The Government of the Republic of Slovenia amended 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. The Ordinance was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia and has been in force since 8 June 2020.

Slovenian, Austrian and Hungarian citizens can now cross the border outside checkpoints

Slovenian citizens arriving from EU or Schengen Area member states can now use crossing points other than checkpoints to cross the border. There are three border control checkpoints in operation on road connections to Austria:

1. Karavanke – Karawankentunnel,
2. Ljubelj – Loibltunnel,
3. Šentilj (motorway) – Spielfeld (Autobahn),

Citizens of the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Austria may cross the state border outside the listed checkpoints. This means that they may cross the Slovenia-Austria border at the former (pre-Schengen) border crossing points (BCPs). Other travellers may enter Slovenia only through the above-listed checkpoints.

Two border crossing checkpoints are now in operation on road connections to Hungary:

1. Dolga vas – Redics,
2. Pince (motorway) – Torniyszentmiklos (Országút),

Slovenian and Hungarian citizens may cross the state border outside these checkpoints. This means that they may cross the Slovenia-Hungary border at the former (pre-Schengen) border crossing points (BCPs). Other travellers may enter Slovenia only through the above-listed checkpoints.

With respect to Italy, border crossing outside the border control checkpoints is permitted to Slovenian and Italian citizens who are owners or tenants of land in the border area or on both sides of the state border and who cross the border in order to carry out agricultural or forestry activities. There are no changes as regards the operation of checkpoints on the border with Italy.

Requirement to quarantine on entry to Slovenia (Article 9 of Ordinance)

The 14-day quarantine is required for a person entering Slovenia as a temporary or permanent resident of a country that is not on the list of epidemiologically safe countries or an epidemiologically safe administrative regions or for a person coming to Slovenia from such a country.

No quarantine entry and changes to exceptions listed in Article 10 of the Ordinance

Slovenian citizens and foreign nationals who are holders of temporary or permanent residence in Slovenia arriving from EU or Schengen Area member states may enter Slovenia without any restrictions and without having to quarantine. These persons may enter Slovenia even though the country they come from may not be on the list of epidemiologically safe countries .

The no-quarantine entry now applies also to:

• persons providing services for which they have been issued a certificate by the competent ministry if ordering a quarantine could result in major social or economic damage due to non-provision of these services;
• persons who need to cross the border for urgent personal matters and who return within 24 hours after entry and provide an appropriate proof of their essential need;
• persons who are owners or tenants of land in the border area or on both sides of the state border and who cross the border in order to carry out agricultural or forestry activities.

Persons who have a confirmed booking of overnight accommodation are no longer listed in the exceptions  section of the Ordinance.

Worsening of epidemiological situation in a particular country

The worsening of the epidemiological situation in a particular country or its administrative region that is currently included in the exceptions may result in the Government of the Republic of Slovenia’s decision not to apply Article 10 of the Ordinance, in whole or in part, with regard to such country or region. Such a decision will be promptly published on the websites of the National Institute of Public Health, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Updated list applying as of 8 June 2020

The list of countries from which entry into Slovenia is permitted without any restrictions, taking into account the epidemiological situation, has been updated to include 17 states. The list of epidemiologically safe countries as published by the National Institute of Public Health now includes these 17 states: Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland.

Restrictions for passengers arriving from North Macedonia

Due to the worsened epidemiological situation, all passengers coming to Slovenia from the North Macedonia or entering Slovenia as holders of temporary or permanent residence in the North Macedonia will be ordered to quarantine for a period of 14 days regardless of their citizenship or residence. The exceptions are in place for:

• persons involved in international transport (point three of Article 10);
• persons carrying out the transport of goods to or from the Republic of Slovenia and to goods transport in transit (point 4 of Article 10);
• persons travelling through the Republic of Slovenia to another country within 24 hours after entry (point 5 of Article 10);
• diplomatic passport holders (point 6 of Article 10).

Related content

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 (in Slovenian) (Official Gazette RS, no. 83/2020, 8. 6. 2020)

The exceptions in Article 10 of the ordinance (translated into English)

Crossing the state border during the coronavirus epidemic