The Government of the Republic of Slovenia (hereinafter referred to as RS) published the Ordinance on imposing and implementing measures related to prevent the spread of epidemic COVID-19 at the border crossing points at the external border and checkpoints within national borders of the Republic of Slovenia (hereinafter referred to as Ordinance) in the Official Gazette of the RS on May 25, 2020. The ordinance entered into force on May 26, 2020.
To prevent the spread of epidemic COVID-19, the Ordinance determines measures at the border crossing points at the external border and checkpoints within national borders of the RS upon entry into the RS, where the crossings of state border of the RS is allowed. Nevertheless, citizens of the RS, the Republic of Austria, the Italian Republic and Hungary, who are dual owners or tenants of land in the border area, have their land on both sides of the state border and perform agricultural activities may also cross the border outside certain checkpoints determined by this Ordinance. In this case, they may not leave their land for the purpose of moving within Slovenia. New exceptions from mandatory 14-day quarantine upon entry into the RS have been added.
Currently, the following groups of travellers can entry the RS without a quarantine:
Slovenian citizens;
foreigners with permanent or temporary residence in the RS;
persons with permanent or temporary residence in Croatia (Croatia is currently on the list of countries whose residents may enter the RS without restrictions).
Ordinance also determines mandatory 14-day quarantine due to the possibility of infection with COVID-19 in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 19 of the Communicable Diseases Act for:
A. A person entering the RS and having permanent or temporary residence in the member states of the European Union (hereinafter referred to as EU) or in other Schengen countries (first paragraph of Article 9 of the Ordinance)
For foreign citizens the entry into the RS is not allowed if they do not have a permanent residence in the RS and if they inform the authorities when crossing the border that they tested positive for COVID-19 or have typical signs of infection with this virus (high fever, cough, shortness of breath) based on the third paragraph of Article 9 of this Ordinance.
Persons with permanent or temporary residence in EU or other Schengen Area member states who are not on the list of countries whose residents may enter the RS have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon entry into the RS to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The Government of the RS shall determine and amend the list of countries from which persons can enter the RS. The list and its amendments are updated on the websites of the National Institute of Public Health (i.e. NIJZ) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Based on the assessment of the NIJZ on the epidemiological situation and the notification of the Ministry of the Interior on the bilateral technical agreements reached with individual countries, the Government of the RS may amend the list. Article 10 of the Ordinance lists several exceptions to this restriction.
According to Article 10 of the Ordinance, the above does not apply to:
1. Daily/weekly cross-border workers who are holders of proof of having an employment contract in EU or other Schengen Area member states, i.e. a signed statement in which the reason for crossing the border as a daily cross-border worker is justified;
2. Persons engaged in economic activities who on crossing the border present proof of such economic activities in the RS or abroad (certificate of registering the start of economic activities and A1 certificate in accordance with the act regulating cross-border provision of services) who are returning on the same day and present a medical certificate not older than three days proving that they tested negative for COVID-19. Where a person is employed with a foreign company providing services in the RS and is staying in the RS, they must, when crossing the border, also submit residence address in the RS and a medical certificate not older than three days proving that they tested negative for COVID-19;
3. Persons posted abroad in the international transport sector or such persons returning home who are in possession of a "Certificate for International Transport Workers" referred to in Annex 3 of the Communication from the Commission on the implementation of the Green Lanes under the Guidelines for border management measures to protect health and ensure the availability of goods and essential services (OJ C no. 96 of 24.3.2020, p.1) or another appropriate document proving that the person has been posted by the employer;
4. Persons carrying out the transport of goods to or from the RS and to goods transport in transit;
5. Citizens of EU or other Schengen Area member states travelling through the Republic of Slovenia to another country in the same day;
6. Diplomatic passport holders;
7. Persons providing public services (e.g. energy, healthcare, transport, utility services) for which they have been issued a certificate by the competent ministry if ordering a quarantine could result in major social or economic damage due to non-provision of these services;
8. Members of protection and rescue services, healthcare services, the police and firefighting services and persons carrying out humanitarian transport for the RS who are crossing the border in order to perform their duties;
9. Citizens of the RS, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Austria, Italian Republic or Hungary who are owners or tenants of land on both sides of the state border and are involved in agricultural activities;
10. Holders of proof of a scheduled doctor's appointment or treatment/surgery in the RS or another EU or Schengen Area member state on the day of crossing the border;
11. Persons crossing the border because of education and schooling or scientific research in the RS or another EU or Schengen Area member state who present adequate proof, and their parents or other persons transporting them across the border and returning on the same day;
12. Persons crossing the border daily or periodically who are employed in an educational institution in the RS or abroad as visiting higher education teachers or are involved in research projects in the RS or abroad and who present adequate proof;
13. Persons attending the funeral of a close relative in an EU or another Schengen Area member state and leaving or returning to the RS on the same day, presenting proof of the date and time of the funeral;
14. Persons crossing the border for family reasons in order to maintain relations with close family members who are returning on the same day;
15. Persons who are close relatives of citizens of the RS or living with them in the same household and who have permanent or temporary residence in an EU or another Schengen Area member state;
16. Persons who own real property or have an aircraft or vessel registered in the RS and have proof of ownership, together with close family members;
17. Persons who have a confirmed booking of overnight accommodation in a tourist facility in the RS and have proof of booking.
B. A person coming from a third country (first paragraph of Article 11 of the Ordinance)
Persons coming from a third country are also required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the RS at their permanent or temporary residence. In a case that a person cannot reside at the permanent or temporary residence for a justified reason, the quarantine is ordered at the actual address where the person will be accommodated. The costs of quarantine are covered by the person. If a person who does not have permanent or temporary residence in the RS cannot prove the address of the residence, they shall not be allowed to enter the RS.
A person who intends to work in the RS shall be quarantined at the address stated in the employer's document, with which the person enters in the RS. The document is provided to them by the employer before crossing the state border. The employer must ensure the appropriate conditions for quarantine, which are set out in the quarantine decision, as well as nutrition and protection during the quarantine.
There are some exceptions listed in Article 12 of the Ordinance:
1. Persons attending the funeral of a close relative and leaving the RS on the same day and presenting proof of the date and time of the funeral;
2. Persons carrying out the transport of goods to the RS or from the RS into third countries and to goods transport from third countries in transit and persons posted abroad in the international transport sector or such persons returning home who are in possession of a "Certificate for International Transport Workers" or another appropriate document proving that the person has been posted by the employer;
3. Diplomatic passport holders;
4. Persons from the third countries providing services for which they have been issued a certificate by the competent ministry if ordering a quarantine could result in major social or economic damage due to non-provision of these services;
5. Members of protection and rescue services, healthcare services, the police and firefighting service and persons carrying out humanitarian transport for the RS who are crossing the border in order to perform their duties;
6. Persons travelling through the RS to another country in the same day;
7. Persons crossing the border because of education and schooling or scientific research who are able to present adequate proof and a medical certificate not older than three days proving that they tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19);
8. Holders of proof of a scheduled doctor's appointment or treatment/surgery in the RS.
The Government of the RS determines the professional justification of the measures from this Ordinance every seven days. Considering the professional reasons, it is then decided whether these measures will continue to apply, or the measures need to be changed or eliminated.
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This document (and all information accessed through the links in this document) is for informational purposes only and cannot be considered as legal advice. The facts stated therein may have changed since the date of publication. You should seek legal advice before taking any possible action.
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