Formerly part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia is a Central European country that attracts international students. Tuition rules depend on the student’s citizenship, program level, and study mode. Full-time Slovenian and EU students, as well as citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia enrolled in publicly funded first- and second-cycle programs, generally do not pay tuition. Many other non-EU students pay tuition.
As for private schools, tuition can still vary by institution and program, so students should confirm the current fee directly with the university before applying.
With more and more students considering Slovenia, here’s a guide that will help you understand the application process for a Slovenian student visa or temporary residence permit for studies.
Steps on Applying for a Slovenian Student Visa
To obtain the correct Slovenian visa or residence document for your studies, follow these steps:
Step 1. Apply at a Slovenian Institution
You will need documents related to your studies before you can apply for a Slovenian visa or temporary residence permit. To get these, you must apply and be accepted at an accredited Slovenian university or another recognized higher education institution.
Step 2. Collect the Necessary Visa Application Documents
Once you have your school-related documents, gather the documents required for the visa or temporary residence permit route that applies to you. The correct route depends on your citizenship, whether you need a visa to enter Slovenia, and how long you plan to stay.
Step 3. Book an Appointment at the Slovenian Embassy or Visa Processing Center
After completing the required documents, schedule your appointment with the competent Slovenian diplomatic mission or consular post, or with an external visa service provider where Slovenia uses one for visa applications. Long-stay visa D applications must be filed at the competent Slovenian diplomatic mission or consular post.
Schengen visa processing normally takes 15 days and may take up to 45 days in some cases. A temporary residence permit procedure can take longer, so students who need a visa to enter Slovenia should start as soon as they are enrolled.
Step 4. Submit Your Documents and Pay the Fees
During your appointment, submit the required documents and pay the applicable visa or residence permit fees.
Visa applicants may need to provide a photograph and all 10 fingerprints for the Visa Information System (VIS). For a temporary residence permit for studies, students are usually asked to provide a personal photo, two fingerprints, and a signature.
Step 5. Apply for a Temporary Residence Permit
Students who are not EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens and plan to study in Slovenia for more than a short stay generally need a temporary residence permit for studies. If you can enter Slovenia without a visa, you may apply for the permit at the administrative unit in Slovenia before your legal stay expires. If you cannot enter Slovenia without a visa, you should apply through the Slovenian embassy or consulate.
Whatever route you take, you will generally need to submit the following documents:
- Completed application form
- Valid passport and certified copy of the passport bio page, with the passport valid for at least three months beyond the planned period of residence in Slovenia
- Personal photo measuring 35 by 45 mm
- Two fingerprints and signature
- Proof of enrollment or acceptance
- Proof of valid health insurance in Slovenia
- Certificate of criminal record from your home country, generally not older than three months, translated into Slovene and, where applicable, apostilled or legalized
- Proof of sufficient financial means, normally at least the Slovenian basic minimum income amount per month; from April 1, 2026, this amount is EUR 507.43 per month
The options for getting a residence permit are as follows:
- Apply through the Slovenian embassy or consulate before entering Slovenia if you cannot enter Slovenia visa-free
- Apply at the administrative unit in Slovenia if you can legally enter without a visa or are already legally staying in Slovenia; apply before your authorized stay or visa expires
- Follow the instructions of the administrative unit or embassy on whether documents must be filed in person, by appointment, or by post
Step 6. Fly to Slovenia
Once your visa or residence permit route is approved, you can travel to Slovenia. If your residence permit card is issued after arrival, follow the instructions from the embassy, consulate, or administrative unit for collecting it.
Step 7. Register Your Residence
After receiving your Slovenian visa or temporary residence permit, you must register your temporary residence within eight days of entering Slovenia, being served the document, or taking up temporary residence.
For this process, you will need to submit these documents:
- Valid identification document with photograph
- Evidence of the right to reside at your accommodation, such as proof of ownership, a lease or sublease contract, or the written consent of the owner, co-owner, or accommodation manager
Documents Needed for Slovenian Student Visa Applications
EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens do not need a visa or residence permit to enter Slovenia. However, if they plan to stay in Slovenia for more than three months, they must obtain a residence registration certificate from the administrative unit before the authorized three-month stay expires.
Citizens of other countries should check whether they need a visa to enter Slovenia. A short-stay Schengen visa, or type C visa, is only for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A long-stay visa, or type D visa, is for stays from 90 days up to a maximum of one year and cannot be extended. Students staying longer usually need a temporary residence permit for studies.
The requirements for a Slovenian student visa or temporary residence permit may include the following:
Completed Visa Application Form
If you are applying for a long-stay visa D, use the official long-stay visa application form. A Schengen visa C form should be used only for short stays of up to 90 days.
For students under age 18, the form should be signed by a parent or guardian where required by the form or the relevant Slovenian mission.
Passport
For a visa application, your passport should have been issued within the last 10 years, have at least two blank pages, and be valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen area. For a temporary residence permit, your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned period of residence in Slovenia.
Passport Photo
The photo should generally measure 35 by 45 mm and be suitable for biometric documents. For visa applications, it should comply with ICAO standards and should usually be recent.
The ideal background for your photo should be a light color.
Head coverings may be worn if they are a religious requirement.
A Written Opinion from the Ministry of Higher Education and Science
For most students, this requirement is met by evidence of acceptance or enrollment issued by the educational institution that accepted you as a student. Where relevant, you may also need confirmation from the authority responsible for an international or bilateral agreement, the grant-awarding authority, or another state-authorized organization responsible for the specific program.
Travel Medical Insurance
For a long-stay visa D, travel medical insurance must cover medical services and repatriation up to at least EUR 30,000, or approximately $34,026, for the entire period of visa validity. For a temporary residence permit for studies, you must provide proof of adequate health insurance covering at least emergency medical services in Slovenia if you are not compulsorily insured there.
Proof of Financial Means / Certificate of Sufficient Funds
You will need to submit a bank statement or other documents proving that you can support yourself during your stay. For a temporary residence permit for studies, proof of sufficient means is linked to the Slovenian basic minimum income amount; from April 1, 2026, this amount is EUR 507.43 per month, or approximately $576.
If you will study under a scholarship, you can prove this through a scholarship letter, contract, or similar document.
Guarantee Letter
If your parent, guardian, or another sponsor will fund your studies, you may need to provide a written statement, guarantee, or proof of the sponsor’s financial means. Use the official letter of guarantee if the embassy, consulate, or administrative unit asks for it.
Proof of Accommodation
You may need to submit a rental contract, proof of ownership, written consent from the owner, or another document proving where you will live in Slovenia.
Certificate of No Criminal Record
For a temporary residence permit, you generally need a certificate from the criminal record of your home country. It should usually be recent, translated into Slovene, and, where applicable, apostilled or legalized.
FAQs: Student Visa Applications for Slovenia
How Much Money Do You Need for a Slovenian Student Visa?
The fee depends on the type of application. A long-stay visa D costs EUR 77, or approximately $87.
For a short-stay Schengen visa C, the current standard fee is EUR 90. Children aged 6 to 12 pay EUR 45. Applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus pay EUR 35, while applicants from Cabo Verde pay EUR 67.50. Additional service fees may apply if you apply through a visa service center.
We hope that this article on getting a student visa in Slovenia was helpful! If you are interested in studying in other countries, make sure to check out Available Programs for International Students.
