Key regulatory update: Slovenia's standard VAT rate is 22% (not 20% as stated in the 2017 IAM baseline). The reduced rate is 9.5%. Customs and tax administration is handled by the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia (*Finančna uprava Republike Slovenije* -- FURS). Slovenia is a member of the European Union, the Eurozone, and the Schengen Area.
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Guide Details
Household Goods
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
- Passport or EU national ID
- Slovenian tax number (*davčna številka*) -- must be obtained on arrival from FURS
- Residence registration in Slovenia (*prijava stalnega ali začasnega bivališča*)
- Inventory in Slovenian or English
- Signed statement from the owner confirming: Slovenian residence; that goods have been in the owner's possession and use for more than 6 months; that the owner has not previously imported goods under duty/tax exemption; and (for those returning from outside the EU) that the owner lived outside the EU for more than 12 months -- supported by a letter from a previous employer or a statement from the local Slovenian embassy
- Passport
- Slovenian ID (issued on establishing residence)
- Slovenian tax number
- Residence registration in Slovenia
- Inventory in Slovenian or English
- Employment letter from a Slovenian employer
- All documentation applicable to EU citizens above (the same conditions apply, except proof of 12 months outside the EU is not required)
- Diplomatic identification
- Statement issued by the owner's embassy stating the nature, purpose, and value of the goods
- Tax and duty exemption certificate issued by the Slovenian Ministry of Finance
Specific Information
Slovenia applies the EU Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief framework. Slovenian citizens, other EU citizens, and non-EU citizens who have lived outside the EU for more than 12 months and are relocating to Slovenia may import used household goods and personal effects -- including a car, motorbike, boat, camp trailer, airplane, pets, and horse -- free of import customs duties and VAT, provided that taxes were paid upon purchase of the goods in the country of origin.
Key conditions for duty- and VAT-free import:
- Goods must have been in the owner's possession and personal use for more than 6 months before import.
- The owner must not have previously used a duty/tax exemption for an earlier import.
- Goods must be imported within 12 months of the date of residence registration in Slovenia.
- There is no limit on the total value of goods that may be imported under this relief.
- Goods may not be disposed of for 12 months after import (the period stated by the customs office).
All goods intended for import must be declared at the time of first import. A Slovenian tax number must be obtained on or before arrival -- this is a prerequisite for the customs declaration process. The destination agent can assist but the client must be registered with FURS.
The signed statement from the owner is a key document; it must explicitly confirm all conditions and must be personally signed. It cannot be prepared generically -- the destination agent should provide the exact required language.
All solid wood packing materials must comply with ISPM 15 phytosanitary treatment standards.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
The following items are prohibited from import into Slovenia:
- Illegal drugs and narcotics (medicines for personal use with a valid medical prescription are permitted in reasonable quantities -- a medical certificate must be presented)
- Weapons and firearms without authorization [PERMIT REQUIRED]
- Counterfeit goods
- Endangered species and their products as listed under CITES -- ivory, tortoise shells, coral, reptile skins, etc. [CITES]
- Pornographic material involving minors
- Goods subject to EU sanctions
Restricted / Dutiable Items
Intra-EU travel (no customs limits -- goods for personal use):
There are no legal quantity limits on goods moved within the EU for personal use, provided duty and tax have been paid in the EU country of purchase. The same EU indicative quantities apply as in other member states (see Restricted Items section under Slovakia guide for reference quantities).
Arrivals from outside the EU (duty-free allowances for accompanied baggage):
By air or sea: personal goods of non-commercial nature up to EUR 430. By road or rail: up to EUR 300. Tobacco and alcohol: standard EU allowances (200 cigarettes / 50 cigars / 250 g tobacco; 1 L spirits over 22% or 2 L wine/lower-strength spirits; 4 L still wine; 16 L beer) for persons 17 and over.
Currency: Amounts of EUR 10,000 or more entering or leaving the EU must be declared at customs.
New items: New household goods from outside the EU are subject to customs duties under the EU Common External Tariff and VAT at 22%. A purchase invoice is required.
Antiques, artwork, carpets, paintings: An import permit issued by the Slovenian Ministry of Culture is required. An export certificate from the Slovenian Ministry of Culture is required when re-exporting such items.
Wedding trousseaux: Documents required: passport, detailed inventory, marriage certificate, and residence registration.
Inheritances: Documents required: death certificate, copy of will or court statement, and the beneficiary's Slovenian tax ID number.
Arms and ammunition: Require an import permit and a valid firearms/hunting license. Must be declared separately and are subject to special customs inspection. All arms must be listed on the inventory. Only firearms for which the owner holds a valid license may be imported. [PERMIT REQUIRED]
Beverages (alcohol): Detailed inventory of beverages must be included. Duties and taxes apply. Alcohol, tobacco, and food items cannot be imported as part of a household goods shipment -- they must be shipped or declared separately.
Plants and plant products: A phytosanitary certificate is required for imports of plants from outside the EU. Phytosanitary inspection is conducted before customs clearance.
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Passport or diplomatic ID
- Title / vehicle registration document (from country of origin)
- Original bill of lading or transport document
- Purchase invoice
- Vehicle documents from the country of purchase or export
- Signed statement with full vehicle details (see Specific Information)
Specific Information
The vehicle statement must include: current registration plate number, country of registration, make and model, VIN (chassis number), engine type and number, kilometers driven, color, engine displacement (ccm), engine power (kW), and maximum gross weight.
The motor vehicle registration tax (DMV -- *davek na motorna vozila*) applies to vehicles imported from outside the EU. The rate depends on fuel type, engine power, and CO2 emissions, and ranges from 0.5% to 52% of the vehicle's value. Motorcycles are subject to a similar tax ranging from 1.5% to 5% based on engine power.
For vehicles qualifying under the ToR relief (personal use for 6+ months abroad, not for resale), the DMV and import VAT may be waived. Confirm eligibility with the destination agent.
Vehicles from non-EU countries must meet EU type-approval standards or undergo individual homologation before registration in Slovenia. Homologation requirements and costs vary significantly by vehicle origin and specification.
Pets
- Valid EU Pet Passport confirming: ISO-compliant microchip (or clearly legible tattoo applied before 3 July 2011); valid rabies vaccination **From EU member states:**
- ISO-compliant microchip (ISO 11784/11785) -- implanted before vaccination **From non-EU countries:**
- Valid rabies vaccination (administered after microchipping) **From non-EU countries:**
- EU-format animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian in the originating country, within 10 days of entry **From non-EU countries:**
- Rabies antibody titre test (RNATT) -- required for pets from countries not on the EU approved list; drawn at least 30 days after vaccination; titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml at an EU-approved laboratory; pet may not enter the EU until 3 months after the blood draw date **From non-EU countries:**
- International CITES certificate permitting export from the country of origin **[CITES]** **For protected wild animal species, trophies, and products from protected animals (all origins):**
Slovenia is an EU member state and applies EU rules for the movement of pets.
Pets must be fitted with an electronic identification device (microchip complying with ISO standards) and must have an international health certificate presented on arrival. The airline station manager or freight handler in Slovenia must be notified in advance of the animal's arrival.
The IAM baseline note applies: specific documentation requirements depend on the species of animal. For non-standard pets (birds, reptiles, exotic mammals, etc.), contact the destination agent and the relevant Slovenian veterinary authority (*Uprava za varno hrano, veterinarstvo in varstvo rastlin* -- UVHVVR) well in advance of shipment.
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air, sea, and road shipments.
Slovenia is a small Central European country with access to the Adriatic Sea at the Port of Koper (one of the most important cargo ports in Central and Eastern Europe). Most household goods shipments arrive via Koper or by road through neighboring countries. Ljubljana's airport (LJU -- Jože Pučnik Airport) handles air freight.
The Slovenian tax number must be obtained before customs clearance can proceed. The destination agent should coordinate this with the client as early as possible. Without the tax number, the shipment cannot be cleared.
The signed owner's statement is a critical document -- the destination agent should provide the exact text required by Slovenian customs. This must be personally signed and should not be delegated.
Goods must be imported within 12 months of the date of residence registration -- this is a longer window than many EU member states (which apply a 6-month window). However, all goods must be declared at the time of first import; multiple partial shipments cannot be cleared incrementally under separate declarations.
Alcohol, tobacco, and food items must not be included in household goods shipments. They should be carried as accompanied baggage or shipped separately with appropriate duty and tax declarations.
Cultural & Other Information
Slovenia is a small Central European nation at the crossroads of the Alps, the Adriatic, the Pannonian Plain, and the Dinaric Mountains. The capital and largest city is Ljubljana. Slovenian is the official language; German and Hungarian have regional official status in parts of the country. Slovenia is a member of the European Union (since 2004), NATO, the Schengen Area, and the Eurozone (adopted the Euro in 2007).
Slovenia has one of the highest standards of living in Central and Eastern Europe, with a diverse economy spanning manufacturing, tourism, technology, and pharmaceuticals. The Port of Koper serves as a key logistics hub for Central and Eastern European landlocked countries including Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Slovenia is known for its spectacular alpine landscapes, the Postojna Cave system, and its proximity to both Vienna and the Italian Adriatic coast.
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