Single permit to reside and work

The single permit is the most common permit for foreigners who are employed by or work for an employer in Slovenia. With a single permit, the foreigner obtains the right to both reside and work (Article 37 of ZTuj-2). The application may be lodged by the foreigner or by their employer.

In addition to the general conditions under Article 33 of ZTuj-2, the consent of the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia is required for the permit to be issued. The Employment Service grants consent if, in particular, the following conditions are met (Article 17 of ZZSDT):

• there are no suitable unemployed persons in the register of unemployed persons (the employer may check this in advance by means of a notice from the Employment Service, Article 9 of ZZSDT);
• the employer is registered for the activity in which the foreigner will work and is not in liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings;
• the employer operates actively: for at least six months it has had at least one person in full-time employment (or, as an individual, has been registered in the compulsory social insurance schemes for six months), or it has recorded receipts from business operations of at least EUR 10,000 in each of the last six months; an employer registered for less than six months must have invested at least EUR 50,000 in the activity;
• the employer has filed withholding tax returns and has no outstanding tax liabilities;
• in the last six months, the employer has not dismissed, for business reasons, workers who meet the requirements for the job in question;
• a signed employment contract has been submitted, and the foreigner fulfils the conditions required by the employer;
• the quota, which may be set by the Government, has not been reached.

The Employment Service does not verify the condition of active operation if the foreigner has a qualification at level 7 or higher of the Slovenian Qualifications Framework (SQF), e.g. a first-cycle (Bachelor’s) degree. A foreigner may only be employed full-time, unless they have a qualification at level 7 or higher of the SQF (Article 12 of ZZSDT). Consent is not required for foreigners with free access to the labour market, e.g. foreigners with a permanent residence permit and family members of Slovenian citizens (Article 6 of ZZSDT).

The first single permit is issued for the duration of the employment contract, but for no more than two years; it may be extended for up to three years. For an extension with the same employer, the foreigner must have been continuously registered in the compulsory social insurance schemes, and the employer must have regularly filed returns and paid taxes (Article 18 of ZZSDT). The single permit is tied to the employer; a change of employer or job is possible with the consent of the Employment Service.

A foreigner who has been employed in Slovenia for a certain period (e.g. at least 20 months in the last 24 months with a qualification at level 4 or higher of the SQF, or at least 30 months in the last three years), or who has completed at least short-cycle higher vocational education in Slovenia in the last two years, may obtain consent that is not tied to an employer and gives them access to the labour market (Articles 13 and 14 of ZZSDT).

How we help you

We check whether you meet the conditions, prepare the application and a list of the required documents and, on the basis of a power of attorney, represent you in the administrative procedure. If your application is refused, we help you prepare legal remedies.

You can find the general conditions, the extension of permits and an overview of all types of permit on the page Residence permits in the Republic of Slovenia.

Each case depends on its specific circumstances, so the outcome of the procedure cannot be guaranteed in advance. Tell us about your case and we will arrange a date for a consultation: write to us or call us on +386 40 832 660.