Slovenia Family Reunification Permit

Step-by-step guidance for spouses, partners, and children — from eligibility check to residence card

Family Reunification in Slovenia: Rules, Eligibility, Documents and Timelines

Family reunification is a legal route that allows you to bring close family members to Slovenia once the main applicant has lawful residence in the country. Eligibility and timelines are governed by the Aliens Act (Zakon o tujcih), including Article 47.

Who can apply for family reunification?

An application may be submitted by a foreign national who legally resides in Slovenia on the basis of:

Permanent residence; or
A temporary residence permit held for at least 1 year (in practice, eligibility is most often confirmed when extending into the second year). In certain categories (for example, EU Blue Card), different rules may apply depending on the case.

Which family members can be reunified

A spouse or registered partner;
Children under 18;
In exceptional cases — parents.

For parents, you typically need to demonstrate that the parent requires care due to medical reasons and that there is no other person who can provide the necessary support. We have practical experience with such cases and successful outcomes, including both single-parent situations and cases where financial and care dependency must be evidenced.

Key requirements for family reunification

You may apply if the following requirements are met:

You hold permanent residence or a temporary residence permit, and you have actually lived in Slovenia for at least one year.
Your temporary residence permit has been extended (i.e., you are entering the second year).
You have sufficient financial means to support your family, calculated according to the official minimum amounts per family member.

Who may qualify for “early” family reunification?

In certain cases, the one-year waiting period may not apply, or the procedure may be faster, for example:

Children, if both parents already hold a Slovenian residence permit;
EU Blue Card holders (highly qualified specialists);
Newborn children, if one parent already holds a Slovenian residence permit;
Digital Nomad cases: family reunification may be possible immediately, provided the financial requirements are met.

Financial means for supporting the family

For family reunification, you must prove stable resources that cover the family’s living costs for the entire requested period of stay.

Minimum amounts for family reunification

Main working family member: from €494.09 / month
Each additional non-working adult family member: €281.63 / month
Each child: €291.51 / month

Example calculation for a family of 2 adults + 2 children

€494.09 + €281.63 + €291.51 + €291.51 = €1,358.74 / month

How to prove financial means:

Income from employment in Slovenia (employment contract, payslips, bank statements showing salary payments; bonuses/holiday pay if supported by documents).
Savings in a bank account (typically, a bank statement for the last 6 months).

Document package

A typical list includes:

Application for family reunification;
Proof of relationship: marriage certificate; children’s birth certificates;
Additional certificates (often requested) in a prescribed form (specific civil registry certificates for marriage and for children’s birth), sometimes issued within the last 3 months, with a certified translation into Slovene;
Proof of sufficient means (salary/income and/or savings);
Copies of passports for the sponsor/applicant and family members;
Criminal record certificate (case-dependent; not always required);
Proof of accommodation (rental agreement / proof of right to use the property);
Photo 3.5 × 4.5 cm;
Health insurance.

Where to submit the application?

If the sponsor/applicant is in Slovenia: submit at the Administrative Unit (Upravna enota) responsible for their place of residence.
If the documents are submitted from abroad: they are filed via the Slovenian embassy/consulate in the country of residence.

Processing times

Processing times depend on the workload of the competent Administrative Unit and the case officer. In practice, it can take from 2 to 12 months. In larger cities (e.g., Ljubljana, Maribor, Koper), processing is often longer due to higher caseloads.

How to reduce waiting times

If you don’t want to wait for the standard processing timeline, in some cases you may consider alternative residence grounds.

For spouses:
A spouse may apply for a residence permit based on study (college/vocational school/university), including online study, if the programme allows it.

For school-age children:
A child may apply for a residence permit based on education (school/college/university).

For preschool children (under 6):
Children may obtain a residence permit immediately if both parents already hold Slovenian residence permits.

Why clients trust us

01 / Transparency

We work with full transparency and set clear expectations from day one. Our priority is to make your relocation and settlement as smooth as possible.

02 / Results

We don’t promise the impossible. Instead, we build a realistic strategy for your situation, explain the process, and guide you through every required step.

03 / Experience

Over 10 years of experience and deep knowledge of relocation and legal processes make outcomes more predictable—and the journey clearer and easier to navigate.

04 / Fair Terms

We offer fair and transparent payment terms: you can start with a partial upfront fee, with the remaining amount paid after key milestones are completed.

— 150+ successful residence cases

Client Reviews

LegalToMove

We’ve collected a selection of client feedback about our work. We know how important this step is, so we aim to reduce stress and guide you clearly through every stage of the process.

I spent a long time researching relocation options in Europe and found LegalToMove. The team was professional and supportive, and the process moved faster than I expected. During the consultation, everything was explained clearly, and after we started working together they stayed involved and patiently answered all my questions. Thank you for your support and great work!

Sergey

I contacted LegalToMove for help with a Slovenia residence permit and I’m very happy I did. I hesitated for a long time—moving as a single parent with children can be challenging, and my case wasn’t straightforward. The team did an excellent job. The timeline shifted slightly due to public holidays in Slovenia and a short delay in issuing the card, but they stayed in touch throughout and resolved every question quickly. Thank you for your work and support!

Valy

I first learned about the company when I was already in Slovenia as a student. The agency I used before made mistakes in the paperwork, and I ran into a problem that no one could solve. I found LegalToMove through a referral, and they handled the situation—even after long discussions with the local administrative office. They know local rules and procedures well and can resolve cases that seem like dead ends. Thank you.

Egor

Everything was handled remotely and efficiently. They helped set up the company and submit my director appointment quickly. Many people told me it wasn’t possible, so I didn’t expect this level of support. Great experience—moving forward, I’ll work only with you.

Oleg

I was accepted to a university in Slovenia, but I faced an issue with my residence card process. I contacted LegalToMove and everything was resolved much faster than I expected—the card was issued via the embassy in about 1.5 months. Thank you!

Diana

Ready to move to Slovenia and start a new chapter in Europe?

Book a consultation today. We’ll assess your case, explain the residence permit pathway that fits your goals, and provide a clear, practical action plan.

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