Slovenia · Citizenship by naturalisation
Ordinary Naturalisation
Open
Last verified July 2026
Open in principle but effectively closed to most UHNW families, since renunciation of the existing citizenship is required.
Ten years, giving up your existing passport, and a Slovene language exam. For a UHNW family, that combination is a non-starter. It is why the only realistic path to Slovenian citizenship runs through the narrow Article 13 descent route.
Qualifying routes
—
Ordinary naturalisation
10 years total residence, including 5 continuous years immediately preceding the application
The facts
- Total landed cost
- Administrative fees only
- Route type
- By residence
- Timeline
- 10–13 years (10 years of residence plus processing)
- Physical presence
- 10 years in total, with 5 of those continuous and immediately before applying
- Family
- The spouse route requires 3 years of marriage plus 1 year of continuous residence
- Permanent residency
- You need permanent residence before you can apply for citizenship.
- Citizenship
- 10 years, and you must give up your existing citizenship.
- Language test
- A Slovene language exam is compulsory, taken before a government-appointed commission.
- Dual citizenship
- Not permitted. You would have to renounce.
- Requirements
- 10 years of total residence, including 5 continuous years immediately before applyingrenouncing your foreign citizenshipa Slovene language examguaranteed means of financial support and a clean record
What can go wrong
- You must renounce your foreign citizenship, or prove that it is lost automatically.
- The Slovene language exam is compulsory. The gov.si topics page leaves it out, but that is a gap in the page, not in the law. The requirement is confirmed in the Citizenship Act.
- Other Article 12 pathways move faster. Spouses need 3 years married plus 1 year of residence. Former citizens need 6 months. Refugees need 5 years, with the renunciation requirement waived. Higher-education graduates need 7 years, including 1 continuous.