A2 or B1: which Slovene level do you need?

In short

• A permanent residence permit asks for Slovene at level A2: the basic-level exam's certificate at that level.
• An A1 certificate is not enough, for permanent residence or for citizenship.
• For citizenship, check the conditions of your route on the government's citizenship page.
• A proposed change to the law would raise permanent residence to B1. It is a proposal, not the law.

Permanent residence

The Aliens Act asks for Slovene at level A2¹², shown with the certificate of the basic-level exam (izpit na osnovni ravni⁷⁸), the exam these guides are about. Among its other conditions is 5¹² years of continuous lawful residence in Slovenia.

The same article lists who doesn’t need the certificate: among them, people over 60² and under 18², and people who went to school in Slovene. Read the article itself for the exact wording before you rely on an exception.

A2 is not a separate exam. You sit the basic-level exam and pass at A2 by reaching the A2 line in every part; the guide to the parts and pass lines gives each line.

A1 doesn’t count

An A1 certificate, from the entry-level exam, is not enough for permanent residence or for citizenship (LUNG’s exam page). You need the basic-level exam.

Citizenship

Citizenship has several routes, each with its own conditions, set out on the government’s citizenship page. Check the route that fits you there. On the language, the exam centre’s questions and answers say the basic-level exam is enough for citizenship.

The proposed change to B1

On 20 August 2026⁶, the ministry sent a draft amendment to the Aliens Act, known as ZTuj-2J, to the other ministries for comment. It would raise the level for permanent residence to B1⁶. It is a proposal: it isn’t the law, and we don’t know whether or when it will become law. Until the law changes, the level is A2¹².

Check yourself

Which Slovene level does a permanent residence permit ask for today?

A2, shown with the basic-level exam's certificate. B1 is only proposed.

Sources

1. Permanent residence permit: conditions and documents, infotujci.si, the government's information portal for foreigners, read October 25, 2026
2. 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
3. Slovene exam: dates, fees and the free first attempt, LUNG, the adult education centre in Nova Gorica, read October 25, 2026
4. Frequently asked questions about the exams, CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
5. Citizenship: by birth and by naturalisation, GOV.SI, the Slovene government's portal, read October 25, 2026
6. Slovenia tightens the language conditions with ZTuj-2J (the draft amendment to the Aliens Act), IUS-INFO, a Slovene legal news service, read October 25, 2026
7. The basic-level exam: description and format, CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026
8. The basic-level exam (English page), CSDTJ, University of Ljubljana, read October 25, 2026

Related guides

• 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.
• 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.

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.