Yesterday, 17 may 2020, the Government issued the Ordinance amending the Ordinance on imposing and implementing measures for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 at border crossings at the external border and at checkpoints at the internal borders of the Republic of Slovenia, clarifying some of the confusion, especially in relation to imposing quarantine and the exceptions.

Although paragraph one of Article 9 of the amended ordinance allows the crossing of the state border without restrictions (and quarantine), the ordinance further provides that this provision will be applied gradually for the persons listed, with the exception of Slovenian citizens and foreigners with permanent residence in Slovenia, to whom it already applies.

The amended ordinance also gives the state a discretion to refuse entry to foreign nationals who do not have temporary or permanent residence in Slovenia and show clear signs or infection or disease.

Meanwhile, third-country nationals are still required to undergo a 14-day quarantine, with certain exceptions. According to the amended ordinance, such exceptions also include persons carrying goods in international goods transport and persons transiting Slovenia to reach another country in the same day.

Borders will be gradually reopened and the Government will determine the list of countries whose residents are allowed entry into Slovenia without restrictions

In compliance with the new ordinance, borders will be gradually reopened, except for Slovenian citizens and foreigners with permanent residence in Slovenia. The Government will regularly update the list of countries whose residents are allowed entry into Slovenia with no restrictions, based on the National Institute of Public Health's assessment of the epidemiological situation in the neighbouring countries and in compliance with technical agreements between the Ministry of the Interior and the neighbouring countries, EU member states and Schengen Area members, or a general agreement at the EU level.

Upon entry into Slovenia, the police will provide travellers not required to undergo a quarantine with National Institute of Public Health's instruction

According to paragraph one of Article 9 of the new ordinance, persons entering Slovenia who have permanent or temporary residence in EU member states or other Schengen Area members and have not left the EU or the Schengen Area for more than 14 days will be provided with Instructions of the National Institute of Public Health on the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 . Instructions are available also in other languages: Slovenian, Italian, Hungarian, German and Croatian.

If while staying in Slovenia such persons show signs of infection, they should immediately contact the selected personal physician or emergency medical service.

If on entering Slovenia a person indicates being SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) positive or having typical signs of infection with this virus (high fever, cough, shortness of breath), the police will instruct them to immediately contact the selected personal physician or emergency medical service.

Foreign nationals who do not have permanent residence in Slovenia and on entering Slovenia tell the authorities that they are SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) positive or show clear signs of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus will be refused entry.

Following the instructions of the Epidemiological Service of the National Institute of Public Health, the medical service will periodically check the health status of persons crossing the border.

A 14-day quarantine remains mandatory for incoming travellers from third countries, with some exceptions*

Persons coming from a third country will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine. If they do not have temporary or permanent residence in Slovenia or cannot stay at their temporary or permanent residence address for legitimate reasons, the quarantine will be ordered at the actual address of their stay. They will have to cover the costs of the quarantine. If foreign nationals without temporary or permanent residence in Slovenia are unable to provide the address of their stay where they will be quarantined, they will be refused entry into Slovenia.

For persons referred to in the preceding paragraph who intend to work in Slovenia, the quarantine is ordered at the address listed in the employer’s certificate, which must be presented to the police at the border crossing. Employers will need to provide foreign workers with adequate conditions for the quarantine, as well as with food and security. Their accommodation must meet the recommendations issued by the National Institute of Public Health.

Upon entry into Slovenia, police officers will take the persons’ details (name and surname, date of birth, address of temporary or permanent residence or place of stay in Slovenia), which they will submit to the National Institute of Public Health. The persons will be given a quarantine information leaflet, issued by the National Institute of Public Health . Leaflets are available also in other languages: Slovenian, Italian, Hungarian, German and Croatian.

* Exceptions

The following groups of travellers from third countries are exempt from mandatory 14-day quarantine:

  • persons attending the funeral of a close relative in Slovenia and leaving the country on the same day and submitting a proof of the date and time of the funeral,
  • persons carrying out the transport of goods to or from Slovenia to a third country, and the transport of goods from third countries in transit and persons posted abroad in the international transport sector or such persons returning home, who are in possession of a certificate for workers in international transport sector or another appropriate document proving that the person has been posted by the employer,
  • diplomatic passport holders,
  • third country nationals providing emergency services for which they have been issued a certificate by the competent ministry and if ordering a quarantine could result in major social or economic damage due to non-provision of these services,
  • members of the protection and rescue services, healthcare services, police and firefighting service and persons carrying out humanitarian transport for Slovenia who are crossing the border in order to perform their duties,
  • persons travelling through Slovenia to another country in the same day,
  • persons referred to in Article 9, paragraph one, of the Ordinance (travellers with temporary or permanent residence in the EU and/or Schengen Area member states who were not outside of the EU or Schengen area for longer than 14 days).

Related contents

Ordinance amending the Ordinance on imposing and implementing measures related to prevent the spread of epidemic COVID-19 at the border crossing points at the external border and inspection posts within national borders of the Republic of Slovenia (in Slovenian) (Official Gazette RS, no. 71/2020, 17. 5. 2020)

Ordinance on imposing and implementing measures related to prevent the spread of epidemic COVID-19 at the border crossing points at the external border and inspection posts within national borders of the Republic of Slovenia (in Slovenian) (Official Gazette RS, no. 68/2020, 14. 5. 2020)

Crossing the state border during the coronavirus epidemic