How Ukrainian refugees can correctly apply for a visa to Slovenia and avoid mistakes
Since the outbreak of full-scale war, Slovenia has become one of the less obvious but consistently popular destinations for Ukrainian citizens seeking asylum, education, work, or an opportunity to start life afresh. As a Schengen country and a member of the EU, it offers a wide range of legal mechanisms for long-term stays. But even with the visa-free regime between Ukraine and the EU, in most situations Ukrainians still need a national visa type D or a residence permit. The system is complex, but clearly regulated.
Who can travel without a visa, and for whom it is mandatory
Visa-free travel between Ukraine and the European Union has been in effect since 2017, and in 2025 it still provides Ukrainians with an important advantage: you can enter the territory of the Schengen zone countries — including Slovenia — for up to 90 days in each 180-day period without the need for a visa. But only under certain conditions. It should be a short-term stay with a clearly defined purpose: tourism, visiting relatives, participation in a conference, a short private trip. All other cases — work, study, reunification with family, business, volunteering, treatment — take a person beyond the limits of the permitted term and status. And in such a case, there is a need for a national visa of category D. This visa is the main legal instrument that allows a citizen of Ukraine not only to legally stay in Slovenia, but also to take the next step: to obtain a temporary or permanent residence permit.
National visa type D: why you need it
Category D visa is a long-term national visa that allows a stay in Slovenia for more than 90 days. It is not a residence permit, but obtaining it is a mandatory condition for those who plan to stay in the country for more than three months. Such a visa is issued for a maximum of one year and is not automatically renewed – after entering the country, the applicant must submit documents for a temporary residence permit directly on the territory of Slovenia. That is why the correct processing of this visa is a critically important first step. Formally, it gives only the right to enter and stay, but in fact it starts the entire chain of legalization — for employment, study, business registration or family reunification.
Slovenian legislation provides for several basic D visa categories, depending on the purpose of the stay. In 2025, the most common for Ukrainians are working, student, family (for reunification), entrepreneurial, research and volunteer. A work visa requires an official offer from a Slovenian employer. To do this, it is necessary to provide a contract, qualification documents, proof of housing, health insurance and, in some cases, a criminal record.
Student visa is a document issued for those Ukrainians who are enrolled in institutions of higher education, language courses or other accredited educational programs in Slovenia. It can be obtained by both bachelors and masters, as well as participants of preparatory courses lasting more than 90 days. The main condition for considering the application is confirmation of enrollment from the educational institution. The package of documents must also include a financial guarantee (bank certificate, scholarship or sponsorship letter that proves the ability to cover living expenses), medical insurance with a coverage of at least 30,000 euros and a document on the provision of housing – a rental agreement, a dormitory contract or a guarantee letter from the host party.
Visa for family reunification provides for the right of entry and long-term stay of those Ukrainians whose closest relatives already legally reside in Slovenia. It is about husbands, wives, minor children, as well as in some cases – parents. The main conditions are a confirmed family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, court decision on guardianship, etc.), financial capacity of the inviting party (certificates of income, employment or social security), as well as documentary evidence of the availability of housing suitable for family residence.
Business visa is aimed at Ukrainians who plan not to hire a job, but to create it themselves — that is, to open their own business in Slovenia or already have a company registered there. The basis for the design is a business plan, which describes the purpose and scope of the activity, as well as the projected economic effect. The statutory documents of the company (in the case of an already registered firm), confirmation of investments (contribution to the authorized capital, start-up costs, bank guarantees) and financial statements are attached – at a minimum, balance sheets or statements of accounts that prove the ability to conduct activities and cover personal expenses.
Visa for research or internship. In 2025, Slovenia continues to open its doors to foreign professionals, attracting scientists, researchers and young professionals to participate in projects, educational initiatives, research programs and internships at universities and academic institutes. For citizens of Ukraine who have an official invitation to carry out scientific work or practice, the legislation of Slovenia provides for the possibility of obtaining a national visa type D – specifically for research or internship activities.
This visa is intended for teachers, graduate students, interns, and research workers who can document cooperation with an accredited institution in Slovenia. The first and key condition is the presence of an official cooperation agreement with a university, research institute, laboratory or other scientific center. Without this document, the registration process is impossible. The agreement must be signed by both parties, with a clear indication of the terms, conditions of participation and the essence of scientific activity.
In addition to the agreement, the applicant must provide proof of financial support for the period of stay – it can be a scholarship, salary statement, grant support or personal funds, confirmed by a bank statement. Health insurance valid throughout the Schengen area with a coverage of at least 30,000 euros is also mandatory. It is desirable that the policy covers the entire declared period of stay in Slovenia.
The application procedure involves the standard preparation of a package of documents, registration at the consulate or visa center, payment of the consular fee and personal presence at the time of application. If all documents meet the requirements, the applicant receives a type D visa, which allows entry into the country and subsequent application for a temporary residence permit.
Visa for participation in volunteer programs. Slovenia, as a participant in European Solidarity programs, in particular the European Voluntary Service (EVS), remains open to foreigners who wish to join volunteer initiatives. For Ukrainians who aspire to work in the field of ecology, youth policy, education, social integration or cultural projects, Slovenia provides an opportunity to obtain a national visa of category D for the purpose of volunteering.
This type of visa is issued in the presence of a contract with the host organization, which must be accredited in Slovenia to participate in the relevant program. The contract should contain a clear description of the project, the duration of the volunteer activity, the duties of the volunteer, accommodation, food and compensation (if provided).
In addition to the contract, documentary confirmation of the provision of housing for the period of participation in the project is mandatory. This can be a lease agreement, a letter of guarantee from the organization or an official statement from the receiving party. Medical insurance is also required – a policy valid in the territory of the Schengen area, with coverage of at least 30,000 euros.
The process of applying for a visa involves a standard procedure: preparation of a complete package of documents, prior appointment at the consulate or visa center, personal application submission, payment of the fee and biometrics. In the case of a positive decision, the volunteer receives a visa for the entire period of the project with the right to further apply for temporary residence in Slovenia. For many, this is not only a chance to help, but also a start for deeper integration into the European civil environment.
How to issue a visa
Everything starts with a correctly defined purpose of the trip. This is not a formality: it depends on which visa you choose, which documents you will have to prepare, and how long the consideration of the case will last. The next stage is the preparation of a complete package of documents. In 2025, standard requirements include a valid international passport, two color photographs, proof of purpose of stay (contract, enrollment letter, invitation, etc.), documents confirming the availability of housing, financial capacity (bank statement or sponsor letter), health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros, a criminal record certificate (for some visa types) and copies of all documents. All documents that are not in Slovenian must be translated by a sworn translator.
After that, you need to make an appointment to submit documents – either at the Slovenian embassy or at an accredited visa center, such as VFS Global. The submission is made only in person, with a pre-arranged time. On the day of application, a consular fee is paid – approximately 77 euros – and biometric data is submitted. Waiting for a decision can last from 15 to 30 days, but in some cases – up to 60. If approved, the visa is pasted into the passport, after which the person has the right to enter Slovenia. Already on the spot, no later than the eighth day after arrival, it is necessary to submit an application for temporary residence to the administrative body at the place of residence.
How to avoid mistakes when submitting documents
In 2025, Ukrainians applying for a national visa to Slovenia will increasingly face formal obstacles rather than substantive bias or refusals. In the absolute majority of cases, the refusal to issue a category D visa is not related to the lack of grounds for stay or doubts about the purpose of the trip, but to technical and procedural errors. These mistakes, even if they seem minor at first glance, automatically disqualify the application or delay the review for weeks. The Slovenian migration system leaves no room for inaccuracies, and therefore all responsibility for the correctness of the application rests with the applicant.
The most common reason for refusal is an incorrectly filled out questionnaire. It is not only about errors in spelling or graphs, but also about the inconsistency of the specified data with the documents, displacement of dates, lack of answers in key fields or confusion between visa categories. Another typical case is the submission of an incomplete package of documents or incorrect structuring of files, when something important is missing or considered not to be attached. Consulates react especially sensitively to errors in dates: when the date of departure does not coincide with the duration of the program, the invitation covers one period, and the insurance covers another, or when confirmation of housing is issued for periods that do not correspond to the visa.
The third major category of errors is the use of irrelevant references. Bank statements that have recently expired, criminal records issued more than sixty days ago, or documents that have become invalid due to a change in the host party will all result in an automatic rejection. Financial insufficiency or lack of proof of ability to cover expenses is another common point of risk. In such cases, the consulate may not believe in the realism of accommodation without outside assistance. And if such assistance is available, it must also be officially proven.
One of the most serious mistakes is applying for the wrong visa category. This happens when, for example, an applicant wants to work but is applying for a study visa; or goes on a family invitation, and chooses the tourist category. Such a discrepancy between the actual purpose and the declared type of visa is grounds for immediate refusal without the right of appeal. And finally, the most serious misdemeanor is trying to submit false documents. Even if it seems like a “minor formality”, such as a fake bank account statement, falsification of a housing document or insurance, it permanently loses the trust of the consulate and can lead to a ban on re-submission or even being placed on the list of undesirable persons in Schengen.
To avoid all these mistakes, you need to act not intuitively, but accurately documented. All information in the questionnaire must correspond to each of the attached documents. All certificates must be up-to-date, issued on time and translated by a sworn translator. The package of documents should be checked three times: separately – availability, compliance, logic. If in doubt, consult a lawyer or migration consultant. It is also extremely important to monitor changes in migration legislation. In Slovenia, these rules are updated every year, often without much announcement, so it’s worth checking official sources or consular websites. Legal accuracy is not an option, but a requirement. And if you act correctly, even a complex bureaucratic system will not become a barrier.
