Initial integration of immigrants

The Initial Integration of Immigrants – ZIP is a single programme providing an integrated approach to learning the Slovenian language and acquiring an understanding of Slovenian society. It is an officially recognised education programme for adults. Participants in the programme develop the skills to communicate in Slovenian and gain insight into certain features of Slovenian society, history and culture. The programme covers a variety of content, through which participants learn to communicate in the new environment and acquire the knowledge to pass the Slovenian language proficiency exam, entitled “Slovenian as a Second and Foreign Language”, especially at the breakthrough and basic levels (A1, A2/B1).

In order to be eligible for the programme, applicants must be non-EU citizens (third-country nationals) who:

  • reside in the Republic of Slovenia on the basis of a permanent residence permit;
  • reside in the Republic of Slovenia on the basis of a temporary residence permit issued with the validity of at least one year;
  • are family members of Slovenian citizens or EU citizens residing in the Republic of Slovenia on the basis of a residence permit for a family member, irrespective of the length of residence or the length of validity of the temporary residence permit;
  • reside in the Republic of Slovenia on the basis of a temporary protection granted under the Act regulating temporary protection of displaced persons.

It should be noted that citizens of EU Member States are not entitled to the free language course.

The single programme consists of 180 hours of instruction in and on the Slovenian language. Participants who do not achieve the expected learning outcomes based on an internal examination are entitled to an additional 60 hours of the programme.

To attend the Slovenian language course, you must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for the participation in a single programme, issued by the administrative unit.

The fee for applying to the administrative unit and having the certificate issued is EUR 22.60. Subsequently, the applicants are required to present the acquired certificate to the nearest authorised programme provider, with whom they will agree on the time and other details regarding programme attendance.

The single (ZIP) programmes are provided free of charge to participants, with the associated costs covered by the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants and the European Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). Nevertheless, it should be noted that participants are responsible for covering their own travel expenses and the costs of learning materials.

Upon completing the programme, participants are entitled to take their first “Slovenian as a Second and Foreign Language” exam free of charge at the breakthrough, basic, intermediate and advanced levels.

info: gp.uoim@gov.si

Learning Slovenian for Survival

Learning Slovenian for Survival is an informal programme and is carried out as an informal adult education programme. The aim of our informal education programmes is to enable third-country nationals to develop the ability to communicate at the most basic level in Slovenian as their non-native language, limited to simple, predictable, everyday situations in which expression is routine and repetitive. The programme also aims to enable participants to acquire the knowledge of Slovenian necessary to pass the Slovenian language test at the survival level.

Third-country nationals who have been granted a temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification are eligible to participate in the informal, survival-level Slovenian language programme free of charge. Nationals of EU Member States are not eligible for the free language course.

The informal Slovenian language programme at a survival-level consists of a 180-hour course. A participant who, in the opinion of the programme provider, has not achieved the expected learning outcomes after 180 hours is entitled to an additional 60 hours of the programme.

If you want to participate in the informal survival-level Slovenian language programme, you must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility to Participate in the Informal Programme from the administrative unit where you have your registered place of residence https://www.gov.si/drzavni-organi/upravne-enote/.

You must pay EUR 22.60 to apply to the administrative unit for the certificate to be issued. The certificate must then be submitted to the authorised provider of informal survival-level Slovenian language programmes, the language institute Didaktum, Jezikovni tečaji za posameznike, podjetja… | Jezikovni Inštitut Didaktum.

To apply for the participation in the informal programme, please use the online form: Tečaji slovenskega jezika na preživetveni ravni in preizkusi znanja (Slovenian language courses and tests at a survival level)( (didaktum.si). For information on the dates and other details of participation in the informal programme, please contact Didaktum on the phone number 041 705 969 or by e-mail info@didaktum.si.

The informal survival-level Slovenian language programmes are free of charge, with the costs covered by the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for the Support and Integration of Migrants and the European Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). Participants are responsible for their own travel costs and learning materials.

Upon the programme’s completion, participants are also entitled to take the first survival-level Slovenian language test free of charge.