If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Slovenia visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Slovenia may ask you to show €70 per day (€35 for minors with their parents). Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Slovenia, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Slovenia can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Slovenia can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: €70 per day (€35 for minors travelling with their parents). (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Slovenia
Main international airports in Slovenia: Ljubljana (LJU).
If Slovenia is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Slovenia is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
All of Slovenia's land borders are with other Schengen countries, so there are no routine passport checks when you cross them by car, bus or train. Countries can reintroduce temporary checks, so always carry your passport.
The EES at airports and borders in Slovenia
In Slovenia, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Ljubljana (LJU) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Slovenia no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Slovenia in depth: no external borders since 2023
Since Croatia joined Schengen in 2023, Slovenia has no external land borders: all its neighbours (Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia) are Schengen members.
Ljubljana airport is small, so many visitors arrive via Venice, Zagreb or Vienna, where they are checked. The minimum is €70 per day (€35 for minors travelling with their parents).
Slovenia has occasionally reintroduced temporary checks on its borders with Croatia and Hungary, so keep your passport with you.
Good to know about Slovenia
- Often combined with Croatia, Italy and Austria, all in Schengen: no fixed checks between them.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Slovenia add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Slovenia after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need for Slovenia?
€70 per person per day; €35 for minors traveling with their parents.
Do US citizens need a visa for Slovenia?
No. US citizens can visit Slovenia visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Slovenia?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Slovenia, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.