For many families of Slovenian descent, citizenship is a way of ensuring that the next generation can maintain their connection to Slovenia. Parents who hold or are applying for Slovenian citizenship often ask the same question: will my children qualify too?
The answer depends on timing. Slovenia’s nationality law is strict. Whether your child inherits citizenship depends on whether you were already recognized as a Slovenian citizen at the time of their birth.
This article explains how Slovenian citizenship passes to children, what happens in adoption cases, and the steps required to secure recognition.
Why Citizenship for Children Matters
Children who obtain Slovenian citizenship gain both practical benefits and cultural recognition:
- EU citizenship: They can live, study, and work across all 27 EU member states.
- Education opportunities: Lower tuition at European universities.
- Healthcare: Access to Slovenia’s public health system and EU reciprocal coverage.
- Heritage: A lasting legal connection to Slovenian identity.
For many emigrant families, registering children is also a way of keeping heritage alive across generations.
If You Were Already Slovenian at the Time of Birth
The simplest case is when you were already a Slovenian citizen when your child was born. In this scenario, your child is automatically Slovenian too.
- Example: Matej was born in Ljubljana but emigrated to Chicago in the 1990s. He kept his Slovenian citizenship. When his daughter, Emily, was born in the U.S. in 2012, she was Slovenian from birth. To make it official, Matej registered her birth at the Slovenian Consulate in Chicago. Emily now has both U.S. and Slovenian passports.
This is the most straightforward path. The law recognizes the child as Slovenian by descent from the moment of birth.
If You Became Slovenian Later
The situation changes if you acquired Slovenian citizenship after your child’s birth.
- Example: Andreja, living in Argentina, applied for Slovenian citizenship as a grandchild under Article 12 of the Citizenship Act. She succeeded in 2021. Her son, however, had been born in 2005 — years before she became a citizen. Because Andreja was not Slovenian at the time of his birth, her son does not automatically qualify.
In these cases, children may need to apply separately, often under facilitated naturalization rules. The Ministry of the Interior will consider each application individually, and proof of ties to Slovenia will be required.
Adopted Children
Adoption creates the same rights as biological descent if certain conditions are met.
- If the adopting parent was Slovenian at the time of adoption, the adopted child under 18 automatically acquires Slovenian citizenship.
- If the parent became Slovenian after the adoption was finalized, the child does not automatically qualify.
- Example: Luka, a Slovenian citizen living in Canada, adopted a six-year-old in 2018. Because Luka was already Slovenian at the time of the adoption, the child was recognized as Slovenian as soon as the adoption was legally registered.
This rule reflects Slovenia’s approach that citizenship follows the legal recognition of the parent-child relationship.
Registering Your Child’s Birth
Even if your child is entitled to citizenship, recognition is not automatic. The birth must be registered with the Slovenian civil registry.
Parents abroad usually complete this process at the nearest Slovenian consulate. Documents required typically include:
- Child’s long-form birth certificate.
- Parent’s proof of Slovenian citizenship.
- Parent’s marriage certificate (if relevant to establish lineage).
- Passports or identity cards.
Once registered, the child is added to Slovenia’s civil registry (matična knjiga), and can then apply for a Slovenian passport.
Common Scenarios
Parent Born in Slovenia
If you were born in Slovenia and never renounced your nationality, your children are automatically Slovenian.
Parent Naturalized After Birth
If you gained citizenship later (for example, as a grandchild proving ties), your children do not automatically inherit nationality. They may need to apply separately.
Adopted Children
Adopted minors are treated equally, provided the adoption was finalized while the parent was already Slovenian.
Dual Citizenship for Children
Slovenia generally allows children of Slovenians to hold dual citizenship. For example, a child born in the U.S. to a Slovenian parent may hold both U.S. and Slovenian passports. This makes registration especially important for families who want their children to enjoy both sets of rights.
Why Timing Matters So Much
Slovenia is strict about timing. Citizenship passes only if the parent was Slovenian at the moment the child’s legal relationship was created (by birth or adoption). Unlike in some other countries, you cannot retroactively pass nationality to children once you obtain it.
For families planning to apply, this means it is wise to complete your own citizenship recognition as early as possible — ideally before your children are born. You can learn more about other EU countries’ pathways for children to get citizenship by ancestry on our blog.
Important Note
Every child citizenship case depends on the parent’s status at birth or adoption. Even if the rules seem clear, the Ministry may request additional evidence or reject weak cases.
We recommend starting with our $250 full service guide and consulting a trusted expert before applying for your child’s recognition. Sign up today!
FAQs About Slovenian Citizenship
Does my child automatically qualify if I was Slovenian when they were born?
Yes, but you must still register their birth for recognition.
What if my child was born before I became Slovenian?
They do not automatically qualify. They may need to apply separately, and success is not guaranteed.
Do adopted children have equal rights?
Yes, as long as the adoption was legally recognized while the parent was already Slovenian.
Can my adult children apply through me?
No. Once a child turns 18, they must apply on their own merits, often under facilitated naturalization if they can show ties to Slovenia.
Sources
- Slovenian Citizenship Act (Zakon o državljanstvu Republike Slovenije), 1991, as amended
- Article 4 – Citizenship by descent: a child is a citizen if at least one parent was Slovenian at the time of birth.
- Article 10 – Adoption: children adopted by Slovenian citizens automatically acquire citizenship if adoption is finalized while the parent is Slovenian.
- Article 12 – Naturalization of emigrants’ descendants (up to grandchildren) if ties are demonstrated.
Unofficial English translation via Refworld (UNHCR)
EUR-Lex summary (EU law overview)
- Article 4 – Citizenship by descent: a child is a citizen if at least one parent was Slovenian at the time of birth.
Government Guidance
- Slovenian Ministry of the Interior – Citizenship
Explains who qualifies by descent, registration of children born abroad, and requirements for applications.
gov.si – Ministry of the Interior, Citizenship - Slovenian Embassies & Consulates (example: Embassy of Slovenia in Washington, DC)
Provide consular guidance on registering children’s births abroad and recognition of nationality.
Slovenian Embassy in Washington DC – Citizenship Information
Contextual Sources / Secondary Commentary
- European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights – Country Report: Slovenia
Summarizes rules on jus sanguinis, registration of children, and adoption.
Legal commentary (immigration law firms / academic analyses) – confirm that transmission of nationality depends strictly on parent’s status at birth, and adopted children are treated equally if adoption finalized while parent was Slovenian.