Why a Slovenian bank account is useful

A Slovenian bank account is not always legally required for every student, but it makes everyday life much easier. It is commonly used for student-work payments, scholarships, rent, utility bills, local transfers, SEPA direct debits, and card payments. It also gives you access to Flik, which many students use to split rent, groceries, transport, and other shared expenses.

A foreign SEPA account may still work for some payments, but local employers, student services, landlords, and institutions often find a Slovenian account more practical. For most students who plan to live, work, and study in Slovenia for more than a short period, opening one is worth considering.

What you normally need

The exact list differs between banks, but an incoming student should normally prepare the following documents and information.

  1. A valid passport. Bring the original document. The bank records your citizenship, passport number, issuing country, and expiry date.
  2. A Slovenian tax number, or davčna številka. Foreign citizens obtain it from FURS by submitting form DR-02. The request can normally be submitted personally, by post, or through an authorised person. FURS states that the certificate is generally issued within eight days after receiving a complete request. More information is available on the official FURS page.
  3. Proof of lawful stay and residence. Bring your temporary residence permit if it has already been issued. Depending on the bank and the stage of your move, it may also request proof of a submitted residence application, temporary-address registration, rental contract, or dormitory confirmation.
  4. Proof of student status. For a student or youth package, bring a current certificate of enrolment, or potrdilo o vpisu. A student card or admission letter may also be useful, but the certificate of enrolment is normally the safest document.
  5. Your permanent and temporary addresses. The bank may record both your permanent address in Macedonia and your current address in Slovenia. Bring official evidence where available.
  6. Tax-residency information. The bank will ask in which country or countries you are resident for tax purposes and may request your tax number for each country. Having a Slovenian tax number does not automatically mean that you are a Slovenian tax resident. Contact FURS if you are unsure about your status.
  7. A Slovenian phone number and email address. These are commonly used for mobile banking, security messages, card notifications, and Flik activation.

The bank may also ask how the account will be used and where incoming funds will come from. A student can normally explain that the account will be used for living expenses, rent, student-work income, scholarships, and transfers from family.

How to open the account

  1. Obtain your Slovenian tax number first. This is one of the documents most frequently requested by banks.
  2. Compare student and youth packages. Do not look only at the monthly fee. Check the age limit, ATM withdrawal fees, included transfers, debit-card costs, Flik availability, mobile-banking functions, and what happens after graduation or after you reach the package age limit.
  3. Contact the branch before visiting. Explain that you are a citizen of North Macedonia, an international student, and a temporary resident in Slovenia. Ask for the exact document list. Online account opening is often limited to Slovenian citizens or permanent residents, so visiting a branch is usually the safer option for a newly arrived student.
  4. Bring original documents and printed copies. A passport, tax-number certificate, residence permit, address evidence, and certificate of enrolment should cover most requests, but the bank may ask for additional information.
  5. Complete the bank’s declarations. You will normally be asked about citizenship, tax residence, expected account activity, source of funds, and whether you are a politically exposed person.
  6. Activate your services. Before leaving, ask when the debit card and PIN will arrive, how to activate mobile banking and Flik, which withdrawals are free, and how future document updates should be submitted.

Banks commonly considered by students

The options below are not ranked and should not be treated as formal recommendations. Packages change, so confirm the current conditions directly with the bank.

  1. NLB offers the NLB Osnovni račun, currently promoted as free for young people up to the stated age limit. The published basic requirements include a valid identity document and Slovenian tax number, while proof of student status may be required for selected offers. Its services include NLB Klik, NLB Pay, Flik, and supported mobile wallets. See the NLB account page.
  2. OTP banka offers Paket Vizija for young people under the published age limit. Its current information lists an identity document, Slovenian tax-number certificate, and proof of schooling or student status. The package includes access to mobile and online banking, Flik, and supported mobile wallets. See Paket Vizija.
  3. Intesa Sanpaolo Bank offers a Youth Account or Youth Package for students and young people. A branch normally requires a valid identity document and tax number, while a foreign student should also bring residence, address, and enrolment evidence. App-based account opening has stricter eligibility conditions, so foreign students should contact a branch. See the Youth Account page.
  4. UniCredit Bank Slovenia offers the Sproščeni Mladi package for young people and students under the published age limit. The bank lists a valid identity document and Slovenian tax number as basic requirements, but foreign customers may be asked for additional residence and address evidence. See the young customer package.
  5. Banka Sparkasse offers the Udobni Študentski račun. Its published information lists an identity document, Slovenian tax number, and certificate of enrolment for the student account. See the account-opening requirements.
  6. Delavska hranilnica offers the DH EYCA Mladostni paket for young people and students under its published conditions. A valid identity document, Slovenian tax number, and proof of student status are normally required. See the DH EYCA package.

If a bank does not approve a normal account, ask whether you qualify for an osnovni plačilni račun, or basic payment account. A person who legally resides in the European Union and does not already have a Slovenian transaction account may have the right to request this type of account. It covers essential services such as receiving money, withdrawals, card payments, transfers, direct debits, and standing orders. More information is available from Banka Slovenije.

Keep your information updated after opening the account

Opening the account is not the final administrative step. Banks are required to keep customer information current, and foreign students should report important changes without waiting for the bank to contact them.

Every time you renew your temporary residence permit, bring the new permit to the bank or ask how it should be submitted securely. This should normally be done each year, because the bank may need valid evidence after the previous document expires.

You should also notify the bank if your permanent or temporary address changes, if you receive a new passport, if your name or citizenship information changes, or if you change your phone number or email address. An outdated phone number can block authentication codes and security notifications.

Tax residency must also remain accurate. Inform the bank if you become a Slovenian tax resident, cease to be one, or remain tax resident in Macedonia. The bank may ask you to complete a new CRS self-certification. A Slovenian tax number and Slovenian tax residency are not the same thing, so consult FURS when your situation is unclear.

Flik and mobile banking

Flik is a Slovenian instant-payment service that allows users of participating banks to send and receive money using a phone number or email address. Payments usually arrive within seconds and work throughout the day, including weekends and public holidays.

Students commonly use Flik to split rent and utility costs, repay friends, share grocery expenses, collect money for an event, or request payment without entering an IBAN. The exact app depends on the bank. NLB uses NLB Pay, Sparkasse uses M.Stik, Delavska hranilnica uses DH Denarnik, while several banks support Flik Pay or integrate Flik into their own mobile-banking application. A list of participating banks is available on the official Flik website and through Bankart.

When comparing bank apps, check whether they support QR bill scanning, SEPA and instant payments, Flik, card freezing, card-limit changes, payment notifications, online-purchase confirmation, digital statements, and Apple Pay or Google Pay. Not every bank offers the same features or activates them in the same way for foreign customers.

Tips from MSOS students

  1. Book an appointment and bring more documents than the minimum. A foreign-student account may take longer to process. Carry your passport, Slovenian and Macedonian tax numbers, residence permit, address evidence, certificate of enrolment, and Slovenian phone number.
  2. Ask what happens when your student status ends. A free account may become paid after graduation, employment, loss of status, or reaching the package age limit. Ask whether the bank changes the package automatically and what the new monthly cost will be.
  3. Compare ATM and transaction fees. A package with no monthly fee can still charge for withdrawals at other banks, foreign-card use, paper statements, international transfers, or services completed at a bank counter.
  4. Use Flik for everyday shared expenses. It is often faster than cash and more convenient than entering an IBAN each time.
  5. NLB Macedonia customers may have a useful benefit. NLB Banka in Macedonia states that its debit-card customers can withdraw euros without an NLB withdrawal commission at NLB Group ATMs in Slovenia. Use an ATM clearly marked as part of the NLB Group. Currency conversion may still apply if the Macedonian account is held in denars, so commission-free does not always mean cost-free. Check the current conditions on the NLB Banka Macedonia page.
  6. Be careful with ATM conversion and security messages. When withdrawing with a foreign card, read the exchange-rate offer before accepting conversion. Never share your PIN, mobile-banking password, or one-time security code through an unexpected message or link.

Before visiting a bank, make sure you have a valid passport, Slovenian tax number, residence evidence, proof of address, certificate of enrolment, contact details, and information about your tax residency and expected account use.

Sources and further information

For account eligibility and the exact document list, contact the selected bank directly. For a Slovenian tax number or tax-residency questions, consult FURS. For rights relating to a basic payment account or complaints about financial services, consult Banka Slovenije. For residence documentation, contact the responsible upravna enota or the Slovenian Embassy in Skopje.

MSOS can explain the process and share student experience, but the bank makes the final decision about required documents, account eligibility, and package conditions.

Last checked: 1 August 2026