What is the Slovene exam for permanent residence?
In short
- A permanent residence permit asks for Slovene at level A2.
- A2 and B1 are one exam, the basic-level exam, in 4 parts.
- Each part has its own pass line: 60% of its points for A2, 85% for B1.
- Each figure below is marked with its source.
Sources: infotujci.si, the government's information portal for foreigners, PISRS, the legal information system of the Republic of Slovenia, and CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana. Checked October 25, 2026.The Slovene on this page is not yet checked by a Slovene teacher.
Written from the official sources listed below and checked against each one. The exam's parts, points and pass lines come from the same data the app uses.
Who needs it
To get a permanent residence permit, you show that you know Slovene at level A212. One way to show it is the certificate of the exam this guide is about.
One exam, two levels
The exam is called izpit na osnovni ravni34, the basic-level exam. It is one exam for 257 levels, A2 and B1: you sit the same papers, and your points decide which level you reach.
The four parts
| Part | Minutes |
|---|---|
| PoslušanjeListening348 | 25 |
| BranjeReading349 | 40 |
| PisanjeWriting341011 | 40 |
| GovorjenjeSpeaking351213 | 15 |
The pass lines
You need at least 60%57 of the points in each part for A2, and at least 85%57 in each part for B1. The guide to the parts gives each line in points.
Book early
The exam runs 46 times a year, and you register ahead of each sitting. The booking guide has the deadlines, the fee and the free first attempt.
Guides
- A2 or B1: which Slovene level do you need?The Slovene level a permanent residence permit asks for, who the law exempts, where to check for citizenship, and the proposed change to B1, with sources.
- What are the exam's four parts and its pass lines?The basic-level exam's four parts, with each part's time, points, tasks and the A2 and B1 pass lines, taken from the official exam pages and specification.
- What happens on exam day?How the Slovene basic-level exam day runs: the written parts together, speaking before a committee, and what to bring, taken from the exam centre's rules.
- How do you book the exam, what does it cost, and who sits it free?When the Slovene basic-level exam runs, how to book and withdraw, what it costs, and the free first attempt after the ZIP course, from official sources.
- When do you get your results, and can you retake the exam?When the Slovene basic-level exam's results arrive, how to appeal, how retakes work, and the exam centre's published pass rates, each with its source.
Check yourself
What share of the points does A2 need in each part?
At least 60%, in every one of the parts.
Sources
- Permanent residence permit: conditions and documents, infotujci.si, the government's information portal for foreigners, read October 25, 2026
- Aliens Act (ZTuj-2), Article 52, permanent residence: unofficial consolidated text no. 20, PISRS, the legal information system of the Republic of Slovenia, read October 25, 2026
- The basic-level exam: description and format, CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
- The basic-level exam (English page), CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
- Sample test page and scoring summary, CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
- Frequently asked questions about the exams, CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
- Programme: Slovene as a second and foreign language (2020, PDF), CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
- Sample test, listening paper (2017, PDF), CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
- Sample test, reading paper (2017, PDF), CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
- Sample test, writing paper (2017, PDF), CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
- Writing assessment criteria (2020, PDF), CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
- How the speaking part runs (2025, PDF), CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
- Speaking rating scales (2023, PDF), CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Besedica is not affiliated with the Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language (CSDTJ) or the University of Ljubljana.