Visa to Slovenia: who needs it, where and how to apply, terms and cost

Slovenia enters Schengen

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Slovenia is a member of the Schengen Agreement, so Russian citizens require a visa to enter its territory. For our compatriots, it is not a problem to obtain either a single or multiple-entry visa - applications are processed quite quickly, and standard documents are required.

A six-month multiple visa can be immediately obtained by those who have already been issued visas from Slovenia or other Schengen countries. And in order to become the proud owner of a “cartoon” for 3 or 5 years, you need to provide documentary evidence of the need to travel frequently, and also not to have violated the laws of the Schengen countries.

Applying for a visa yourself

Visa documents are submitted both to the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia and to accredited visa centers (the latter charge an additional 25.5 EUR for services).
You can submit a package of documents in person or through an intermediary, if you have already received at least one Schengen before, which means you have undergone the fingerprinting procedure. The prices on the page are indicated for December 2021. Documents for a national visa are submitted only through the embassy, ​​and it is also issued to the applicant personally there.

The deadline for submitting documents is no earlier than three months and no later than 15 calendar days before the start of the trip. An application for a visa of categories A and C and a package of documents can be submitted to visa service centers without an appointment during the opening hours of the institutions. You must register in advance at the consular section of the embassy. Documents for a national visa can only be submitted through the embassy; you can sign up at the office. website or by phone.

It will take 5-10 working days to issue a visa, but they have the right to consider the application up to 15 days. You need to wait a month for a response on a national visa.

Which visa should I choose?

There are three types of visas for traveling to Slovenia: A, C and D. Let's look at each of them.

The “A” visa is intended for transit travel when you are heading to another country but have to make a layover in Slovenia. In some cases, a transit visa may not be issued at all. For example, if you are not planning a layover lasting no more than 24 hours and will not be leaving the airport in Slovenia.

Category “C” is the most frequently issued. This is a so-called tourist visa. However, it is suitable not only for tourist purposes. Having a category “C” visa in hand, you will be able to undergo treatment, short-term courses, participate in an event or meet with relatives/friends. You will not be able to officially work or study at university. Also, you will not be able to stay in the country for more than 3 months.

A visa category “D” is issued only if there are grounds for a long stay in Slovenia. For example, you were invited to work, you entered a local educational institution where the duration of study exceeds six months, you want to open your own business in the country or reunite with relatives. An ordinary traveler cannot obtain such a visa without a compelling reason.

Which visa should I choose? It all depends on the purpose of the trip. If you just want to look at the country, try the national cuisine and enjoy the incredibly beautiful landscapes, then apply for a category “C” visa.

If you have entered a local university, want to live with your relatives, or have signed a work contract with a Slovenian employer, then apply for a D visa.

A visa category “A” will only be needed if you want to make a transfer in Slovenia and go outside the airport and your stay will exceed 24 hours.

Documents for a visa to Slovenia

Required documents to obtain Schengen category C:

1. Application form
   Fill out in Latin letters and do not forget to sign, a sample can be found at the office. website of the Slovenian Consulate;
2. Passport
   Valid for three months after the end of the trip, with at least two blank pages;
3. Photograph
   One color photo 3.5x4.5 cm without corners and ovals on a light plain background (see below for requirements);
4. Photocopy of the international passport
   Copies of all pages with visas and border service marks;
5. Photocopy of old passport
   You must provide photocopies of your old passport (if the current one does not yet have Schengen visas);
6. Photocopies of internal passport
   Photocopies of internal passport pages with personal data, registration, marital status and data on previously issued international passports;
7. Hotel reservation
   Confirmation of a hotel reservation for the entire period of the trip: the original voucher from a Slovenian travel agency with the company’s seal and the signature of the responsible person, or the original confirmation of the hotel reservation, again certified by the hotel’s seal;
8. Ticket reservation
   Confirmation of booking of round-trip air tickets with a closed date;
9. Certificate from the place of employment
   A certificate on the company's letterhead, with a stamp, indicating the place of work, position, salary amount and the phrase that the employee is granted leave with job protection for the period of the trip; The certificate must indicate the address and telephone number of the enterprise. If the consulate officer is given information on this phone number that does not correspond to that specified in the certificate, a visa refusal is more than likely;
10. Bank account statement
    The statement must be no older than 6 months. Also, financial documents most often include a photocopy of a passbook, a photocopy of a “credit card” with a bank statement, or a sponsorship order;
11. For students, schoolchildren
    Certificate from the place of study, sponsorship letter with a photocopy of the sponsor's general passport, certificate from work/extract from the sponsor's account (issued according to the general rules);
12. Medical insurance
    Medical insurance valid throughout the Schengen territory and for the entire duration of the trip (the amount of insurance coverage is at least 30,000 EUR);

Anyone going to study, treatment, or on a visit must attach additional documents to the package of documents:

• a letter of invitation from a company registered in Slovenia or an individual legally residing in the country; the paper must be notarized and have the seal of the Slovenian administration;
• confirmation of employment, place of residence, travel or treatment program, relationship (a complete list of required documents is presented on the official website of the embassy.

How to register yourself?

You can obtain a visa to Slovenia either through an accredited assistant (intermediary) or independently. In the second case, a citizen of the Russian Federation should act in accordance with the following plan:

• Decide on the reasons for traveling to Slovenia;
• Make sure that the applicant for a visa does not have any current bans on entry into the territory of the European Union and the Schengen zone;
• Collect the necessary documentation. It is recommended to consult with the visa center in advance, as additional documents may be required in each individual case;
• Book a hotel in Slovenia or rent residential premises, having received documentary evidence;
• Buy closed (round trip) tickets to Slovenia. The absence of a closed date may be a reason for visa refusal;
• Ensure that you have at least 500 euros in your own bank account (if the trip is short-term), since the status of the account may be inquired about when applying for a visa;
• Pay the state duty and visa fee;
• Apply with a complete package of documents and a personal application to the Slovenian visa center or in person to the Slovenian consulate;
• Go through an additional interview with the consul, if a corresponding call is received. Failure to appear is regarded as a neglect of obligations and may contribute to the refusal to provide an entry document;
• Personally obtain a completed visa or an appropriate refusal.

If a Russian citizen plans to independently apply for a long-term visa for any specific purpose, he must prove the existence of grounds for obtaining this document. Thus it follows:

• To obtain a work visa: Study the Slovenian labor market;
• Contact a potential employer, negotiate with him and come to a general consensus;
• Receive from the receiving party an official invitation to work and a preliminary employment contract and information about salary, position and other working conditions;

A citizen of the Russian Federation who has received a Schengen visa is required to enter the territory of the country of his choice as soon as possible in relation to the issuance of the entry document (within a month).

Documents for a visa to Slovenia

A citizen intending to obtain permission to enter Slovenia must provide the following package of documents to the visa center:

• Foreign passport (valid for at least 3 months);
• 2 copies of a personally completed visa application form (done in English, in legible handwriting);
• 2 photographs, standard for a Schengen visa (3.5 by 4.5 format, very close-up of the face, light beige or white background, no frame);
• Medical insurance valid anywhere in the Eurozone with insurance coverage of at least 30,000 euros;
• A bank account statement confirming that there are sufficient funds in the account for the upcoming trip;
• Certificate from the place of official employment indicating the amount of wages;
• Reservation of a room in a hotel or hostel indicating the names of all travelers, duration and conditions of stay in this room);
• Documentary evidence of the reasons for this trip, if a long-term visa is issued (invitation and contract from a Slovenian employer, extract from the clinic, notification of admission to a university, invitation from close relatives, etc.);
• Photocopies of the above documents (2 copies for each act). Copies must be notarized and translated into English or Slovenian.

If one of the travelers is a child who has not reached the age of majority by the time the visa is issued, his parents (legal guardians or other accompanying persons) are required to provide the following documents:

• Birth certificate of the child;
• Written consent and the corresponding deed of trust from the parents of the offspring if the minor is traveling with an unrelated accompanying person, a distant relative or with only one of the parents;
• A document indicating that the minor has attended an educational institution (in case of a long trip).

Important! Documents are presented in a single package. In the absence of one of the listed acts, a visa cannot be issued. To clarify additional required documents, it is recommended to contact the visa center for consultation.

Cost and duration of obtaining a visa

The cost of a Slovenian visa directly depends on its type and length of stay in Slovenia:

A short-term Schengen visa is issued within 1-2 weeks. In case of expedited processing of an entry document of the type in question, a Slovenian visa can be issued within 5 days. In turn, entry documents of the long-term category take much longer to process. If trains are planned for a period of 2 years or more, the process of reviewing documents may take six months. A standard six-month or annual visa is issued within 1-2 months from the date of application to the visa center. If desired, you can apply for expedited processing (1 month).

How long can you stay in Slovenia with a visa?

The length of stay on a Schengen visa to Slovakia also directly depends on the type of visa:

Registration of visas for children

For the child, you must provide a completed and signed by the parents application form with photographs, an original and a copy of the birth certificate, an original notarized travel permit from one or both parents, if the child is traveling with only one parent or with third parties. You also need a copy of the accompanying person’s foreign passport, and if one of the parents is absent, a certificate stating the reason: deprivation of parental rights, death, etc.

If the child has his own passport, a copy of it is attached to the package of documents. If it is included in the parents’ passport (under 14 years of age), a copy of the parents’ foreign passports.

Visas

Emigration to Slovenia
There are several types of visa to Slovenia for Russians in 2018, each of which has its own validity period, application method and requirements for the person.

Flag of Slovenia

Among the main options are:

• tourist visa;
• working;
• at the invitation of relatives/friends living in Slovenia;
• student category.

Photo requirements

The application must be accompanied by one color photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm on a light plain background, taken no more than six months ago. The applicant's face must be clear, detailed, and free of dark glasses or other objects that distort features. Only frontal photos are allowed, strictly without red-eye.

Photos cut from amateur photos or taken independently will not be accepted. You also need to prepare photographs of each child included in the passport. Failure of the image to meet the requirements listed above is the most common reason for refusal to issue a visa.

The photo is taken from the front, a slight smile is acceptable. Dimensions: 3.5 x 4.5 cm, the head should occupy 70-80% of the image (approximately 3 cm).

Consular fee

The consular fee for a regular visa to Slovenia is 35 EUR. You can pay it in cash or by credit card (Visa, MasterCard) at the visa service center in rubles at the exchange rate at the time of application. An express visa will cost 70 EUR, a national visa will cost 77 EUR.

The consular fee is not charged for children under 12 years of age, family members of EU and Swiss citizens, holders of diplomatic and service passports, schoolchildren, students, graduate students and accompanying teachers; those traveling to study, researchers and representatives of non-profit organizations traveling to special events.

In addition to the consular fee, citizens pay a visa fee of 25.5 EUR when submitting documents through visa centers. Children under 6 years of age and persons with disabilities are exempt from paying it.

The fees are not refundable even if the visa is refused.

general information

Slovenia is a full member of the European Union and a participant in the Schengen Agreement. This means that Russians need visas to travel to Slovenia. And, to be more precise, you will need Schengen visas.

You can independently apply for a visa to travel to Slovenia, without resorting to the help of intermediaries and travel agencies. The list of documents is large, but this is the only difficulty you will encounter.

If you are officially employed or can prove that you have the means to travel, you are highly likely to receive a visa. Every solvent traveler is important for Slovenia, since there are not as many tourists in this country as in Italy or France.

We also note the fast turnaround time for processing applications from Russians and, in general, a large number of approved visas. It is easier to come to Slovenia than to other popular tourist countries, which means that after several similar trips you can already count on obtaining a multiple visa, which will allow you to travel repeatedly throughout the Schengen area.

Embassy and consulates of Slovenia in Russia

Embassy of Slovenia in Moscow

Slovenia Visa Application Center in Moscow

Slovenia Visa Application Center in St. Petersburg

Slovenia Visa Application Center in Rostov-on-Don

Slovenia Visa Application Center in Kazan

Slovenia Visa Application Center in Nizhny Novgorod