Slika je simbolična. Foto: Freepik
The digital nomad visa Slovenia offers is, more precisely, a temporary residence permit. Slovenia introduced a dedicated temporary residence permit for digital nomads, allowing remote workers and freelancers who work for employers or clients outside Slovenia to legally live in the country while continuing their foreign-based work. This guide explains who qualifies, what it costs, how long it lasts, and what it does (and does not) let you do.
What is Slovenia’s digital nomad residence permit?
The permit was introduced by a new Article 51.a inserted into the Aliens Act (Zakon o tujcih, ZTuj-2) through the amending act ZTuj-2I, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia (Uradni list RS, No. 32/25) on 6 May 2025. It entered into force and permits began being issued from 21 November 2025. It is administered by Slovenia’s administrative units (upravne enote) domestically, and by Slovenian embassies and consulates abroad.
Who qualifies
To qualify as a “digital nomad” under this permit, you must be a non-EU/non-EEA national who is either employed by, or working under a contract-for-services arrangement with, a business entity headquartered outside Slovenia, or self-employed abroad, performing the work remotely using information and communication technology.
A key condition: your employer or business must not be registered in Slovenia’s business register, and must not generate Slovenian income, make direct sales, or provide services inside Slovenia. In other words, this permit is strictly for people whose work is entirely foreign-sourced — it is not a route into the Slovenian labour market.
Income requirement
Applicants must show monthly funds or income of at least twice the average net monthly salary in Slovenia. Because this average is republished periodically by Slovenia’s Statistical Office, the exact euro threshold moves over time rather than being a fixed figure in the law — at the time of writing it works out to roughly 2,900 to 3,100 evrov per month, but always check the current figure before applying. Acceptable proof includes bank statements, payslips, remote-employment contracts, or freelance and client invoices.
How long does the permit last?
The permit is issued for a maximum of one year (or for the length of your remote work arrangement, if shorter), and it cannot be extended or renewed while valid. If you want to continue as a digital nomad in Slovenia afterwards, you can reapply, but only after a gap of at least six months following the expiry of your previous permit. You are, however, free to switch to a different residence permit category at any time during the permit’s validity, if your circumstances change.
How to apply for the digital nomad visa Slovenia offers
If you are applying from abroad, you submit your application at a Slovenian embassy or consulate. If you are already legally resident in Slovenia, you can apply at any administrative unit.
Documents typically required include:
- a valid passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay),
- a biometric photo,
- proof of your remote work (employment contract, client/service contracts, or proof of self-employment abroad),
- proof of income meeting the threshold above,
- proof of accommodation in Slovenia,
- a clean criminal record certificate from your home country,
- proof of health insurance (see below).
Processing for the digital nomad visa Slovenia application typically takes 30 to 60 days. The administrative fee varies depending on where you apply (commercial guides cite figures from roughly 60 to 160 evrov) — check the current fee at e-uprava.gov.si or with your nearest consulate before applying. Once approved, you will need to register your residential address shortly after arrival and collect your biometric residence permit card.
Health insurance
You must have health insurance covering at least urgent and emergency medical services in Slovenia for the entire duration of your stay, with no gaps in coverage. Since digital nomad permit holders are not part of the Slovenian public health system, most applicants arrange private international or travel medical insurance.
Can I bring my family?
Yes, and this is one of the more generous features of the scheme: family members (spouse or partner, dependent children) can join you immediately, with no waiting period tied to how long you have already resided in Slovenia — unlike the longer qualifying periods that normally apply under standard family-reunification rules. Each family member needs to apply for their own permit as a family member of the main permit holder.
Tax residency: an important nuance
Holding a digital nomad residence permit does not, by itself, automatically make you a Slovenian tax resident. Slovenian tax residency is governed separately by general tax law (Zakon o dohodnini, ZDoh-2), based on criteria such as having a registered permanent residence in Slovenia, having your habitual abode or centre of personal and economic interests there, or being present in Slovenia for 183 days or more in a calendar year.
If you stay under 183 days and don’t otherwise establish Slovenia as the centre of your life, you generally remain a non-resident for Slovenian tax purposes, taxed in Slovenia only on Slovenia-sourced income — which, by the design of this permit, should be close to zero.
If you cross the 183-day threshold, or otherwise establish your centre of interests in Slovenia, you risk being classified as a Slovenian tax resident, which would subject your worldwide income to Slovenian progressive income tax. This is a nuanced area that depends on your specific situation and any double-taxation treaty between Slovenia and your home country, so we recommend confirming your personal position with FURS (the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia) or a tax advisor before relying on any general rule of thumb.
Can I start a business or work for Slovenian clients on this permit?
No. The entire premise of the digital nomad permit is that you are not entering the Slovenian labour or business market. Registering as a sole proprietor (s.p.) as a non-EU national normally requires a personal work permit for self-employment, which itself requires a valid residence permit with at least one year of continuous residence already completed, roughly 10,000 evrov in demonstrated financial resources, and business premises. Since the digital nomad permit is capped at one year, non-renewable, and explicitly conditioned on not conducting Slovenian business activity, you cannot combine the two at the same time.
If you later decide you want to establish a company and work with Slovenian clients, you would need to switch to a different residence permit category (which the law allows at any time) and separately pursue the self-employment work permit, or explore options such as establishing a company in Slovenia through the standard routes available to non-EU nationals.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a virtual office or coworking address while on a digital nomad permit?
Yes — a virtual office or coworking membership can be a convenient Slovenian mailing or work address, though they are not a substitute for the proof-of-accommodation documents required for the permit itself.
What happens if my remote work contract ends before the year is up?
The permit is tied to your remote work arrangement, so if that ends, your permit may no longer be valid for the remaining period — you would need to switch categories or leave once your qualifying basis for the permit ends.
Is this the same as the Single Permit covered for employees working in Slovenia?
No. The Single Residence and Work Permit is for people taking up employment or self-employment inside the Slovenian labour market. The digital nomad permit is the opposite: it is specifically for people whose work has no connection to the Slovenian market at all.
We hope this overview of the digital nomad visa Slovenia offers remote workers has helped clarify whether it’s the right fit for you.
See also:
- Work permit and residence permit in Slovenia
- Establishing a company in Slovenia
- Establishing a sole proprietorship (s.p.) in Slovenia
- Virtual office in Ljubljana, Slovenia
- MP hub. coworking Ljubljana
Are you looking for business consulting about establishing a business in Slovenia, but don’t live in Slovenia yet? We offer business consulting through Skype! Send us an inquiry and we will get in touch with you.
