Living in :
Slovenia
Once in Slovenia, there are more things you need to do. These include:
Registering your arrival
As an EU national you will need a residence permit to work in Slovenia although you do not need a specific work permit. However it is always best to be prepared, and have employment set up before you go.
You are able to enter the country for up to 3 months as a tourist providing you can prove that you can support yourself during this period and have medical insurance, however if you plan to work or stay longer, you must register for a Residence permit with the Slovene embassy before you go or with the Aliens Authority once in the country.
Ministry of the Interior - Residence Permits
Foreign Office
State Portal of Slovenia
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Tax registration with the authorities
If planning on staying/working/buying a house or car, you must obtain a Social Security Number from the Health Instute of Slovenia (Zavod za zdravstveno Zavarovanje Slovenije or ZZZS). If employed, your employer is likely to arrange this for you, however if you are self employed or have your own business, you must speak with your accountant to arrange this.
Registration with the taxman is also essential, your employer should will do this for you. If you are self employed please talk to an accountant to ensure everything you do is legal. Contact details for your local tax office can be found via your local town hall.
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Registering children with daycare/school/universities
Like in most countries, childcare places are limited and you will need to apply well in advance. Speak to your local town hall for information on daycare facilities in your local area. Speak to other locals and your local town hall for information on both private and state daycare facilities in your local area which accept children as young as 6 months. Depending on your income will depend on how much you will pay for this service. There are also a number of international kindergartens available, so if you would like to send your child to one, make sure you find out if this is a local option for you.
The rules for compulsory schooling are simple. Children are expected to start school at the age of 6. One of the biggest decisions you need to make will be "Do I want my children educated in English, at an International school, or in a Slovene school?" These sites may help you with this decision.
Ministry of Education - Education System
Wikipedia - Slovene Education System
CMEPIUS - Education in Slovenia
Independent Private Schools - Slovenia
Foreign Office - International schools in Slovenia
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Signing up with a Dr or Dentist etc
Some Doctors and Dentists are English speaking, especially in the more commercial areas of Slovenia. You have a free choice of general practitioner, paediatrician and several specialists within your area, providing your choice does not bring the doctor's/dentist's list above the maximum patients permitted. For an English speaking Doctor, ask around - other Brits in the neighbourhood can help as well as many of the locals. If all else fails, the British Embassy in Ljubljana may be able to help.
Foreign Office - Doctors
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Set up a bank account
Opening a bank account is not difficult. Although each bank is different, general rule of thumb is that all you should need is your passport, residency documents and your employment contract. However check when you make your appointment so you don't forget anything. Also, ask other locals for recommendations. Many banks do internet banking etc now, so find a bank that suits your needs.
Opening a bank account must be done in person, so you will need to do this on arrival.
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Convert your driving license?
The first thing you need to be aware of is if you move abroad, you cannot have your new international address added to your British driving licence.
Directgov - Driving Abroad on a GB Licence
You can apply for an International Driving Permit as a temporary solution although the Slovene authorities will accept your UK licence so this is not necessary. Information about this can be found here:
Driving Permit - International Driving Permit
Alternatively, you have two other choices. Either leave it with your last address in the UK, or submit it to the Slovene authorities and have it replaced with a Slovene Licence.
Regardless of your decision regarding your licence, you should familiarise yourself with the rules of the Slovene roads! On the spot fines can be very expensive! The traffic laws are outlined here:
Europeaccident - Driving in Romania
Europa - Getting there
The British Embassy has this to say about driving in Slovenia:
"British driving licence with a photograph is valid in Slovenia. Please make sure that you carry a driver's licence, registration and insurance documents at all times. All these documents must be originals. Check the validity of your driving licence. Third party liability insurance is required for all vehicles; coverage is purchased locally. Drivers should keep headlights on at all times and observe speed limits. Fines for exceeding the speed limit are high and have to be paid on the spot. Drivers should be aware that certain driving laws differ in Slovenia. For example, Speed limits are: on Motorway 130 km/h, main trunk roads 90 km/h, urban area 50 km/h. Winter tyres are mandatory from 15 November to 15 March. Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts. Children under the age of 12 years are not permitted to sit in the front seat of the vehicle."
And finally, please remember that although in the UK you can take and pass your driving test at the age of 17, in Slovenia, your licence is not valid until your 18th birthday! Other general differences can be found here:
ViaMichelin - Driving in Europe - Similarities and Differences
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Registering or buying a car
Deciding whether to take your car or not is something you will need to think about. What is "right" varies from person to person. For example, for my first move, I took my UK car with me for the first 6 months only. This gave me the security blanket when I wasn't sure if I would stay. Had I returned to the UK, I wouldn't have then had to look for a new car. Having decided to stay, I returned my UK car to the UK, and bought a local one. Just make sure that if you decide to take your own car, your insurance covers you properly with a "permanent green card"!
Don't forget you must also notify the DVLA if you plan to take your car out of the UK either temporarily or permanently.
Direct Gov - Taking your car abroad
The process of registering your vehicle is time consuming. You need to get various checks on it to ensure it conforms with their standards etc, and only then can you register it. It can also work out very expensive.
Ministry of the Interior
If you plan on registering it, you should do so within 30 days of your arrival in the country. Contact your local police station who can point you in the direction of the vehicle registration office. They will be able to give you information regarding all the proceedures which will need to be followed to ensure your car is legally registered in Slovenia.
When buying a second hand car, always go with someone who knows about cars so they can look at it and help you decide if it is worth the money the person is asking. If you are unsure, buy from a reputable dealer and one that offers warranties in case something goes wrong. You can find good deals in local papers and on the internet, but make sure you check it out properly.
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Search for a job
There are a number of websites which focus on job searches in Slovenia. The following are a few, however we can not take liability for any of their content or claims. It is also worth actually going into agencies on the street with your up to date CV.
Jobs Abroad
4ICJ
Job Centre Plus
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs
Employement Service of Slovenia
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Register for language courses
We Brits are terrible when it comes to learning languages! It's awful to walk around the shops and feel illiterate. In many cases, not even recognising letters, let alone words! It can leave you feeling very isolated. Learning the language has many benefits. Firstly, it teaches you the essentials you will need to get by. Secondly, it helps you meet people - often people in a similar situation to yourself. And thirdly, it makes people take you more seriously on a daily basis.
Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on language courses.
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Recycling
Recycling hasn't really caught on yet in Slovenia. However each area may have its own recycling rules. Make sure you speak with neighbours or the local council to find out the rules for your area.
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If a student, check out the local student life
Once you know where you will be studying, contact your campus to find out about the local social life. Find out the "in" places to go and the local club scene. Most students work hard, but play harder!
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Marrying in Slovenia
When living in a foreign country, it is not unthinkable that you might meet and later want to marry someone in Slovenia.
More information can be found here:
Foreign Office - Marriage Formalities in Slovenia
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British Nationals dying in Slovenia
While in Slovenia, although none of us wants to think about it, it is possible that you could be left to deal with the death of a loved one. There are many decisions to be made and the following websites will be of help.
Foreign Office - Registering a Death
Foreign Office - Help if someone dies
The British Foreign Office have put together a booklet (PDF) which you can download.
Foreign Office - Death Overseas
Please also visit our Repatriation page where we go into this in more detail.
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Protect your pension
As a UK citizen you are entitled to a UK pension when you retire. This can and will be paid into your bank account anywhere in the world. However, whether you get a full or part pension at retirement age depends on your contributions.
Be aware that you are able to pay into a private pension for 5 years after you leave the UK, however advisers also suggest that you consider paying voluntary NI contributions to preserve your state pension entitlements.
You can find out how much to pay by calling the HMRC International Services Helpline on +44 (0) 845 9154811 giving them your UK NI Number. There are many ways to pay, the link below will be of use.
HM Revenue & Customs - Paying NI from abroad
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Keep an eye out for your work / residence permit / insurances / passport lapsing...
This may seem obvious but make sure you know exactly when each of your documents are due to expire! To begin with you may not be able to read the correspondence these companies are sending you. This makes renewal notices very difficult to understand. The last thing you want is to find out that part of your life is no longer legal... Whether it's your right to live in the country or your car insurance have those dates marked clearly somewhere that you check regularly and if it spans more than one year... make sure you copy it over to the following year!
If your passport is due to expire you will need this website:
Foreign Office - Passports
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Emergencies
In general, Emergency Services can be reached by dialing 112, however if you want to get hold of a specific service you can call the following numbers. NOTE if you need the police, they are ONLY available using 113.
Police - 113
Ambulance - 112
Fire Bregade - 112
If anything else goes seriously wrong, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office offers the following help:
Foreign Office - When things go wrong
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