Slovenia Residency by Investment - Conditions and Procedure

Foreigners can apply for residency by investment in Slovenia if they meet the conditions imposed by Slovenian immigration law and plan to develop a qualifying business activity in the country. Our immigration lawyers in Slovenia can assist foreign investors with the application procedure, from preparing the file to communicating with the competent authorities.

Quick Facts
Nationalities accepted (EU/Non-EU)	Non-EU (EU citizens are exempt from any immigration formalities)
Business investment option	Investments in companies (in the company's real estate, technology and in other fixed assets)
Real estate investment option	No (buying real estate does not by itself grant residence)
Other investment options (if available)	No
Residence or direct citizenship option	– One can apply for permanent residence after 5 years of living in Slovenia, – Citizenship can be acquired after 5 years of permanent residency
Direct immigration with family members	Yes
Family members allowed to join the program	Spouse and children
Timeframe for obtaining citizenship/residency by investment	Permanent residency can be acquired after 5 years of living in Slovenia, while citizenship, in 10
Dual citizenship permitted	Yes
Reasons to choose Slovenia	– low taxation, – high quality of life, – skilled workforce, – stable economy, – export based economy, – quality infrastructure, – very good investment partnerships with other EU states, especially with Austria and Germany, – FDI oriented towards manufacturing, insurance, finance, retail
Visa free travel to other countries (approx. number of countries)	183 countries
Living requirement in Slovenia	Minimum 180 days per year, but periods less than this can also apply
Residence visa/citizenship processing time	– the residence visa can be issued in 1-4 months, – the citizenship application process can take 8-10 months
Additional financial requirements for family members	No
Personal income tax rate	Progressive system, applied based on the income amount at rates ranging from 16% to 50%

How can foreigners apply for Slovenia residency by investment in 2026?

Foreigners who want to obtain Slovenian residency by investment must usually follow a business-based residence procedure. This means that the applicant must set up or use a Slovenian company and meet the legal conditions for residence, work and business activity.

The procedure can vary depending on the nationality of the applicant. EU/ EEA citizens benefit from free movement rules, while third party country nationals generally need a residence permit if they want to live and work in Slovenia.

The main steps are:

choose the business structure suitable for the investment project;
register a company in Slovenia or use an existing Slovenian business;
make the required investment, where applicable;
prepare the residence permit documents;
submit the application for the single residence and work permit;
wait for the authorities to review the file;
receive the permit and start the residence period in Slovenia.

If the Slovenian company is newly registered, the applicant may need to prove an investment of at least EUR 50,000 in the business activity. If the company has already been active for at least six months, the authorities may request proof of active business activity, such as employment within the company or regular business receipts.

The application can usually be submitted through the Slovenian embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of residence, or directly to the competent administrative unit in Slovenia, depending on the applicant’s situation.

Once the permit is approved, the foreign investor can live and work in Slovenia under the conditions of the permit. The permit must be renewed before expiry if the applicant wants to continue the stay.

This route may also create a legal pathway to permanent residence after five years of continuous legal residence, provided that all legal conditions are met. Later, the applicant may also become eligible to apply for Slovenian citizenship.

There are also other basic requirements to fulfill and all of these can be presented by our lawyers, who can help you in the process of setting up a business in Slovenia in 2026.

Below, we invite you to read our infographic, presenting the main steps for Slovenian residency by investment in 2026:

What are the documents required for Slovenian residency by investment?

Evidence of personal immigration conditions and business-related legal requirements need to be submitted before the investor can claim Slovenian residency by investment. The exact file varies, based on the applicant’s nationality, the company structure and the type of residence permit requested.

The application filing may contain, in the general case:

a valid passport;
recent passport-size photographs;
evidence of health insurance;
evidence of sufficient financial means;
a criminal record certificate;
files explaining the reason for remaining in Slovenia;
Slovenian company registration documents;
documentary evidence of active business or investment;
evidence to prove the applicant’s role in the company;
where relevant, an employment contract or civil law contract.

In addition, if the authorities need to verify the source of funds, the business activity, the applicant’s position in the company or the company’s eligibility for the residence procedure, they may also request more documents.

The list of the documents one has to prepare can be presented by our team of Slovenian lawyers.

What are the main requirements to apply for the Slovenian residency by investment?

Althought in most of the situations, foreign investors do not have to be personally in Slovenia in order to complete the necessary procedures, in certain cases, their presence may be necessary.

Below, our law firm in Slovenia has prepared the highlights of this process:

first, an invitation to work in a Slovenian company has to be made – the invitation will be made for the investor who wants to set up a business here, in which he or she will become an employee;
the foreigner can become an employee in the Slovenian company (that he or she will register here), if certain conditions are met;
when we refer to the residency by investment, besides the minimum capital, investors must invest in certain types of assets;
the main assets that are eligible are: fixed assets, intangible assets and property (movable and immovable);
the procedure will start by opening the Slovenian company and selecting the suitable investment sector.

Below, you can watch a short presentation on Slovenian residency by investment:

Who can apply for Slovenian residency by investment?

Foreigners looking to set up a business activity here may apply for Slovenian residency by investment, as long as the legal requirements for residence, work and business activity are met.

The path is usually one of best choices for investors who expect to start a business in Slovenia or deploy an existing Slovenian company as the venture’s target location. It varies by nationality.

Applicants are divided into two general groups:

EU/EEA nationals, who enjoy free movement rules and have a simpler residence registration procedure;
third party country nationals who are required to obtain a residence permit to live in and work in Slovenia.

Third party country citizens applying through a business route generally need to show that their residence in Slovenia serves a genuine economic purpose. This may include company registration, investment in business activity, documents related to active business operations or documents verifying the applicant’s involvement in the Slovenian company.

This kind of residence could serve for:

entrepreneurs from abroad wanting to open a company in Slovenia;
investors interested in expanding an existing business to Slovenia;
company owners to run their Slovenian business locally;
non-Slovenian nationals interested in working in their own Slovenian company;
business individuals for whom eligible investment or active business activity exists.

If you want to obtain residency by investment in Slovenia, don’t hesitate to contact our team of Slovenian lawyers.