I’m an EU citizen, and moved to Slovenia a couple of weeks ago. I’m self-employed (started a business in April), and make a very good wage. All the money I earn is from international clients, so it would be coming straight into the Slovenian economy. I wanted to register my business and as a resident here, pay taxes etc

My wife isn’t an EU citizen, so she applied for a short-stay visa (as per the EU rules): [https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-family/index\_en.htm](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-family/index_en.htm)

The embassy said I needed to give her a guarantee letter — so I got this, and had it signed at the upravna enota.

The Slovenian embassy in her country have just told me that they will cancel her visa application, because I’m not yet registered as a permanent resident. As far as I understand it, this contradicts my rights as an EU citizen.

The permanent residence application process is taking ages. I’ve just now got my tax number, but I’m still waiting for a residence card etc.

I really don’t want to leave (I like it here, which is why I moved, and I’ve also spent almost 2000 euros now on accommodation, furniture, flights, document translations, not to mention a lot of time and a fair bit of stress). But I really miss my wife (haven’t seen her for a month), and can’t face staying here much longer without her (her flight was booked for the 6th of September, but it seems like it will take weeks for me to register my business, register as a resident, etc, so I have no idea when she’d be able to come. She’s also pregnant, so we can’t leave it that late).

Technically I’m already a resident in Slovenia, because I have concluded my residency in my home country with the tax authorities. I just don’t have the card that proves it. Also still waiting for my EMSO.

Does anyone have any advice on what to do about this? I don’t understand why the embassy in her country is being so difficult.

I hope this doesn’t seem self-entitled. But I am legally allowed to be here with my wife, and would be contributing economically.

8 comments

  1. Once upon a time, my then Macedonian flatmate had trouble with her student visa because the Slovenian embassy in Skopje (specifically one person there) was being unreasonable to her. After a few months of wrangling, I finally called the foreign ministry and asked about it, and the person in Skopje was told to stop being stupid and issue the visa.

    Granted, I’m a Slovenian citizen and this was 25 years ago when it was much easier for a random citizen to simply call a public official and demand answers than it is now, and going through a lawyer might work better for you these days. But a random embassy clerk holding up somebody’s visa for no good reason is a thing that does happen.

  2. You were asking for tips on moving to Sweden on Reddit just 2 months ago.

    Why did you choose Slovenia now?

  3. I’m pretty sure that according to EU law, your wife has the right of residence since she is married to you. EU law supercedes national law and this is universal no matter where in EU you stay.

    But that doesn’t mean she’ll get *permanent* residence. I’m not sure on the specifics but you can apply for it under specific conditions.

    My advice would be to look into *right of residence* and **not** confuse it with residence permit which is a completely different thing.

    https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/family-residence-rights/non-eu-wife-husband-children/index_en.htm

  5. Dealing with a Slovenian embassy can be a mind boggling experience. I would keep pushing because, at least in my case, they were wrong more than they were right.

  6. She don’t need any sponsorship, you need to declare your new residence in Slovenia as EU you have 3 months since your arrival, check in your comune probably you need a rent contract and proof that you can live there and enough money to support your wife/rent/expenses then start with a family reunification with EU citizenship with non-eu citizenship. EU must protect and unite the family over all and She is pregnant!! They must follow the best interests of the child!! it’s a bloody human right, but for all that you must do the 1st

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