Starting a business in Slovenia: foreigner's guide (2026)

No restrictions on foreign ownership or mandatory local-partner requirement exist for most sectors. Full (100%) foreign ownership of a d.o.o. is permitted. Sector-specific FDI screening applies at the ≥10% acquisition threshold in defence, critical energy, and telecoms infrastructure under the ZSInv.

A d.o.o. (LLC) requires a minimum share capital of €7,500, which must be deposited into a Slovenian bank account prior to finalising registration. A sole trader (s.p.) has no minimum capital requirement.

Company registration is handled entirely online via the SPOT portal (spot.gov.si) using a digital certificate (SI-PASS), is free of charge, and AJPES issues the registration decision within 2–3 business days of the proposed entry date. Physical SPOT points are also available for in-person assistance.

Before registering, non-EU nationals must obtain a Slovenian tax number from the Financial Administration (FURS). A registered business address in Slovenia must also be secured prior to filing the application.

Non-EU nationals who will serve as director/manager must obtain a work permit for a foreign representative (ZRSZ-TUJ-3 form) from the Employment Service of Slovenia. Majority owners holding ≥51% of shares may instead obtain an employment permit without a labour market test. These permit steps occur before or alongside company registration. EU/EEA nationals have equal rights to Slovenian citizens and require no permit.

Under the ZSInv (as amended by Official Gazettes nos 13/18, 204/21, 29/22, 65/23), direct or indirect acquisition of ≥10% of share capital or voting rights in Slovenian entities operating in sensitive sectors (defence, energy, critical infrastructure, telecoms) triggers mandatory screening, aligned with EU Regulation 2019/452. Greenfield investments creating a new entity with ≥10% foreign ownership in these sectors are also covered.