What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Ljubljana

Relocating to Ljubljana

About the City

The capital and largest city in Slovenia, Ljubljana has been the country’s economic, cultural, and administrative center since it declared its ndependence in 1991. Located in a cuntry of 163.8 square km in the middle of an historic trade route between the northern Adriatic Sea and the Danube, Ljubljana has always been a city of vast importance to the region. The majority of its population of almost 300,000 is native Slovenian, but its historic ties with surrounding countries means that there are also large communities of Serbians and Bosnians in the city.

This is reflected by the languages spoken in Ljubljana, with Serbian and Bosnian as the second and third most commonly spoken languages respectively behind Slovenian, the official language of the country. Its economic importance also means there is a growing community of expatriates that have moved to Ljubljana, mainly to work in its thriving industrial sector.

The Climate in Ljubljana

Moving to Ljubljana means adjusting to an Oceanic climate that has humid subtropical and continental influences. In the summer months temperatures reach between 25°C and 30°C (77°F–86°F) on average due to the incoming Mediterranean air currents, which bring sunshine and warm air to the city. In contrast, the winter months are cold, with temperatures falling to around 0°C (32°F) on average. Ljubljana gets frost 90 days of the year, with snow falling 48 days of the year. Otherwise, precipitation is spread evenly across the year, although thunderstorms are more common during the spring. Ljubljana is also prone to fog, which occurs 64 days a year as a result of a local temperature inversion.

Visas for Ljubljana

As Slovenia is a member of the European Union, EU nationals moving to Ljubljana will not need a visa to enter the country and stay for 90 days. They will, however, need to apply for a residence permit if they wish to stay beyond that period. EU nationals can apply for a residence permit whilst already in the country on a tourist visa. Non-EU nationals, however, will need to apply for a visa to enter Slovenia through their local embassy or consulate. If they wish to apply for a residence permit, this must be done before they move to Ljubljana, and they may have to demonstrate that they have secured employment during the application. Visa applications for Slovenia can take anywhere between one and three months to be granted after the application is submitted, so make sure you apply well in advance of moving to Ljubljana.