Moving to Slovenia: what to know before relocating

Why Slovenia is an attractive destination for a move

Slovenia is a compact EU and Schengen country at the crossroads of Central Europe: it borders Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. Its small territory (about 20,000 km²) contains the Alps, lakes, karst caves, thermal springs and the Adriatic coast. Around 58–60% of the country is covered by forest — this directly affects the environment and the quality of everyday life.

The country is among the safest in Europe: a low level of street crime, a predictable everyday environment, a calmer pace of life than the big cities of Western Europe. The economy is stable, the tax system is transparent, and for Russian speakers and people from the CIS, Slovenian is a Slavic language, so adjustment is usually faster than in Romance or Germanic countries.

The advantages of living in Slovenia

• Nature and the environment. Forests, mountains, lakes and the Adriatic coast — weekend trips without long journeys.
• Convenient geography. A few hours' drive to Vienna, Milan or Munich; Ljubljana's international airport (Brnik) offers handy flights around Europe.
• Safety. Low crime and a calm everyday environment — a strong argument for families with children.
• Transport. Good motorways, toll vignettes, a working railway; within cities a bus or your own car is enough.
• Education. A strong school base, universities and exchange programmes, discounts for students.
• Clear legal routes. Several working grounds for a permit for different situations — from business to family reunification.

Drawbacks and real difficulties

• A limited labour market. The country is small — fewer headquarters of international companies and "showcase" vacancies than in Germany or the Netherlands. There are more chances in shortage areas — IT, engineering, medicine.
• Queues in healthcare. Planned appointments under public health insurance can sometimes involve a wait — this is offset by combining state insurance with paid services.
• Progressive taxes. As income rises, the tax burden increases noticeably — important to bear in mind for employment and in business. Details are in the article on taxes in Slovenia.
• A measured way of life. Nightlife is concentrated in the larger cities; Sunday in many places is a "quiet" day, with some shops closed.

Salaries and the cost of living

According to the Slovenian government, the minimum wage in 2026 is €1,277.72 gross. According to the Statistical Office of Slovenia (SURS), the average salary (example: December 2025) is €2,572.07 gross and €1,610.90 net. Highly qualified specialists earn above the average — here the industry and the contract matter more than the "national average".

According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Italy is on average higher than in Slovenia — by about 13–14% excluding rent (the figure depends on the city and the basket of goods). In practice this means a more predictable budget for a comparable quality of life, although housing — especially rent in Ljubljana — remains a significant expense. A detailed breakdown of prices for housing, food and transport is in the article the cost of living in Slovenia.

The best cities to live in Slovenia

Visa or a permit straight away: how people enter Slovenia

In the classic Schengen scenario, you first get a visa and arrange the residence permit on arrival. Slovenia makes an exception: if the documents are filed for work, business, family reunification, the Blue Card or study, instead of a D visa the consulate issues a residence card straight away — without a visa stage and a "race between agencies" in the first weeks.

A tourist Schengen visa (type C) is only needed by those coming to the country for a short stay without the right to long-term residence or work — for up to 90 days per half-year. Slovenia does not yet have a separate digital nomad visa: this status is arranged as a residence permit after the move.

Slovenia has several main routes to legal status:

• business immigration through opening a company — more in the article a permit through business;
• a student permit — a study residence permit;
• an employment contract — a work residence permit;
• family reunification — a permit through family reunification.

A full overview of all grounds and requirements is in the article types of Slovenian residence permit. Choosing the grounds is a key stage: it determines the timeline for the documents, the requirements and your later life in the country. If the ultimate goal is not just a permit but a permanent status, it is worth planning the route from the start: how to do this is covered in the article moving to Slovenia for permanent residence.

Finding housing

The main headache when moving is finding suitable housing and a location. The most popular property site in Slovenia is nepremicnine.net, which lists rental and sale offers: flats (stanovanje), houses (hiša), rentals (oddaja), commercial property (poslovni prostor).

What matters when renting:

• whether you work with an agency or directly with the owner — this determines the agency fee;
• the size of the deposit — owners often ask for 1–2 months' deposit;
• demand is high in the larger cities — Ljubljana, Koper, Izola and Portorož are considered the most expensive locations;
• listings are usually published only in Slovenian.

Rental demand in Slovenia is high, and it is not unusual to go through a kind of competition among applicants for a single property. We help you navigate all the details and find a suitable option.

Buying a car

Slovenia has convenient public transport, but for life outside the city centre a car makes daily life much easier. The most popular site for buying cars is avto.net, which lists new and used vehicles, dealer and private offers. Bear in mind: the rules for registering a car are unfamiliar to foreigners, not all sellers speak English, and the paperwork has its own particularities.

Language and adjustment

The country's official language is Slovenian. At first you can get by in English, especially in the larger cities, but knowing Slovenian makes life much easier: it helps you adjust faster, talk to neighbours, handle daily matters and feel part of society. Slovenian courses for foreigners are available in many cities. A practical plan for learning the language at the start is in the article Slovenian for moving, and the language requirements for a permit, permanent residence and status extension are in the article Slovenian language requirements.

Moving with children

Slovenia is considered one of the most comfortable countries in Europe for families: a safe environment, a developed education system, good healthcare, plenty of nature and weekend activities. Children usually adjust faster than adults — within a few months many start to communicate freely with peers and teachers.

The emotional difficulties of moving

Even a long-awaited move can bring difficult first months: a sense of uncertainty, the language barrier, the absence of a familiar social circle, everyday difficulties — this is a normal part of adjustment. Many families go through a period when it feels as if everything has become harder — from a trip to the shop to dealing with government bodies. Over time comes an understanding of the system and confidence in the new country.

How to prepare for the move without unnecessary risks

Moving to another country means many processes at once: arranging the permit, finding housing, registering your address, opening a bank account, buying a car, the family's adjustment. On your own, all this can take longer and cause extra stress. We support clients at every stage: choosing the grounds for a permit, preparing documents, help with housing, advice on settling in and support after the move.