Slovenia: Authorities to ease domestic COVID-19 restrictions from May 15 /update 35

Slovenia to ease domestic COVID-19 curbs from May 15; international entry restrictions for "Red List" largely unchanged since early May.

Event

Slovenia plans to ease certain COVID-19-related domestic restrictions from May 15. Authorities will increase the size of permitted gatherings from 10 to 50 and allow cultural, sporting, and other events to be held with 50 percent seating capacity for visitors who have been vaccinated, tested, or recovered from COVID-19. Furthermore, catering establishments' hours of operation will be extended from 07:00-19:00 to 05:00-22:00.

Protective facemasks must be worn in all enclosed public spaces, on public transport, and in open areas where a distance of 1.5 meters (5 feet) cannot be maintained. Most nonessential businesses are open.

International Entry Restrictions

Nonessential travel from non-EU/Schengen Area countries remains prohibited. All permitted travelers arriving from countries on the government's ''Red List'' of high-risk locations must produce one of the three following documents to enter Slovenia:

Proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within the previous 48 hours before arrival;
A positive PCR test result issued more than 21 days but less than six months ago; or,
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination showing that at least seven days have passed since receiving the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine; or at least 14 days since receiving the first dose of the Janssen vaccine, or second dose of the Moderna, Sputnik V, or Sinopharm vaccines; or 21 days since receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca, Covishield, or Vaxzevria vaccine.

Authorities require travelers to present a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test issued in an EU member state or a Schengen Area country, the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel, Russia, Serbia, or Turkey upon arrival.

Travelers from Red List countries who are unable to meet this requirement must self-isolate for 10 days. Commercial truckers, persons in transit, and diplomats are exempt. Individuals arriving from countries that are not on the Red List may enter without restrictions. For a full list of countries on the Red List, click here.

Cross-border commuters arriving from countries on the Red List are not required to self-isolate upon arrival, though they must be in possession of a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken within the previous seven days before arrival and may not remain in Slovenia for more than 14 hours.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice, depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.