obtain Slovenian Citizenship—and a Faster Alternative

Slovenian citizenship is generally acquired through one of three main routes: birth, naturalisation, or descent. A child born to at least one Slovenian parent usually acquires citizenship automatically. Descendants of Slovenians living abroad may qualify for citizenship by descent. Naturalisation normally requires 5–10 years of residence in Slovenia, knowledge of the Slovenian language, successful integration into society, and a clean criminal record.

The required residence period may be shorter for spouses of Slovenian citizens, refugees, and people who have made an exceptional contribution to the country.

Citizenship through Naturalisation

The principal naturalisation requirement is 10 years of residence in Slovenia. The five years immediately preceding the application must generally be continuous. The process normally begins with a temporary residence permit, which may be replaced with permanent residence after five years of lawful residence.

A Slovenian residence permit may be obtained on one of the following grounds:

• Employment.
  You must obtain a combined residence and work permit. The main challenge is finding an employer willing to complete the administrative process required to hire a foreign national.
• Education.
  You must provide confirmation of enrolment from an educational institution. The residence permit is normally issued for one year and must be renewed regularly until the programme is completed.
• Business.
  You must register a company in Slovenia, keep it operational, and meet all tax obligations.
• Family reunification.
  After living in Slovenia for one year, you may apply for residence permits for your family members. You must demonstrate adequate financial resources and suitable accommodation. Your relatives may also be required to demonstrate a basic level of Slovenian for everyday communication.
• Volunteering.
  To obtain a residence permit, you must enter into an agreement with a volunteer organisation that confirms the nature of your activities.
• Research activities.
  You must provide a hosting agreement or another document confirming your appointment to carry out research work.
• Other grounds.
  These may include property ownership, financial self-sufficiency, and other circumstances recognised by law.

One of the principal requirements for citizenship through naturalisation is the renunciation of your existing citizenship.

Citizenship through Repatriation

If you have lived in Slovenia for at least one year and are a descendant of Slovenian citizens up to the fourth generation, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship. To reside lawfully in the country, you must hold a residence permit available to foreign nationals of Slovenian descent. This permit allows you to live legally in Slovenia and may provide a basis for applying for citizenship after one year of residence.

A key advantage of the repatriation route is that applicants may retain their existing citizenship. Evidence of Slovenian ancestry can be requested from archives and civil registry offices that hold records relating to family members.

Citizenship through Marriage to a Slovenian Citizen

If you have been married to a Slovenian citizen for at least three years and have lived in Slovenia for one year, you may apply for citizenship. You must demonstrate adequate knowledge of Slovenian and confirm that you have not committed any serious offences. The authorities also assess whether the marriage is genuine, whether you participate in family life, and whether you are integrated into the local community. The shortened residence requirement makes this one of the faster citizenship routes.

Citizenship after University Studies

Graduates of higher education institutions who have lived in Slovenia for seven years, including continuous residence during the year immediately preceding the application, may also qualify for Slovenian citizenship. Time spent studying at a university and periods of residence on another lawful basis may be included in the total. After graduation, you may obtain employment and switch to a work-based residence permit.

Applicants must provide a higher education diploma and evidence of a stable source of income. Proof of integration into Slovenian society is also required. Participation in social, cultural, or volunteer initiatives may further demonstrate a genuine commitment to life in the country.

Citizenship by Birth in Slovenia

A child may acquire Slovenian citizenship when one parent is a Slovenian citizen and the other parent gives the required consent. Children born abroad to two Slovenian citizens also acquire Slovenian citizenship.

Citizenship may also be available to minors born to stateless parents or to parents whose identities were unknown at the time of birth. In addition, adult applicants who were born in Slovenia and have lived in the country continuously since birth may apply for a Slovenian passport under a simplified procedure. They are not required to renounce their existing citizenship, demonstrate language proficiency, or prove sufficient means of subsistence.

Citizenship by Investment

Slovenia and other EU member states do not currently offer programmes that grant citizenship directly and solely in exchange for investment.

An Alternative Route to the Rights Available to Slovenian Citizens

A Slovenian passport allows its holder to live in any EU member state with the rights available to EU citizens. However, obtaining Slovenian citizenship is time-consuming and subject to demanding requirements A different route may be to obtain an EU passport through citizenship in Romania, Bulgaria, or Poland. Depending on the applicable grounds, citizenship may be acquired in as little as one year, after which the holder may move to any EU country.

An alternative route to an EU passport may provide the following benefits:

• rights broadly equivalent to those of Slovenian citizens without the need for lengthy social integration or language study;
• no requirement to relocate abroad while the passport is being processed or to remain there afterwards;
• a faster route to EU citizenship;
• legal support costs comparable to only a few months of living in Slovenia during the naturalisation process.

A simplified immigration procedure may make it possible to become an EU citizen without substantial investment, urgent relocation, or years of residence abroad. Once citizenship of an EU member state is obtained, you can move to the European Union when it suits you. Working with migration specialists can save time and reduce the risk of avoidable complications.

How to Obtain a Slovenian Passport

The procedure for obtaining a Slovenian passport consists of several mandatory stages:

1. Choose the purpose of relocation.
   You may move to Slovenia for employment, education, business, or family reunification.
2. Apply for an entry visa.
   To enter Slovenia and legalise your stay, you must obtain a national type D visa before applying for a residence permit. The visa application may be submitted no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days before the intended travel date.
3. Enter Slovenia and apply for a residence permit.
   Within eight days of arrival, you must contact the competent administrative unit for your place of residence and submit a residence permit application. Once the application is accepted, you will receive a certificate valid until the residence permit is issued.
4. Obtain a temporary residence permit.
   After the application has been reviewed and a positive decision has been issued, you will receive a residence permit that is normally valid for one year.
5. Renew the residence permit.
   Provided that the original purpose of stay remains valid, the permit must normally be renewed each year. If your circumstances change, you may apply to change the basis of residence by providing the relevant supporting documents.
6. Apply for permanent residence.
   After five years of lawful residence in Slovenia, you may qualify for permanent residence. This status allows you to live and work freely and provides access to social benefits and a more straightforward route to citizenship.
7. Apply for citizenship.
   After living continuously in Slovenia with permanent residence for five years, you may submit a citizenship application to the Ministry of the Interior. You must demonstrate integration into society, knowledge of Slovenian, and compliance with local law.
8. Receive the decision and take the oath.
   Following a positive decision, you must complete the oath-taking procedure, which is the final stage in acquiring citizenship.
9. Apply for a passport.
   Once citizenship has been granted, you must apply for Slovenian identity documents. The principal documents are the national identity card and passport, which allows visa-free movement within the Schengen Area. You must also register your place of residence and, where necessary, replace foreign-issued documents with the corresponding Slovenian documents.

Preparing the Citizenship Application Documents

An application for Slovenian citizenship requires a supporting file that generally includes:

• a completed application form;
• a certificate confirming that citizenship has been granted;
• a birth certificate confirming that the applicant is of legal age;
• a marriage certificate or civil registry extract if the marriage was registered abroad;
• evidence of long-term residence in the country, such as a diploma issued by a Slovenian educational institution, bank statements, or documents confirming membership of a sports, cultural, religious, or other organisation;
• evidence that the applicant has regularly received income for at least two years, such as a pension, salary, scholarship, or remuneration under an employment contract;
• a Slovenian language certificate or evidence of graduation from a Slovenian school or university; applicants over 60 who have lived in Slovenia for more than 15 years are not required to demonstrate language proficiency;
• a criminal record certificate and evidence of compliance with the law;
• proof of payment of the administrative fee.

Cost of the Citizenship Procedure

Applicants pay the following administrative fees during the Slovenian citizenship procedure:

Dual Citizenship and a Second Passport in Slovenia

Slovenia generally does not permit dual citizenship. Multiple citizenship may be recognised only in certain circumstances. Categories that may be allowed to retain another citizenship include minors, repatriates, refugees, spouses of Slovenian citizens, and people who were born and habitually reside in Slovenia.

If you are stateless or can prove that acquiring Slovenian citizenship will automatically result in the loss of your current citizenship, formal renunciation is not required. It may also be waived if the country of your current nationality fails to respond to the relevant request within the prescribed period or if its laws do not permit renunciation.

Given the complexity of obtaining Slovenian citizenship, it may be worth considering citizenship in another European country that can be acquired more quickly and under simpler conditions.