SLOVENIA - A PROUD HISTORY, A PROMISING FUTURE
Getting Along in Slovenia
A Chardonnay Lifestyle on a Beer Budget
Residency Requirements
A Mediterranean climate along the coast, lush vineyards and fields of sunflowers inland, virgin
forests, snow capped mountains and sky resorts -- no, we're not talking about California. You'll
find all this plus Gothic cathedrals, baroque palaces and more in Slovenia, a tiny country no
bigger than New Jersey. From Slovenia you could go to Venice, Italy, for a Sunday outing and be
back in time for dinner.
Oddly enough, many people haven't even heard of it, and others confuse it with Slovakia.
Slovenia broke away from Yugoslavia in 1990 while Slovakia broke with the Czech Republic in
1992. Of the two, Slovenia is the more prosperous.
Slovenia has a many advantages for expats seeking a beautiful country with European ambiance
and convenience. Slovenians like sports, and skiing is the most popular and it's affordable. Along
with Italy and Austria, it hosted the winter Olympics in 2006. Slovenia is also a nation of
equestrians. The entire country is dotted with spas offering various types of cures at reasonable
prices. Moderate priced tourist accommodations enable visitors to get by on as little as $100 a day.
The first republic to break away from Yugoslavia, Slovenia escaped the turmoil that and
violence that occurred in the region over the past decade. It secured its independence in a mere
10 days of fighting. The richest republic in the former Yugoslavia, it has been dubbed "the
golden goose that got away." Today it has the highest GDP per capita of the countries in
transition in this region. The rate of inflation is about 6%.
The infrastructure and the economy are sound. Privatization and capital market reform are
underway in such areas as banking, telecommunications and public utilities. The government is
easing restrictions on foreign investments, and expats are being welcomed to invest, work, study
or retire.
Increasingly, foreigners are buying real estate in various price ranges here. A small population of working expats has
organizations to welcome newcomers.
Getting Along
Slovene, the language spoken here, is difficult for most foreigners. However, English is the most frequently taught foreign language, followed by German and Italian. Steve Fallon points out in Lonely Planet,
Slovenia, the Slovenian language, more than any other single factor, kept the culture alive
during centuries of domination by other countries. Any attempt to speak it is greatly appreciated.
The literacy rate here is 99.6%, among the highest in the world. Slovenia publishes 15 books per 10,000
inhabitants per year as opposed to the European average of 10 per 10,000. Foreign films are
shown in their original language.
Lunch, the main meal of the day, is served at about 3.00 PM. This is a wine producing country,
so Slovenians often drink wine with lunch, even at a business lunch. They often prefer to
entertain friends as well as business associates in restaurants. If you are fortunate enough to be
invited someone's home, a bottle of wine and/or flowers would be an appropriate gift for the
hostess; you could also bring sweets for the children. Be sure to phone afterward with your
thanks.
Make business appointments about a week ahead of time. If inviting someone to a celebration
such as a birthday party, get the invitation out a month in advance. It's best to be on time for
appointments of all types ,though never early, and being up to 15 minutes late is acceptable in
many situations. (This advice was supplied by Tugomer Kladnik in Slovenia).
"A Chardonnay Lifestyle on a Beer Budget"
Living costs are well above third-world levels, though generally less than in Western Europe.
"It's a chardonnay lifestyle on a beer budget," writer Carolyn Vicars wrote in Ljubljana
Life, a magazine available in airports and hotels. Network member Diane Taylor, an
American who lives nearby in Italy, estimates that $2,000 per month would be required to live
really well in the city. She notes that housing is very scarce.
Residency Requirements
Tourists may visit for 90 days without a special visa. Students, people with job assignments and
people wanting to start businesses must declare their intention and obtain the proper visa.
Temporary residency permits are granted for up to one year.
To retire in Slovenia with permanent residency, you must have proof of health insurance,
statements indicating sufficient steady income and a permanent address, which can be a rental
but cannot be a hotel.
Lonely Planet, Slovenia by Steve Fallon, 1998, 344 pages, $15.95.
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