What is a single permit for residence and work and who is it intended for?

The single permit for residence and work is a temporary residence permit issued under the Foreigners Act, which allows third-country nationals to reside temporarily in the Republic of Slovenia and at the same time perform work or be employed by a specific employer. 

The permit is obtained through a simplified procedure in which the residence permit and the work permit are combined into a single administrative decision.

This permit is intended for nationals of countries that are not members of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland — i.e. third countries.

How long will my single residence and work permit be valid?

This depends on your contract with the employer, but it will not be valid for more than two years. The permit is issued for the duration of the employment contract or the contract concluded for the performance of work, but for no longer than two years.

What conditions must I meet to obtain a single permit?

To be issued with a single permit, you must meet the general conditions for temporary residence that apply to all foreign nationals as well as the conditions for employment or work laid down in the regulations governing the employment of foreign nationals. 

General conditions under Article 33 of the Foreigners Act:

• a valid passport;
• appropriate health insurance;
• sufficient means of subsistence,
• a certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin.

Specific conditions depending on the type of permit – single residence and work permit:

• a concluded employment contract or contract for services,
• appropriate education,
• employer’s statements,
• consent of the Employment Service of Slovenia (if required).

Mandatory documentation: 

• a filled in form entitled Application for the issuance of a single permit,
• an appropriate personal photograph (What is an appropriate photograph?);
• a valid passport (What is a valid passport?);
• proof of appropriate health insurance covering at least emergency healthcare services in the Republic of Slovenia (What is appropriate health insurance?);
• proof of sufficient means of subsistence (What constitutes sufficient means?); 
• a certificate from the criminal record of your country of origin or the so-called certificate of no criminal record/police clearance certificate (Where can I obtain a criminal record certificate?);
• an employment contract signed by the employer;
• proof of appropriate education or professional qualification or other requirements specified by the employer;
• a signed statement from the employer/client indicating whether accommodation is provided or not; 
• a statement from the employer indicating whether, in the six months prior to the submission of the application, they terminated employment contracts for business reasons for one or more employees who meet the conditions for the post. If so, the statement must include the date(s) of service of notice of termination and the personal name(s) of the employee(s).

The procedure for submitting the application and documentation generally consists of the following steps:

1. Submission of the application with all required documentation. If you are lawfully residing in the Republic of Slovenia, you may submit the application at any Administrative Unit; otherwise, you can do so at the nearest diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Slovenia.

2. Fingerprint capture process (either at the time of submission of the application or later in the procedure).

3. The Administrative Unit examines the application.

4. The Administrative Unit obtains consent for employment issued by the Employment Service of Slovenia (ESS). (In which cases is ESS consent required?)

5. Decision of the Administrative Unit on the issuance of the permit.

6. Personal collection of the single permit in the form of a card.

7. Receipt of an information notice – when you collect the single permit, you will also receive an information notice explaining by when you must enter Slovenia (if you are not yet residing there), how long you may reside in Slovenia, and what your rights and obligations are. 

8. Establishment of the employment relationship – within 15 days of the date on which you collected the single permit card, your employer must conclude an employment relationship with you and register you for compulsory pension, disability and health insurance, which must be evidenced by a copy of the M1 form that must be served on you.

9. Registration of temporary residence – once you have the single permit card and are in Slovenia, you must register the exact address, at which you will reside, at the Administrative Unit (How is temporary residence registered?).

If you are being employed under a fast-track procedure, the procedure for submitting the application and documentation consists of the following steps:

1. Submission of the application with all required documentation. If you are lawfully residing in the Republic of Slovenia, you may submit the application at any Administrative Unit.

2. The Administrative Unit issues you with a certificate of submission of the application.

3. Fingerprint capture process (either at the time of submission of the application or later in the procedure).

4. The Administrative Unit examines the application.

5. The Administrative Unit obtains consent for employment issued by the Employment Service of Slovenia (ESS). (In which cases is ESS consent required?)

6. On the basis of the ESS consent and the certificate of submission of the Application, your employer must, within 10 days of the date on which you received the information sheet, conclude an employment relationship with you and register you for compulsory pension, disability and health insurance, which must be evidenced by a copy of the M1 form that must be served on you.

7. Decision of the Administrative Unit on the issuance of the permit.

8. Personal collection of the single permit in the form of a card.

9. Receipt of an information notice – when you collect the single permit, you will also receive an information notice explaining by when you must enter Slovenia (if you are not yet residing there), how long you may reside in Slovenia, and what your rights and obligations are. 

10. Establishment of the employment relationship – within 15 days of the date on which you collected the single permit card, your employer must conclude an employment relationship with you and register you for compulsory pension, disability and health insurance, which must be evidenced by a copy of the M1 form that must be served on you.

11. Registration of temporary residence – once you have the single permit card and are in Slovenia, you must register the exact address, at which you will reside, at the Administrative Unit (How is temporary residence registered?).

Do I have to submit the application for a single permit in person or can my future employer do this?

You may submit the application for a single permit yourself, or it may be submitted by your future employer.

Will I receive a certificate of submission of the application for a single permit?

You will receive a certificate of submission of the application if you are not subject to a visa requirement, you or your employer submitted the application within the territory of Slovenia and you are lawfully residing in Slovenia at that time.

– If the Administrative Unit issues you with a certificate that is valid as a temporary residence permit, you may lawfully reside in Slovenia on this basis until a decision on the Application is made. 

– If you submit the Application at a diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Slovenia, you will not receive a certificate that is valid as a temporary residence permit.

In which cases will the Administrative Unit prioritise my application for a single permit and when will the fast-track employment procedure be initiated? 

If you conclude an employment relationship for an occupation listed in the Decree determining activities and occupations in which foreign nationals may be employed more quickly, your Application will be treated as a priority and you may be employed under a fast-track procedure. (More information is available here.) (You can read more about this here.)