Foreign-born population – 2025 | 15.6% of the population | Main countries of birth: Bosnia and Herzegovina (45%), Croatia (12%), Serbia (10%) |
Size: 0.3 million, 43% women | Evolution since 2015: +39% |
International Migration Outlook 2026
50th Edition
In 2025, Slovenia received 25 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility), ‑5.7% compared to 2024. This figure comprises 19% immigrants benefitting from free mobility, 57% labour migrants, 24% family members (including accompanying family) and 0.3% humanitarian migrants. Around 3 500 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 300 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants (excluding intra-EU migration). In addition, 22 000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2024, a ‑37% decrease compared to 2023. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and North Macedonia were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2024. Among the top 15 countries of origin, India registered the strongest increase (400) and Bosnia and Herzegovina the largest decrease (- 1 900) in flows to Slovenia compared to the previous year.
In 2025, the number of first asylum applicants decreased by ‑27%, to reach around 3 000. The majority of applicants came from Morocco (2 400), Egypt (300) and Algeria (300). The largest increase since 2024 concerned nationals of Egypt (200) and the largest decrease nationals of Morocco (‑1 000). Of the 230 decisions taken in 2025, 31% were positive.
Emigration of Slovenian citizens to OECD countries decreased by ‑11% in 2024, to 4 100. Approximately 25% of this group migrated to Austria, 23% to Germany and 13% to Switzerland.
A major reform of Slovenia’s migration framework was adopted in April 2025, when the National Assembly approved amendments to the Foreigners Act (ZTuj 2I) and the Employment, Self-Employment and Work of Foreigners Act (ZZSDT E). These amendments were aligned with EU Directive 2021/1 883 and aimed to facilitate access for highly skilled workers and to improve procedures.
The first set of changes entered into force on 21 May 2025, extending the initial validity of the single residence and work permit from one year to two years, and allowing renewals for up to three years. These measures reduced administrative turnover for both employers and foreign workers. From June 2025, third-country nationals legally residing in Slovenia for reasons other than employment will be allowed to take up employment before receiving a residence permit, and employers who have made staff redundant for economic reasons in the last six months will not be permitted to hire foreign workers.
Further reforms, implemented on 21 July 2025, reshaped the EU Blue Card regime. Salary thresholds were lowered to the level of the average gross salary (against 1.5 times currently), the minimum employment contract duration was reduced to six months, and professional experience (at least three years of relevant work experience) was explicitly recognised as an alternative to formal qualifications in selected professions. Short-term mobility for Blue Card holders from other EU Member States was also simplified.
Finally, on 21 November 2025, Slovenia introduced a digital nomad temporary residence permit for third-country nationals working remotely for foreign employers. This permit allows a one‑year stay, subject to income requirements, with possible reapplication after a six-month interval. At the same time, procedures were further digitalised, allowing certain applications and biometric submissions to be completed directly in Slovenia.
Temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine remained in force under EU extensions adopted prior to the period. Slovenia maintained access to employment, healthcare and education for beneficiaries throughout 2025 and early 2026.
In 2025, the Ministry of Interior’s practices regarding asylum interviews changed. Individual interviews with asylum seekers whose applications are being processed under the standard procedure are no longer conducted by officials responsible for lodging the applications but by decision makers, which has tended to lengthen the process.
Throughout 2025, the government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants continued to implement programmes related to the Temporary Protection of Displaced Persons Act, with the majority of national funding directed towards supporting refugees from Ukraine.
The Information Centre for Foreigners opened in June 2025 in Ljubljana, providing advice as well as administrative and integration support to migrants.
For further information: www.stat.si | www.gov.si/en/news | www.infotujci.si
