Adoption of amendments to the Law on Foreigners has faced foreign students in Slovenia, including BiH citizens, with a major problem.

Namely, according to the amendment adopted in March, foreign students must prove existence of financial resources in the amount of EUR 5,000 in order to obtain residence permit in Slovenia.

– This is not good only for new students who will have to secure the money in a short time, but also for the students already studying and living in Slovenia and supporting themselves through student jobs. This is now an existential problem for all those students – said Katarina Mrđa, vice president of the local Slovenian branch of the Organization of Serbian Students.

A letter of guarantee from a parent or guardian, proving sufficient funds for student’s stay in Slovenia, is no longer sufficient to obtain a temporary residence permit for the purpose of studying.

– Until now, it sufficed to have any written proof that we are not receiving social assistance from the state of Slovenia, and that was really working. None of us knows why this happened because at no time did we ask for help from Slovenia or were a socially vulnerable category – adds Mrđa.

She believes that reason for adoption of the new provision of the law on foreign students is that Slovenia, according to her, wants to make a selection of students, so that, in her opinion, only those who are able to finance their studies will be able to study

Mrđa emphasized that the costs of studying in Slovenia, depending on whether the student had accommodation in a student dormitory or private accommodation, amounted to around EUR 400 per month, equal to the minimum amount required by Slovenia as deposit.

– That is a realistic amount and without EUR 400 a month, it is difficult for a student to survive in Slovenia – Mrđa emphasized for RTRS.

She added that the Serbian, Croatian and Macedonian student organizations had taken action and were launching a petition.

– The Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana, which has the largest number of foreign students, was the first to rebel. We are currently working on bringing this law to the Constitutional Court and have it annulled – Mrđa pointed out.

Source and photo: RTRS