Slovenia Work Permit Sponsorship Through an Employer of Record
Non-EU nationals need a single residence and work permit to work in Slovenia, issued by the local administrative unit with consent from the Employment Service of Slovenia. Companies without a Slovenian entity hire through Acumen, which becomes the legal employer as a Global Employer of Record and acts as the sponsor for the permit.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Acumen International employs your hire in Slovenia
Through Global EOR, Acumen becomes the legal employer of your hire in Slovenia. Your company manages the work, sets objectives and approves pay decisions. Acumen holds every employer responsibility under Slovenian law, from onboarding to exit:
- Employment contracts: Slovenian contracts compliant with the Employment Relationships Act, issued and held by Acumen
- Work authorisation: Acumen applies for the single permit as the employer and keeps it valid for the length of the employment
- Payroll and taxes: monthly salary, income tax withholding and social security contributions, paid and filed on time
- Employee benefits: statutory entitlements plus supplementary cover tailored to the role
Because Acumen International is the employer, it is also the sponsor. The permit, the contract and the payroll registration all sit with one legal employer, so a non-EU national can work for you in Slovenia while your company manages the role from abroad.
Employer social security contributions in Slovenia total 17.10% of gross salary, including the 1% long-term care contribution in force since 1 July 2025. Acumen’s employment quote includes these alongside salary, benefits and permit costs.
One permit covers residence and work
Non-EU nationals working in Slovenia hold a single residence and work permit (enotno dovoljenje za prebivanje in delo). The local administrative unit (upravna enota) runs the procedure and issues the permit as a card, and it obtains consent from the Employment Service of Slovenia (ZRSZ) as part of the same application.
The permit is the legal basis for the employment contract. A contract signed without one is void, and the labour inspectorate can penalise the employer.
Amendments to the Foreigners Act in force since 21 May 2025 extend the first single permit to the length of the employment contract, up to two years. Renewals now run for up to three years.
Single permit or EU Blue Card
Most non-EU hires go through the single permit. Highly qualified hires on higher salaries can use the EU Blue Card, which Slovenia aligned with the revised EU Blue Card Directive in 2025. Acumen confirms the route for each hire at the feasibility stage.
| Single permit | EU Blue Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Fits | Most employed roles | Highly qualified roles |
| Qualification | Set by the role and ZRSZ consent | Higher education qualification, with professional experience accepted for some roles |
| Salary | Slovenian minimum wage and collective agreement rates | At least the average annual gross salary in Slovenia, as last published in the Official Gazette (lowered from 1.5× in 2025) |
| Employment contract | Sets the permit’s validity | At least six months |
| First permit validity | Contract length, up to two years | Contract length plus three months, up to two years |
| EU mobility | Slovenia only | Facilitated moves to other EU states after 12 months |
Acumen International carries the sponsor’s obligations
Work authorisation rests on the employer. ZRSZ checks the employer before granting consent, including settled tax obligations and a clean record on employment bans, and for most roles it also runs a labour market test. Since 2025, an employer whose breach leads to a permit being revoked owes the employee compensation of three times the gross minimum wage, and employers barred from hiring foreign nationals appear on a public register.
As the legal employer, Acumen meets these conditions and holds the duties that follow. For each hire, the case team:
- confirms the right route, including the EU Blue Card for highly qualified roles
- issues a Slovenian employment contract that supports the application
- files the application and manages the ZRSZ consent stage
- registers the employee for payroll, tax and social security from day one
- handles renewals, approvals for any change of role, and the end of employment
The route from application to first working day
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Feasibility and documents | Acumen confirms eligibility and the expected timeline, and the candidate assembles legalised, translated documents. |
| 2. Application | Filed at a Slovenian embassy or consulate, or at an administrative unit in Slovenia for candidates already residing there lawfully. |
| 3. ZRSZ consent | The administrative unit requests consent from the Employment Service, which reviews the employer and the role. |
| 4. Permit issued | The single permit card is issued and the employee enters Slovenia. |
| 5. Residence registration | The employee registers with the administrative unit within eight days of arrival. |
Processing times vary by administrative unit and by whether a labour market test applies. Acumen sets out the expected timeline for each case at the feasibility stage.
Documents for a Slovenian single permit
- Valid passport
- Recent biometric photograph
- Signed employment contract with Acumen
- Educational and professional qualifications, apostilled or legalised and translated into Slovenian
- Criminal record certificate from the country of nationality, legalised and translated
- Health insurance cover until registration in the Slovenian system
- Proof of sufficient means, required for the first permit and each renewal
The administrative fee is EUR 102 for applications lodged at a Slovenian embassy or consulate, plus EUR 12 for the permit card.
Hire in Slovenia without an entity
Acumen employs local and international talent in Slovenia and across 190+ countries, with work authorisation, payroll and compliance handled by one team. Share the role and the candidate’s nationality, and our specialists will confirm the route, timeline and full employment cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can a company without a Slovenian entity sponsor a work permit in Slovenia?
Yes, through an Employer of Record. Acumen becomes the legal employer in Slovenia and acts as the sponsor, while the employee works for your business day to day.
Do EU citizens need a work permit in Slovenia?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have free access to the Slovenian labour market. For stays over 90 days they register their residence with the administrative unit.
Can the application be filed from inside Slovenia?
Since the 2025 amendments, foreign nationals already residing lawfully in Slovenia can apply for their first permit and give fingerprints at an administrative unit in Slovenia. Other candidates apply through a Slovenian embassy or consulate.
Can an employee on a single permit change role or employer?
Yes, with written approval from the administrative unit, which obtains ZRSZ consent before issuing its decision.
Does Acumen arrange work permits for individuals seeking jobs in Slovenia?
Acumen sponsors permits for the people it employs on behalf of client companies. Work authorisation forms part of that employment.