Introduction of systematic border controls between Croatia and Slovenia

In connection with amendments to the EU Regulation, systematic border checks of all passengers at border crossing points with Croatia will come into force from 7 April 2017. All documents, even those of EU citizens and those enjoying the right to free movement, will be checked against the relevant databases at all EU external borders. The procedure is expected to increase border crossing times, but local authorities assure that all measures have been taken to ease the process.
Travellers crossing the EU's external border are advised to check the existence and validity of their travel documents before starting their journey.

Security level:

The minimal level of street crime that does not pose a threat to the safety of local and foreign citizens. Caution is advised with regard to unauthorised companies and local and foreign individuals promising to provide employment in Slovenia. Many cases of fraudulent Bulgarian citizens have been registered.
There are no geographical regions in the country where natural conditions pose a danger to human life. When travelling by vehicle off highways in mountainous areas, attention should be paid to road signs that announce the possibility of rock falls, landslides, and other obstacles.
Showing caution when stopping and resting in roadside car parks
In the Republic of Slovenia, cases of daring thefts from vehicles in parking lots near motorways and highways in the presence of vehicle owners and passengers are on the rise. The perpetrators use the ruse of warning of a supposedly flat tire or a request for help, as well as directions to a route, and while the unsuspecting are fussing around the vehicle, their bags, wallets, phones and anything that constitutes easy and quick prey in the cabin are taken. Travellers are advised to take greater care and attention of their belongings.

Healthcare:

The epidemiological situation is normal. Specialised vaccines are not required on entry into the country.

Specifics of the local legislation:

Remember that local laws and customs must be observed in the Republic of Slovenia. We recommend that you inform yourself about them in advance and comply with them. Penalties for breaking the law can be more stringent than those in Bulgaria for the same offences.
According to Slovenian legislation, Bulgarian citizens are obliged to register their temporary residence address with the competent Slovenian authorities within three days upon arrival in Slovenia. This can be done through the administration of the hotel, hostel, Slovenian landlords or in person by the Bulgarian citizen at the local police station. Failure to comply with the Address Registration Act of the Republic of Slovenia will result in a fine which must be paid immediately, otherwise the identity documents will be temporarily withdrawn.
For stays exceeding three months, administrative formalities require citizens to re-register with the relevant authorities. The latter shall issue a certificate of current registration containing the name and address of the registrant and the date of registration. Failure to comply with the registration requirement may result in proportionate and non-discriminatory sanctions being imposed on the person concerned. A valid identity card or passport, confirmation of employment by the employer or proof of employment, or proof of being self-employed; proof of enrolment in an accredited educational institution, and proof of full health insurance.
In a number of cases, Bulgarian citizens turn to the Embassy to settle labour disputes in Slovenia. It is necessary to know that the legislation in both countries, Bulgaria and Slovenia, is in line with the European requirements and the employment relations are regulated by the respective employment contracts between the employee and the employer. Bulgarian citizens should sign contracts only in a language they understand and with clear terms. For further information and consultation please contact the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria. Consular officers cannot be a party to defend the rights of Bulgarian citizens in labour disputes, nor represent them when these cases are decided in court.
In case of labour disputes, Bulgarian citizens may meet with a Consular Officer and submit an application detailing the circumstances and nature of the dispute. The above will be forwarded to the Labour Inspectorate of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria for further action by the competent authorities.
For more information you can visit the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy website from HERE. http://www.mlsp.government.bg

IMPORTANT!!! Useful information on employees' rights in Slovenia in the event of discrimination

Bulgarian citizens working in the Republic of Slovenia are also recommended to familiarize themselves with the information in the Handbook on ensuring equal opportunities and preventing discrimination of workers and job seekers in Slovenia. It is intended for foreign citizens, and the publication is prepared by the Office of the Public Defender of Slovenia in the field of equality.The preparation of the publication was prompted by the large number of referrals for various forms of discrimination in the field of employment in Slovenia. The guide is intended for those already working or seeking employment in the public or private sector in the country, as well as for NGOs and educational institutions fighting discrimination in the field of employment. The handbook introduces users to the various manifestations of discrimination by employers (common is the so-called "mobbing") based on various personal circumstances of employees: nationality, education, gender, religion, beliefs, degree of disability, etc. On the pages of the guide you can find detailed information on how to check the working conditions in the organisation or company you are applying for a job in, including equal pay for men and women doing the same job and how to proceed in cases of unilateral termination of employment.

From the 66th to the 80th page, the legal avenues for resolving disputes with employers and referrals to the competent institutions in Slovenia are presented: the Labour Inspectorate, the Police, courts of general jurisdiction, the Labour Court, the Administrative Court, etc. The ways of alternative, out-of-court resolution of disputes with employers through mediation and other means and their advantages for the parties concerned are also explained. The penultimate section of the publication contains information on the different competences and powers of the National Ombudsman of Slovenia and the Equality Defende.

All consultations and procedures conducted by the Defender's institution are free of charge. Reports of discrimination can be made to the free telephone number 080 81 80 (every working day from 10 am to 12 noon and from 3 pm to 6 pm), which also provides advice on specific cases. The Defender can also be contacted by e-mail at [email protected]; by landline at 00 386 1 47 35 531 or by post at Zagovornik načela enakosti/ Železna cesta 16, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

For convenience, the guide is published in English and Slovenian.

 -------- Photos: www.zagovornik.si

Customs requirements:

Bulgarian citizens travelling to the Republic of Slovenia should comply with the country's customs laws.
For more information, you can visit the Treasury website from HERE - (http://www.minfin.bg/) and the Customs Agency HERE (http://www.customs.bg/)
Customs requirements for Slovenia can be downloaded from HERE - http://www.mfa.bg/uploads/files/Customs/Slovenia.pdf)

Road traffic:

If you are travelling by car, you should take extra care when driving in urban conditions for cyclists who are actively involved in traffic.
Do your best to familiarise yourself with local traffic rules. In many countries, heavy fines are imposed for traffic violations, which are paid by the offender, regardless of whether you are a local or a foreign citizen.
Strictly observe the traffic regulations.
As of 1 July 2008, a vignette system has been introduced in the Republic of Slovenia for the country's motorways and expressways. Three types of vignettes are in circulation: weekly, monthly and annual, and for motorcycles — those valid for 6 months. The price of the vignette stickers for vehicles with a mass of up to 3.5 tonnes from 1 January 2014 is as follows:
Weekly (7 days): EUR 15;
Monthly (30 days): EUR 30;
Annual (365 days): EUR 110
Vignette stickers have been introduced for two-seater vehicles (category B) with a height above the first axle of up to 1. 30 m and with a maximum mass of up to 3.5 t (incl. with or without trailers). Prices including VAT are as follows:
Weekly (7 days): EUR 30;
Monthly (30 days): EUR 60;
Annual (365 days): EUR 220.
Definition of 'vehicle height above first axle’ as per the Department of Infrastructure and Planning website, accompanied by a diagram: ‘Height is the distance between the road surface and the highest point of the vehicle in a plane drawn perpendicularly through the symmetry of the front wheel axle’.
The prices of vignette stickers for motorbikes are as follows:
EUR 7.50 — for 7 days; EUR 30 — for 6 months and EUR 55 — for 1 year .
Please note that only annual vignettes are valid within the calendar year and cover the month of January of the following year.
The collection of tolls for trucks is done through pay stations on the highways. The Highway Company of the Republic of Slovenia (DARS AD) introduces vignette stickers in a different colour from the previous year at the beginning of each calendar year.
As a reminder, vignette stickers must be purchased before or at the border crossing points when entering the territory of Slovenia. Control of compliance with the requirement for mandatory vignettes is carried out by the mobile groups of DARS AD, the police, the Transport Inspectorate of Slovenia and the Customs Office of Slovenia.
The fines regulated in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia (No 33/06 and No 45/08 — Public Roads Act and Road Traffic Regulation Act) shall amount to at least EUR 300. If paid on the spot or within 8 days after the fine is issued, the amount is reduced by 50%.
If the fine is not paid on the spot, the Slovenian authorities will confiscate all the offenders' documents and those of the vehicle.
The documents issued by DARS AD contain so-called legal instructions, which clarify whether an appeal of the act is allowed and to which authority the appeal should be filed.
Detailed information can be found at: www.dars.si
Link to the website of the Automobile Union of Slovenia:
http://www.amzs.si/si/Default.aspx
Road traffic is carried out with headlights on and seat belts are mandatory, including in the back seat. The use of mobile phones is only allowed with a hands-free device.
Need for tax registration when transporting passengers via the Republic of Slovenia
Under the provisions of the Value Added Tax Act (VAT Act), the requirement for VAT registration applies both to companies carrying out regular transports and to operators carrying out occasional ones. Registration for a VAT number is carried out in accordance with the general provisions of the law or under a special, simplified regime that applies to:
• persons liable for VAT who do not have their registered office, administrative subdivision or permanent or usual residence in the Republic of Slovenia;
• periodic passenger transport in the Republic of Slovenia by vehicles not registered in the country;
• persons not entitled to the refund or deduction of VAT within the meaning of Article 74a—74i and Article 63 of the VAT Act;
• persons who do not carry out any other transactions that would be subject to VAT in the Republic of Slovenia.

Registration with the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia (FURS) must be done in good time before the vehicle crosses the country, by filling in forms. There is also a technical possibility to send them electronically by e-mail: [email protected] . After being signed by the competent authority and assigned a Slovenian VAT number, the documents must be presented to customs upon entry into the Republic of Slovenia through any international border crossing point along the Schengen border. /The draft forms are available in English, German, Italian and Hungarian on the internet at:
http://www.fu.gov.si/fileadmin/Internet/Davki_in_druge_dajatve/Podrocja/Davek_na_dodano_vrednost/Opis/GB_Podrobnejsi_opis_1_izdaja_Posebna_ureditev_za_opravljanje_storitev_mednarodnega_obcasnega_cestnega_prevoza_potnikov.pdf/.

In case of non-compliance with the requirement of tax registration according to Article 140—144 of the Slovenian VAT Act, imposed are penalties of:
• EUR 1 200 — 41,000 where legal persons, sole traders or natural persons do not charge VAT within the time limits laid down;
• EUR 2,000 to EUR 125,000 where the above-mentioned persons do not carry out the VAT registration or provide incorrect data for the VAT refund or deduction in their favour;
• up to EUR 375,000 where the offenders benefit financially as a result of the more serious breaches of the law;
• up to EUR 12,300 — to the responsible persons representing legal or natural persons or sole traders.

Winter tires, etc.

The use of winter tyres is compulsory between 15 November and 15 March. Drivers should have chains available during the winter period, as well as for mountainous areas and other signposted sections.

Vehicle stopover, license plate revocations, etc.

Sleeping in cars, including HGVs, in parking lots along highways, recreation areas, etc. is allowed but regulated by each municipality. The exceptions are the tourist resorts in the southwestern region of Primorska — Isola, Portoroz, Piran and Koper, where the municipalities do not allow overnight stays in cars.
Vehicle registration numbers are revoked in case of technical failure and unclear ownership — after a check in the Schengen Information System SIS 2. After the expiry of the procedural deadlines, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia send the plates to the Bulgarian Embassy and from there to the competent authorities in Bulgaria.
The permissible limit is 0.5‰ and 0.0‰ for professional drivers.
A set of spare bulbs for headlights and turn signals, reflective vests, a triangle and a first aid kit /which must not be expired/ are also mandatory.
The Offences Act of the Republic of Slovenia allows officers to temporarily seize any documents and/or movable property in order to secure the repayment of the fine. The documents are: passport, identity card, driving licence, registration documents of the vehicle or other documents accompanying the goods and securities, and, in addition thereto, vehicles and other movable property in the person's possession, whether or not the person is the owner thereof. According to the law, documents and belongings are confiscated for a period of 6 months to 1 year. The offender shall be served with a written decision on the temporary revocation accompanied by a legal instruction.
The fines imposed by the ‘Highway Company of the Republic of Slovenia’ /‘DARS’/ range between EUR 300 and 800, with 50% of the amount to be paid in the first eight days.
Please note that citizens should not sign the penalty notices if they are in a foreign language and if they do not understand their content.
The police also sanction persons who do not comply with the address registration requirement when staying in Slovenia for more than 3 days /i.e. not considered to be in transit/.
Those travelling in a car owned by a person who is not travelling in the car must have a notarized power of attorney from the owner of the car, translated into English or the language spoken in the country of destination.

Practical advice:

If you are detained by the local authorities for any reason, require to get in touch with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria. A consular officer will contact you as soon as possible. If you have language difficulties, ask for an interpreter. You should avoid signing documents whose content is in a language you do not understand.
We advise you to conclude a contract for health, tourist, travel or other insurance in advance.
You can receive financial assistance from the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria only if your relatives or close relatives deposit the amount you need in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ‘Finance and Economic Affairs’ Directorate.
In the event of theft or loss of your identity documents, cash, travel tickets, immediately notify the nearest police office in Slovenia in person and in writing and ask for a copy of the record establishing the event. Contact the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria to take steps to obtain the necessary documents to continue your journey or return to your home country.

Local currency:

Euro (EUR).

Climatic characteristics:

Slovenia is located in a temperate climate zone and most of it has a temperate continental climate. In the plains and intermontane valleys, the average January temperature is 0 to 2 °C and the average July temperature 18-19 °C. Annual rainfall ranges from 800 to 1,200 mm (in the mountains in places over 2,000 mm). On the Adriatic coast the climate is subtropical, Mediterranean.

Bulgarian citizens enter and reside in the Republic of Slovenia with a valid Bulgarian passport or identity card. When entering Slovenia, the requirements of an EU country and the Schengen area apply.

Certifications and legalizations:

According to the current legislation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Slovenia, documents drawn up or certified by a competent authority in accordance with the prescribed form are accepted in the territory of the other country, but must bear an Apostille stamp affixed in the country which issued the document. Notarization of personal documents such as declarations, powers of attorney, etc. is carried out at a Consular Office and the relevant fees are charged according to the tariff for consular services.

For certification of personal documents Civil status

Parents of Bulgarian citizens born in Slovenia should register the event with the municipality of their residence in Bulgaria within six months after the birth in order to issue a Bulgarian birth certificate to the newborn.
Civil marriages in which at least one of the spouses is a Bulgarian citizen are also registered with the municipality in Bulgaria at the permanent address.
Death certificates of Bulgarian citizens who die on Slovenian territory are registered with the municipality in Bulgaria at the permanent address of the deceased.

Travel for children under 18 years of age with or without an accompanying adult:

A child travelling unaccompanied must carry a notarized declaration signed by both parents stating that they agree to the child travelling unaccompanied. If the child is accompanied by only one parent, he/she must have a power of attorney/declaration from the other parent. The notarized document reflects the non-travelling parent's consent for the child to travel with the other parent. When a child under 18 is accompanied by a third person, the accompanying person must have a power of attorney/declaration signed by both parents, by which they express their consent for the child to travel with that person. Where, on the basis of a court decision, only one parent has custody of the child, a power of attorney/declaration of consent is only required from that parent. In this case, a copy of the judgment, notarised and translated into the language of the country of final destination or English, must be submitted.