Special Permits and Licenses in Slovenia

Slovenian companies are required, under the applicable legislation, to obtain special permits and licenses in Slovenia for their commercial activities. At the same time, business licenses are also issued for the location in which the company carries out a part or all of its activities.

The business license in Slovenia will attest that the company complies with the legal regulations. Our team of Slovenian lawyers can offer legal assistance for the issuance of special permits and licenses, depending on the characteristics of the company.

Building permits in Slovenia

Companies operating in the real estate field in Slovenia will need to obtain building permits before the construction of a residential or business center. The applicant will need to follow the regulations of the Spatial Planning Act and theConstruction Act.

The company needs to receive a license from the water and sewage provider, a document which will be issued in maximum 30 days since the application form was submitted. The project will need approval from the electrical company. We can help you obtain any necessary permits or business licenses in Slovenia for construction projects.

Licenses for tourism companies

Tourism companies must obtain special trade licenses in Slovenia. According to the Promotion of Tourism Development Act, tourism companies are defined as providers engaged in the sale of travel packages, which include trips, transportation, and accommodation. However, certain companies are exempt from obtaining licenses if they meet any of the following requirements:

the sold trips are less than 24 hours and do not include overnight accommodation;
the company performs occasional, non-profit trips with an annual value not exceeding EUR 15,000, to limited groups;
the company provides business travel arrangements under a general agreement between a company and another party.

To obtain a special business license in Slovenia for tourism companies, one must submit an application to the Tourism and Hospitality Chamber of Slovenia. The submission also includes certain supporting documents and payment for the procedure costs.

Please note that applications are reviewed monthly by the Commission for Issuing Licenses to Tourist Agencies to ensure the company meets all necessary conditions. The Commission can revoke the tourism business license in Slovenia if the company fails to comply. Our Slovenian lawyerscan help tourism businesses to obtain their required license.

Please know that those who obtain special permits and licenses in Slovenia in the tourism industry can have their licenses removed provided that they do not maintain the basic obligations under which these documents were issued.

Business owners who obtained a business license in Slovenia for tourism companies may also have their license revoked in the case in which they cease to perform the activities for which the companies are licensed.

License for taxi services

Taxi services also require obtaining a special business license in Slovenia, known as a community license. It is granted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia or the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia.

In addition to the community license, you might also need a special permit in Slovenia from the local municipality where you will operate. To provide taxi services, specific conditions must be met, as outlined below by our Slovenian attorneys:

your business must be incorporated under one of the available legal structures – one option would be a partnership or a limited liability company;
you must appoint a transport manager, who can be your employee or associate;
the transport manager must reside in the EU and manage all tasks related to transport (he/she must not have committed any serious criminal offenses);
the business must have a capital and reserves of EUR 3,000 for the first vehicle and EUR 1,500 for each additional vehicle;
the business must own or lease under a contract at least one Slovenian-registered vehicle.

Within 15 days from the application, if approved, you will receive a license and certificates for your vehicles. Taxi business licenses in Slovenia must be renewed every 5 years. It is advised to submit the application to renew the license at least 2 months before the current license expires. Obtaining a trade license in Slovenia for taxi services can be quite complex. Our team can help you acquire it.

Those who engage in transport activities that are not related to the transportation of passengers, but rather of goods, need to apply for a different type of business license in Slovenia.

Obtaining special permits and licenses in Slovenia for transportation companies

Investors who want to start a business whose main activity is the transport of goods (internal or external), need to apply for a business license in Slovenia. The main license required in this case is the transportation license, which can be issued provided that the following conditions meet:

the company employs a qualified person who can be hired as a transport manager;
it owns at least 1 or 2 motor vehicles which are registered in Slovenia;
the headquarters of the company meets the specific conditions.

There are other basic requirements concerning the financial situation of the company, and our lawyers in Slovenia can offer further advice. Please know that the transport manager can be hired from another country as well. If you plan to hire foreign workforce, our immigration lawyers in Slovenia can provide assistance.

Our lawyers can assist foreign workers who need to apply for residency in Slovenia. It is important to know that if the transport manager is from an EU country, his/her accreditation obtained in the respective EU country will be recognized in Slovenia.

Activities that need a trade license in Slovenia

There are a variety of business activities that require having a valid trade license in Slovenia. This type of license is issued in accordance with the level of education of a person and they can apply for the following:

secondary vocational or technical education in a specific field;
for certain master’s degrees;
for higher technical qualification in certain fields.

In general, the owner of a company can apply for a trade license in Slovenia if himself or herself has the necessary educational background. However, provided that the business owner does not have the relevant education for the issuance of a trade license in Slovenia and he/she needs the respective license for engaging in a given economic field, he/she can hire a person who is qualified.

Based on the having an employee who meets the requirement for the field, the company can be issued with the appropriate trade license in Slovenia. This document can be issued for many occupations and business activities, all of which are regulated under the Standard Classification of Activities 2025 (SKD 2025), applicable since 1 January 2025.

Our lawyers in Slovenia can provide the necessary information for those who want to engage in a business activity and think they may need this type of approval. Please mind that the trade license in Slovenia can apply for activities such as:

food production;
beauty-related services;
services for the repair of vehicles, houses, equipment, etc.

Statistics about Slovenian companies

Our Slovenian attorneys have prepared some interesting statistics about the new companies operating in the country in the year 2022:

there were 21,833 new companies registered;
most new companies were in the service sectors (82.6%);
in the service sector, 20.2% of companies were engaging in technical activities;
11.4% of the service sector companies were providing accommodation and food services.

Our services also include those related to immigration in Slovenia. We can help interested individuals obtain Slovenian citizenship or Slovenian residency.

If you need to get a business license in another country, such as the Cayman Islands, our specialists at BridgeWest Cayman Islands can help you.

Please contact our law firm in Slovenia for further information on the business licenses that can be issued here.