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Last checked: 30 July 2026

# Entry is not the same as residence

Short visa-free entry, visa D, and the study residence permit are three different things. Know which one keeps you here legally.

Students waiting in line at the administrative unit in Ljubljana. Photo: Jaka Gasar, dnevnik.si
Good to knowThis guide is put together by students, not by professionals or official bodies. It is meant to help you and your parents through enrolment and settling into life in Slovenia. Some details may change or become outdated, so always check the official sources and confirm anything important with the relevant institutions. We take no responsibility for wrong, outdated or misunderstood information — but we are always glad to help. If you spot something that is not right, please tell us in the “Was this page helpful?” box at the bottom of the page.

Please verify the latest information

This page was last checked on 30 July 2026 and applies to entry and residence rules for the 2026/2027 study year. Deadlines, fees, required documents, eligibility conditions, and administrative procedures may change. Verify the information directly with the responsible institution before submitting an application or making an important decision.

## Visa-free short entry

Macedonian citizens are generally visa-exempt for short stays in the Schengen area, subject to the applicable passport and entry rules. A short visa-free stay does not grant the right to remain for a full academic year.

## The 90-day concept

A visa-free stay is generally limited to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Time spent in other Schengen countries counts.

Do not use the short-stay period as a substitute for a student residence solution.

## Visa D

A long-stay visa D is a separate document, generally used for a stay longer than 90 days and up to one year where its conditions are met. In practice it is mainly relevant for students coming on a study exchange, for example Erasmus, for up to one year. This route is handled only by the Slovenian Embassy in Skopje and cannot be arranged through a Slovenian administrative unit.

Students enrolled in a full degree programme in Slovenia normally do not use visa D. Their route is the temporary residence permit for study described below, which is decided by the Slovenian administrative unit (upravna enota). Many people loosely call this a “visa”, but legally it is a residence permit, not a visa.

## Temporary residence permit for study

The normal long-term study route is a temporary residence permit for study (dovoljenje za začasno prebivanje zaradi študija).

The competent Slovenian authority is the administrative unit (upravna enota). A first application may also involve the Slovenian Embassy in Skopje.

## Applying in Slovenia after the 2025 amendment

Slovenian law now generally allows a foreigner who is lawfully staying in Slovenia to submit a first temporary-residence application at a Slovenian administrative unit, unless a specific rule provides otherwise.

However, the general in-country first application does not automatically produce a certificate that extends the person’s lawful stay until the final decision.

This is critical. A student who applies late may reach the end of the lawful 90-day period before the permit is decided.

## Safe approach

- Start early.
- Ask the Embassy or administrative unit which route applies.
- Obtain written confirmation.
- Do not assume that submitting an application in Slovenia allows you to remain after your legal short stay expires.
- Do not book non-refundable travel based only on informal advice.

## The three residence stages students confuse most often

### Study permit

A temporary residence permit for study is issued for the study period, but normally for no more than one year at a time. It is renewable while the conditions remain satisfied.

It permits student work through a napotnica when the student meets the student-work conditions.

### Post-study job-seeking permit

A graduate who completed eligible higher education in Slovenia may apply for a temporary permit to search for employment or self-employment. The official route is limited to a maximum of nine months and is not renewable.

The permit is for searching. It does not itself authorise regular employment. Once a job is found, the graduate needs the appropriate work and residence basis.

### Single work and residence permit

Regular employment through an employment contract generally requires an enotno dovoljenje za prebivanje in delo. The process involves the upravna enota and consent or checks by the Employment Service of Slovenia.

## Apply before the current legal basis expires

Do not wait until the final days of the student permit to begin the graduate or work route. A gap can affect lawful stay, travel, employment, insurance, and address registration.

## Sources and further information

- Embassy visa and residence information
- InfoTujci
- Study in Slovenia residence information
- 2025 Foreigners Act amendment explanation

Last checked: 30 July 2026

## Still need help?

If something is unclear or missing, contact MSOS and we will help you find the right institution or answer. Deadlines and rules change, so always confirm the details that matter for your case.

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