Location
Slovenia is a relatively small European country, located in the southern Central Europe. It is bordered by Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Italy to the south and to the west and Croatia to the southeast. Geographically, Slovenia is situated at the junction of the Alps, the Dinaric mountains, the Pannonian Plain and the Mediterranean. Slovenian territory covers 20,273 square kilometers and has a population of 2,07 million. The capital Ljubljana is an economic, cultural and political centre. Other biggest cities of Slovenia are Maribor, Celje, Kranj, Velenje and Koper.
Climate
The climate is continental with four seasons: cold winter, spring, warm summer and autumn. At the coastal areas there is pleasant submediterranean climate. The average temperatures are -2° in January and 35° in July. In winter, temperatures can drop to -20° and in summer they can reach 35° or more. There is also a lot of snow in the winter. The autumn is the season with the most rainfall. The sun shines approximately 2,000 hours per year in Slovenia.
Slovenian Society
The people of Slovenia have a right to their own religious beliefs. The law is superior to any religious regulations. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic and there are 53 other religious communities, spiritual groups, societies and associations registered in Slovenia. About 10,2% of the population are either agnostic or atheist. The majority of the population declare themselves as Slovenes (94.10%), but the number of foreign nationals has been increasing in recent years. Slovenian language is the official language but in the areas where Italian or Hungarian national communities live, the official language is also Italian or Hungarian. Slovenia is a parliamentary democracy republic. The head of the state is the President of the Republic, who is elected every five years. The holder of the executive power in Slovenia is the Government, which is led by the Prime Minister and the council of ministers. Judicial power in Slovenia is exercised by the courts. Slovenia is governed by the rule of law. The Constitution is the highest general act by which the state defines the general principles and forms of its political and social order. Slovenia is a very safe country, it has a very low crime rate. Smoking is banned in all closed public and work premises. Slovenia is known for its wonderful green nature and beautiful scenery. Slovenians are very proud of their landscape and spend much time in nature enjoying picnics, sports and other outdoor recreation activities.
Money, Currency and Banking
The official currency of the country is Euro and the most common way of payment is in cash or by card. The most commonly used is personal bankcard (Maestro, Visa), but you can also choose among credit, debit and prepaid cards. There are different types of accounts: personal and business. For opening a bank account you will need:
- ID card
- Residence permit (temporary or permanent)
- Confirmation of Slovenian tax number
The big problem is that certain banks do not open accounts to everyone, and it can happen that they will refuse you and you will have to find another bank.
Public Transport Information
Legal Matters: Rights and Responsibilities
What are my rights and responsibilities?
If you are granted international protection you have the same rights as Slovenian citizens, except the right to vote, be elected for public office, work in the army or the police or buy a real estate in Slovenia.
As a foreigner, you have the responsibility to respect Slovenian Constitution and laws, and to respect the rights of others. You must inform authorities responsible for assisting with integration into the environment about: changing your place of residence, personal name, marital status, acquiring new citizenship, employment, financial social assistance, income and other benefits and assets.
Obtaining Citizenship
If you are granted international protection, you have the right to acquire Slovene citizenship under certain conditions.
The application for citizenship is submitted at the administrative unit in the area where you have registered your address. There is a lot of documentation to complete and the process can take a long time.
This website was funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. The content of this website represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.
