A residence permit is a special legal basis for the residence of foreigners in the Republic of Slovenia. A foreigner who is an EU citizen may reside in Slovenia for a maximum of 3 months, after which he or she needs a legal basis to continue his or her stay, namely a residence permit. The same applies to a foreigner who is not an EU citizen and resides in Slovenia on the basis of a visa. Visas also last for a limited time, usually a maximum of three months, after which the foreigner must obtain an appropriate residence permit. An exception applies, for example, to the D visa, which is intended for family reunification and lasts for one year.
A residence permit in Slovenia can be obtained on various legal grounds. The most common is work or employment in Slovenia ( residence and work permit ), both in the form of employment with a Slovenian employer and in the form of establishing a limited liability company or limited liability company. Each method of obtaining a residence permit on the basis of work or employment has its own rules. For some, it is necessary to have priority over Slovenian job seekers, for others it is necessary to have a higher education (the so-called Blue Card), for others it is necessary to invest in it when opening a company, for others it is necessary to have previously legally resided in the Republic of Slovenia for at least one year, and so on. Each foreigner is entitled to a different residence permit, depending on the conditions they meet and personal preferences. Foreigners who obtain a residence permit have the opportunity to invite their immediate family members to join them after one year of residence in Slovenia. They do this by submitting an application for a residence permit for the purpose of family reunification. Every foreigner, as well as every Slovenian citizen, has the right to have their immediate family members reside in Slovenia alongside them under certain conditions, regardless of where they are from or whether they are foreigners.
First Residence Permit
Every first residence permit must be renewed, usually every year. Such a residence permit is called a temporary residence permit . At each renewal, the administrative authority determines whether the foreigner still meets all the legal conditions for residence in Slovenia, and if they do not, they are usually asked to do so within a certain period. The renewal of a residence permit is usually carried out every year, for a period of five years. Only after five years of residence in Slovenia can a foreigner apply for a permanent form of residence permit, which is called a permanent residence permit .
Revocation of Residence Permit
However, even such a residence permit can be lost by a foreigner in certain cases, the most common reason being frequent or prolonged absence from the Republic of Slovenia. In such cases and also in other cases (death of a foreigner, commission of a serious crime, etc.), the residence permit is revoked or the residence is cancelled, depending on whether it is temporary or permanent. It is precisely for such reasons that it makes sense for a foreigner who has already obtained a permanent residence permit after ten years of legal residence in Slovenia to also apply for citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia. This is also the path chosen by many foreigners who reside in Slovenia on the basis of a residence permit.
Acquisition of Citizenship
When acquiring citizenship, the main problem is that it is usually necessary to renounce your previous one, and basic knowledge of the Slovenian language is also required. Obtaining and extending a residence permit is unfamiliar to many foreigners or stressful for them. In both cases, you can contact us where we will be happy to help you. In recent years, obtaining a residence permit and obtaining it has become more difficult and uncertain than before, which is why the help of a lawyer is all the more advisable.
