Travel to Slovenia Safely During Coronavirus COVID-19 Time

Slovenia is a small and undiscovered country that has a lot of wonders to offer. During this troubled Coronavirus period, tourism is low in this country that is worth visiting. Since Slovenia was relatively unaffected by the global pandemic, some travelers are considering visiting the country. 

The current situation concerning coronavirus is particularly encouraging in the country. The number of cases and propagation of the virus is one of the lowest in the world and if you are going well, there is no reason for you to postpone your trip. On the contrary, it might be an opportunity to discover Slovenia.

Here is an overview of how the covid-19 situation is handled in Slovenia and what you have to expect if visiting our beautiful country. For now, the situation in Slovenia is mostly stable, and you should not be afraid of booking a trip because of Coronavirus. 

Corona Numbers in Slovenia

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Slovenia was not really exposed to Coronavirus. On March 12th, 2020, the epidemic was declared in the country, and Slovenia was the first nation in Europe to announce an end to covid-19, on May 15th, through the National Institute of Public Health assessment. 

Ever since the propagation of the virus has significantly lowered, the Slovenian Government is taking proportionate measures according to the risks to put a final stop to the epidemic. More than 160,000 people have been tested in the past five months.

On October 21th, 2020, Slovenia counted 15,982 people infected with the virus since the beginning of the pandemic, and among them about 3,600 Slovenians that have healed from the disease. A total of 200 people passed away in the country because of Coronavirus.

DAILY UPDATE

The virus is still there in Slovenia like everywhere else on the planet, so you need to be careful and respect the measures taken to reduce the virus’s propagation. However, Slovenia is one of the countries that fared the best in the world, and it is especially safe to travel there if you do not risk to prevent the decline of the virus.

You should not be scared at all while visiting the country during this period, since Slovenia has the situation under control. Life is easy in Slovenia and the coronavirus will not prevent you from visiting the many wonders of the country.

Considering the stability of the situation in Slovenia, you can travel without a care in the world and without fearing a period of lockdown. In this country, you will be able to recharge the batteries and benefit from the amazing Slovenian outdoors. 

LATEST NEWS – Weekly Update 21/10/2020

During the past two weeks, numerous measures have been taken by the government in order to reduce the propagation of the coronavirus. On October 15th, the president announced that the regions where the propagation rate is the highest have to take serious measures.

In the red areas, restaurants, bars, and gymnasiums are closed for 2 weeks (until the end of October for now), and a curfew is implemented from 9 pm to 6 am. It is forbidden to gather with more than six people, even at home. People from red areas are not allowed to leave them, except for some special cases.

In the orange areas, the rules are less strict: the bars and restaurants are still open, with limitations.

For more information, you can check the government website that is updated every day: https://www.gov.si/en/topics/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/

Green, Yellow, and Red Lists of Countries 

Here is an update from October 21th, 2020, concerning the current information on border crossing in Slovenia.

Green List

All persons with a temporary or permanent residence permit from one of the countries on the following list are authorized to come to Slovenia without facing quarantine, covid-19 tests, or any kind restrictions.

1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. Serbia
4. Uruguay

Red List

The countries that are on the red list are suffering from an unstable epidemiologic situation regarding Coronavirus. It means that, with some exceptions, you will have to undergo a quarantine of 14-days if you want to come to Slovenia. It profoundly affects your traveling project, so it means that you will probably have to postpone your trip.

1. Austria (only individual administrative units)           
   – Vienna
2. Belgium 
3. Bulgaria (only individual administrative units)
   – Blagoevgrad
4. Croatia (only individual administrative units)
   – Brod-Posavina
   – Dubrovnik-Neretva
   – Lika-Senj
   – Požega-Slavonia
   – Split-Dalmatia
   – Virovitica-Podravina
5. Czech Republic
6. Denmark (only individual administrative units)
   – Hovedstaden, capital city region
7. Estonia (only individual administrative units)
   – Ida-Viru
8. France 
   – all administrative units, except the Grand-Est administrative unit
   – French overseas department French Guiana
   – French overseas department Guadelupe
   – French overseas department Saint Martin 
   – French overseas department La Réunion 
9. Hungary (only individual administrative units)
   – Budapest
   – Csongrád-Csanád
   – Győr-Moson-Sopro
   – Pest 
   – Vas
10. Iceland
11. Ireland (only individual administrative units)
    – Dublin
    – Cavan
    – Donegal
    – Leitrim
    – Monaghan
    – Sligo 
12. Lithuania (only individual administrative units)
    – Šiaulių
13. Luxembourg
14. The Netherlands
    – all administrative units, except the Zeeland and Limburg administrative units
    – Dutch overseas territory of Aruba
    – Dutch overseas territory of Saint Maarten 
15. Portugal (only individual administrative units)
    – Lisbon 
16. Romania (only individual administrative units)
    – Alba
    – Bacău
    – Bihor
    – Brăila
    – Brașov
    – Bucharest
    – Caras Severin
    – Cluj
    – Covasna
    – Neamt
    – Iasi
    – Ilfov
    – Prahova
    – Vâlcea
    – Vaslui 
17. Spain 
18. Switzerland (only individual administrative units)
    – Geneva
    – Vaud 
19. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (only individual administrative units)
    – Northern Ireland
    – North East England
    – North West England
    – Wales
    – Yorkshire and Humberside
    – Scotland
    – British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar

Third countries:

1. Afghanistan
2. Albania
3. Algeria
4. Andorra
5. Angola
6. Argentina
7. Armenia
8. Azerbaijan
9. Bahamas
10. Bahrain
11. Bangladesh
12. Belize
13. Belarus
14. Benin
15. Bolivia
16. Bosnia and Herzegovina
17. Brazil
18. Burkina Faso
19. Burundi
20. Bhutan
21. Chad
22. Chile
23. Montenegro
24. Democratic Republic of Congo
25. The Dominican Republic
26. Egypt
27. Ecuador
28. Equatorial Guinea
29. Eritrea
30. Eswatini
31. Ethiopia
32. The Philippines
33. Gabon
34. Gambia
35. Ghana
36. Guiana
37. Guatemala
38. Guinea
39. Guinea-Bissau
40. Haiti
41. Honduras
42. India
43. Indonesia
44. Iraq
45. Iran
46. Israel
47. Jamaica
48. Yemen
49. South Africa
50. South Sudan
51. Cameron
52. Qatar
53. Kazakhstan
54. Kenya
55. Kyrgyz Republic
56. Columbia
57. Comoros
58. Kosovo
59. Costa Rica
60. Kuwait
61. Lesotho
62. Lebanon
63. Liberia
64. Libya
65. Madagascar
66. Malawi
67. Maldives
68. Mali
69. Morocco
70. Mauritania
71. Mexico
72. Moldova
73. Mongolia
74. Mozambique
75. Namibia
76. Nepal
77. Niger
78. Nigeria
79. Nicaragua
80. Oman
81. Pakistan
82. Panama
83. Papua New Guinea
84. Paraguay
85. Peru
86. Republic of Congo
87. Russia
88. El Salvador
89. São Tomé and Príncipe
90. Saudi Arabia
91. Senegal
92. North Korea
93. North Macedonia
94. Sierra Leone
95. Syria
96. Côte d’Ivoire
97. Somalia
98. Central African Republic
99. Suriname
100. Tajikistan
101. Tanzania
102. Togo
103. Trinidad and Tobago
104. Turkey
105. Turkmenistan
106. Ukraine
107. Uzbekistan
108. Venezuela
109. East Timor
110. Zambia
111. United States of America
112. United Arab Emirates
113. Cape Verde
114. Zimbabwe

Yellow List 

Every country that does not appear on the red or green list is automatically considered on the yellow list. It means that there are more cases of an exception than in the red list (they are 21 for now). Still, eventually, you will have to follow the 14 days of quarantine if you do not have a temporary or permanent residence permit in Slovenia and or do not have proof that you do not come from a red list country or do not fit in the other categories of exception.

According to Slovenia’s government website, the exceptions are as follow:

• daily cross-border migrant workers,
• weekly cross-border migrant workers,
• persons engaged in economic activities,
• persons providing services for which they have been issued a certificate by the competent ministry, 
• persons crossing the border because of education and schooling,
• persons crossing the border to attend a funeral,
• persons maintaining relations with close family members,
• persons with urgent personal matters, 
• persons with urgent business reasons,
• persons who have booked accommodation in Slovenia,
• professional athletes, accompanying personnel of professional athletes, sports delegates or sports referees to participate in official competitions of international sports associations,
• persons who are members of foreign official delegations,
• persons who have been brought to Slovenia in an ambulance,
• persons (with an accompanying person) who have proof of a planned urgent* medical examination or procedure in the Republic of Slovenia, another EU member state or member of the Schengen Area.

You can also choose to present a negative COVID-19 test result if it is not older than 36 hours and carried out on a country member of the Schengen Area or the European Union.

Crossing a Border

Here is all the information you need if you hope to come to Slovenia from the road, and if you also wish to visit the neighboring countries.

From Italy

Italy is currently on the Green List, which means that you can travel between this country and Slovenia. However, checkpoints were introduced on four points of the border:

• Vrtojba
• Fernetiči
• Škofije
• Krvavi Potok.

From Austria

Austria is currently on the Green List, which means that you can travel between this country and Slovenia. However, checkpoints were introduced on four points of the border:

• Karavanke
• Ljubelj (Loibl Pass)
• Šentilj (motorway)
• Šentilj (railway).

From Hungary

Hungary is currently on the Green List, which means that you can travel between this country and Slovenia. However, checkpoints were introduced on two points of the border:

• Dolga vas
• Pince (motorway).

From Croatia

Croatia is currently on the Red List. If you come from this country and are not part of the exception list, you will have to undergo the mandatory quarantine of 14 days before visiting Slovenia.

Precautions to Take in Slovenia

If you make it to Slovenia, you will soon notice that you can easily forget about covid-19 in this country. However, even if this can offer you a necessary escape, you will have to keep in mind the security measures implemented while traveling in the country.

Here is the main information you need to know about the remains of the virus in Slovenia but be reassured: the regulation is lighter than in most countries in the world so it will not affect your trip at all.

Protective Measures Still Implemented

Wearing a face mask in Slovenia is still mandatory in many close spaces, such as public vehicles and indoor public spaces. In these spaces, you will not be allowed to enter without a mask, and you will also have to use hand sanitation. It is also still obligatory to wear a mask if you are a person at risk. 

You must note that everyone in Slovenia keeps wearing face masks in public spaces such as supermarkets, so you will need to be equipped for this situation. 

To prevent the propagation of the virus, you will notice that every café, bar, or restaurant has to respect a security distance between its tables to comply with social distanciation.

Moreover, a limit is fixed for big gatherings: they are not allowed in public. However, hotels with more than 30 rooms are now open for visitors and gyms, swimming pools, spa accommodations, and wellness centers; you can also do water activities, which is ideal in Slovenia.

What Remains Closed in Slovenia?

Nevertheless, life has not got back to normal yet, even in Slovenia. Indeed, many places are still close, particularly disturbing for some sectors of activities like nightlife. Nightclubs and discos remain closed, and spectators cannot assist in sports competitions yet.

Since the end of September, bars and restaurants are also forced to close at 10 pm, to lessen the transmission risks of the virus.

However, there is no need to worry about the number of activities you will be able to enjoy in Slovenia: the great majority of events are undisturbed by the coronavirus. Many festivals, outdoor concerts, plays, dance shows, and way more awaits you in Slovenia!

Medical Help and Professional Information

If you want to collect information from a professional health structure before or during your trip to Slovenia, you can contact one of them:

• NIJZ, the National Institute of Public Health, for instructions and health recommendations: +386 1 244 17 29
• the Ministry of Health, for information further information about quarantine: +386 1 478 68 48 from 8.30 to 15.30 or via karantena.mz@gov.si 

If you have any questions concerning consular assistance, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at this number: +386 1 478 20 10.

Travel Safe to Slovenia!

To put it in a nutshell, Slovenia is still exposed to the virus, but it remains one of the world’s best destinations to visit during this pandemic. In Slovenia, you can almost forget that coronavirus exists, considering that it does not change much for the tourists. Like everywhere else, you must be careful and think about protecting the more fragile people’s lives and yours while preserving this beautiful country.

Regarding this situation, you can come safely in Slovenia if you make sure to respect the not so binding security measures. Have a good trip!