Reception - Slovenia | DIP EUAA
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Slovenia is bound by the recast Reception Conditions Directive and has transposed its provisions through the International Protection Act (IPA) | Zakon o mednarodni zaščiti (ZMZ-1).
Slovenia transposes the recast Reception Conditions Directive by the International Protection Act (IPA) (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No 16/17 – official consolidated text, 54/21 and 42/23 – ZZSDT-D) | Zakon o mednarodni zaščiti (ZMZ-1) Uradni list RS, št. 16/17 – uradno prečiščeno besedilo, 54/21 in 42/23 – ZZSDT-D. (03/04/2016)
| Authority responsible | The Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants | Urad Vlade Republike Slovenije za oskrbo in integracijo migrantov (UOIM) is in charge of reception at the national level |
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| Other actors involved | NGOs and humanitarian organisations provide support in the Asylum Centre on a regular basis and coordinate some reception activities (Article 80 of the IPA / AIDA: Slovenia 2023). |
Reception is managed at the central level by the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants.
Reception structures are state-owned and managed by the office. Through a public tender, the office can authorise a selected association, institution, institute or other similar non-profit legal entity whose activity includes the area of accommodation of applicants to organise the operation and stay in the Asylum Centre (Article 80 of the IPA). NGOs and humanitarian organisations provide support in the Asylum Centre on a regular basis and coordinate some reception activities (Article 80 of the IPA) / (AIDA: Slovenia 2023).
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The UOIM has social workers who are available daily at the reception centre. The Asylum Centre has a doctor and a nurse on duty every day, and a psychiatrist visits once a week. Security is outsourced to a private security company, with personnel present on a daily basis (AIDA: Slovenia 2023).
Staff working in asylum/reception capacities regularly attend trainings in different thematic areas, such as: Ethical practice of social work with forcibly displaced persons; Victims of gender-based violence; Becoming an EUAA trainer and assessor; Professional well-being; The Assessment of Reception Conditions tool in practice; Trafficking in Human Beings; Vulnerability in reception; Terrorism and radicalization in the context of asylum; Health, Safety and Security in reception; Introduction to communication for asylum and reception practitioners etc. During those trainings staff is advised also on possible crisis situations or situations of migratory pressure and their response in such situations. Reception officers attend trainings organised by EUAA and also other relevant trainings organised at national level.
Following the preliminary procedure with the police, applicants are brought to the Asylum Centre or its Logatec branch (Article 81 of the IPA / (Ministry of the Interior: International Protection). Applicants are accommodated in the pre-reception area of the Asylum Centre or in a separate facility or container in Logatec before lodging the application. The application is lodged at the Ministry of the Interior.
Following the lodging of the application, the applicant is accommodated in the Asylum Centre or one of its branches, depending on the decision of the Asylum Centre’s social workers based on accommodation availability and the applicant’s individual circumstance (AIDA: Slovenia 2023).
Once the applicant is granted international protection, the beneficiary must leave the accommodation facility (Article 78(2) of the IPA) within 15 days of obtaining the decision. If the beneficiary can find private accommodation within this timeframe, they can leave the reception centre. If they cannot find private accommodation, the beneficiary is placed in an integration house in Maribor or Ljubljana. If the applicant receives a negative decision, they can remain at the Asylum Centre or one of its branches until the court's decision becomes final (AIDA: Slovenia 2023).
On 10th of April 2025, the Government adopted the Contingency Plan of the Republic of Slovenia to ensure the accommodation and care of an increased number of applicants for international protection and to implement international protection procedures. The Contingency Plan is an upgrade of the existing contingency plans in this area, and at the same time, it has been prepared in accordance with the new obligations from the legislative framework established by the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which was adopted on 14 May 2024 and will enter into force in 2026. It has been prepared based on a template prepared by the EUAA and submitted to the EUAA.
Currently there is no legislative obligation in place for the adoption of the contingency plan, legislative changes in this regard are foreseen. Even before the adoption of this plan in 2025, Slovenia had a contingency plan in place, the last one being adopted in 2023.
The contingency plan sets out the measures to be taken to ensure an adequate reception of applicants for international protection in cases where a Member State is faced with a disproportionate number of applicants, including unaccompanied minors, when available accommodation capacities are temporarily full or when normally available accommodation capacities are temporarily unavailable due to a disproportionate number of persons to be accommodated. It also includes measures for the processing of applications, i.e. the area of international protection procedures.
Its fundamental purpose is to enable a rapid, efficient, coordinated and appropriate response to the newly emerging situation in the event of an increased influx of applicants. The plan includes agreed procedures, competent authorities, indicators, thresholds and all necessary measures and established systems for possible response to newly emerging emergency situations. Measures, activities and cooperation of individual authorities are defined according to the varying extent of the increase in the number of applicants.
The Contingency Plan contains four different scenarios: a normal scenario, a moderate pressure scenario, a disproportionate pressure scenario and a crisis situation.
The plan is activated based on indicators and conditions that indicate for which scenario certain response plans and measures are activated.
The response plan consists of a comprehensive set of measures and resources necessary to respond effectively and efficiently to the identified situations under each of the individual scenarios and aims to enhance the capacity of the competent authorities to respond to specific situations. The plan identifies the necessary human, material and financial resources and infrastructure for the necessary functioning of the asylum, reception and migration system, including an assessment of the sufficient number of trained staff, and provides for appropriate coordination between the relevant national authorities and, where necessary, national authorities of other Member States or international organisations. It also includes the possibility to request technical and operational assistance from the EUAA and the obligation to contribute to the Asylum Reserve Fund as provided for in the EUAA Regulation.
If necessary, Article 20(10) of the RCD Directive, which provides that a Member State may exceptionally, in duly justified cases and for a reasonable period, which must be as short as possible, provide material reception conditions different from those otherwise provided for, will be applied.
The Contingency Plan is activated by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. The Republic of Slovenia must inform the European Commission and the EUAA each time it activates the Contingency Plan.
The Asylum Centre in Ljubljana – Vič is the main reception centre, and it has two branch facilities – one in Ljubljana – Kotnikova, and the other in Logatec. All three are open collective centres where applicants are accommodated after their application is registered (AIDA: Slovenia 2023). A special facility in Postojna is provided for reception and accommodation of unaccompanied minors.
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| Name of the reception facility | The Asylum Centre and its branch facilities, Kotnikova, and Logatec. |
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| Regime | Open |
| Management | Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants (UOIM) |
| Type of applicants accommodated | The Asylum Centre Ljubljana accommodates single men; the Branch Facility Kotnikova in Ljubljana accommodates single men; and the Branch Facility in Logatec accommodates families, applicants with vulnerabilities or with special reception needs and persons with temporary protection. Unaccompanied children are accommodated in a special facility in Postjona. |
| Number of centres | 4 |
| Capacity | Asylum Centre Ljubljana: 710 Branch facility: Kotnikova: 90 Branch facility Logatec: 450 Branch facility for unaccompanied minors Postojna: 70 Total: 1,320 beds (AIDA: Slovenia 2023). |
| Location of the centres within the country | The Asylum Centre and its branch facilities are in Ljubljana and Logatec. Facility for unaccompanied minors is in Postojna. |
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Individuals identified as vulnerable by a special multidisciplinary committee can be accommodated in special facilities, such as medical facilities or nursing homes, if adequate accommodation is not available in the Asylum Centre (Article 83(2) of the IPA). Accommodation is provided to vulnerable groups based on their vulnerability category, and it is done on a case-by-case basis and is dependent on the availability of such facilities (AIDA: Slovenia 2023).
Unaccompanied minors are accommodated in separate facilities. The UOIM places an unaccompanied minor in an institution intended for children, where he/she is provided with appropriate treatment and care, according to the opinion of the Centre for Social Work in the area where the unaccompanied minor is accommodated on the adequacy of the accommodation. In providing accommodation and care, the office cooperates with a legal representative (Article 16(7) of the IPA).
On 10 October 2023, the government adopted the Regulation on the method of ensuring adequate accommodation, care and treatment of unaccompanied minors, which is set to establish a dedicated reception facility, accommodation units and youth apartments for unaccompanied minors (Article 3 of the Regulation). The reception centre for minors is intended for the first accommodation of a minor, and the capacity of each centre is up to 50 people (Article 4(1) of the Regulation). The accommodation units for minors are intended for minors for whom long-term accommodation is planned. The capacity of each accommodation unit is up to 10 minors (Article 5(1) of the Regulation).
The youth apartment for minors is intended for the accommodation of minors who have reached the age of 16 and who have been assessed by the multidisciplinary team as being ready to live independently (Article 6(1) of the Regulation). Up to six minors may be accommodated in one youth apartment for minors, who are monitored by a professional worker (Article 6(2) of the Regulation).
Since April 1, 2024, unaccompanied minors are accommodated in a special accommodation facility for unaccompanied minors in Postojna with a capacity of 70 people, where a 24-hour care is provided.
Material reception conditions are described in Article 78(1) and 79 of the IPA. They include food, clothing, footwear, hygiene supplies and an allowance (Article 78(1) and 79 of the IPA) of EUR 18 per month (AIDA: Slovenia 2023).
| Type and purpose | Food, clothing, footwear, hygiene supplies and an allowance (Articles 78(1) and 79 of the IPA) of EUR 18 per month (AIDA: Slovenia 2023). |
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| Duration and recurrence | Material reception conditions are provided during the whole procedure to all asylum seekers regardless of the procedure they are in, until a final decision on their application becomes enforceable or until the transfer of an applicant to the Member State responsible under the Dublin III Regulation (Article 78(1)-(2) of the IPA). Applicants who lodge their first request for a subsequent application also have the right to material reception conditions until a final decision on the request becomes enforceable (Article 78(3) of the IPA). Accommodated persons are obliged to move out of the reception centre when the decision on their application becomes enforceable (Article 78(2) of the IPA). Meals are provided three times a day (AIDA: Slovenia 2023). |
| Type and purpose | The applicant is granted an allowance (‘pocket money’) (Article 78(8) of the IPA). |
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| Duration and recurrence | The applicant is granted an allowance once a month (Article 78(8) of the IPA). According to Article 21 of the Regulation on the methods and conditions for ensuring the rights of applicants for international protection | Uredba o načinih in pogojih za zagotavljanje pravic prosilcem za mednarodno zaščito, the applicant is entitled to pocket money until the final decision on the procedure for granting international protection. New facts and circumstances affecting the right to pocket money must be reported by the applicant to the office in writing within eight days of their occurrence. In this case, the office may verify all circumstances related to the implementation of the right to pocket money. |
| Calculation and amount | A monthly allowance is determined in the “Decision on the amount of the allowance for applicants for international protection” (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No 112/13) (Article 78(8) of the IPA). The monthly allowance is currently EUR 18. |
| Applicants granted allowance | Allowance is paid to asylum seekers accommodated in the Asylum Centre and its branch facilities, as prescribed by Article 78(1) and (8) of the IPA. |
| Modalities of provision | According to Article 21 of the Regulation on the methods and conditions for ensuring the rights of applicants for international protection | Uredba o načinih in pogojih za zagotavljanje pravic prosilcem za mednarodno zaščito, pocket money is paid to the applicant at the premises of the asylum center. The applicant confirms receipt of the pocket money by signing. If the applicant is not accommodated in the asylum center, they or an authorized person must collect the pocket money at the asylum center premises. Pocket money for a minor applicant is paid to their parents or legal representative. |
Material reception conditions, medical and psychological counselling, and care are adapted to applicants with special needs during their stay in a reception centre (Article 14(1) of IPA).
Vulnerable persons with special needs are entitled to additional health services, including psychotherapeutic assistance (Article 86 of the IPA), following approval from a special committee comprising of a representative of the UOIM, a nurse or medical technician employed in the Asylum Centre, a representative of NGOs working in the field of asylum and a representative of the Ministry of Health (AIDA: Slovenia 2023). Other asylum seekers can also be granted additional health services by the committee in exceptional cases (Article 86(2) of the IPA).
| Modalities of information provision on benefits and obligations related to reception conditions | Before the application procedure begins, the applicant must be provided with information about their rights and obligations in the asylum procedure in a language they understand (Article 5(1) and (2) of the IPA). The information relates to material reception conditions, rights and obligations in reception accommodation, legal status and access to the labour market. Information is provided to the applicant during the information session preceding the lodging of the asylum application or later during the procedure or by the social workers and other officials in reception centres. Additional information may also be provided to applicants by the EUAA, a representative of the Legal Centre for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (PIC), other NGOS or other officials (AIDA: Slovenia 2023). |
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| Provision of legal assistance concerning the available reception conditions | There is no legal assistance on reception conditions. Information on reception is provided to applicants immediately after arrival into reception centres and during the information session preceding the lodging of the asylum application or later during the procedure, or by the social workers and other officials in reception centres. During their stay at the Asylum Centre, applicants have access to informative brochures in languages they understand. Additional information is provided to them by other officials or the NGOs. |
| House rules | House rules are established at the national level. They cover practical aspects of life at the reception centre (use of the premises, equipment, supplies, available services, security safety and hygiene), specify entry-exit rules, prohibited behaviour, sanctions and consequences (Decree on Asylum Centre House Rules Official Gazette of RS, No. 173/21). Social workers provide general information on the house rules to the applicant during the accommodation process, as well as a condensed written version in a language they understand (AIDA: Slovenia 2023). |
| Assignment of a particular area of residence to applicants | Applicants have free movement within the municipality in which they have an address of temporary residence (Article 78(1) indent 1 of the IPA). The applicant is informed about this limitation of movement by the Migration Directorate upon lodging the application and by the staff of the office upon arrival in the reception centre. Applicants can only leave the municipality for medical reasons, work and education, to participate in a procedural act, or for other substantiated reasons (Article 78(5) and 78(6) of the IPA). An applicant who is an unaccompanied minor may move freely throughout the entire territory of Slovenia (Article 78(7) of the IPA). |
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| Reporting obligations | As a general rule, all applicants must respect a curfew and must spend the night at the reception centre. During the day, applicants are free to leave the reception centre, but at night they must respect the Asylum Centre house rules, which state that absence from the facility is permitted during the following hours: For adults: Monday-Thursday: 06:00–23:00, Friday-Sunday/holidays: 6.00–1.00 For unaccompanied minors: Weekdays 06:00–21:00; Weekends/ holidays: 06:00–22:00 (Article 6(1) of the Decree on Asylum Centre House Rules and AIDA: Slovenia 2023). Permission must be obtained in advance to leave the accommodation facility outside of these hours. In well-founded cases and when there are no reasons opposing the issuance of a permit, applicants may spend the night outside of the reception centre or its branch, namely in the area of the municipality in which they have a specific address of temporary residence. The office can issue a permit for an overnight stay outside the reception centre or its branch for a maximum of 7 days, and the total number of permits issued may not exceed 60 days in a year (Article 82(6) of the IPA). According to Article 81(2) of the IPA, if a person arbitrarily leaves the premises of a reception centre or other accommodation facility, they are dealt with in accordance with the law governing the entry, exit and stay of foreigners in Slovenia. |
| Time limit for accessing the labour market | Applicants are entitled to access the labour market 3 months after having lodged their application (Article 87(1) of the IPA). |
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| Criteria for accessing the labour market | The applicant can request for a certificate from the Ministry of the Interior stating whether the applicant has fulfilled the requirement for the right to work (UNHCR Slovenia, Employment for refugees and asylum seekers). The applicant can submit the certificate either to the employer or the Employment Service to enter the register of unemployed persons seeking employment, together with the asylum applicant identity card (a document confirming the status of the applicant). There are no costs to be covered by the asylum applicant. |
| Employment support for applicants | The UOIM helps integrate asylum seekers into the labour market by providing them with relevant information. NGOs also provide information on access to the labour market and may help applicants to find employment. The employment offices in Ljubljana and Maribor also employ special staff who are responsible for assisting asylum seekers in gaining access to the labour market AIDA: Slovenia 2023). |
| Adults’ access to vocational training | After 3 months of submitting the application, applicants are entitled to attend vocational training courses in accordance with the regulations on labour (Article 87(2) of the IPA). |
| Access to tertiary education | Applicants can access tertiary education with the same conditions as nationals (Article 88(3) of the IPA). The burden of proof of education acquired in the country-of-origin rests with the applicant (Article 88(7) of the IPA). |
| Medical Screening | Applicants must undergo a medical screening upon arrival. The applicant undergoes a sanitary-disinfection and preventive health check-up in the outpatient clinic (Article 42(4) of the IPA). During this phase the doctors may identify vulnerabilities and recommend specific reception needs (Article 13(1) of the IPA). |
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| Level of health care | Applicants have the right to emergency medical treatment and urgent medical healthcare which is provided by regular healthcare institutions (Article 86(1) of the IPA). Emergency medical assistance includes ambulance transport according to the doctor’s decision and the right to emergency dental assistance (Article 86(1.1) of the IPA). Urgent treatment according to the decision of the attending physician includes maintaining vital function; stopping major bleeding or preventing bleeding; preventing a sudden deterioration of the health condition which could cause permanent damage to individual organs or vital functions; treating shock; services for chronic diseases and conditions, the omission of which would directly and in a shorter time cause disability, other permanent health impairments or death; treating febrile conditions and preventing the spread of infection which could lead to a septic condition; treating or preventing poisoning; treating bone fractures, sprains or other injuries that require the intervention of a doctor; and medicines from the positive and intermediate list in accordance with the list of interchangeable medicines which are prescribed by prescription for the treatment of the listed diseases and conditions (Article 86.2 of the IPA). Women have the right to contraceptives, the termination of pregnancy, and medical care during pregnancy and childbirth (Article 86(3) of the IPA). Vulnerable persons with special needs, and in exceptional cases other applicants, are also entitled to additional healthcare services, including psychotherapy (Article 86(2) of the IPA). Minors and unaccompanied minors are entitled to healthcare that is equivalent to that received by children under mandatory health insurance (Article 86(3) of the IPA). |
| Access to health care | Applicants can access healthcare through the regular healthcare system, such as clinics or hospitals, and through their applicant card. Social workers can help applicants who need assistance in accessing the healthcare system. A legal guardian accompanies an unaccompanied minor to the doctor. The UOIM provides interpretation for healthcare services in reception centres and other medical facilities. NGOs provide specific assistance for vulnerable persons (AIDA: Slovenia 2023) Hyperlink to the Special needs in reception page |
Children have the right to access the national education system soon after their arrival. If necessary, children are provided with preparatory educational assistance in order to facilitate access to the education system (Article 88(4) of the IPA). In accordance with regulations on mandatory primary education, applicants are guaranteed the right to primary education no later than 3 months after lodging the application (Article 88(1) of the IPA).
| Access to socio-cultural orientation | Social orientation is foreseen as a component of the integration phase and carried out in the reception centre. NGOs and other organisations (under a contract with the office) coordinate some reception activities, including socio-cultural integration (Article 80 of the IPA / AIDA: Slovenia 2023). |
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| Language classes | NGOs and other organisations (under a contract with the office) coordinate some reception activities, including Slovenian language courses (Article 80 of the IPA / AIDA: Slovenia 2023, thus literacy, learning assistance and Slovenian language courses for applicants are offered at three locations - in the Asylum Center Vič, Ljubljana and its branches in Kotnikova, Ljubljana and Logatec. |
Applicants with sufficient means can apply to live outside of the reception centre, provided that the applicant’s identity is not disputed and they have already undergone a personal interview (Article 83(1) of the IPA). The living conditions in private accommodation must be to a certain standard, and the UOIM will conduct an inspection of the living conditions before granting the request to reside in private accommodation. The applicant will not be entitled to material reception conditions or an allowance (AIDA: Slovenia 2023).
An applicant who has sufficient means of subsistence equal to the amount of basic minimum income in the Republic of Slovenia shall not be entitled to food, clothing and footwear, and hygiene supplies and shall bear the costs of accommodation themselves in the amount determined by a decision of an authorised official of the UOIM in accordance with the criteria laid down in the Regulation on the methods and conditions for ensuring the rights of applicants for international protection.
An applicant who has sufficient means of subsistence equal to the amount of basic minimum income in the Republic of Slovenia shall not be entitled to food, clothing and footwear, and hygiene supplies and shall bear the costs of accommodation themselves in the amount determined by a decision of an authorised official of the UOIM in accordance with the criteria laid down in the Regulation on the methods and conditions for ensuring the rights of applicants for international protection. An appeal against a decision may be filed within three days of the service thereof. The appeal shall be decided on by the head of the UOIM. An appeal against the decision does not stay its execution.
The Regulation on the methods and conditions for ensuring the rights of applicants for international protection defines more specifically how the cost of accommodation is calculated, what is taken into account when determining one's own means of subsistence, how the calculation of reimbursement to cover costs or a proportional share of accommodation costs is made and what is the payment process.
Access to health care is not conditioned by sufficient means.
Applicants may have their monthly allowance of EUR 18 withdrawn if they leave the municipality in which they are accommodated without informing the authorities, fail to fulfil the obligation to provide information to the authorities, do not attend their personal interview or commit a serious violation of the house rules (Article 85(2) of the IPA).
A sanction for a minor violation includes an oral warning to the applicant by an authorised official of the UOIM, which is recorded in an official note (Article 82.b (1) of the IPA).
The measure addressing serious violations includes an oral order by an authorised official of the UOIM, followed by a written decision within 24 hours of the oral decision (Article 82.b (4) of the IPA).
For serious violations, the person can be accommodated for a maximum of 3 days in a special, separate room in the reception centre. The individual circumstances and proportionality of the violation are taken into account. The measure can also be terminated early, if during the duration of the measure it is determined that it has achieved its purpose (Article 82.b (2) of the IPA).
A decision on restriction of movement in the Centre for Foreigners is made by the competent authority (Ministry of the Interior) (Article 84(4) of the IPA) by means of a procedural decision. It may also be imposed by the UOIM (Article 84(10) of the IPA).
The decision to reduce or withdraw the allowance and the reasons for doing so is made by an authorised official of the UOIM, taking into account the individual circumstances of an applicant and the principle of proportionality (Article 85(3) of the IPA).
The applicant can submit an appeal against a decision of a serious violation within 3 days to the head of the UOIM. The head of the office decides on the appeal and the objection against the decision does not delay its execution (Article 82.b (4) of the IPA).
Within 3 days of receiving a procedural decision on the restriction of movement, the applicant can bring an action before the Administrative Court against the decision (Article 84(7) of the IPA). After hearing the applicant orally, the court decides on the action within 3 working days (Article 84(7) of the IPA). Within 3 days of receiving a procedural decision to extend the measure on the restriction of movement, the applicant can bring an action against the decision before the Administrative Court, which decides on the action within 3 working days (Article 84(8) of the IPA).
The applicant can submit an appeal against a decision on withdrawing the allowance within 3 days to the Head of the UOIM. The head of the office decides on the appeal and the objection against the decision does not delay its execution (Article 85(3) of the IPA). According to information from civil society organisation, the Legal Centre for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (PIC) may provide legal assistance in such cases.