eLastovka za varnejša potovanja v tujino

V novi epizodi vladnega GOVSI podkasta je gostoval Viktor Mlakar, vodja konzularnega sektorja na Ministrstvu za zunanje in evropske zadeve. Z voditeljico Petro Prešeren Golob sta govorila o konzularni pomoči slovenskim državljankam in državljanom v tujini, ravnanju v kriznih razmerah ter aplikaciji eLastovka.

Poletje je čas dopustov in potovanj, zato je pomembno, da se na pot v tujino dobro pripravimo. Večina poti mine brez zapletov, kadar pa se v tujini znajdemo v težavah, so ključne hitre, zanesljive in preverjene informacije.

Viktor Mlakar je pojasnil, da konzularna pomoč pomeni pomoč slovenskim državljanom v tujini, kadar se znajdejo v težavah. Najpogosteje gre za izgubo ali krajo osebnih dokumentov, nesreče, hospitalizacije, pripore ali zapore, pa tudi za upravno-pravne zadeve, povezane z življenjem v tujini, kot so rojstvo otroka, prijava državljanstva ali izdaja dokumentov.

Ob tem je poudaril, da konzularna pomoč ne pomeni, da država lahko plača hotelsko nastanitev, letalsko karto, zdravljenje ali odvetnika. Zato je pred potovanjem zelo pomembno skleniti ustrezno potovalno zdravstveno zavarovanje ter preveriti veljavnost dokumentov, vstopne pogoje, morebitne vizumske obveznosti in varnostne razmere v državi, kamor potujemo.

Poseben poudarek pogovora je bil namenjen aplikaciji eLastovka. Namenjena je vsem, ki potujejo v tujino – turistom, študentom, poslovnim potnikom in tistim, ki v tujini bivajo začasno. Uporabnikom omogoča dostop do informacij o varnostnih razmerah v posameznih državah, kontaktov slovenskih veleposlaništev in konzulatov ter nujnih telefonskih številk v državi potovanja.

Registrirani uporabniki lahko v aplikaciji prijavijo tudi svoje potovanje. Če se na območju, kjer se nahajajo, zgodi krizni dogodek, jih lahko ministrstvo obvesti prek SMS-sporočila, potisnega sporočila ali elektronske pošte. Prijava potovanja je prostovoljna, podatki pa se uporabljajo samo v primeru izrednih razmer in se po koncu potovanja samodejno izbrišejo.

Aplikacijo je mogoče uporabljati tudi brez registracije, vendar v tem primeru uporabnik ne more prijaviti potovanja. Še vedno pa ima dostop do informacij o državah, potovalnih priporočil in kontaktov pristojnih predstavništev.

Mlakar je popotnikom svetoval, naj pred odhodom preverijo vse potrebne informacije, sklenejo ustrezno zavarovanje in razmislijo o registraciji poti v eLastovki.

Vabljeni, da prisluhnite pogovoru. GOVSI podkast lahko spremljate tudi na vseh aplikacijah za podkaste in na vladnem kanalu YouTube.

[ENGLISH VERSION]

eLastovka for safer travel abroad

The latest episode of the government GOVSI podcast  features Viktor Mlakar, Head of the Consular Sector at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. In conversation with host Petra Prešeren Golob, he discussed consular assistance for Slovenian citizens abroad, how to act in crisis situations, and the eLastovka application.

Summer is a time for holidays and travel, which is why it is important to prepare well before travelling abroad. Most trips pass without complications, but when difficulties arise abroad, fast, reliable and verified information is essential.

Viktor Mlakar explained that consular assistance means helping Slovenian citizens abroad when they find themselves in difficulty. The most common cases include lost or stolen personal documents, accidents, hospitalisations, detentions or imprisonment, as well as administrative and legal matters connected with living abroad, such as the birth of a child, registration of citizenship or the issuing of documents.

He emphasised that consular assistance does not mean that the state can pay for hotel accommodation, airline tickets, medical treatment or a lawyer. It is therefore very important to take out appropriate travel health insurance before travelling, and to check the validity of documents, entry requirements, possible visa obligations and the security situation in the country of destination.

A special focus of the conversation was the eLastovka application. It is intended for everyone travelling abroad – tourists, students, business travellers and those staying abroad temporarily. The application provides access to information on the security situation in individual countries, contact details of Slovenian embassies and consulates, and emergency telephone numbers in the country of travel.

Registered users can also register their trip in the application. If a crisis occurs in the area where they are staying, the ministry can notify them by SMS, push notification or email. Trip registration is voluntary, and the data is used only in the event of an emergency and is automatically deleted after the trip ends.

The application can also be used without registration, but in that case users cannot register their trip. They still have access to country information, travel advice and contact details of the relevant representative offices.

Mlakar advised travellers to check all necessary information before departure, take out appropriate insurance and consider registering their trip in eLastovka.

The government podcast GOVSI is available on all podcast platforms and on the Government YouTube channel. 

Transcript

Vladni GOVSI podkast.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Lepo pozdravljeni v najnovejšem GOVSI podkastu, ki ga za vas pripravljamo na Uradu vlade za komuniciranje. Z vami sem Petra Prešeren Golob. Poletje je čas dopustov in potovanj.

Čas, ko mnogi odštevajo dneve do oddiha ali pa so že na poti. In Slovenci potujemo veliko. Lani smo opravili približno osem milijonov turističnih potovanj.

Vsaj enega potovanja se je udeležilo skoraj dve tretjini prebivalcev Slovenije. Večina poti mine brez zapletov, a kadar se v tujini znajdemo v nepredvideni situaciji, so ključne hitre in zanesljive informacije, predvsem o tem, kam se lahko obrnemo za konzularno pomoč, kje je najbližje slovensko veleposlaništvo ali konzulat, kako ravnati ob izgubi dokumentov, nesreči, bolezni ali drugih nujnih dogodkih. Prav zato je ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve razvilo aplikacijo eLastovka.

O eLastovki in konzularni pomoči nasploh se bomo pogovarjali z Viktorjem Mlakarjem, vodjo konzularnega sektorja na ministrstvu za zunanje in evropske zadeve. Lepo pozdravljeni.

Viktor Mlakar: Lep pozdrav.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Za začetek, kako bi našim poslušalkam in poslušalcem razložili vaše delo? Kaj pomeni voditi konzularni sektor?

Viktor Mlakar: Je kar zahtevno delo, moram priznati, ampak če imaš veselje do te specifične tematike, konzularna pomoč pomeni pomoč slovenskim državljanom v osnovi v tujini, kadar so v kakšnih težavah, potem je toliko lažje. Je pa izredno, kot rečeno, dinamično. Vedno se na kateri točki na svetu kaj dogaja in praktično ves čas nekako moraš spremljati situacijo in videti, kje lahko komu priskočiš na pomoč in kje ne. Je pa to en tak simpatičen del širše diplomacije.

Jaz in moji kolegi tukaj na ministrstvu in pa tudi na diplomatsko-konzularnih predstavništvih seveda opravljamo te naloge z velikim veseljem in ponosom.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Vedno ste torej pripravljeni na nepredvidene situacije.

Viktor Mlakar: Ja, moraš biti. To je res narava našega dela.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Marca, ko je ob zaostritvi razmer na Bližnjem vzhodu večje število slovenskih državljanov obtičalo v regiji, se je prav to pokazalo, kako pomembna je ta hitra informacija, zanesljiva komunikacija. Kaj se v taki krizni situaciji najprej zgodi? Kako sploh država vzpostavi stik z državljani v tujini oziroma na tem območju in kako zagotovi konzularno pomoč?

Viktor Mlakar: Torej, jaz bi najprej izpostavil prvo načelo konzularne pomoči, ki pravi, da je slovenski državljan tisti, ki mora zaprositi za konzularno pomoč. Moramo vedeti, da država ni vsepovsod prisotna. Mi ne vemo, kje se naši državljani nahajajo in je zato ta korak, se pravi ta proaktivni korak našega državljana, ki se znajde kje v težavah, tisti prvi nujni. Potem pa, ko je ta stik vzpostavljen, je toliko lažje komunicirati.

Mi smo recimo v primeru Bližnjega vzhoda, v prvih urah sprva ocenjevali, da je tam približno 200, 300 slovenskih državljanov. Potem nas je pa realnost kar hitro postavila na realna tla in te številke so šle res v tisoče. In potem je bilo pač potrebno prilagoditi tudi naše delovanje. Nekaj je, če imaš ti en primer, dva ali pa deset ljudi, ki se na nekem območju znajdejo v težavah, ali pa 500 ali tisoč.

Tako da različni izzivi in različni odzivi, bom rekel. V primeru Bližnjega vzhoda smo pa v bistvu se poslužili teh klasičnih načinov komunikacije, ki so sedaj pravzaprav že nekako ustaljeni. Torej, komuniciranje preko družbenih in socialnih omrežij res doseže veliko število ljudi. Tudi te naše državljane, ki so se tam nahajali.

Potem pa še tiste klasične poti, kot so e-sporočila in pa telefoni. Te tri komunikacijske smeri so se vzpostavile tudi v tem primeru.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Ta situacija, ta evakuacija je bil res izjemen, izreden dogodek. Kdaj pa državljani Slovenije v tujini največkrat potrebujejo pomoč oziroma se obrnejo na vas, ker potrebujejo pomoč?

Viktor Mlakar: Ja, ste omenili prav. Ta dogodek je res bil izjemen. Mi znotraj našega konzularnega sektorja imamo tri oddelke, ker imamo tri področja dela. Prvi je v bistvu vezan na klasično konzularno pomoč, nujno konzularno pomoč in pa upravno-pravne zadeve.

To so tisti najbolj običajni, najbolj pogosti dogodki, s katerimi se slovenski državljani v tujini srečujejo, bodisi da se znajdejo v neki nesreči, so recimo hospitalizirani ali pa jim je bil ukraden potni list ali pa na drugi strani so v tujini, tam živijo začasno ali stalno, pa se jim rodi recimo otrok in je potem potrebno priglasiti državljanstvo in mu izdelati potni list. Za vse te naloge so naši kolegi na veleposlaništvih in konzulatih in jih redno, vsak dan opravljajo. Ta izredni dogodek je pa eden od tistih, ki pa spada v ta drugi del, ki se ukvarja s konzularnim kriznim upravljanjem in je dejansko sprožen takrat, ko se na neki lokaciji zgodi varnostna situacija in kjer se nahaja večje število naših državljanov. To sta ti dve ločnici.

Se pravi, imamo individualno in nujno pomoč in pa na drugi strani ta skupinski moment, ko je večje število državljanov potrebno na nek način servisirati oziroma jim pomagati.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Našteli ste nekaj primerov. Torej, lahko se zgodi, da smo udeleženi v nesreči. Lahko se nam zgodi, da izgubimo, nam ukradejo osebni dokument.

Pa potem torej rojstvo otroka nekomu, ki živi v tujini, in tako naprej. Tako kot smo omenili, to je bila izredna situacija. So še kakšne konkretne situacije, ki jih lahko naštejete, ki so pogostejše?

Viktor Mlakar: Torej, poleg teh omenjenih, hospitalizacije sva rekla, recimo nesreče, kraje osebnih dokumentov ali pa izguba. Mogoče samo za ilustracijo povem. Teh primerov je bilo v letu 2025 približno 500 - toliko smo jih zabeležili na DKP-jih. Ker seveda, ko naš državljan izgubi potni list ali osebno izkaznico, lahko odpotuje domov običajno samo z novim, nadomestnim potnim listom, ne more brez tega odpotovati ali se vrniti.

In v teh primerih res zelo učinkovito pomagamo s tem, da izdamo recimo nadomestni ali potni list za vrnitev, kot mu mi pravimo. In pa seveda tudi druge situacije. Imeli smo primere, ko je nekdo priprt, zaprt. Tak državljan ima po Dunajski konvenciji o konzularnih odnosih pravico, da obvesti svoje veleposlaništvo, da vzpostavi stik s konzularnim oziroma diplomatskim predstavnikom.

Tudi teh primerov je vsako leto vsaj sto po vsem svetu in še bi lahko naštevala. Kar nekaj takšnih aktivnosti, ki jih seveda moramo izvajati v podporo našim državljanom s konzularno zaščito in asistenco.

Petra Prešeren Golob: In do teh konkretnih primerov, kako ravnati v teh posameznih primerih, bova prišla malo kasneje v najinem pogovoru. Kaj pa je meja med neko nevšečnostjo, ki se nam seveda lahko zgodi na potovanju, pa potem situacijo, kjer je potrebna konzularna pomoč?

Viktor Mlakar: Zdajle sva omenila ene par teh primerov. Če pogledava bolj pravno-formalno: Zakon o konzularni zaščiti je tisti, ki določa nek pravni okvir delovanja in ta zajema ravno te primere. Poleg tega pa tudi Zakon o zunanjih zadevah nam daje določene funkcije. Vse pa seveda temelji na mednarodnih dokumentih, mednarodnih pogodbah, kot so Dunajska konvencija o konzularnih odnosih in diplomatskih odnosih, kjer v bistvu določamo funkcije konzularnega in diplomatskega delovanja.

Ampak kot rečeno, pri konzularnih zadevah je po navadi največji obseg teh del, ki se tičejo življenja in dela naših državljanov v tujini. Nekaj sva jih omenila, recimo vpis rojstva v matične knjige, poroke, tudi smrti, izdajo potnih listov, osebnih izkaznic tistim, ki jim preteče to v tujini, ni nujno, da ga izgubijo. Nekateri tam živijo in jim osebni dokument preteče. Potem razne overitve, potrdila in tako naprej.

Ena taka mini, kako bi rekel, upravna enota v malem so naši kolegi na DKP, ki poskušajo in nudijo to svoje znanje, strokovno v podporo našim državljanom, da rešijo čim več stvari, ki jih morajo rešiti, če so in ko so v tujini.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Kako pa mi posamezniki lahko presodimo, kdaj je nekaj dovolj pomembno ali pa nekaj, kar bi nam morda lahko naš konzulat, veleposlaništvo pomagalo, kdaj gre pa samo za neko nevšečnost, ki jo moramo rešiti sami?

Viktor Mlakar: Kot rečeno, ko ste v stiku z nekim oblastnim organom v državi, kamor ste odpotovali, in se tam, recimo da zaplete, bodisi da vas želijo pripreti, pridržati. Takrat se morate znati sklicevati na svoje pravice. Vedno opozarjamo naše državljane, da imajo pravico do stika z našim veleposlaništvom. Tako da v tem primeru gotovo ja.

Če pa so recimo kakšni drugi primeri, ki morda niso vezani striktno na funkcijo zaščite konzularnega predstavnika, tam pa je naša pomoč morda manj možna oziroma možna je, ampak ni pa učinkovita. Recimo, imamo primere, ljudje sprašujejo, ko se skregajo recimo s sosedom. Tudi to smo že imeli. Ta oseba, ki je klicala, je v nekem sporu in so potem želeli, da se na konzulatu izrečemo o tem, kdo ima prav.

Taka vprašanja, ki so v bistvu rešljiva na nek medsebojni način, pa ni nujno, da jih mi znamo rešiti oziroma odsvetujemo, da se obračajo na nas, ker s tem seveda obremenijo kolege. V primeru, da pride kakšen bolj resen ali pa nujen primer, da se odzovejo takrat.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Nekaj statistike ste že povedali. Imate morda kakšno skupno številko, kako pogosto slovenski državljani v tujini potrebujejo konzularno pomoč?

Viktor Mlakar: Ja, dajva pogledati nekaj najbolj teh običajnih opravil, kot sva omenila že recimo potne liste in osebne izkaznice. Naši kolegi na DKP-jih so jih v letu 2025 izdali več kot 7200. To pomeni, da je slovenski državljan prišel na veleposlaništvo in tam podal vlogo in potni list je potem tudi lahko prevzel tam. Potem omenila sva potne liste za vrnitev.

To pomeni, da je slovenski državljan bodisi izgubil ali pa mu je bil osebni dokument ukraden. V tem primeru, kot omenjeno, izdamo potni list za vrnitev. Nekje okrog 500 jih je bilo v preteklem letu izdanih s strani naših DKP-jev in pa tudi s strani veleposlaništev drugih držav članic. Vemo, da nimamo žal v vseh državah naših veleposlaništev, tako da v primeru, da je slovenski državljan v težavah, se lahko v tem primeru obrne na katerokoli veleposlaništvo druge države članice Evropske unije.

6500 overitev dokumentov. To je ena taka številka morda in pa še en del, ki ga morda na začetku nisva omenila, pa prav tako spada pod naš delokrog, je pa izdajanje vizumov, torej vizumskih nalepk za tujce, ki želijo potovati v Slovenijo, pa za njih velja vizumska obveznost. Slovenski DKP na leto, vsaj v preteklem letu, izdajo približno 22 tisoč vizumov za kratkoročne obiske tujcev v Sloveniji. Tudi to je en pomemben del naših nalog v tujini.

Naši kolegi na DKP-jih izdajajo te vizume.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Ogromen obseg dela se to sliši za nekoga, ki ni iz vaših voda. Konzularno pomoč se sproži takrat, ko nekdo zanjo zaprosi. Torej naši državljani nekako morajo stopiti v stik z vami in zdaj, po novem bo pri tem pomagala tudi aplikacija eLastovka.

Nam lahko še malo več poveste, kako?

Viktor Mlakar: No, eLastovka je rezultat več kot enoletnega dela mojih kolegov na ministrstvu za zunanje zadeve, pa tudi zunanjih izvajalcev. Naš osnovni namen pri razvoju te aplikacije je bil, da moderniziramo že obstoječi spletni obrazec, preko katerega so se lahko doslej naši državljani registrirali, če so želeli. Seveda nič ni obvezno, niti eLastovka niti prejšnji registrski sistem ni obvezen za nikogar, nam pa lahko resnično pomaga v primerih, ko se recimo človek ali pa naš državljan, ki se je registriral, pa se znajde na nekem kritičnem območju. Takrat pa mi lahko preverimo kontakte te osebe in ga lahko tudi kontaktiramo, če je to potrebno.

In eLastovka prinaša neko nadgradnjo, če temu lahko tako rečeva, ko je možno to registracijo opraviti bodisi v posebni spletni aplikaciji ali pa kar preko mobilne aplikacije na mobilnem telefonu. Tako da smo šli v korak z digitalizacijo in upamo, da smo s to aplikacijo mogoče tudi malo olajšali cel ta postopek prijave popotnikov, ki se odpravljajo v tujino. Po drugi strani pa seveda aplikacija prinaša tudi lažje delo, ker lahko lažje zbiramo informacije o tem, kje se nahaja oseba, ki potrebuje nujno konzularno pomoč in jo lažje kontaktiramo in lažje nudimo podporo.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Torej na eni strani dostop do ključnih informacij, na drugi strani lažje obveščanje prek eLastovke.

Viktor Mlakar: Tako. Obe ti funkciji. Zdaj ta osnovna informacija, ki jo eLastovka prinaša, je vezana na naša potovalna priporočila, ki so tudi sicer še vedno objavljena na naših spletnih straneh. Vsi poznamo tisto našo lestvico barvno od rumene do črne, s katero stopnjujemo in ocenjujemo tveganje v posameznih državah.

In ta lestvica, ta pregledni seznam teh držav je razviden tudi v obeh aplikacijah. Poleg tega so v aplikacijo dodani tudi vsi aktualni podatki, kontaktni podatki naših veleposlaništev in konzulatov v primeru, da bi slovenski državljan moral kontaktirati, da bi rabil neko pomoč, lahko v sami aplikaciji najde tako naslov kot tudi e-naslov ali telefonsko številko našega veleposlaništva. In pa še en dodatek, ki prej ni bil v prejšnji obliki registrskega sistema in pa potovalnih priporočil tako viden, je pa ta, da smo v mobilno aplikacijo uvrstili tudi informacije nujnih telefonskih številk za vsako državo in med te spadajo recimo telefonska številka policije ali nujne medicinske pomoči. Zdaj ti dve informaciji sta dosegljivi na roki praktično, če uporabljate mobilni telefon.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Zelo uporabne informacije za vse, ki potujejo.

Viktor Mlakar: Pridejo prav.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Komu pa je aplikacija primarno namenjena? So to turisti, študenti, ljudje na poslovnih poteh, tisti, ki morda začasno bivajo v tujini?

Viktor Mlakar: Namenjena je vsakomur, ki potuje. Registracijo lahko naredi vsak, ki se nahaja v tujini in vpiše čas in kraj bivanja. Lahko je to en teden, lahko je to en mesec, lahko tudi eno leto. Tukaj ni nekih omejitev.

Mislim, da je omejitev navzgor štiri leta. Toliko čisto tehnično, ampak praktično je namenjeno vsakemu, ki želi prostovoljno povedati te podatke. Mi jih hranimo v aplikaciji za čas tega bivanja, ki se registrira, po tem bivanju pa se ti podatki izbrišejo. Tudi ime eLastovka verjetno že malo namigne na to.

Gre za nekoga, ki se vrača v domovino. Primarno je namenjena seveda popotnikom. lastovka je naša domača ptica, ptica selivka. Želeli smo potegniti vzporednico z vračanjem v domače gnezdo, varno vrnitvijo domov.

Tako kot se lastovka vrne, se tudi z naše strani izrazi želja, da se naši državljani varno vrnejo po potovanju nazaj v Slovenijo. Tako da malo simbolično, ampak sporoča ta osnovni namen, popotnikom v podporo.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Omenili ste že kaj, katere informacije vse vsebuje, kontakte veleposlaništev, konzulatov, pa potem oceno, to barvno lestvico, pa potem kontakte nujne medicinske pomoči ali pa policije v določeni državi. Kaj pa zdravstvena priporočila, na primer katera cepljenja so priporočena pred potovanjem na določena območja?

Viktor Mlakar: Popotnike vedno opozarjamo, da preden se odpravijo v tujino, preverijo določene informacije o državi, v katero potujejo. To ne zajema samo, ali potrebujejo za vstop vizum, ampak recimo, da potrebuje za vstop tudi neko določeno cepljenje. V tem primeru mi lahko samo usmerimo popotnike, da se o tem natančneje informirajo na spletnih straneh Nacionalnega inštituta za javno zdravje, kjer pripravljajo bolj konkretne informacije, vezane na to tematiko. In z naših spletnih strani so v bistvu povezave tudi na njihovo spletno stran.

Je pa res, da mi teh informacij ne objavljamo na naših spletnih straneh. To pa ja.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Pa morda, če nam lahko po korakih razložite, kako si namestimo lahko to aplikacijo?

Viktor Mlakar: Mobilna aplikacija je na voljo v spletnih trgovinah Google, Apple in Huawei. V vseh teh treh trgovinah jo je možno sneti in se na mobilnem telefonu lahko uporablja takoj, brez registracije. Če pa se želimo registrirati, je pa priporočljivo, da se uporabi spletna aplikacija. To je posebna spletna stran, elastovka.si.

Tam je pa mogoče opraviti registracijo. Ta registracija poteka preko varnostne sheme SI-PASS, ki zagotavlja neko določeno varovanje samega vstopa v to aplikacijo. Vstop je možen bodisi z izdanim digitalnim certifikatom, lahko pa tudi z Google računom, Microsoft računom, lahko z smsPASS-om, lahko tudi s pomočjo naše nove biometrične osebne izkaznice. Več je teh načinov, s katerimi se lahko registrirate v tej shemi in potem uporabljate eLastovko kot registrirani uporabnik.

Ko se enkrat registrirate, pa je omogočena še dodatna funkcija, torej registracija potovanja, kraj in čas in pa vaši podatki, kjer se vas lahko kontaktira v primeru, da pride do kakšne konzularne krizne situacije ravno tam, kjer se vi slučajno takrat nahajate. In ta dodatna funkcija je možna samo v primeru registracije. To morava še enkrat poudariti. Tisti, ki ni registriran, prijaviti svojega potovanja ne more.

Lahko samo spremlja tiste prej omenjene informacije. Registracija pa omogoča dostop tudi do te dodatne funkcije.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Torej neregistrirani uporabniki še vedno dobijo informacije o tem, kakšno je stanje v državi in te kontakte, ne morejo pa prijaviti poti. Torej vi potem niste obveščeni, da se ta oseba recimo nahaja in za koliko časa recimo se bo nahajala na nekem območju?

Viktor Mlakar: Recimo, da se nahajajo v Južni Ameriki, v neki državi, kjer se je zgodil potres. Mi lahko takoj preko eLastovke sistema preverimo, koliko slovenskih državljanov je prijavilo pot na tisto lokacijo, in jim sporočimo preko SMS ali potisnega sporočila neko obvestilo, neko priporočilo, za katero želimo, da jih doseže, ker se ravno tam nahajajo. To sporočilo ne bo doseglo našega državljana na Hrvaškem ali pa na grškem otoku, ampak izključno tistega popotnika, ki se bo nahajal na kritičnem območju. Torej zelo selektivno in na ta način verjamem tudi bolj učinkovito sporočamo določene informacije prizadetim.

Petra Prešeren Golob: In to je mogoče samo, če smo registrirani?

Viktor Mlakar: Če smo registrirani.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Dobimo to obvestilo.

Viktor Mlakar: Registracija je tukaj res potrebna. Mogoče še dodam. Se zdi ta postopek registracije malenkost kompliciran, ampak verjamem, da se večina, potem ko se spozna s samim sistemom, znajde. Če pa kdo vseeno rabi pomoč, je pa tukaj potem na voljo naš klicni center 114.

Klicni center Vlade Republike Slovenije na številki 114, kjer bodo sodelavci tega klicnega centra radi pomagali uporabnikom pri nameščanju in pa pri raziskovanju vseh teh funkcij, ki jih eLastovka prinaša, če bodo potrebovali neko dodatno pomoč, če se zaplete na katerem koli koraku, so na voljo.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Ali lahko v aplikaciji prijavimo več potovanj hkrati? Recimo, če se odpravljamo nekam za dlje časa in bomo obiskali več držav. Kako to deluje?

Viktor Mlakar: Lahko. Funkcionalnost aplikacije omogoča, da vnesete lahko dve, tri, štiri, kolikor pač imate teh potovanj tudi v različnih državah v enem kosu ali pa vsakega posebej. Tako da funkcija to omogoča. In recimo, ko boste eno državo zapustili in boste šli v drugo, bomo seveda vedeli, da ste v določenem času v tej drugi državi in vas v bistvu ne dotikajo več morebitne težave ali pa izredne razmere v tisti prvi državi, kjer vas ni več.

Je koristna tudi za nas, da lažje ločimo tisto skupino državljanov, ki jim je treba hitro pomagati, in je možno to dodajanje teh držav ali pa potovanj v samo aplikacijo tudi naknadno. Recimo, če ste se registrirali za en teden, pa potem si premislite ali pa dodate, lahko to vedno naknadno noter vnesete.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Se pa registrira pot v državo ali tudi znotraj same države se potem bolj specifično določi neko pokrajino, regijo?

Viktor Mlakar: Sploh recimo tam, kjer gre za res velike države, se lahko na nekem koncu nekaj dogaja, na drugem pa ne. Tudi na to smo mislili. Možno je samo v registracijskem obrazcu navesti državo, kamor odhajate. Kitajska je velika država, smo pa vseeno razvili in ponudimo uporabniku tudi opcijo, da določi mikrolokacijo, geolokacijo, torej s svojim telefonom, če se s tem strinja, lahko vključi tudi funkcijo, da ga je možno locirati znotraj države.

To je precej velik skok naprej, ker je funkcija, s pomočjo katere lahko zelo natančno določimo lokacijo, kjer se državljan nahaja, ampak bi tukaj samo opozoril na to, da je to uporabljeno samo v primeru izrednih razmer, ko je na tistem območju, za katerega mi ocenjujemo, da je treba posredovati, možno tega posameznika locirati in še to samo, če uporabnik to funkcijo dejansko omogoči, ker ni privzeto omogočena. Vsak državljan mora sam oceniti, ali želi še mikrolokacijo povedati, ne samo države.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Kaj pa če potujemo v skupini, recimo z družino, s prijatelji? Ali lahko ena oseba v potovalni načrt oziroma v to aplikacijo prijavi več oseb?

Viktor Mlakar: Deloma. Ena oseba lahko prijavi več oseb samo številčno. Če se registriram jaz in želim s seboj prijaviti še tri osebe, ki potujejo z menoj, ne bom mogel vnesti njihovih osebnih podatkov. Lahko bom pa napisal svoje podatke in potem še dodal, da to skupino tvorijo še štiri ostale osebe.

Če se oni želijo sami registrirati, se lahko sami. Ne morete pa vi opraviti namesto njih tega. Je pa res, da je, kot rečeno, možno registrirati skupino, ki potuje, s tem, da mora biti z imenom in priimkom vsaj ena oseba v tej skupini razvidna iz samega registracijskega obrazca.

Petra Prešeren Golob: In seveda bo tista oseba potem tudi dobivala obvestila potencialno, če bi bilo to potrebno.

Viktor Mlakar: Računamo, da so tudi skupaj na potovanju in potem preko te osebe se te informacije širijo naprej drugim članom skupine, če niso želeli ali pa niso mogli opraviti sami te registracije individualno.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Predstavljava si, da načrtujem dopust v eno izmed bolj oddaljenih držav. Kako mi pri tem načrtovanju poti lahko pomaga eLastovka? Veliko ste že omenili, pa recimo, da strneva.

Viktor Mlakar: eLastovka nam med pripravami na pot pomaga predvsem z varnostnim priporočilom. Hitro lahko ugotovite, kakšno je trenutno varnostno tveganje v državi, kamor odhajate, potem pa s pomočjo eLastovke, kot sva omenila, registrirate svojo pot in na ta način se zavarujete za primer, da se kak izreden dogodek zgodi ravno tam, in na ta način omogočite lažjo in bolj učinkovito konzularno pomoč. Torej eLastovka je res tista, ki daje te osnovne informacije, ki so seveda pomembne pred samim odhodom na pot, pomagajo pa lahko tudi vmes, ko ste že na lokaciji, v primerih, ki sva jih omenila, ko morate hitro poklicati naše veleposlaništvo ali pa mogoče policijo ali pa nujno medicinsko pomoč, če je to potrebno.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Kako pogosto pa se same informacije v aplikaciji posodabljajo?

Viktor Mlakar: Vsebino dnevno pregledujemo od situacije do situacije. Seveda, kjer se nekaj dogaja, smo takoj ažurni in zadeve spreminjamo sproti, dnevno, kjer se nič ne dogaja, pa velja priporočilo od tistega dne, ko je bilo zapisano. Če se vmes kaj spremeni, potem seveda tudi ustrezno popravimo vsebinsko sporočilo v sami aplikaciji oziroma na spletni strani ministrstva.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Podatki so zelo ažurni.

Viktor Mlakar: Se seveda trudimo. Ne bom rekel, da kdaj mogoče kakšna stvar ni čisto ažurirana, ampak vse te pomembne informacije, ki so vezane na nudenje konzularne pomoči, pa se trudimo in skrbimo, da so res kar se da sveže. Nekaj ste že omenili o tem, kako teoretično kontaktirate potem potnike, če je to seveda potrebno. Torej, SMS, potisna sporočila, elektronska pošta.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Ali lahko uporabnik aplikacije sam izbere način, kako ga boste kontaktirali? Ker mobilna gostovanja so ponekod še vedno povezana tudi z dodatnimi stroški.

Viktor Mlakar: Več opcij je na voljo pri registraciji. Uporabnik sam določi, na kakšen način se mu neko sporočilo lahko pošlje. Omenili ste SMS. To je eden izmed primerov.

Potisno sporočilo je mogoče še najbolj praktično, ker ga dobite v aplikacijo, pojavi pa se opozorilo, da ste dobili sporočilo v eLastovko. In takrat seveda odprete in pogledate, kaj je. Je pa še vedno možno klasično komuniciranje preko e-pošte. Uporabnike ob registraciji prosimo tudi za podatek e-naslova in telefona, pa ne samo mobilne številke, ki jo uporabljajo v Sloveniji.

Vemo, da se dostikrat dogaja, da si v tujini nastavimo elektronsko SIM kartico in dobimo čisto posebno telefonsko številko, ki velja samo za tisto državo. Aplikacija omogoča tudi registracijo te začasne mobilne telefonske številke in ta sporočila ne potujejo na vaš mobilni telefon, ki je izključen nekje v predalu, ampak na tega, ki ga dejansko imate na potovanju. Tako smo poskušali poskrbeti, da te poti komunikacije na različnih ravneh tečejo proti uporabniku. Uporabnik lahko potem sam komunicira z nami, ali prek e-pošte ali po telefonu.

To je ta osnovni odziv oziroma način komunikacije med dvema strankama. Torej, na eni strani med uporabnikom, na drugi strani pa, ali našim veleposlaništvom ali pa, tukaj, na ministrstvu, centralno konzularno službo.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Torej, ne pa prek aplikacije?

Viktor Mlakar: Aplikacija ne omogoča tega dopisovanja. Z njo smo samo prevzeli funkcijo obveščanja in usmerjanja s pomočjo teh sporočil. Ko pa je treba, če je treba, pa mora uporabnik stopiti korak naprej in poklicati ali napisati e-sporočilo s konkretnimi podatki ali pa s konkretnim sporočilom, na katerega se potem mi odzovemo.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Kaj pa recimo na območjih, kjer je dostop do interneta omejen?

Viktor Mlakar: To je lahko problem. Vsi vemo, da te mobilne aplikacije dejansko res funkcionirajo pod predpostavko, da deluje mobilno omrežje in da deluje prenos podatkov. Res je, da so primeri, ko temu res ni tako. V teh razmerah je potem samo delovanje aplikacije oteženo.

Odvisno pač od stabilnosti samega omrežja. Je pa še vedno na voljo, to morava omeniti, tista naša že tudi precej poznana storitev, SMS sporočilo, SMS obveščanje. Naj poslušalce spomniva, da vsakič, ko potujejo v neko tujo državo, dobijo na mobilni telefon obvestilo z SMS sporočilom, da se v primeru nujnih konzularnih zadev lahko obrnejo na veleposlaništvo Republike Slovenije. In potem je neka številka.

To sporočilo še vedno pride. Tako da tudi če pade internet ali pa prenos podatkov, ima naš državljan načeloma na svojem mobilnem telefonu še vedno to številko, na katero lahko v skrajni sili pokliče, in to je neodvisno od delovanja prenosa podatkov ali pa mobilnega interneta, tako da še vedno je neka rezervna varianta, rezervni scenarij, kako se povezati z našim veleposlaništvom. To si je dobro zapomniti, ker večina kar pozabi potem na tisti SMS, ko prestopi mejo, ga dobi in... Fino je imeti nekje v glavi, da je okej.

Še vedno imam nekje v SMS-sporočilih tudi ta podatek in lahko kdaj koristi.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Dotaknili ste se tudi že varnosti podatkov. Rekli ste, da podatke zbirate do takrat, dokler traja tisto potovanje oziroma prijavljena pot. Katere podatke zbirate?

Viktor Mlakar: Torej podatki se, kot sva omenila, avtomatsko brišejo peti dan po zaključku potovanja in vključujejo ime in priimek, potem številko EMŠO in pa tudi e-naslov in telefonsko številko ter številko osebnega dokumenta. To so podatki, ki jih ob registraciji uporabnik mora vnesti, ko registrira potovanje, tudi poleg lokacije navede še te podatke. Ampak, kot rečeno, ti podatki niso na voljo kar tako vsem, da vanje vpogledujemo. Uporaba teh podatkov je dovoljena samo v primeru, da se na neki lokaciji zgodi izredni dogodek, na podlagi katerega moramo v bistvu izvajati določene konzularne aktivnosti in šele takrat v bistvu smemo dostopati do teh osebnih podatkov.

Kot rečeno, ko se potovanje zaključi oziroma nekaj dni za tem, se ti podatki tudi avtomatsko brišejo iz baze, tako da ne poznamo in ne vemo več za nikogar, kam je potoval lani na počitnice. In ker smo ravno pred glavno sezono, ko večina ljudi odhaja na dopuste

Petra Prešeren Golob: ali pa na potovanja, morda še nekaj čisto praktičnih primerov, kaj storimo, pa to sva že na začetku na kratko omenila, če v tujini izgubimo potni list ali pa kakšen drug osebni dokument, ga izgubimo ali nam ga ukradejo?

Viktor Mlakar: Če lahko čisto konkretno pogledava. Primer potnega lista, izgubljenega ali ukradenega, je kar dober. Kot rečeno, je kar precej pogost. Naši kolegi so kar zasedeni z reševanjem tovrstnih konzularnih primerov.

Torej nasvet je ta. Če ugotovite, da ste izgubili ali pa da vam je bil odtujen potni list, poskušajte to prijaviti na najbližji policijski postaji. Zakaj? Iz dveh razlogov.

Prvi, da vam na podlagi te prijave policiji lahko izdamo nadomestni dokument, in drugi razlog je pa predvsem to, da se izognete morebitnim zlorabam vaše identitete. Zato je treba čim prej, takoj, narediti prijavo, še v državi, kjer se je to zgodilo. In potem, ko imate to prijavo narejeno, se oglasite oziroma najdete kontakt našega veleposlaništva, bodisi preko eLastovke ali pa preko SMS sporočila in se najavite oziroma pokličete in pojasnite situacijo in kolegi, ki so na veleposlaništvu, vam bodo potem svetovali, kaj in kako naprej. V osnovi pa vas bodo napotili, da se pri njih oglasite, da vam izdelajo ta začasni potni list, ki vam bo potem omogočal čim krajšo...

Seveda, ta potni list za vrnitev ni namenjen, da vi potem še potujete, po nekih drugih krajih in državah, ampak da se čim prej vrnete v domovino. In ta potni list za vrnitev vam izdajo v najkrajšem možnem času, ker gre res običajno za nujne konzularne zadeve. Veste, smo imeli primere, ko je nekdo izgubil potni list en dan, preden je imel letalo za vrnitev, kar pomeni, da naši kolegi pomagajo tudi državljanom, ko se znajdejo v teh težavah v petek ob sedmih zvečer, v soboto pa je let, tako da tukaj res poskušamo narediti vse, da to težavo našega državljana rešimo kar se le da učinkovito. In ste zelo odzivni.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Smo odzivni. Tako da jaz verjamem, da ima marsikdo takšno izkušnjo, ki je verjetno pozitivna. Vsaj upam.

Je pa res, da takšna odzivnost pomeni tudi obremenjenost naših kolegov. Ampak ni pa toliko teh primerov, da bi rekli, da je tega preveč, oziroma da bi se to izkoriščalo. Razumemo ljudi v stiski in takrat pač poskušamo kar se da pomagati.

Viktor Mlakar: Je smiselno, da fotografiramo ta potovalni dokument, preden gremo na pot, za vsak slučaj v primeru tega ali to nič ne pomaga v taki situaciji? Jaz bi rekel, da mogoče pomaga v tistem delu, kot sva omenila, da je potrebno narediti prijavo kraje. Takrat, če imate pri sebi fotokopijo, boste lahko takoj povedali številko tega dokumenta. Verjetno je večina ljudi ne zna na pamet.

Pa do kdaj je veljal. In to lahko hitro uporabimo v prijavi. Sama fotokopija osebne izkaznice, potnega lista pa ni potovalni dokument sam po sebi in noben resen imigracijski organ vas ne bo spustil čez mejo, če se boste prikazali z zloženo fotokopijo osebne izkaznice na mejnem prehodu, žal, ker seveda tisti list papirja je fotokopija in brez kakršnihkoli varnostnih elementov in dokazila, da ste to res vi, da je to res vaše, vas ne bodo resno obravnavali. Zato je treba res kontaktirati naše veleposlaništvo in si urediti ta začasni potni list, ki pa je priznan in veljaven potovalni dokument.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Pa na kratko, kaj pa v primeru nesreče, hospitalizacije, aretacije?

Viktor Mlakar: Recimo, nesreča, hospitalizacija. Tukaj naši kolegi na veleposlaništvih v bistvu bolj opravljajo funkcijo neke osebe, ki prenaša informacije od poškodovanega pa do svojcev. Recimo, da je nekdo hospitaliziran, pa ne more sam komunicirati, lahko zaprosi naše kolege, pa potem oni posredujejo informacijo v domovino in so neka vez med poškodovanim in pa njegovimi družinskimi člani v Sloveniji. V primeru zapora ali pripora sva že nekaj omenila.

Vsak ima seveda pravico, da je njegovo veleposlaništvo obveščeno o tem, da mu je bila odvzeta prostost. Je pa tukaj potem tudi res, da mogoče marsikdo narobe razume samo vlogo konzula ali diplomata, ki ni enaka vlogi odvetnika. Torej ne more postati njegov zagovornik. Pomaga mu lahko recimo pri samem prenosu informacij glede pravosodnega sistema.

Lahko mu posreduje informacijo ali pa seznam nekih odvetnikov, ki jih lahko on uporabi potem v primeru nadaljnjih postopkov, in pa mogoče v primeru komunikacije, recimo z oblastmi, s policijo, s preiskovalci ali pa z recimo vodjo zapora. To je pomembna funkcija. Včasih ljudje, potem ko so obsojeni, prestajajo zaporno kazen in potem prosijo veleposlaništvo za reševanje določenih statusnih problemov, ki so v teh zaporih prisotni, takšni in drugačni, glede na lokacijo. Odvisno.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Ali lahko konzularna služba plača hotelsko nastanitev, letalsko karto, odvetnika ste že rekli?

Viktor Mlakar: Ne.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Ne.

Viktor Mlakar: Ja, tudi tukaj je žal odgovor ne. Ne moremo nuditi teh turističnih storitev, če jih lahko tako imenujeva, torej nekih rezervacij hotelskih sob ali pa letalskih kart ali pa posredovanja pri letalskih družbah, da nekomu vrnejo denar. Tukaj nimamo pristojnosti. To večkrat pride do izraza še posebej v primeru dogodkov, kot je bil Bližnji vzhod, ko so ljudje ostali brez kart.

Mi v ta odnos med stranko in prodajalcem ne moremo vstopiti. To je stvar, ki jo morata onadva sama rešiti na takšen ali drugačen način, tudi s pravnimi inštrumenti, če je to potrebno. Ne moremo pa seveda mi razsojati, kdo je nekaj dolžan ali pa celo da mi nekomu zalagamo denar. Tudi ne moremo plačevati računov za zdravljenje.

Včasih je kar strašno, ko ljudje ugotovijo, da so morali iti v bolnišnico in so imeli nek zdravstveni poseg, ki pa se v določenih državah precej drago plača in brez ustreznega zdravstvenega zavarovanja so ti zneski res gromozanski. Zato je to eno izmed naših priporočil, da se pred potjo ustrezno potovalno zdravstveno zavarovanje sklene. Upam, da sva zdaj tudi nekako odgovorila posredno na to vprašanje, kje so meje konzularne pomoči. Veliko lahko pomagate, vsega pa tudi ne.

Tako.

Petra Prešeren Golob: In tudi opozarjate na ministrstvu za zunanje in evropske zadeve, da je v državah ali delih držav, za katere je izdano oranžno, rdeče ali črno opozorilo, konzularna pomoč lahko omejena, otežena ali celo onemogočena. Kako naj nekdo presodi, ali je potovanje še smiselno in varno, če je za državo izdano opozorilo?

Viktor Mlakar: Tukaj smo spet pri tem našem priporočilu, ki je samo priporočilo. Mi nikogar ne obvezujemo. Nihče ni obvezan slediti našim nasvetom. Vsak se sam pri sebi na koncu odloči, ali bo na neko pot odšel ali ne, tudi v državo, ki je označena z visokim tveganjem, pri čemer se pa mora seveda zavedati določenih omejitev, vsaj kar se tiče možnosti nudenja konzularne pomoči.

Če za neko državo izdamo rdeče opozorilo, to ne pomeni, da ne bomo želeli nuditi konzularne pomoči. Mi po zakonu nudimo konzularno pomoč vsakemu. Ampak v državi, ki je označena z rdečo, najbrž ne bomo mogli učinkovito pomagati. In tega se morajo ljudje zavedati, torej da ko potujejo v neko takšno državo, da prevzamejo del odgovornosti tudi za to, da se jim pač ne bo moglo nuditi učinkovite konzularne pomoči.

Zdaj, če imamo Irak označen s črno barvo, potem to že pove, da če se našemu državljanu v Iraku kaj zgodi, bomo izredno težko pomagali. Zato mora vsak pri sebi oceniti, do katere stopnje tveganja je še pripravljen iti. Predvsem bi pa rekel tako, da naj vsak, ko se odloča, kam iti ali ne, pomisli, ali bo v času tega potovanja ga samo skrbelo, kaj se bo zgodilo, ker je pač neka država bolj nevarna. Kaj bo imel od tega, ali bo šel na pot zato, da bo tudi tam ves čas v skrbeh, ali gre zato, da nekaj novega vidi, da si odpočije in tako naprej.

Torej, vsak mora pri sebi razčistiti v bistvu ta način oziroma do katere meje še sprejeti neko tveganje, kje pa pač to ni več primerno.

Petra Prešeren Golob: In prilagoditi svoja pričakovanja.

Viktor Mlakar: Absolutno. Tako kot sva rekla, prilagoditi našim zmožnostim.

Petra Prešeren Golob: In tudi to, kam trenutno odsvetujete potovanja, verjetno državljani najdejo, tako kot sva omenila, na spletnih straneh pri vas ali pa v aplikaciji eLastovka?

Viktor Mlakar: V aplikaciji eLastovka, pa tudi na spletnih straneh je seznam držav. Vsak najde državo z imenom in potem se mu za to državo odprejo informacije, vključno s potovalnim priporočilom in varnostnim tveganjem. V aplikaciji eLastovka je pa tudi možno na zemljevidu interaktivno videti, katera država je kako obarvana, tako da smo na ta način mogoče malo bolj dostopno naredili tudi ta del potovalnega priporočila, da je lažje viden.

Petra Prešeren Golob: In samo še za konec morda še kakšen napotek za vse, ki se v teh dneh odpravljajo na dopust, na pot v tujino. Kaj morda vi postorite, preverite, preden greste v tujino na pot?

Viktor Mlakar: Jaz osebno vedno preverim veljavnost svojega potovalnega dokumenta. To je najprej. Ker včasih kar pozabimo, da recimo za pot v Nemčijo rabimo tudi veljavno osebno izkaznico ali potni list. In če je temu pretekla veljavnost, pomeni, da ta pot pač ne bo v redu.

Torej, je treba pridobiti veljaven potovalni dokument, imeti pri sebi. In v določenih primerih je treba biti pozoren na sam potek veljavnosti tega dokumenta. Nekatere države recimo zahtevajo, da ste vi lahko v tej državi največ do tistega datuma in še šest mesecev po tem vašem odhodu mora potni list biti veljaven. Če je manj, recimo tri mesece, tvegate, da vas ne bodo sploh spustili v državo.

Zato je treba biti glede potovalnih dokumentov zelo previden in te zadeve preveriti. Potem je treba preveriti vstopne pogoje v državi, v katero potujete. Tiste države, ki imajo vizumsko obveznost, so morda še najbolj enostavne. Pač greste na spletno stran države, tam pa so navedeni postopki, s katerimi potem pridobite vstopni vizum.

Imate pa tudi države, kjer je treba registrirati samo pot, pa ni vizumske obveznosti, recimo, ZDA ali pa Združeno kraljestvo. To so v bistvu samo spletne registracije, na katere morda niti nismo pozorni. Ko pridemo na letališče in nas vprašajo po številki te registracije, pa ste v težavah, če tega niste naredili pred potjo. Tudi na to je treba biti pozoren.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Omenila sva potovalno zavarovanje?

Viktor Mlakar: Kot rečeno, še enkrat vsem: jaz osebno ga vedno sklenem, tudi če grem samo na Hrvaško. Vedno je dobro imeti ustrezno potovalno zavarovanje za primere, ko se zgodi kakšna hujša zadeva, kakšna težja poškodba, ko je potrebno dolgotrajnejše zdravljenje ali pa bolj zahtevno zdravljenje ali pa celo morda medicinska evakuacija. To so tisti primeri, ko lahko sto tisoč evrov stane en medicinski let iz neke države v domovino, vi pa nimate ustreznega pokritja v potovalnem zavarovanju. In to so kar tragične zgodbe.

Imamo tudi izkušnje žal s takšnimi primeri, ko ljudje niso imeli tega zavarovanja in so morali iz lastnega žepa plačevati več deset tisoč evrov, tako da potovalno zdravstveno zavarovanje, nikoli pozabiti nanj, vedno pride prav.

Petra Prešeren Golob: In kaj sva še omenila?

Viktor Mlakar: Tudi sam se bom, kot rečeno, registriral v eLastovki, ker želim, če se kaj zgodi, želim, da so ti podatki na voljo osebam, ki bodo nudile konzularno pomoč, če se to zgodi ravno na tisti lokaciji, kamor odhajam. In potem samo še srečno pot in vesele počitnice. Veselo popotovanje.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Najlepša hvala, gospod Mlakar, za ta pogovor in vse koristne informacije. Spoštovane poslušalke in poslušalci, želimo vam prijetno poletje in varne poti. Hvala, ker ste prisluhnili najnovejši epizodi GOVSI podkasta.

Spremljajte nas tudi na YouTubu in v vseh drugih aplikacijah za podkaste.

[ENGLISH VERSION]

Government GOVSI Podcast

Petra Prešeren Golob: Welcome to the latest GOVSI podcast, prepared for you by the Government Communication Office. I am Petra Prešeren Golob. Summer is a time of holidays and travel.

A time when many people are counting down the days until their vacation or are already on the road. And Slovenians travel a lot. Last year, we made approximately eight million tourist trips.

Almost two-thirds of Slovenia’s population took at least one trip. Most journeys pass without complications, but when we find ourselves abroad in an unforeseen situation, quick and reliable information is crucial, especially about where to turn for consular assistance, where the nearest Slovenian embassy or consulate is located, and what to do in the event of lost documents, an accident, illness, or other emergencies. That is precisely why the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs developed the eLastovka application.

Today we will talk about eLastovka and consular assistance in general with Viktor Mlakar, Head of the Consular Sector at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. Welcome.

Viktor Mlakar: Greetings.

Petra Prešeren Golob: To begin with, how would you explain your work to our listeners? What does it mean to lead the Consular Sector?

Viktor Mlakar: It is quite a demanding job, I must admit, but if you enjoy this specific field, consular assistance essentially means helping Slovenian citizens abroad whenever they encounter difficulties, and that makes the work easier. As I said, it is extremely dynamic. Something is always happening somewhere in the world, and you practically have to monitor the situation constantly and see where you can help and where you cannot. It is a very interesting aspect of diplomacy in a broader sense.

My colleagues and I here at the ministry, as well as our colleagues at diplomatic and consular missions, perform these duties with great pleasure and pride.

Petra Prešeren Golob: So you are always prepared for unforeseen situations.

Viktor Mlakar: Yes, you have to be. That is simply the nature of our work.

Petra Prešeren Golob: In March, when tensions escalated in the Middle East and a larger number of Slovenian citizens became stranded in the region, this demonstrated how important fast information and reliable communication are. What happens first in such a crisis situation? How does the state establish contact with citizens abroad or in that area, and how does it provide consular assistance?

Viktor Mlakar: First, I would like to highlight the primary principle of consular assistance, which states that the Slovenian citizen must request consular assistance. We need to understand that the state is not present everywhere. We do not know where all our citizens are located, and therefore this proactive step by a citizen who finds themselves in difficulty is the essential first step. Once contact is established, communication becomes much easier.

In the case of the Middle East, in the first hours we initially estimated that there were between 200 and 300 Slovenian citizens there. Reality quickly set us straight, and those numbers rose into the thousands. We then had to adapt our operations accordingly. It is one thing when one, two, or ten people encounter difficulties in a particular area, and quite another when the number is 500 or 1,000.

Different challenges require different responses. In the case of the Middle East, we relied on communication methods that have by now become fairly standard. Communication through social media reaches a large number of people, including our citizens who were there.

Then there are the traditional channels, such as email and telephone. These three communication channels were established in that situation as well.

Petra Prešeren Golob: That situation, that evacuation, was truly extraordinary. When do Slovenian citizens abroad most often need assistance or contact you because they require help?

Viktor Mlakar: Yes, you are right to mention that. It truly was an exceptional event. Within our Consular Sector we have three departments because we cover three areas of work. The first concerns traditional consular assistance, emergency consular assistance, and administrative and legal matters.

These are the most common situations that Slovenian citizens abroad encounter. For example, they may be involved in an accident, be hospitalized, have a passport stolen, or, on the other hand, they may live abroad temporarily or permanently and have a child born there. In that case, it is necessary to register the child’s citizenship and obtain a passport. Our colleagues at embassies and consulates handle such matters every day.

An extraordinary event belongs to the second area, which deals with consular crisis management. It is activated when a security situation arises in a particular location where a larger number of our citizens are present.

So, on the one hand, we provide individual and emergency assistance, and on the other, we deal with situations involving larger groups of citizens who require support.

Petra Prešeren Golob: You listed some examples. We may be involved in an accident. We may lose an identity document or have it stolen.

There is also the birth of a child to someone living abroad, and so on. As we mentioned, that was an extraordinary situation. Can you mention other specific situations that occur more frequently?

Viktor Mlakar: Besides the examples already mentioned—hospitalization, accidents, stolen or lost identity documents—let me provide some illustration. In 2025, there were approximately 500 such cases recorded at our diplomatic and consular missions. When a citizen loses a passport or identity card, the person can usually return home only with a new replacement travel document and cannot travel without one.

In such cases we assist effectively by issuing a replacement travel document, which we call a passport for return.

We also deal with other situations. We have cases where someone is detained or imprisoned. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, such a citizen has the right to inform their embassy and establish contact with a consular or diplomatic representative.

We handle at least a hundred such cases each year around the world, and there are many more examples. We carry out numerous activities in support of our citizens through consular protection and assistance.

Petra Prešeren Golob: We already mentioned some statistics. Do you perhaps have an overall figure on how often Slovenian citizens abroad require consular assistance? 

Viktor Mlakar: Yes, let us look at some of the most common services, such as passports and identity cards. Our colleagues at diplomatic and consular missions issued more than 7,200 of them in 2025. This means that a Slovenian citizen came to an embassy, submitted an application there, and was then also able to collect the passport there. We also mentioned passports for return. 

This means that a Slovenian citizen either lost an identity document or had it stolen. As mentioned, in such cases we issue a passport for return. Around 500 of these were issued in the previous year by our diplomatic and consular missions as well as by embassies of other EU Member States. We know that unfortunately we do not have our own embassies in every country, so if a Slovenian citizen encounters difficulties, they may contact any embassy of another European Union Member State.

There were also 6,500 document certifications. That is another noteworthy figure. There is also an area that we may not have mentioned at the beginning, but which is part of our responsibilities: the issuance of visas, that is, visa stickers for foreign nationals who wish to travel to Slovenia and who are subject to visa requirements. Slovenian diplomatic and consular missions issue approximately 22,000 visas annually for short-term visits by foreigners to Slovenia. This is also an important part of our duties abroad. Our colleagues at diplomatic and consular missions issue these visas.

Petra Prešeren Golob: That sounds like an enormous workload to someone who is not familiar with your field. Consular assistance is activated when someone requests it. So our citizens must somehow get in touch with you, and now the eLastovka application will also help with that.

Could you tell us more about how? 

Viktor Mlakar: eLastovka is the result of more than a year of work by my colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, as well as external contractors. Our primary goal in developing the application was to modernize the existing online form through which citizens could voluntarily register their travel. Of course, nothing is mandatory. Neither eLastovka nor the previous registration system is compulsory for anyone. However, it can truly help in cases where a person, or a Slovenian citizen who has registered, finds themselves in a critical area. In such situations we can check that person's contact details and contact them if necessary. 

eLastovka represents an upgrade, so to speak, because it enables registration either through a dedicated web application or directly via a mobile application on a mobile phone. We have therefore kept pace with digitalization and hope that this application makes the entire registration process easier for travelers heading abroad. On the other hand, the application also makes our work easier because it allows us to collect information more efficiently about where a person requiring urgent consular assistance is located and to contact them more easily and provide support more effectively. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: So, on one hand, it provides access to key information, and on the other hand, it facilitates communication through eLastovka.

Viktor Mlakar: Exactly. Both of these functions.

The basic information provided by eLastovka is linked to our travel advisories, which continue to be published on our website. Everyone is familiar with our color-coded scale ranging from yellow to black, which we use to indicate and assess the level of risk in individual countries.

This scale and the overview of countries are visible in both versions of the application. In addition, the application includes up-to-date contact information for all Slovenian embassies and consulates. If a Slovenian citizen needs to get in touch or requires assistance, they can find the address, email address, and telephone number of our embassy directly in the application.

There is also an additional feature that was not as visible in the previous registration system and travel advisory format. We have included emergency telephone numbers for each country in the mobile application, such as the numbers for the police or emergency medical services. These two pieces of information are practically at your fingertips if you use a mobile phone.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Very useful information for anyone who travels.

Viktor Mlakar: It certainly comes in handy.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Who is the application primarily intended for? Tourists, students, business travelers, or people temporarily living abroad?

Viktor Mlakar: It is intended for anyone who travels. Anyone who is abroad can register and enter the duration and location of their stay. It can be one week, one month, or even one year. There are no particular limitations.

I believe the upper limit is technically four years, but in practice it is intended for anyone who voluntarily wishes to provide this information. We retain the data in the application for the duration of the registered stay, and once the stay ends, the data are deleted. Even the name eLastovka gives a hint of this concept. 

It refers to someone returning home. Primarily, it is intended for travelers. The swallow is a native migratory bird. We wanted to draw a parallel with returning to one's home nest and arriving home safely.

Just as a swallow returns home, we also express the wish that Slovenian citizens return safely to Slovenia after their travels. So there is a symbolic element to the name, but it also conveys its basic purpose: supporting travelers.

Petra Prešeren Golob: You have already mentioned some of the information it contains—embassy and consulate contacts, the risk assessment color scale, emergency medical service and police contacts. What about health recommendations, such as vaccinations that are recommended before travelling to specific regions?

Viktor Mlakar: We always advise travelers to check certain information about the country they are visiting before departure. This includes not only entry visa requirements, but also whether a specific vaccination is required for entry.

In such cases, we can only direct travelers to obtain more detailed information from the website of the National Institute of Public Health, which prepares more specific information on this subject. Links to their website are also available from our website.

However, it is true that we do not publish such information directly on our own website. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: Could you perhaps explain step by step how we can install the application?

Viktor Mlakar: The mobile application is available in the Google, Apple, and Huawei online stores. It can be downloaded from all three stores and used immediately on a mobile phone without registration. However, if you wish to register, it is recommended that you use the web application. This is a dedicated website: elastovka.si.

Registration can be completed there. It takes place through the SI-PASS security scheme, which provides a certain level of protection for accessing the application. Access is possible using a digital certificate, a Google account, a Microsoft account, smsPASS, or Slovenia’s new biometric identity card. There are several methods through which you can register and then use eLastovka as a registered user.

Once registered, an additional function becomes available: travel registration, including the destination, duration, and your contact information so that you can be reached if a consular crisis situation occurs in the area where you happen to be. This additional feature is only available to registered users. That point is worth emphasizing again. Anyone who is not registered cannot register their trip.

They can only access the information mentioned earlier. Registration also provides access to this additional functionality.

Petra Prešeren Golob: So unregistered users still receive information about the situation in a country and access to contacts, but they cannot register their journey. As a result, you are not informed that the person is present in a particular area or how long they will remain there.

Viktor Mlakar: Let us say someone is in South America and an earthquake occurs in a particular country. Through the eLastovka system we can immediately check how many Slovenian citizens have registered travel to that location and send them a text message or push notification containing information or recommendations that we want to reach them because they are there at that specific time. 

That message will not be sent to a Slovenian citizen in Croatia or on a Greek island, but only to the traveler located in the affected area. This makes communication highly selective and, in our view, more effective in delivering information to those directly affected.

Petra Prešeren Golob: And that is only possible if we are registered?

Viktor Mlakar: If we are registered. Registration is truly necessary in this case.

Petra Prešeren Golob: We receive that notification.

Viktor Mlakar: Registration is truly required here.

Let me add one more thing. The registration procedure may seem a little complicated, but I believe that most people will find their way around once they become familiar with the system itself. However, if anyone still needs assistance, our 114 call center is available.

This is the Government of the Republic of Slovenia’s call center at number 114, where the staff will be happy to help users with installation and with exploring all the functions that eLastovka offers. If additional help is needed, or if something goes wrong at any step, assistance is available. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: Can we register several trips at the same time in the application? For example, if we are traveling somewhere for a longer period and plan to visit several countries. How does that work?

Viktor Mlakar: Yes, we can. The functionality of the application allows you to enter two, three, four, or however many trips you may have, including trips to different countries, either all together or separately. The function enables exactly that.

For example, when you leave one country and travel to another, we will naturally know that during a specific period you are in the second country, and therefore any possible difficulties or extraordinary circumstances in the first country no longer concern you because you are no longer there. 

This is also useful for us because it helps us distinguish more easily between the group of citizens who may require rapid assistance. These additional countries or trips can also be entered into the application later. For example, if you originally registered for one week but then change your plans or add destinations, you can always update the information afterward. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: Is the trip registered only at the country level, or can a specific province or region within a country also be defined?

Viktor Mlakar: Especially in very large countries, something may be happening in one part while another part remains unaffected. We took this into consideration.

In the registration form, it is possible to indicate only the country you are traveling to. China, for example, is a very large country. However, we have also developed and offered users the option of specifying a micro-location, a geolocation. Using their mobile phone, and if they agree, users can enable a function that allows them to be located within the country. 

This is quite a significant step forward because it gives us a very precise way of determining the location of a citizen. However, I would like to emphasize that this feature is used only in emergency situations, when there is a need to intervene in an area that we assess requires action, and even then only if the user has actually enabled the feature, because it is not enabled by default.

Each citizen must personally decide whether they wish to provide not only the country they are in, but also their precise location.

Petra Prešeren Golob: What if we are traveling in a group, for example with family or friends? Can one person register several people in the travel plan or in the application?

Viktor Mlakar: Partly. One person can register multiple people only numerically. If I register myself and want to include three additional people traveling with me, I will not be able to enter their personal information. However, I can enter my own information and then indicate that the group also includes three other people.

If those people wish to register themselves, they can do so independently. You cannot complete the registration on their behalf. However, as mentioned, it is possible to register a traveling group, provided that at least one person in the group is identified by name and surname in the registration form itself. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: And of course that person would then receive notifications if necessary. 

Viktor Mlakar: We assume that they are traveling together, and information can then be shared from that person with the other members of the group if they did not wish to register individually or were unable to do so. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: Let us imagine that I am planning a vacation in one of the more distant countries. How can eLastovka help me when planning my trip? You have already mentioned quite a lot, but let us summarize. 

Viktor Mlakar: eLastovka primarily helps us during trip preparation by providing security recommendations. You can quickly determine the current security risk in the country you are planning to visit.

Then, through eLastovka, as we discussed, you can register your trip and thereby protect yourself in case an extraordinary event occurs in that specific location. This also enables easier and more effective consular assistance. eLastovka truly provides those basic pieces of information that are important before departure, but they can also help while you are already at your destination. This includes situations we mentioned earlier, when you may need to quickly contact our embassy, the police, or emergency medical services.

Petra Prešeren Golob: How often is the information in the application updated?

Viktor Mlakar: We review the content daily, depending on the situation. Naturally, where something is happening, we update information immediately and continuously. Where nothing is happening, the recommendation remains valid from the date on which it was issued. If something changes in the meantime, we appropriately update the content, both in the application itself and on the ministry’s website.

Petra Prešeren Golob: So the information is very current. 

Viktor Mlakar: We certainly do our best. I will not claim that everything is always perfectly up to date, but when it comes to important information related to providing consular assistance, we work hard to ensure that it is as current as possible.

You already mentioned some of the ways travelers can be contacted if necessary: SMS messages, push notifications, and email.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Can the user choose how they wish to be contacted? Mobile roaming services still involve additional costs in some places. 

Viktor Mlakar: Several options are available during registration. Users decide for themselves how messages may be sent to them. You mentioned SMS messages, which are one option.

Push notifications are perhaps the most practical because they arrive directly in the application, accompanied by an alert informing you that you have received a message in eLastovka. You can then open it and see what it says. Traditional communication via email is also still possible. During registration, we ask users for an email address and telephone number, and not only for the mobile number they use in Slovenia.

We know that many people activate an electronic SIM card while abroad and receive a completely different local telephone number that is valid only in that country. The application also allows the registration of this temporary mobile number, ensuring that messages are sent not to a Slovenian phone that may be switched off in a drawer somewhere, but to the phone actually being used during the trip.

That was our attempt to ensure that communication channels at different levels reach the user effectively. Users can then communicate with us by email or telephone.

This is the basic response mechanism and communication channel between the two parties: on one side the user, and on the other side either our embassy or the central consular service here at the ministry.

Petra Prešeren Golob: So communication does not take place through the application itself? 

Viktor Mlakar: The application does not support direct correspondence. We use it only as a tool for providing information and guidance through notifications.

When further communication is necessary, users must take the next step themselves by calling or sending an email with specific information or a specific request, to which we can then respond. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: What about regions where internet access is limited?

Viktor Mlakar: That can certainly be a problem. We all know that mobile applications function on the assumption that the mobile network and data transmission are working. It is true that there are situations where this is not the case. Under such circumstances, the operation of the application becomes more difficult.

It depends on the stability of the network itself. However, we should also mention our already quite well-known SMS information service. Let us remind listeners that every time they travel to a foreign country, they receive an SMS informing them that, in urgent consular matters, they can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia. The message includes a telephone number. 

That message still arrives. So even if the internet or data transmission fails, our citizens will generally still have that number stored on their mobile phone and can call it in an emergency. This works independently of data transmission or mobile internet services, so there is always a backup option, a backup scenario for contacting our embassy.

It is good to remember this because most people quickly forget about that SMS after crossing the border. They receive it and move on. But it is useful to keep in mind that the information remains in your messages and may prove valuable one day.

Petra Prešeren Golob: You also touched on data security. You mentioned that you collect data only for the duration of the trip or registered travel period. What data do you collect?

Viktor Mlakar: As we mentioned, the data are automatically deleted on the fifth day after the trip ends. They include the user's first and last name, personal identification number (EMŠO), email address, telephone number, and identity document number. These are the data that users must enter when registering a trip, in addition to providing the location. 

However, as I mentioned, these data are not available for anyone to access at will. Access to them is permitted only if an extraordinary event occurs in a particular location and we need to carry out consular activities based on that situation. Only then may we access the personal data.

As mentioned, once the trip is completed, or a few days afterward, the data are automatically deleted from the database. We therefore do not know or keep records of where someone traveled on vacation last year. 

And since we are just before the main holiday season, when most people are heading off on vacations—

Petra Prešeren Golob: Or on other types of travel. Perhaps we could discuss a few practical examples. We briefly mentioned this at the beginning: what should we do if we lose a passport or another identity document abroad, or if it is stolen?

Viktor Mlakar: If we look at a specific example, the case of a lost or stolen passport is quite a good one. As mentioned, it is fairly common. Our colleagues are very busy dealing with such consular cases.

The advice is as follows: if you discover that you have lost your passport or that it has been stolen, try to report it at the nearest police station. Why? For two reasons.

First, based on that police report, we can issue you a replacement document. Second, it helps prevent potential misuse of your identity. Therefore, the report should be made as soon as possible, immediately in the country where the loss or theft occurred. 

Once you have the police report, contact our embassy. You can find the contact details through eLastovka or through the SMS message service. Call the embassy, explain the situation, and the colleagues there will advise you on the next steps. In principle, they will ask you to come in so that they can issue a temporary passport. 

This passport for return is intended to allow you to return home as quickly as possible. It is not intended for continued travel to other destinations and countries; its purpose is to enable your prompt return to Slovenia. These passports are issued as quickly as possible because such matters are considered urgent consular cases. 

We have had situations where someone lost a passport just one day before their scheduled flight home. This means our colleagues also help citizens who encounter these difficulties on a Friday evening when their flight departs on Saturday. We truly do everything we can to resolve our citizens' problems as effectively as possible. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: And you are very responsive.

Viktor Mlakar: We are responsive. I believe many people have had such experiences, and hopefully positive ones.

It is true that this level of responsiveness places a burden on our colleagues. However, there are not so many cases that it would become excessive or subject to abuse. We understand people who find themselves in distress, and we do our best to help them. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: Does it make sense to take a photograph or photocopy of a travel document before departing, just in case? Or does that not help in such situations? 

Viktor Mlakar: I would say it helps in the context we just discussed, namely when a theft or loss report needs to be filed. If you have a photocopy with you, you can immediately provide the document number. Most people probably do not know that number by heart. 

You will also know the validity date, and this information can quickly be used in the report. However, a photocopy of an identity card or passport is not a travel document in itself. No serious immigration authority will allow you to cross a border if you present a folded photocopy of an identity card at a border crossing. Unfortunately, that sheet of paper is merely a photocopy, lacking any security features or proof that it truly belongs to you. 

That is why you must contact our embassy and arrange a temporary passport, which is recognized and valid as a travel document.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Briefly, what about accidents, hospitalization, or arrest?

Viktor Mlakar: In the event of an accident or hospitalization, our colleagues at embassies primarily serve as intermediaries for information. Suppose someone is hospitalized and unable to communicate on their own. They can request assistance from our colleagues, who will then relay information to family members in Slovenia and act as a link between the injured person and their relatives.

Regarding imprisonment or detention, we have already mentioned that everyone has the right to have their embassy informed that they have been deprived of their liberty. However, many people misunderstand the role of a consul or diplomat, which is not the same as the role of a lawyer. Consular officers cannot become someone's legal defense counsel. 

What they can do is provide information about the judicial system, offer information or lists of lawyers that the person may engage, and assist with communication with authorities such as police officers, investigators, or prison officials. This is an important function.

Sometimes people who have already been convicted and are serving prison sentences ask embassies to assist in resolving various status-related issues that arise in prisons. The nature of such issues depends on the location and circumstances. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: Can the consular service pay for hotel accommodation, airline tickets, or, as you mentioned, legal services?

Viktor Mlakar: No.

Petra Prešeren Golob: No.

Viktor Mlakar: Unfortunately, the answer is no. We cannot provide what might be called tourism services, such as booking hotel rooms, purchasing airline tickets, or intervening with airlines to secure refunds. We do not have the authority to do that.

This becomes particularly apparent during events such as the Middle East crisis, when people were left without valid tickets. We cannot intervene in the relationship between a customer and a seller. That is a matter for those parties to resolve themselves, possibly through legal means if necessary. 

Nor can we determine who owes whom money or provide financial advances. We cannot pay hospital bills either. Sometimes people are shocked to discover that they required medical treatment abroad and that certain procedures are extremely expensive in some countries. Without adequate health insurance, those costs can be enormous. 

That is why one of our recommendations is always to obtain appropriate travel health insurance before departure. I believe this also indirectly answers the question about the limits of consular assistance. We can help a great deal, but we cannot do everything. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: Exactly. And the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs also warns that in countries or parts of countries for which an orange, red, or black advisory has been issued, consular assistance may be limited, difficult, or even impossible to provide. How should someone assess whether travel is still reasonable and safe if an advisory has been issued for a country?

Viktor Mlakar: Here we return to the fact that our advisories are exactly that—recommendations. We do not obligate anyone. No one is required to follow our advice. Ultimately, each individual decides whether or not to travel somewhere, even to a country designated as high-risk. They must, however, be aware of certain limitations, particularly with regard to the availability of consular assistance.

If we issue a red advisory for a country, that does not mean we do not want to provide consular assistance. By law, we provide consular assistance to everyone. However, in a country designated as red, we may not be able to help effectively. People must understand that when they travel to such a country, they assume part of the responsibility for the possibility that effective consular assistance may not be available to them.

For example, if Iraq is marked in black, that already indicates that if something happens to one of our citizens there, it will be extremely difficult for us to help. Therefore, everyone must decide for themselves what level of risk they are prepared to accept. 

Above all, I would say that when deciding whether or not to go somewhere, people should ask themselves whether they will spend their entire trip worrying about what might happen simply because the country is considered more dangerous. What would they gain from that? Will they travel only to spend the entire time worrying, or are they traveling in order to experience something new, relax, and enjoy themselves? 

So everyone must determine for themselves what level of risk they are willing to accept and where that limit lies.

Petra Prešeren Golob: And adjust their expectations accordingly.

Viktor Mlakar: Absolutely. As we said, people need to adjust their expectations to match our capabilities. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: And citizens can also find information on destinations for which travel is currently discouraged either on your website or in the eLastovka application, as we mentioned earlier?

Viktor Mlakar: Yes. Both in the eLastovka application and on our websites there is a list of countries. Users can select a country by name and then view information about it, including the travel advisory and security risk assessment.

In the eLastovka application it is also possible to view countries on an interactive map, where each country is color-coded according to its risk level. In this way, we have tried to make this part of the travel recommendation system more accessible and easier to understand visually.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Finally, do you have any advice for everyone who is leaving for a holiday or a trip abroad these days? What do you personally check or do before you travel abroad?

Viktor Mlakar: Personally, the first thing I always check is whether my travel document is valid. That is my starting point. Sometimes we forget that even for a trip to Germany we need a valid identity card or passport. If it has expired, then the trip simply cannot proceed as planned. 

Therefore, it is important to obtain a valid travel document and have it with you. In certain cases, it is also necessary to pay attention to the expiration date itself. Some countries require that your passport remain valid not only during your stay, but also for six months after your departure from that country. If your passport is valid for only another three months, for example, you risk being denied entry altogether. 

That is why travelers need to be very careful regarding travel documents and should verify these details in advance. 

The next thing is to check the entry requirements of the country you are traveling to. Countries that require visas are perhaps the simplest in this respect. You visit the country's website, where the procedures for obtaining an entry visa are described. 

There are also countries where you only need to register your trip, even though no visa is required, such as the United States or the United Kingdom. These are online registrations that travelers may not pay sufficient attention to. Then they arrive at the airport and are asked for the registration number, and if they have not completed the process beforehand, they may find themselves in difficulty. This is another issue that requires attention. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: We also mentioned travel insurance.

Viktor Mlakar: As I said before, and I would like to repeat it for everyone: I personally always take out travel insurance, even if I am only going to Croatia. It is always wise to have adequate travel insurance in case something serious happens—a major injury, prolonged treatment, more complex medical care, or even a medical evacuation.

These are situations in which a medical flight from a foreign country back home can cost one hundred thousand euros, while you may have no coverage under your travel insurance policy. These can become truly tragic stories.

Unfortunately, we have experience with cases where people did not have such insurance and had to pay tens of thousands of euros out of their own pockets. Therefore, never forget travel health insurance—it is always worthwhile. 

Petra Prešeren Golob: And what else did we mention?

Viktor Mlakar: As I said, I will also register in eLastovka myself, because if something happens, I want those data to be available to the people providing consular assistance, should an incident occur exactly where I am traveling.

And then all that remains is to wish everyone a safe journey and a wonderful holiday. Happy travels.

Petra Prešeren Golob: Mr. Mlakar, thank you very much for this conversation and for all the useful information.

Dear listeners, we wish you a pleasant summer and safe travels. Thank you for listening to the latest episode of the GOVSI podcast.

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