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Portoroz Airport

Country guide

Slovenia

Europe

EASA Zero to ATPL training in Maribor and Slovenske Konjice, with airline captains among the instructors and costs below many Western European schools.

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  • EUR 76k–94k Total budget, estimated
  • 18–24 Months of training
  • EASA CPL (frozen ATPL) License
  • Study residence permit Student visa

Portoroz Airport. Photo: flightlog, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

01 Overview

Flight training in Slovenia.

Slovenia is a small EU country that issues exactly the same EASA license as Germany, France or Austria, valid in every EASA member state: the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Training here costs less than at many Western European schools. Aviation Connect places students with schools in north-east Slovenia, a short drive apart: the Slovenian Aeronautical Academy (SAA) at Slovenske Konjice airfield and the Aviation Career Center (ACC) at Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport. Each teaches the integrated Zero to ATPL in English. SAA's instructors include active airline captains flying the A320, A330 and A350. ACC is run by airline professionals and also offers an A320 Cadet Program that, as the school describes it, leads to a First Officer placement with an EU-based A320 operator.

Key facts

Primary license
EASA CPL with frozen ATPL, valid in every EASA member state
Typical duration
18-24 months (integrated Zero to ATPL)
Tuition (integrated Zero to ATPL)
From EUR 64,900 (about USD 72,900)
English requirement
ICAO Level 4 (training in English, Slovene not required)
Medical requirement
EASA Class 1 medical
Training bases
Maribor (LJMB) and Slovenske Konjice (LJSK), north-east Slovenia
Visa for non-EU students
Temporary residence permit for study (with visa D entry where required)
Instructor profile
Airline pilots, including active A320, A330 and A350 captains at SAA

02 Costs

What training in Slovenia costs.

Slovenia's integrated Zero to ATPL is competitively priced within the EU. Our partner programmes start from EUR 64,900 (about USD 72,900) at SAA and from EUR 74,000 (about USD 83,100) at ACC, and lead to exactly the same EASA license as a course anywhere else in Europe. What each package includes differs, so compare full quotes, not headline prices.

Living costs in north-east Slovenia are moderate by EU standards. Maribor is the country's second city and Slovenske Konjice a small town nearby, and a student budget of roughly EUR 800-1,100 (about USD 900-1,230) per month covers shared housing, food and transport. SAA quotes around EUR 350 per month for a room in a shared two-bedroom apartment. Important for international students: the study residence permit requires proof of funds of at least Slovenia's basic minimum income, currently EUR 507.43 per month. This is money you must show you can access, not a fee. In October 2026 the government adopted a bill that would double this threshold to EUR 1,014.86 per month; it still needs parliament's approval, so check the current figure on gov.si before you apply.

Estimated costs · EUR

  • Course fee: integrated Zero to ATPL, from EUR 64,900 (SAA) or from EUR 74,000 (ACC) Starting prices of our partner programmes in October 2026 (about USD 72,900 and USD 83,100). Covers the route to a CPL with multi-engine instrument rating and the ATPL theory exams (frozen ATPL). Options such as multi-crew cooperation and jet orientation may cost extra. Ask each school for a full quote and what it includes. Estimated range EUR 64,900–74,000
  • Living expenses in Maribor or Slovenske Konjice (12 months) Roughly EUR 800-1,100 (about USD 900-1,230) per month for shared housing, food and transport. SAA quotes around EUR 350 per month for a room in a shared two-bedroom apartment. Estimated range EUR 9,500–13,000
  • Temporary residence permit for study + visa D entry fees Applying in Slovenia: EUR 4.50 application, EUR 50 permit and EUR 15.47 card, about EUR 70 in total. A first permit applied for at an embassy costs EUR 102, and a long-stay visa D costs EUR 77 where you need one. Fees change, check gov.si. Estimated range EUR 70–200
  • Financial means proof (study permit requirement) Documentation, not a fee. Today at least EUR 507.43 per month (about EUR 6,090 a year), shown with your own funds, a scholarship or a certified, translated support statement from a parent. A government bill adopted in October 2026 would double this to EUR 1,014.86 per month (about EUR 12,180 a year) if parliament passes it. Check the current figure on gov.si. Estimated range EUR 6,090–12,180 per year
  • Health insurance valid in Slovenia Mandatory for the residence permit. Commercial student packages accepted; price depends on provider and coverage level. Estimated range EUR 300–800 per year
  • EASA Class 1 medical (initial) Indicative. The initial examination must be done at an aero-medical centre (AeMC) certified for Class 1, in Slovenia or any other EASA state. Prices vary widely by centre and by the tests included: one Vienna centre lists EUR 900 for non-Austrian citizens, with ENT, eye and psychological tests charged on top. Ask for a full quote. Required before solo flight. Estimated range EUR 500–1,700
  • ATPL theory exam fees (13 subjects) Sat with CAA Slovenia across the 13 EASA ATPL theory subjects (VFR and IFR communications are one subject in the current syllabus). Per-subject fees and resit costs vary, and some schools include the first attempts: confirm current fees with the school and CAA Slovenia. Estimated range EUR 1,000–2,500
  • Skill tests and license issuance fees Examiner fees for the CPL and MEIR skill tests plus CAA Slovenia license issuance. Often partly bundled into school packages, confirm what your school includes. Estimated range EUR 500–1,500
  • Textbooks, headset, navigation equipment Quality aviation headset, study materials and pilot supplies. The school advises on a starter kit. Estimated range EUR 1,200–2,500

Estimates as of October 2026: verify every figure with the school before you commit. The estimated total budget adds the course fee, 12 months of living costs and the fixed costs in the table for the visa, the medical, exams and insurance; a longer course adds the living costs of the extra months. Course fees are the starting prices of our partner programmes. The proof of funds threshold would double if a bill pending in October 2026 becomes law, so check immigration requirements on gov.si before you apply. USD figures use the exchange rate on our site in October 2026.

Your own total for the route and the school you have in mind, living costs included: an honest range in about 30 seconds, no email needed.

Estimate your budget for Slovenia

03 Visa

Your student visa for Slovenia.

Slovenia is a member of the EU and the Schengen Area. Non-EU/EEA students staying longer than 90 days need a temporary residence permit for the purpose of study, which covers education and professional training as well as university study. How you apply depends on your passport:

  • Visa-free for Schengen (for example Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, South Korea and Brunei passports): you can enter Slovenia and apply at the local administrative unit (upravna enota) before your visa-free stay ends.
  • Visa required (for example India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam): you apply at a Slovenian embassy before travelling, either for the permit itself or for a long-stay national visa D, and then complete the permit in Slovenia. Slovenia has few embassies in Asia, and some countries are covered from abroad: Thailand and Vietnam from Beijing, Indonesia from Canberra. Check on gov.si which embassy covers your country, early.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need neither a visa nor a permit, only a residence registration after arrival.

The paperwork is standard EU fare: proof of enrolment at the training organisation, proof of funds, health insurance and a criminal record certificate no older than three months, translated into Slovene and apostilled or legalised where required. Processing times vary by embassy and administrative unit, so start 3-6 months before your course date. Your school helps with the documents, and our free school advisory explains each step.

Residence Permit

Temporary residence permit for study

The standard Slovenian permit for non-EU students staying longer than 90 days. Visa-required nationals apply at a Slovenian embassy before travel; visa-free nationals can apply at the administrative unit (upravna enota) in Slovenia before their visa-free stay ends. Needed for the full duration of training.

Duration

Issued for the length of the programme but for no longer than one year at a time, then renewed in Slovenia before it expires (you can apply up to 60 days ahead). Renewal needs continued enrolment, funds and insurance; a new criminal record certificate is not needed for three years.

Who can apply

  • Proof of enrolment or acceptance from your Slovenian training organisation (SAA and ACC are both EASA-approved training organisations)
  • Proof of sufficient funds of at least EUR 507.43 per month (own funds, a scholarship, or a certified and translated support statement from a parent); a bill adopted by the government in October 2026 would double this
  • Health insurance covering at least emergency care in Slovenia for the permit period
  • Valid passport, valid at least 3 months beyond the planned stay
  • Criminal record certificate from your home country, not older than 3 months, officially translated into Slovene and apostilled or legalised where applicable
  • The application form and a recent photo; your fingerprints are taken
  • Any other document the embassy or administrative unit asks for, such as proof of accommodation

Pros

  • Leads to an EASA license valid across the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
  • Slovenia is in Schengen: short trips across the Schengen Area during training
  • Low fees: about EUR 70 when you apply in Slovenia (EUR 4.50 application, EUR 50 permit, EUR 15.47 card)
  • The proof of funds threshold is moderate by EU standards today
  • Renewed in Slovenia, no need to return home between training phases

Trade-offs

  • Renewal every year, with fresh proof of funds, insurance and enrolment
  • The criminal record certificate must be translated into Slovene and apostilled or legalised, which takes lead time
  • Forms and some official letters are in Slovene, so plan on help from your school
  • The proof of funds threshold would double if the October 2026 bill becomes law
  • Family members apply separately under family reunification rules
  • Do not budget on income: integrated training is full-time and is not designed around part-time work
Official information

Visa D

Long-stay visa D (national visa)

Slovenia's national long-stay visa, valid from 90 days up to one year. Visa-required nationals can use it to enter and then apply for the study residence permit at the administrative unit. Only a Slovenian embassy issues it, in person, and it cannot be extended. Visa-free nationals usually do not need it.

Duration

From 90 days up to one year, not extendable. Apply for the residence permit in Slovenia while the visa is still valid.

Who can apply

  • Proof of enrolment or acceptance from your Slovenian school
  • Travel medical insurance covering at least EUR 30,000
  • Valid passport, valid at least 3 months beyond the planned stay, and a 45 x 35 mm photo
  • Proof of funds for the stay
  • Confirmed accommodation in Slovenia
  • Application in person at the Slovenian embassy that covers your country

Pros

  • Lets you enter Slovenia and start training while the permit is processed
  • Short trips within the Schengen Area while it is valid
  • Visa fee of EUR 77

Trade-offs

  • An extra step compared with visa-free nationals
  • Cannot be extended: apply for the residence permit before it expires
  • Only a Slovenian embassy issues it, and for some countries that embassy is abroad (Beijing for Thailand and Vietnam, Canberra for Indonesia): start 3-6 months before your course date
Official information

04 Requirements

English and medical: what you need.

English

Our partner schools in Slovenia teach in English, and Slovene is not required at any stage. Requirements:

  • For the residence permit: no language test. Official forms and some letters are in Slovene; your school helps with these.
  • For enrolment: our programme pages list IELTS 6.0 or an equivalent for each school, and SAA asks for English at ICAO Level 4 or higher at entry. Confirm which test each school accepts before you book one.
  • For the EASA license: ICAO English Language Proficiency Level 4 or higher, assessed before license issue. It is a radio-communication proficiency check, not an academic exam.

Learning a few phrases of Slovene is appreciated locally but optional: English is widely spoken, especially by younger Slovenians.

Medical

You need an EASA Class 1 medical certificate, the medical level required for all commercial flying. The initial Class 1 examination must be done at an aero-medical centre (AeMC) certified for Class 1; renewals can also be done by an approved aero-medical examiner (AME). Your license will be issued by the Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (Javna agencija za civilno letalstvo, CAA Slovenia) in Ljubljana.

You can take the initial examination at a certified centre in Slovenia or in any other EASA state. At the examination, tell the centre that CAA Slovenia will issue your license, so your medical file goes to the right authority, and ask your school which centre its students use. Prices vary widely by centre and by the tests included: one Vienna centre, for example, lists EUR 900 for the initial examination for non-Austrian citizens, with specialist tests charged on top. Ask for a full quote.

Common disqualifiers follow standard EASA medical rules: eyesight outside the limits even with glasses or lenses, certain cardiac conditions, seizure history and significant mental health history. If you are unsure, complete the Class 1 medical before committing to tuition payments; this is standard Aviation Connect advice for every destination.

05 Training there

Training and living in Slovenia.

Worth knowing

Learning from people who fly the line

Our partner schools here put airline experience at the centre of training. At SAA the instructors include active airline captains flying the A320, A330 and A350, alongside military pilots and aviation professors, as the school describes its team. ACC is run by airline professionals, including former A320 launch captains and certified training developers, and keeps its intake small. Checklists, callouts, threat and error management and crew coordination are taught the way airlines run them, so standard operating procedures feel familiar by the time you reach multi-crew training and airline assessments.

Why train in Slovenia

  1. Varied terrain in one training area

    From the airfields in north-east Slovenia, a short cross-country takes you over Alpine foothills, open plains and karst country, with the Adriatic coast within reach.

  2. Cross-border flying

    Maribor sits close to the Austrian, Croatian and Hungarian borders, so cross-country flights can include foreign airspace and airports: good practice for international operations.

  3. Uncongested airports

    Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport has a 2,500 m runway with an instrument landing system and little scheduled traffic, and Slovenske Konjice is a quiet airfield. Less holding and taxiing means more of every paid hour is spent flying.

  4. Same EASA license, competitive cost

    A Slovenian EASA CPL is identical to one issued in Germany or France and valid in every EASA member state. Integrated programmes with our partner schools here start from EUR 64,900.

  5. Airline-standard training culture

    Airline captains among the instructors, and an A320 Cadet Program at ACC, mean airline procedures are part of the course rather than bolted on at the end.

  6. Calm, affordable living

    Maribor is Slovenia's second city, a compact university town with living costs below Western Europe, and Slovenske Konjice is a small town nearby. Students train hard without big-city rents.

Timeline: the integrated Zero to frozen ATPL in Slovenia

  1. Months 1-6: ATPL theory and first flights Ground school starts on the 13 EASA ATPL theory subjects while you fly single-engine aircraft: basic handling, circuits, first solo and navigation.
  2. Months 6-12: Cross-country and night flying Solo and dual cross-country flights over varied terrain and into neighbouring airspace, plus night flying. The ATPL theory exams with CAA Slovenia run through this period.
  3. Months 12-18: Instrument and multi-engine training Instrument flying in the simulator and on twin-engine aircraft: procedures, approaches and abnormal situations, ending with the CPL and multi-engine instrument rating skill tests. With the ATPL theory exams passed, you hold a frozen ATPL.
  4. Months 18-24: Multi-crew and airline preparation Multi-crew cooperation and jet orientation prepare you for airline assessments; at SAA they are optional add-ons. Weather, exam resits and course options decide where you finish within 18-24 months.
  5. Beyond the core course: A320 Cadet Program at ACC ACC's cadet route continues into an A320 type rating on a full-flight simulator and, as the school describes it, a First Officer placement with an EU-based A320 operator.

Worth knowing

One license, every EASA member state

The EASA Commercial Pilot License you earn in Slovenia is valid across the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, exactly like one earned in a larger EU state. European airlines recruit on this license, but flying for them also needs the right to live and work in Europe, which the license alone does not give. If you plan to fly at home in Asia-Pacific, each regulator sets its own conversion process, usually local air law exams and a skill test: check the steps with your home authority before you choose a training country.

07 7 questions

Questions about training in Slovenia.

Why train in Slovenia instead of a bigger, better-known country?

Because the license is identical and the price is competitive. An EASA CPL issued after training in Slovenia is exactly the same document, valid in every EASA member state, as one earned in Germany, France or Austria.

Integrated Zero to ATPL programmes with our partner schools here start from EUR 64,900 (about USD 72,900), and living costs in north-east Slovenia are moderate by EU standards. Add quiet airports and instructors with airline backgrounds, and a small country becomes an advantage rather than a compromise.

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What difference do airline captains as instructors make?

Instructors who fly the A320, A330 or A350 today teach the procedures, callouts and decision-making airlines use now, so you build airline habits from the first lesson instead of unlearning flight-school habits later.

It shows most in the final phases: multi-crew cooperation, standard operating procedures and assessment preparation feel like a continuation of training rather than a new world.

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How does the visa and residence permit process work?

Slovenia is in the EU and Schengen. After acceptance at the school, non-EU students need a temporary residence permit for study.

If your passport needs a visa for Schengen (for example India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand or Vietnam), you apply at a Slovenian embassy before travelling, for the permit or for a long-stay visa D; with a visa-free passport (for example Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, South Korea or Brunei) you can apply in Slovenia before your visa-free stay ends.

43 per month, health insurance and a translated criminal record certificate. Start 3-6 months before your course date: your school helps with the documents, and our free school advisory explains each step.

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Do I need to speak Slovene?

No. Our partner schools here teach in English, air traffic control at international airports works in English, and the EASA license requires ICAO English Level 4, not Slovene. Daily life works in English for most things, and younger Slovenians widely speak it.

Some official paperwork is in Slovene, and your school helps with that. Learning a few local phrases is a courtesy, not a requirement.

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Will my EASA license convert back home in Asia-Pacific?

EASA licenses are widely respected, and most Asia-Pacific regulators have a way to convert a foreign license, but each one sets its own rules. Expect exams in local air law, often other subjects too, plus a skill test, with time and cost depending on the country.

Check the current steps with your home authority, such as Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department or India's DGCA, before you choose where to train, and ask us to compare the routes for you.

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What is it like to live in Maribor or Slovenske Konjice as a student?

Maribor is Slovenia's second city, a compact university town on the Drava river, and Slovenske Konjice is a small town a short drive away. Both are calm places to train, with the airfields close by.

Budget roughly EUR 800-1,100 (about USD 900-1,230) per month for shared housing, food and transport; SAA quotes around EUR 350 per month for a room in a shared two-bedroom apartment. 5 to 2 hours away by car for city weekends.

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How reliable is the flying weather?

Good for most of the year. North-east Slovenia has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Autumn and winter bring fog and low cloud on some days, which can cancel visual lessons, while spring and summer offer long flying days.

Poor days are good for simulator and theory work, and real weather builds real airmanship. Leave some slack in your timeline for winter.

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