Family reunification

If you have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection in Slovenia, you may be able to apply for certain members of your family to join you.

Who may qualify depends on:

• your protection status;
• your family relationship; and
• the conditions set out in Slovenian law.

Family members who may qualify include:

• your spouse;
• your registered partner or long-term partner recognised under Slovenian law;
• your unmarried children under 18 years of age;
• the unmarried children under 18 years of age of your spouse or partner;
• your dependent adult children or parents, in certain situations provided for by law; and
• the parents of an unaccompanied child who has been granted international protection.

In exceptional cases, other family members may also qualify if they can demonstrate close family ties and dependency, in accordance with Slovenian law.

When should I apply?

You should apply for family reunification within 90 days after the decision granting you international protection becomes final.

If you apply after this period, additional conditions may apply under Slovenian law.

Good to know

Each application is examined individually.

If you are not sure whether your family members qualify for family reunification, ask for advice before submitting your application.

If you would like to bring your family to Slovenia, you must submit an application for family reunification to the Ministry of the Interior.

The procedure depends on your protection status and your individual circumstances.

Step 1 – Prepare your application

Before submitting your application, collect the documents you need to support your request.

These may include documents proving:

• your identity;
• the identity of your family members; and
• your family relationship.

If you do not have all the required documents, do not give up. Read the section What documents do I need? to learn more.

Step 2 – Submit your application

Submit your application to the Ministry of the Interior.

If you need help preparing or submitting your application, you can ask PIC (Legal-Informational Centre for NGOs) for free legal assistance.

Step 3 – Wait for a decision

The Ministry of the Interior will examine your application and the documents you have provided.

If necessary, the authorities may ask you for additional information or documents before making a decision.

Each application is examined individually.

Step 4 – If your application is approved

If your application is approved, your family members will receive information about the next steps.

Depending on their nationality and individual circumstances, they may need to apply for a visa before travelling to Slovenia.

More information is available in the section What happens after my application?

Good to know

If possible, apply for family reunification within 90 days after the decision granting you international protection becomes final.

If you apply later, additional conditions may apply under Slovenian law.

When you apply for family reunification, you will usually need to provide documents showing:

• your identity;
• the identity of your family members; and
• your family relationship.

Examples of documents include:

• passports or other identity documents;
• birth certificates;
• marriage certificates;
• documents showing a registered or long-term partnership, where applicable; and
• other official documents supporting your application.

Depending on your situation, you may also need certified translations or other supporting documents.

What if I do not have all the documents?

You may not be able to obtain official documents if you have fled conflict, persecution or another humanitarian emergency.

If you cannot provide all the required documents, explain your situation when you submit your application.

Do not submit false or altered documents.

Each application is examined individually, and the authorities will consider all the available information and evidence.

Good to know

If you are unsure which documents you need, ask for advice before submitting your application.

Getting the right information at the beginning of the procedure may help avoid delays.

When you apply for family reunification, you should provide documents that show your family relationship.

Official documents, such as birth or marriage certificates, are usually the best way to prove your family relationship.

However, it is not always possible to obtain these documents, especially if you have fled conflict, persecution or another humanitarian emergency.

If you cannot provide official documents

If you do not have official documents, explain your situation when you submit your application.

The Ministry of the Interior will examine all the information and evidence you provide.

Depending on your individual circumstances, the authorities may ask you to provide:

• additional documents;
• other evidence supporting your family relationship; or
• further information during the procedure.

Each application is examined individually.

DNA testing

In some cases, the Ministry of the Interior may ask for DNA testing if it is necessary to establish a biological family relationship and this cannot be confirmed in another way.

The authorities will explain the procedure if DNA testing is needed in your case.

If you have lost contact with your family

Some people lose contact with their family members because of war, conflict or displacement.

The Slovenian Red Cross may be able to help through its Restoring Family Links service.

This humanitarian service can help people:

• restore contact with family members;
• trace missing relatives in certain situations; and
• obtain information about available humanitarian services.

This service is separate from the family reunification procedure.

Good to know

Do not delay seeking advice if you are missing documents or have lost contact with your family members.

Support may be available to help you understand your options before you submit your application.

If you are under 18 years of age, have been granted international protection in Slovenia and are not accompanied by your parents or another adult who is legally responsible for you, special rules apply.

Family reunification aims to protect the best interests of the child and help families stay together whenever possible.

Who may join you?

If you are an unaccompanied child, you may be able to apply for your parents to join you in Slovenia.

In certain situations, other relatives may also qualify if this is in your best interests and in accordance with Slovenian law.

Each application is examined individually.

Who can help?

You do not have to go through the family reunification procedure on your own.

Your guardian, legal representative or another authorised person will help you understand the procedure and protect your rights.

You can also receive free legal assistance during the family reunification procedure.

Good to know

If you are an unaccompanied child and would like to be reunited with your family, tell your guardian, legal representative or the authorities as soon as possible.

They can explain the next steps and help you start the procedure.

After you submit your application, the Ministry of the Interior will examine your case.

The authorities may contact you if they need additional information or documents before making a decision.

Each application is examined individually.

If your application is approved

If your application is approved, your family members will receive information about the next steps.

Depending on their nationality and individual circumstances, they may need to:

• apply for a visa to enter Slovenia;
• obtain the necessary travel documents; and
• make travel arrangements.

The competent authorities will explain which requirements apply in your case.

Travelling to Slovenia

Your family members should travel to Slovenia only after completing all the required procedures.

If you need help organising their travel, IOM (International Organization for Migration) may be able to provide paid assistance.

After your family arrives

After arriving in Slovenia, your family members will need to complete the procedures required by the Slovenian authorities.

They will receive information about their rights and responsibilities, as well as the next administrative steps.

Good to know

The costs of the family reunification procedure and the travel costs of your family members are generally paid by the person applying for family reunification.

If you need help organising your family members’ travel, contact IOM for information about the services available.

If your application for family reunification is refused, you will receive a written decision explaining the reasons for the refusal.

If you disagree with the decision, you may have the right to challenge it in accordance with Slovenian law.

The decision will explain:

• whether you can challenge the decision;
• how to do so; and
• the applicable time limits.

Getting legal advice

If your application is refused, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible.

PIC (Legal-Informational Centre for NGOs) provides free legal assistance to beneficiaries of international protection and can explain your options.

Good to know

Time limits for challenging a decision are important.

If you wish to challenge the decision, do not wait until the last moment to seek advice.

You do not have to go through the family reunification procedure alone.

Several organisations can provide information, legal advice and practical support.

Your integration counsellor

Your integration counsellor can:

• provide general information about family reunification;
• explain the procedure;
• help you understand the next steps; and
• refer you to organisations that can provide legal or practical assistance.

PIC – Legal-Informational Centre for NGOs

PIC provides free legal assistance to beneficiaries of international protection.

PIC can help you:

• understand the family reunification procedure;
• prepare your application;
• submit your application to the Ministry of the Interior;
• understand decisions made during the procedure; and
• explain the legal options available to you.

Slovenian Red Cross

The Slovenian Red Cross can help people who have lost contact with their family members because of war, conflict, migration or other humanitarian emergencies.

Through its Restoring Family Links service, the Red Cross may help you:

• restore contact with family members;
• trace missing relatives in certain situations; and
• obtain information about available humanitarian services.

This humanitarian service is separate from the family reunification procedure.

IOM – International Organization for Migration

If your family reunification application has been approved, IOM may be able to provide paid assistance with organising your family members’ travel to Slovenia.

IOM can explain the services available and the costs involved.

Good to know

Different organisations provide different types of support.

For example:

• your integration counsellor provides general information and referrals;
• PIC provides free legal assistance;
• the Slovenian Red Cross helps restore contact with family members; and
• IOM can help organise travel after family reunification has been approved.

You can find contact details for these organisations in the ➡️Where to seek help in Slovenia section of this website.

You can find more detailed information about family reunification on the official websites of the Government of Slovenia:

➡️ Family reunification for beneficiaries of international protection (Infotujci) (available in several languages)

This page includes information about:

• who may qualify for family reunification;
• how to apply;
• the documents you may need;
• proving family relationships;
• the family reunification procedure; and
• the rights of beneficiaries of international protection.

➡️ Integration (GOV.SI) (available in Slovenian and English)

The website provides information about:

• family reunification;
• free legal assistance provided by PIC; and
• paid travel assistance available through IOM.

💡 Tip: The Infotujci website is available in several languages. You can change the language by selecting your preferred language in the top right-hand corner of the page. The GOV.SI page is available in Slovenian and English.