On May 18, Slovenia will begin issuing biometric residence permits to foreigners who are either not family members of Slovenian citizens or not from the EU.

The permit was designed in accordance with European Council provisions on residence permits for foreigners, officials told a news conference held at the Foreign Ministry.

The new residence permits will make it possible for foreigners in Slovenia to conduct business more easily and safely as the document is now more compact and embedded with modern safety features and a contactless chip with biometric information and the fingerprints of the holder, Slovenian Migrations Directorate chief Nina Gregori explained.

The permit may be used to prove the legality of a visitor's stay in the country or prove their identity.

The price of temporary residence permits will be EUR47 and EUR93 for permanent residence.