Since late November 2025, Slovenia has offered a dedicated residence permit for digital nomads — a legal way for non-EU remote workers to live here for up to a year while working for employers or clients abroad. Here’s the practical overview: who qualifies, the numbers that matter, and how the application works. One disclaimer up front: immigration rules change and individual cases differ, so treat this as orientation and confirm details with official Slovenian government sources (gov.si) or a consulate before planning around it.
The permit in one paragraph
It’s a temporary residence permit for non-EU/EEA citizens who work remotely — as employees, freelancers or business owners — for companies and clients registered outside Slovenia. It’s valid for up to 12 months and is not renewable back-to-back: after it expires, you wait roughly six months before applying again. Working for Slovenian companies or clients on this permit is not allowed — the deal is “live here, earn elsewhere.”
The headline requirement: income
The income bar is set at twice Slovenia’s average net monthly salary, calculated from the most recently published official salary figures — in practice roughly €3,100–3,300 per month at the time of writing, proven with bank statements and payslips or contracts covering recent months. This is one of the higher thresholds in Europe, which keeps the permit aimed at established remote professionals rather than budget backpackers.
What else you’ll need
- A valid passport and biometric photos.
- Proof of remote work abroad: employment contract, client agreements or business registration outside Slovenia.
- Health insurance covering your stay in Slovenia.
- A clean criminal record certificate from your home country.
- Proof of accommodation for the initial period.
How and where to apply
Two main routes: at a Slovenian embassy or consulate abroad, or — if you are already legally in Slovenia (visa-free entry counts) — at any administrative unit (upravna enota), which issues a certificate letting you stay legally until the decision arrives. Processing typically takes several weeks to a couple of months, so apply well before your intended start. One notably generous feature: immediate family reunification — spouses and children can join right away, without waiting periods tied to your length of stay, though they cannot work for Slovenian employers either. And if Slovenia grows on you mid-year, you may apply for a different type of residence permit (for employment, say) at any time while the nomad permit is still valid.
The tax footnote everyone skips
The permit is an immigration document, not a tax plan. Spend more than 183 days in Slovenia in a year and you’ll likely become a Slovenian tax resident, taxable on worldwide income at progressive rates — double-taxation treaties may soften this, but staying the full 12 months without tax advice is how surprises are born. Talk to a professional before you commit to a long stay.
Try before you apply
Here’s the sane sequence: come on your visa-free days first, work a real week, and see whether Slovenia fits. A 20 € day pass at makerSP_CE next to Tivoli Park is the low-commitment test drive — proper desk, fast Wi-Fi, call room for the meetings that don’t care you’re travelling. If the week feels right, the twelve-month paperwork suddenly has a point.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work for Slovenian clients on this permit?
No — the permit explicitly excludes the Slovenian labour market. All income must come from employers or clients outside Slovenia; even one local client can disqualify you.
Is the permit renewable?
Not immediately: after your 12 months you generally need a break of around six months before reapplying. If you’re planning to settle, other residence routes exist — different paperwork, different rules.
Do EU citizens need this visa?
No — EU/EEA citizens can live and work remotely from Slovenia without it (registration formalities aside). This permit exists for everyone else: Americans, Brits, Canadians, Australians and beyond.
Final thoughts
Slovenia’s digital nomad permit is refreshingly clear: 12 months, a real income bar, foreign clients only. If you clear the threshold and want an Alpine-Adriatic base inside Schengen, it’s one of Europe’s cleaner options — and Ljubljana, small, safe and green, is the obvious place to spend it. Verify the current rules on official sources, then come test-drive the city one workday at a time.
Related reading
- Ljubljana Digital Nomad Guide
- Is Ljubljana good for digital nomads?
- What a workday in Ljubljana actually costs
Book your desk at makerSP_CE
makerSP_CE coworking, Pivovarniška ulica 6, Ljubljana — right next to Tivoli Park. Day pass 20 €, 24/7 access, free parking, meeting room and call room included.
Web: makerspace.si | E-mail: rezervacije@makerspace.si | Phone: +386 30 393 405