Slovenia

While there have been no recent terrorist attacks in Slovenia, they can still happen.

Terrorists have staged attacks in European cities in recent years. Targets include:

• airports
• public transport, including train stations
• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• public areas that attract large groups of people, such as tourist attractions, music and cultural events, festivals, Pride events, Christmas markets, sporting venues and shopping centres

To protect yourself from terrorism:

• always be aware of your surroundings
• take care near places known to be possible terrorist targets
• report suspicious behaviour to the police
• alert police to unattended bags
• monitor the media for updates
• take official warnings seriously
• follow the advice of local authorities

If there's an attack, leave the affected area as soon as it's safe. Avoid the affected area in case of secondary attacks.

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

More information:

• Terrorism
• Slovenia Police X (twitter) channel

Petty crime

Slovenia has a low rate of serious crime, but petty crime happens.

To protect yourself from crime:

• watch your belongings on trains, buses and taxis, especially at night
• don't go out alone after dark or to isolated places, especially on foot
• always keep your vehicle and accommodation locked
• be alert to suspicious behaviour
• leave a situation if you think there may be danger
• monitor local media for new safety risks
• keep your passport separate from your other ID
• Don't leave your valuables on the beach while you're swimming.

Drink spiking

Drink spiking can occur at popular nightclubs, often leading to sexual assault.

To protect yourself from drink spiking:

• don't accept drinks from strangers or leave drinks alone
• stick with people you trust in bars and nightclubs

More information

• Party safely

Vehicle break-ins

Vehicle break-ins happen, especially at petrol stations and service areas along the highway.

To avoid vehicle break-ins:

• watch your vehicle and belongings at rest areas
• always lock your vehicle
• use anti-theft devices
• don't leave items in your vehicle
• park in well-lit areas
• use secure parking garages
• Check the Slovenian Police Force for advice if you're a victim of crime.

Cyber security 

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you’re connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth. 

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions, or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media. 

More information:  

• Cyber security when travelling overseas 

Public protests and events that draw large groups of people are usually peaceful but can turn violent. They can disrupt traffic and public transport.

Protests in Ljubljana are usually held in and around Kongresni Trg (Congress Square), opposite the Slovenian Parliament.

To stay safe:

• avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings
• follow the advice of local authorities
• monitor local media

More information:

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Slovenia experiences severe weather, including:

• avalanches
• flash flooding
• mudslides (in mountain regions)
• forest fires

People have been killed in floods and mudslides in recent years.

Weather in mountain regions is unpredictable and can change suddenly.

If you're visiting an alpine area:

• monitor local weather
• check safety conditions
• take weather warnings seriously
• follow the advice of local authorities
• obey warning signs, and notices 
• ensure cigarettes are completely extinguished.

Before you travel:

• pack suitable equipment
• plan your activities carefully
• tell someone about your plans

Skiing outside of prepared skiing areas (off-piste) is dangerous. Stick to marked slopes and trails.

Check your travel insurance covers all your planned activities.

Western Slovenia is on an earthquake fault line. You may feel occasional tremors.

More information:

• European Avalanche Warning Service
• Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. 

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

Confirm:

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away (including if stopovers on the way to your destination are covered)
• If you plan to undertake high-risk activities, such as mountaineering or skiing, make sure your travel insurance covers you in an emergency. 

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. 

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

More information:

• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips (Healthdirect Australia)

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to take medication, check if it's legal in Slovenia. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription, and a dated letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medication is
• your required dosage
• that it's for personal use only

More information:

• Medication
• Bringing medication into Slovenia

Tick-borne encephalitis is a risk in forested and rural areas.

They're active from spring to autumn.

To protect yourself from illness:

• make sure your accommodation is insect-proof
• use insect repellent
• wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing
• check your body for ticks during and after visiting forests
• remove ticks as soon as possible, making sure to remove the whole tick
• monitor the tick site for signs of infection

The standard of medical facilities is of a similar standard to Australia.

Slovenia and Australia have a reciprocal health care agreement, which may provide some emergency care to Australians.

Most agreements specify the care must be urgent and medically necessary. They usually need a co-payment from the patient. Medical evacuations aren't covered by the agreement. 

Costs for public hospital stays can reach thousands of dollars, depending on the treatment you need.

More Information:

• Slovenia Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (Department of Human Services)

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter, but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

More information:

• Arrested or jailed

Drugs

Don't use or carry illegal drugs. Penalties for drug offences are severe. Possessing even small amounts of illegal drugs can lead to prison sentences. This includes marijuana. 

More information:

• Carrying or using drugs

Other laws

You must always carry ID, such as your passport. You may be asked to produce it by local police.

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

More information:

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

Slovenia recognises dual nationality.

More information:

• Dual nationals

Visas

Slovenia is part of the Schengen area. This means you can enter Slovenia without a visa in some cases.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Slovenia for details about visas, currency, and customs/quarantine rules.

Border measures

Land borders are open, but you may be subject to random checks by Slovenian authorities, particularly at borders with Croatia and Hungary. See the EU Notifications of Temporary Reintroduction of Border Controls for more information.

Make sure you:

• check that the entry stamp in your passport is readable when you enter the Schengen area for the first time. Customs officials may ask you to show them an onward or return ticket.
• carry your passport when crossing borders, including within the Schengen area
• meet all entry and exit conditions - if you don't, the Australian Government can't help you.

More information

• Information on visiting Slovenia, including entry restrictions (Slovenian Tourist Board)
• Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Slovenian Tourist Board)
• Border crossing points at the external Schengen border (Slovenian Ministry of the Interior)

The new European Entry/Exit System (EES) for all non-EU nationals, including Australians, travelling in or out of the Schengen Area has been delayed until 2025. A specific start date hasn't been announced.

The EES is a digital border system that registers non-EU visitors travelling into the Schengen Area. When entering the Schengen Area, you'll need to have your fingerprints and photo taken. This creates a digital record that registers your biometric details. Passports will no longer be stamped.

You'll need to do this on your first visit to the EU after the EES is introduced.​ If you visit the Schengen Area again within 3 years of creating your digital record, you'll only need to provide either your fingerprint or photograph at the border on entry and exit.

This process should only take a few minutes per person, however you may experience longer queues at borders when the new system starts.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Slovenia for the latest details on entry requirements before you travel.

Validity

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.

Passport with ‘X’ gender identifier

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can’t guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers. 

More information:  

• LGBTQIA+ travellers 

The currency in Slovenia is the Euro (EUR).

Declare more than 10,000 euros or equivalent funds if you're travelling between Slovenia and a non-EU country. This covers all forms of currency, not just cash. Failure to do so will result in fines.

You don't need to declare cash if you're travelling to or from another EU country.

ATMs may be rare in mountain areas or small villages. 

Driving permit

You can drive on your Australian driver's licence for up to 12 months after arrival.

Some car hire agencies may need you to have an International Driving Permit (IDP). Get your IDP before you leave Australia.

Road travel

Slovenia's main roads are generally safe and in good condition. However, secondary roads tend to be narrow.

The road network is well-developed with clearly marked road signs.

Road rules are similar to those used throughout Europe.

Roads in alpine areas can become dangerous during winter. You must use winter tyres from 15 November to 15 March or whenever winter weather conditions otherwise require. If you do not use winter tyres, you must have snow chains in your vehicle ready for use.

You must purchase an e-vignette before driving on motorways. E-vignettes can be purchased online on the DARs website or at DARs points of sale, such as petrol stations and post offices. Vignette stickers are no longer accepted.

By law:

• always have your headlights on (even during the daytime)
• carry a reflective vest, a spare wheel, a spare set of head light bulbs and a warning triangle in your vehicle
• carry a first aid kit in your vehicle

Check your rental car is fitted with the required equipment.

Police issue on-the-spot fines for traffic violations. They may take your passport and other documents if you refuse to pay.

You may need to appear before a police court judge.

More information:

• Slovenia Police guidance on traffic safety
• Driving or riding

Motorcycles

Check with your travel insurer that your policy covers you for riding a motorbike, quad bike or similar vehicle.

Always wear a helmet.

Taxis

Taxis are reliable and safe. Make sure the meter is running.

Public transport

Slovenia's public transport network is well-developed and reliable.

Take care of your personal belongings, particularly on trains and in major transport hubs. Don't leave bags unattended on trains, even briefly. 

More information:

• Transport and getting around safely

Air travel

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check Slovenia's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

More information:

• Air travel

Tourist telephone

Call 080 1900 to report comments, complaints, criticism and suggestions regarding providers. This is a toll-free number available 24 hours a day. 

Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider
• employer
• airline

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Police

Call 112 or 113 in an emergency.

When it is not an emergency, you can anonymously report crimes to 080 12 00. For non-emergency criminal issues, you can also contact the local police station. Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Medical emergencies

Call 112.

Fire and rescue services

Call 112.

AMZS roadside assistance

Call 1987.

Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

Australia has a consulate in Ljubljana headed by an Honorary Consul. The office provides some consular assistance but can't issue emergency passports or perform notarial acts.

Get in contact before you visit.

Australian Consulate, Ljubljana

Komenskega 12
1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Email: auconsulate.ljubljana@gmail.com

You can access full consular and passport services from the Australian embassy in Vienna, Austria.

Australian Embassy, Vienna

The Icon, Gertrude-Fröhlich-Sandner-Str. 2
1100 Vienna, Austria

Phone: +43 1 506 740
Email: consular.vienna@dfat.gov.au
Website: austria.embassy.gov.au
X: @AusAmbVIE
Facebook: @AusEmbassyVie

Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia