Border control is the control carried out at a border crossing point with a view to verifying the fulfilment of requirements for crossing the external Schengen border; it is obligatory for all passengers who have already crossed or are about to cross the state border.
The basic aim of border control is to prevent the following third country nationals from entering Slovenia:
- those whose residence would be illegal;
- those whose residence would involve committing criminal offences or minor offences, and
- those who would abuse such entry for illegal departure for another country.
Border control for citizens exercising the Community right to freedom of movement
As a rule, persons exercising the Community right to freedom of movement undergo only minimal border checks, which means their identity is being established on the basis of the documents for state border crossing they present.
In exceptional cases police officers are authorised to subject those persons to thorough border checks in order to make sure they do not pose an imminent serious threat to internal security, public order, international relations of member states or public health.
- Systematic border checks of all travellers at external Schengen borders to start on 7 April 2017 (press release, 29. 3. 2017)
Border control for third country nationals
Third country nationals undergo thorough border checks on entry or exit.
- On entry into the state, a thorough border check includes:
- checking valid documents for border crossing and possessing of an adequate visa or residence permit if required ;
- thorough check on a passport, visa or residence permit for evidence of counterfeiting;
- checking entry and exit stamps in order to verify if the person has exceeded the maximum permitted period of residence in the territories of member states;
- checking the purpose of residence and relevant supporting documents;
- checking whether a third country national has sufficient means of subsistence during the planned period of residence, and means for returning to the country of origin or for transit to another country;
- checking whether a particular third country national, their vehicle or objects they are transporting will not jeopardise public order, internal security, public health or international relations of any member state.
- On exit from the state, a thorough border check includes:
- checking valid documents for border crossing and a visa if required;
- check on a passport for evidence of counterfeiting;
- checking whether a particular third country national poses a threat to public order, internal security or international relations of any member state;
- verifying whether the person has exceeded the maximum permitted period of residence in the territories of member states;
- hecking alerts issued for persons and objects which are entered in the Schengen Information System (SIS), as well as reports in the national databases.
Refusing entry into the Republic of Slovenia
Third country nationals are refused entry into the Republic of Slovenia if:
- they do not possess a valid travel document or documents;
- they possess a false/falsified/counterfeit travel document;
- they do not possess a valid visa or residence permit;
- they possess a false/falsified/counterfeit visa or residence permit;
- they do not possess supporting documents proving the purpose and conditions of residence;
- they have been residing in the territory of a member state of the European Union for 3 months within a 6-month period;
- they do not have sufficient means of subsistence in terms of the period and conditions of residence, or means for returning to the country of origin or for transit to another country;
- an alert has been issued for them for the purposes of refusing entry
- in the SIS
- in national databases;
- they pose a threat to public order, internal security, public health or international relations of one or more member states of the European Union (every member state has to state a reference to the national law concerning such cases of refusing entry).