All about the working holiday in Slovenia!

Slovenia is famous for its impressive mountains, lakes and over 10,000 caves. You're bound to fall in love with the great outdoors on a working holiday in this picturesque country.
Wherever you are in the process of working holiday preparation, pvtistes.net provides free information and resources to help with your planning and big move.
Working Holiday Visa travel insurance

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…).

1 Eligibility requirements
Age limit

Between 18 and 30 or 35 years old

Read more

Valid passport

A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday

Read more

Sufficient funds

Enough to support yourself

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First participation

This must be your first participation

Read more

Mandatory health insurance

Must cover medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation

Read more

Beat the quota

Apply before the annual quota is reached

Read more

Contents
2 FAQ

01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?

WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.

02. Which nationalities are eligible?

Young adults from Australia, Canada and New Zealand can apply for a working holiday in Slovenia.

03. What is the application fee?

The application fee is €77.

If applying via VFS Global, you will also pay a VFS fee (AU$48 for Australians or NZ$44 for New Zealanders).

04. What documents are required for the application?

Standard items include:

Exact requirements for supporting documents vary by citizenship. Check the specific requirements for your citizenship before applying:

05. Can I bring my spouse and/or children?

No, you cannot bring dependents on your WHV to Slovenia. Your spouse/partner must apply for their own WHV, if they are eligible.

06. Do I need to buy health insurance?

Yes. Your insurance must be valid for the full duration of your stay, and the coverage amount must be at least €30,000. It should cover at least medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They meet the requirements and have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.

Australians might already be covered up for stays up to a certain length, thanks to a reciprocal health care agreement.

07. How long is the processing time?

  • Australian citizens can expect an average processing time of 10 business days.
  • Canadian citizens applying via VFS can expect an average processing time of 30 days and a maximum of 90 days.
  • New Zealanders can expect an average processing time of 10 business days.
  • 08. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?

    We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in Slovenia and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.

    We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.

    09. Where can I apply?

  • Australian citizens can apply via VFS Global Australia.
  • Canadian citizens will need to apply at the Embassy Ottawa or their nearest VFS Global Centre.
  • New Zealanders can apply via VFS Global New Zealand.
  • Contents
    3 Buying health insurance

    As mentioned earlier, all working holiday makers must have health insurance for the duration of their WHV in Slovenia. Your insurance must be valid for the full duration of your stay. The coverage amount must be at least €30,000. It should cover at least medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.

    We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They meet the requirements and have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.

    Australians might already be covered up for stays up to a certain length, thanks to a reciprocal health care agreement.

    Learn more about Globe WHV
    Useful links
    Contents
    4 Opening a euro account

    Slovenia’s currency is the euro (€). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.

    If you want to have a euro debit card in hand before even arriving in Slovenia, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your euro account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in Slovenia. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Slovenia. Learn more about Wise.

    There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in Slovenia.

    Learn more about Wise
    Contents
    5 Finding housing in Slovenia

    Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Slovenia before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.

    For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.

    Find a hostel on Hostelworld
    Useful links
    Contents
    6 Getting ready for departure

    Once your application is approved, you will have plenty of things you need to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, from the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot but don’t worry, take it one step at a time!

    Useful links
    Contents
    7 Read up on other important topics

    As you prepare for your working holiday in Slovenia, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, so everything we write is from personal experience.

    Library of free articles and guides on the working holiday
    Useful links
    Contents
    8 Check out language courses and other deals

    This is the perfect chance to learn or brush up on a foreign language. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.

    Learn more about Babbel (-20%)
    Our special offers
    Take advantage of our special offers for flights, banking, money transfers, and language courses.
    Read more
    Contents
    Age limit

    All applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive, i.e. until the day before their 31st birthday).

    Exception: Canadian citizens can be up to 35 years old.

    Valid passport

    You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.

    Sufficient funds

    You must provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover your initial living expenses in Slovenia. The exact amount is not specified but must prove you can support yourself and afford to buy a ticket home at the end of your stay.

    See our chapter on budgeting for an idea of how much more savings you should have for a working holiday.

    First participation

    This must be your first participation. If you have already been granted a Slovenia Working Holiday Visa before, then you cannot apply again.

    Exception: Canadian citizens can apply for a second year.

    Mandatory health insurance

    You must have health insurance that covers at least medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation. Your insurance must be valid for the full duration of your stay. Coverage amount must be at least €30,000.

    Australians might already be covered up for stays up to a certain length, thanks to a reciprocal health care agreement.

    Beat the quota

    Apply before the annual quota is reached. Slovenia sets an annual quota by nationality for the number of WHVs issued:
    – Australians: 200
    – Canadians: 100
    – New Zealanders: 100