In order to extend a temporary residence permit for an adult family member of a foreigner who is legally residing in the Republic of Slovenia, you are required to submit a certificate of the Slovenian language course attendance and participation in the courses on Slovenian society at the basic level, and such certificate is to be submitted in the period between 28 October 2023 and 1 November 2024.

How shall one obtain the certificate?

From 1 November 2024, you will be required to present a certificate of successful completion of the Slovenian language exam at the basic level (A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in order to extend the aforementioned residence permit.

Participants who have attended the Initial Integration of Immigrants programme for at least 80% of the hours are entitled to take a free first Slovenian language test upon completion of the programme.

As an adult family member, you are considered to have fulfilled the entry-level requirement regarding knowledge of the Slovenian language in the following cases:

  • if you have been admitted to a publicly valid education or study programme in the Republic of Slovenia, which is conducted in the Slovenian language and which allows you to obtain publicly valid educational qualifications,
  • if you have completed your education at any level in the Republic of Slovenia or if you have completed primary or secondary school with the Slovenian language of instruction in areas of the neighbouring countries inhabited by members of the indigenous Slovenian national community, or
  • if you are over 60 years old.

If you are an adult family member who is illiterate but can communicate in the Slovenian language, you are also required to present a certificate of successful completion of the Slovenian language exam at the basic level to prove that you are able to speak Slovene.

As an adult family member, you are not required to meet the entry-level requirements if you are a family member of:

– an EU Blue Card holder,

– a foreigner who has been issued a temporary residence permit to work in the field of research as well as higher education or university institutions,

– a foreigner who has been issued a residence permit under Article 38b of the Foreigners Act,

– a foreigner who has been issued a single permit for an intra-corporate transferee, pursuant to Articles 45b and 45d of the Foreigners Act,

– a foreigner holding a temporary residence permit, if this is in the interest of the Republic of Slovenia, which the authority competent for issuing the permit shall decide upon, namely on the basis of the opinion put forward by the competent ministry or other state authority.

– or if you are unable to take the exam in the required form due to your health impairments which prevent you from communicating. Proof that this condition has been met shall be established by an expert who is to confirm that a candidate is incapable of taking an exam.  The costs incurred in taking such evidence shall be at your own expense.

From 1 November 2024, you are required to have knowledge of the Slovenian language if you apply for a permanent residence permit, as evidenced by a certificate of successful completion of a Slovenian language exam at the basic level (A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

As a foreigner, you are considered to have a basic level of knowledge of the Slovenian language if:

– you are enrolled in a publicly valid education or study programmes in the Republic of Slovenia, which are conducted in the Slovenian language and which allow you to obtain a publicly valid educational qualification

– if you have completed your education at any level in the Republic of Slovenia or if you have completed primary or secondary school with the Slovenian language of instruction in areas of the neighbouring countries inhabited by members of the indigenous Slovenian national community;

– if you are over 60 or under 18 years of age.

– If you are illiterate, but can communicate in Slovene, you are required to present a certificate of successful completion of the Slovenian language exam at the basic level to prove that you are able to speak Slovene.

You are not required to have basic knowledge of the Slovenian language in the following cases:

– if you can be issued a permanent residence permit prior to the end of five years’ continuous legal residence in the Republic of Slovenia, or

– if you are unable to take the exam in the required form due to your health impairments which prevent you from communicating on a day-to-day basis. Proof that this condition has been met shall be established by an expert who is to confirm that a candidate is incapable of taking an exam.  The costs incurred in taking such evidence shall be at your own expense.