How to Get Slovenia CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- Assimilation only
- Dual citizenship
- Citizens abroad only
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Partly accepted: for citizens who naturalise abroad onlyNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
Residence in Slovenia is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person has been resident in Slovenia for 10 years, of which 5 were continuous, and with a 'settled status' immediately before the application.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions
Evidence of renunciation of citizenship of another country (unless the person is stateless or when renunciation is legally impossible or unreasonable) required. Renunciation is not required for nationals of EU Member States if reciprocity applies.
- Language
- General assimilation condition, no specific language rule
Knowledge of Slovenian language required.
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
Oath to respect the free democratic constitutional order of Slovenia required.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person may not have a criminal record, not pose a threat to public order, security or national defence.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Means of subsistence and settled tax obligations required.
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of Slovenia is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person has been the spouse of a citizen for at least 3 years and has continuously resided in Slovenia for at least 1 year before the application. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of Slovenia, the rules below set out how this route works.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Slovenia to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen and a parent who is unknown, of unknown citizenship or without citizenship, or when the child would otherwise be stateless.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen and a citizen of another country, is between 18 and 36 years of age, and has not previously lost citizenship due to release, renunciation or deprivation.
Birth in the country
This route concerns people born in Slovenia, and only in the situations described below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person is an adult who is born and resident in Slovenia since birth. Personal, family, economic, social and other ties binding the person to Slovenia, as well as consequences that a refusal of the application for citizenship would cause, may be taken into account. Other condition: no criminal record, settled tax obligations, does not pose a threat to public order, security or national defence, and oath to respect the free democratic constitutional order of Slovenia.
Child of a new citizen
This route covers children of a person who becomes a citizen of Slovenia, subject to the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person is a minor one or both whose parents are naturalising in Slovenia and the child has been resident there for at least 1 year. If the child was born in Slovenia, acquisition can occur before the age of 1 year. If the child has no parents, or parents lost parental rights, petition can be made by a guardian who resides with the child. In all cases, consent is required if the child is above the age of 14.
Adoption
For people adopted by citizens of Slovenia, the rules below set out what applies. Under the law of Slovenia, citizenship is acquired automatically, with no official decision involved.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen. Child's consent is required if he/she is 14 years or older.
Other family members of citizens
This route covers certain family members not covered by the marriage or descent routes in Slovenia. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person is a direct descendant to the fourth generation of a former citizen and has been resident in Slovenia for at least 1 year prior to the application. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except renunciation requirement).
Residence during childhood
Residence in Slovenia as a child is the basis of this route. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person attended and successfully completed at least higher education in Slovenia and has been resident there for at least 7 years, continuously for at least 1 year before the application. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except knowledge of Slovenian language).
Refugees
This route covers people recognised as refugees in Slovenia, subject to the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person has refugee status granted under the Asylum Act and has been resident in Slovenia for 5 uninterrupted years prior to the application. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (unless renunciation requirement).
Stateless persons
Statelessness, or the risk of it, is the basis of this route in Slovenia.
Foundlings
Person is born in Slovenia of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Slovenia to parents of unknown citizenship or without citizenship.
Stateless persons
Person is without citizenship and has been resident in Slovenia for 5 uninterrupted years prior to the application. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except renunciation requirement).
Special achievements
For people whose achievements or contributions are recognised by Slovenia, the rules below set out what applies. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person is an adult whose acquisition of citizenship is beneficial for the country due to scientific, economic, cultural, national or other similar reasons. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except renunciation requirement and knowledge of Slovenian language). A person who does not meet the requirementof uninterrupted residence in Slovenia and condition of regulated status of a foreigner in the Republic of Slovenia, can still acquire citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia given his/her extra-ordinary achievement in development of the Republic of Slovenia and increasing of the international reputation of Slovenia or international recognition of Slovenia.
Investment
A qualifying investment or financial contribution is the basis of this route in Slovenia. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person is an adult whose acquisition of citizenship is beneficial for the country for economic reasons. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except renunciation requirement and knowledge of Slovenian language).
Not available in Slovenia: Former citizens (reacquisition), Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Very long residence, Public or military service. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship in Slovenia is accepted for citizens who naturalise abroad, but not generally for new citizens.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
See how Slovenia compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Croatia | 8 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
 Greece | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Italy | 10 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Montenegro | 10 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Spain | 10 years | Test or certificate | New citizens only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 10-15.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Slovenia Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/slovenia/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/slovenia/">How to Get Slovenia Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Slovenian citizen?
The law of Slovenia sets 10 years of residence for ordinary naturalisation. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does Slovenia allow dual citizenship?
Only in one direction: citizens who naturalise abroad, but not generally people who naturalise in Slovenia.
Do I need a language test for Slovenian citizenship?
No fixed language rule applies, though assimilation into society is expected.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Slovenian citizenship?
No civic knowledge test is required for Slovenian citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Slovenian citizenship?
Yes, though notable exceptions may allow you to keep your current citizenship.
Can I get Slovenia citizenship by marriage?
Yes, Slovenia provides a marriage route. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Slovenia citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of Slovenia provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic, entitlement.
Can I get Slovenia citizenship by investment?
Yes. Slovenia has an investment route in the data. Amounts and terms should be confirmed with the official authority.
Related pages
Also see: Slovenia passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.