Authorities in Slovenia are getting ready to launch a digital nomad visa scheme in the fourth quarter of 2025, in a bid to draw new talent into the workforce and boost tourism in the central European country.
Expected to come online in November 2025 and be open to non-European Union and non-European Economic Area citizens, the visa will grant permission for year-long residential working stays in Slovenia, as long as applicants are employed by an outside firm or work as freelancers exclusively for non-Slovenian clients.
Families can come too
The status, never seen before in Slovenia, will also allow holders to bring family members along with them, under the caveat that anyone brought along does not work in Slovenia. The visa conditions require applicants to prove they bring in enough income to look after not only themselves but also their families.
As yet, details of that income threshold have not been revealed but would-be temporary Slovenians can already begin gathering evidence of their revenues. Proof of earnings can be provided in the form of bank statements, employment contracts, freelance agreements, or recent payslips. Applications can be made either online or via a Slovenian consulate or embassy.
Those who have already been seduced by Slovenia and are on the ground already, can apply for the nomad visa too via their local administration. Officials have indicated these applicants will be given a temporary residence certificate to cover the period in which their documents are being processed.
Twelve months to enjoy the Mediterranean mountain scenery
The digital nomad visa is only valid for twelve months and cannot be renewed back-to-back, meaning remote workers who want to continue their experiences in Slovenia will need to tear themselves away and wait six months after the end of one visa, before applying for a further stay.
Digital nomad schemes have become increasingly popular in recent years, with devotees of the traveller lifestyle growing in numbers since COVID-19 and the changes in working conditions and worker expectations wrought by the pandemic.
Countries that offer digital nomad visas (for location independent remote workers), visa fee:
— World of Statistics (@stats_feed) December 21, 2024
🇦🇮 Anguilla – $2,000
🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda – $1,500
🇧🇸 Bahamas – $1,000
🇧🇧 Barbados – $2,000
🇧🇲 Bermuda – $263
🇨🇻 Cape Verde – $20
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands – $1,469
🇨🇷 Costa Rica – $50
🇭🇷…
Catering to that crowd, Slovenia will be competing with a suite of European nations offering similar visa programmes, such as Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Portugal, and Spain. Offering a relatively affordable cost of living in a Mediterranean Alpine climate amid mountain scenery and uncrowded destinations, Slovenia also boasts an Adriatic coast and cities that have been rated among the best to live in anywhere in the world.