Border formalities are minimal and correspond to the European standards. To cross the border, a valid passport is sufficient if the visit is no longer than three months.

Citizens of member countries of the European Union, Croatia, and Switzerland can cross the border with a valid personal identification document, but the visit can not be longer than thirty days.

All those who need visas to visit Slovenia can obtain them from Slovenia’s representative offices in their home countries.

A child can only travel and cross international borders with an identity document valid for the crossing of international borders. Such document is usually a valid passport, however, in certain cases it can also be a valid identity card or other document for crossing international borders (issued on the basis of special international agreements). The method for issuing documents differs from country to country, some issue children independent documents, while others include children in their parents' passports; all this is allowed for at border crossings.

Schengen passport-free zone extended to EU's eastern members



Published: Friday 9 November 2007
The EU justice and interior ministers on 8 November cleared the way for the enlargement of the Schengen area to include nine of the new eastern member states, making passport-free travel to and from these countries a reality by December.
Related:

LinksDossier: Border control - one single EU border Brief News: Internal land and sea border checks will be abolished as of December 2007, while restrictions on air borders will be lifted by March 2008, according to the decision taken at the latest Council meeting in Brussels.

The decision extends the passport-free travel system to Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Thus far, 13 EU member states ( Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden) and two non-EU countries ( Norway and Iceland) have been participating fully in the Schengen acquis.

The United Kingdom and Ireland only participate in the agreement in the area of police and judicial cooperation, and thus still uphold their border controls.

Ministers from the old member states had voiced reservations regarding the sufficient control of land and air borders between the new Schengen countries and non-EU states, as well as the issue of data protection, but gave the green light after having reassessed the conditions in the EU's eastern states.

German interior minister Wolfgang Schäuble praised the "symbolic effect for the new EU member states, which do not live behind the Iron Curtain anymore".

By entering the Schengen acquis, the new members will also introduce the Schengen Information System (SIS), a sophisticated database which national border-control and other customs and police control authorities can use to exchange information on certain categories of persons and property, and give mutual operational assistance. The system was set up to offset the risk of a security deficit connected with the abolition of internal borders.

With Schengen entering into force, conditions for entering the EU and crossing external borders, as well as policy on issuing visas, have been harmonised. The Schengen system allows citizens of participating states to move freely within the area and foreigners to travel throughout the zone on a single visa.

Meanwhile, Switzerland signed an association agreement with the EU, which has not entered into force yet. It is expected to become a full Schengen member, together with Liechtenstein, at the end of 2008.

In 2009, Cyprus may fully join the Schengen acquis, whereas Bulgaria and Romania are not expected to fully participate before 2011.

Source: Border control - one single EU border

VISAS

It was agreed that travellers from countries with which the European Union has not reached an agreement on the abolition of visas must have visas in their passports valid for at least six months, which they can get at any Slovene (or otherwise authorized) representative office in their home countries.

Visit web site of the Slovenian Embassy in Canberra for more info

BRINGING IN ITEMS

The flow of goods between member countries of the European Union is tax-free, and the regulations are the same in all member countries of the European Union. Restrictions apply only for the transport of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, where the amount not subject to excise tax is limited.

Adult travellers (above 17 years of age) may import tax-free into Slovenia 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of smoking tobacco, 1 liter of alcohol beverages with more than 22% alcohol content by volume or two liters of alcohol beverages with up to 22% alcohol content by volume or of sparkling wine, or proportionate amounts of these products, and two liters of still wine; 50 grams of perfume and 0.25 liters of eau de toilette, and other merchandise up to a total value of 175 EUR or the equivalent in SIT.

Bringing items into Slovenia for citizens of non EU member countries

In the case of purchase of goods in third countries it is necessary, on returning to the Union, to verbally declare to customs officials all merchandise of a commercial nature and all merchandise whose quantity or value exceeds the tax free limits: for excise goods, perfumes and eau de toilette, if the prescribed quantities are exceeded; for other merchandise, if the value of the merchandise exceeds 175 EUR or 90 EUR for travellers younger than 15.

Several travellers cannot combine their rights for the waiver of import duties and in such a way import goods whose value is in excess of 175 EUR without the payment of tax. If in doubt as to which goods should be declared to customs, it is advisable to declare all goods which the traveller has in their possession. Exemption at the applicable level is allowed in all cases for declared goods. Taxes to be paid on imported goods are: customs duty, DDV (VAT) and/or excise duty in the case of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages.

As well as personal baggage, foreign travellers from third countries (non EU member countries), may also bring items they require during their temporary stay in Slovenia with them, without having to pay import duties on them. They may have a maximum of 10,000 EUR cash with them.

MEDICAL CARE FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS

Every major town and city in Slovenia has a health center open from 7:00 to 19:00 on weekdays.

Citizens of member countries of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

Insured persons of member countries of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland have, during a temporary stay in the Republic of Slovenia, on the basis of their European medical insurance card or certificate, which temporarily replaces the European medical insurance card, the right to »medical services, which are required due to medical condition, having consideration to the nature of the service and the intended length of stay in the other EU member country.« (Decree (EGS) no. 1408/71).

With the European card or certificate, insured individuals of these countries can avail themselves of emergency or required medical services directly from doctors and medical institutions which have a contract with the ZZZS. Only medical services of a general nature can be accessed directly, whereas specialist or hospitalized care requires referral from a general practitioner. Emergency medical assistance can be received directly at the nearest hospital.

In the case of emergency medical treatment and emergency medical assistance, additional payments are not required as such services are fully covered by obligatory health insurance. Other services are only free of charge up to a certain percentage of the value of the service rendered. Each case is treated individually, with additional payment ranging from 5% to 75% of the value of the medical service offered.

Citizens of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Macedonia, with which the Republic of Slovenia has signed an international agreement (convention)

Insured individuals from these two countries have, in the Republic of Slovenia, the right to emergency medical treatment and emergency medical assistance from doctors and medical institutions which have a contract with the ZZZS. On completing form HR/SLO 3 or RM/SI 3, which they lodge at the applicable regional office of the ZZZS, they are issued with the form »Confirmation of the right to medical services for insured foreign persons and their family members«. On the basis of this form they can avail themselves of emergency medical services of a general nature, whereas specialist or hospitalized care requires referral from a general practitioner. Emergency medical assistance can be received directly at the nearest hospital. In the case of emergency medical treatment and emergency medical assistance additional payments are not required, as such services are fully covered by obligatory health insurance.

Citizens of other countries which are not members of the EU, EEA or Switzerland, or with which an international agreement has not been signed ( USA, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro,…)

The Republic of Slovenia has not signed an international agreement (convention) with remaining countries to regulate the area of medical care and health insurance. This means that citizens of those countries have to pay for the use of medical services in Slovenia.

The Republic of Slovenia, in accordance with the 7th paragraph of the Health Care and Health Insurance Act (Ur.l.RS, št. 72/06 – ZZVZZ-UPB3), ensures budgetary funding for emergency medical care of people of unknown residence, foreigners from countries with which an international agreement has not been signed, and foreigners and citizens of the Republic of Slovenia with permanent residence abroad who temporarily reside in the Republic of Slovenia or are traveling through the Republic of Slovenia and for whom it was not possible to obtain payment for medical services.

TAX RETURNS

Due to the principle of the single European market, Slovenia has annulled the possibility of tax returns at national border crossings since this form of tax relief no longer exists among the member countries of the European Union. Visitors from countries that are not members of the European Union must have special forms for purchased goods filled in by sellers. The form must be stamped by the customs office at the border crossing upon leaving a member country of the European Union. The tax will be returned by the institutions listed on the form for tax-free purchases.

ANIMALS

To cross the borders between member countries of the European Union (i.e., for the non-commercial movement of house pets, where the animals return to their home country together with their owners), the owners of dogs, cats, and ferrets must carry a European Union passport for house pets containing a confirmation of vaccination against rabies, and the animals must be marked in the prescribed fashion. Special regulations apply for some members of the European Union ( Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland, and Sweden); details are available from the Veterinary Administration of the Republic of Slovenia or from local veterinary institutions. For other house pets (rodents, reptiles, amphibians, aquarium fish, pet birds, etc.) the rules differ from country to country, so owners should seek further information in the individual country or on the Internet at: Veterinary Administration of the Republic of Slovenia

For the non-commercial import of animals from third countries (not members of European Union), dogs, cats and ferrets can travel with veterinary certificates as published in the Decision of the Commission 2004/203/ES; the same regulations apply for other animals as for the non-commercial movement of animals between member countries.