Slovenia seasonal work visa and permit

Seasonal work is work tied to a season in which demand for workers rises sharply, and foreigners may do it only in agriculture, forestry, hospitality and tourism. Work of up to 90 days in a calendar year needs only a work permit issued by the Employment Service of Slovenia, applied for by the employer or client; the total of such permits may not exceed 90 days in a calendar year. You then travel on a Schengen visa.

For seasonal work longer than 90 days you need a seasonal single permit. It is issued for the length of the employment contract or work contract with the same employer and can be extended, but the total seasonal work may not exceed six months, or seven months in exceptional cases set by law, in a calendar year. A seasonal permit issued by another EU state does not let you do seasonal work of more than 90 days in Slovenia.

Your passport must be valid at least three months beyond the planned stay, you need health insurance covering at least emergency treatment, a valid employment or work contract and a clean criminal record. The Employment Service gives its consent if no suitable unemployed person is registered, the employer or client is registered for the activity or entered in the register of agricultural holdings, is not in liquidation or bankruptcy, has paid its taxes, and any annual quota set by the government has not been used up.

Seasonal work is done on an employment contract, except where the law on temporary and occasional work in agriculture allows otherwise. If the work is done under a civil-law contract, the labour market test is not carried out.

For the single permit, fill in form 16 and lodge it with the documents at any administrative unit in Slovenia or at a Slovenian embassy or consulate abroad, in person or by registered post. The employer can apply on your behalf, but only you can collect the card. You pay the administrative fee on application; its amount depends on where you apply. Fingerprints are taken on submission, or you are invited later if you posted the application.

Employers can first file form PDM-KTD with the Employment Service: it replies within 5 working days whether suitable unemployed people are registered.

Working without the right permit can be treated as undeclared work. One or more consents can be issued for seasonal work in different periods with the same or another employer, as long as the annual total stays within six months. Time spent on seasonal residence does not count towards the five years needed for permanent residence. When you are in Slovenia with the card, register your exact address at the administrative unit within eight days.