Slovenia joins EU nations welcoming digital nomads

Slovenia has officially joined the growing list of EU countries welcoming digital nomads.

Remote workers from non-EU countries can apply for a special one-year residence permit, introduced under amendments to the Foreigners Act adopted this spring, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

The permit targets highly mobile professionals whose employers or clients are based outside Slovenia. To qualify, applicants must be citizens of neither the EU nor the European Economic Area and must work remotely for a foreign-registered company or as self-employed entrepreneurs abroad. Crucially, they must not participate in Slovenia's domestic labour market.

"The essential criterion is that the foreign national is not involved in the labour market in Slovenia," the Interior Ministry has said.

This means digital nomads are exempt from labour-market approval requirements, including the consent typically issued by the Employment Service.

Permits are valid for up to one year and cannot be renewed. However, nomads can reapply six months after their previous permit expires, and those who decide they want to stay longer without a break may switch to another type of residence permit while their digital-nomad permit is still valid.

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial means, which is at least twice Slovenia's average net monthly wage. Proof of income can come from any source, following the same rules that apply to other foreign nationals.

Slovenia also makes it easy for digital nomads to bring their loved ones: family reunification is permitted immediately, with no minimum stay requirement or restrictions tied to the validity of the nomad's own permit.

Photo: Tamino Petelinsek/STA