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Moving to : Slovenia

There are a number of things you will need to research or do before moving to Slovenia, these include:

• Local Culture 
• Residence Permits/Visa Requirements/Fees 
• How to search for work if you do not already have a job 
• The importance of your Contract of Employment 
• Self Employed? Starting a new business 
• Studying in Slovenia 
• School/Childcare - admissions, childcare, registration 
• Retiring to Slovenia 
• Accommodation, property search 
• Removal Companies and Personal Effects 
• Public Healthcare 
• Registering with a Doctor/Dentist 
• Medication 
• Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare and Hospitals 
• Banking 
• Setting up TV, Telephone and Internet 
• Registering for a mobile phone 
• Taking your car 
• Moving your pets 
• Make sure your passport is valid 
• Tickets for your move, hotel bookings and car rental 
• UK Voter Registration 
• Final Checklists 
• Final Notifications 

Slovene culture is defined in many ways. From their music and philharmonics, to their diversity in the field of art. Clicking on the links below will help you understand the country and its unique appeal.

Travel Docs - Slovene Culture 
Wikipedia article on Slovene Culture
Cultural Profiles - Slovenia
Ministry of Culture - Slovenia

Each area of Slovenia will also have its own history and culture. Don't forget to run a search specifically on the area of Slovenia you are looking at moving to. We recommend Google for all searches and the easiest way of searching for local culture is to put "culture" + the area of Slovenia you are investigating.

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

More information can be found on this in our "living in..." Registering your arrival in the Country.

There are a number of websites which focus on job searches in Slovenia.  The following are a few, however we can not take personal liability for any of their content or claims.

Jobs Abroad
4ICJ
Job Centre Plus
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs
Employement Service of Slovenia

An employment contract in Slovenia has recently become obligatory to protect both the employee and employer.  Before signing anything, make sure you understand it fully. If it is in Slovene, ask if it can be translated into English so there is no question in your mind what you are signing. If they can't do this, then spend the money and take it to a translator. Always better to be safe than sorry. There may be situations where you need to prove you have work, and for this, again, a contract of employment will be essential.   If you are employed, having a work contract will also benefit you when applying for your residency as it proves your ability to support yourself.

Remember, if you do not have an employment contract you will be working illegally and could be sent home.Your employer should apply for a social security number on your behalf along with your tax registration.

More information can be found about this on our "living in..." Tax registration with the authorities.

If you are planning on going to Slovenia and starting your own business, this site may be of use to you: Doing Business

If you're going to study in Slovenia, you will need information regarding courses.

Prospects - Postgraduate study
Open University - Slovenia
European Youth Portal - Studying in Slovenia
Study Abroad - Slovakia

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

If you are considering retiring to Slovenia, then the following sites should be useful:

Direct Gov - Preparing to move or retire abroad 
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Moving Abroad 

The decision regarding whether to purchase or rent a property in Slovenia can be difficult. If you are looking to buy, then these links will help.

Slovene Property
Channel 4 - Buying in Slovenia

Rental can be harder as most real estate agencies focus on short term/holiday rentals, however it is not impossible. You will usually be expected to pay a deposit and a months' rent in advance and property search for rentals is usually easier in autumn and winter as during the summer months the shorter lease periods are more appealing to landlords.

Prime Location - Estate agents in Slovenia  
Rentals - Slovenia

When shipping your personal (household) effects within the EU, they are not subject to normal customs formalities or restrictions.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on English speaking removal companies.

The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Slovene nationals.

NHS Guide   
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Travel Insurance 

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

Before taking any medication into Slovenia make sure that you check that it is legal to do so. Interestingly 63% of Britons didn't know that some medication in the UK e.g. alcohol based prescription drugs and painkillers such as codeine are illegal in some countries. In Japan for instance, the Vicks inhaler and Sudafed are illegal!

Private medical insurance is a personal choice. Although not necessary as the public healthcare in Slovenia is adequate, it can act as a security blanket if something goes seriously wrong.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on additional medical insurance, general private heathcare and private hospitals.

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.

Opening a bank account must be done in person, so you will need to do this on arrival.

Many companies take a while to set these up, so once you know where you will be living, you might want to contact these companies in advance, so you are able to have connection from the day you move in.  Like most countries, you can get TV, Internet and phone packages.  Do your research and speak with neighbours, they will be able to advise on the best deals for your area.

Arnes
Amis (Slovene site so you'll need someone to translate)

Please check our Resources section to see if there are any alternatives.

As with many things, ask around about companies which serve your area the best.  Ask about deals and pop into local shops.  There is not actually that much online covering this topic, so research at destination may be the key.  These sites may help a bit.

Mobitel
Mobile (Slovene site you'll need a translator)

As for your UK mobile. Our guess is that you will be returning to the UK from time to time and may want a low cost way for people to contact you when you are there. So why not cancel your contract, but switch to a "Pay as you go"? This is a number that most of your friends/family will already have, so record your voicemail explaining that this phone is now only on when you are in the UK, and tell them how to contact you when you're not. Be careful when choosing your PAYG plan as some expect you to use your phone every few weeks to keep it active.

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 procedures which will need to be followed to ensure your car is legally registered in Slovenia.

No one wants to leave their other family members behind, so take them with you! Also, please don't forget to consider they may need their own Residency permits once in Slovenia.

DEFRA - Qualifying Countries for the PETS Scheme
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (cats, dogs & ferrets)
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (rabits and rodents)

Make sure you have a valid passport. You do not need a minimum period of validity; however it must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

UK Passport Office - UK Passport Information

When moving you need to set a date to do so. Once you have this date, you need to consider your flights or travel arrangements. Investigate cheap flights or travel. There is no need to spend a fortune getting there when there are many cheap options available. The following site details the list of low cost airlines flying to Slovenia:

Attitude Travel - Guide to Cheap Airline Carriers

If you have not arranged somewhere to live, make sure you have accommodation until you do. Book yourself a hotel. In addition, you may be going to sign contracts for your accommodation. This does not mean you can stay there on the first night! This may not be possible. So make sure you know exactly what your plans are and make arrangements that take these into consideration.

Where car hire is concerned do your research. Different companies offer different deals at different times.

Please check our Resources section to see if there more information on car hire and deals.

Don't Lose Your Vote!

If you are 18 and over, and were previously registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to register again as an overseas voter.

Overseas Voting