competency in Slovene good character aged at least 18 sufficiently established in Slovenia so as not to require welfare payments Exceptions to the requirements for naturalization those who have emigrated from Slovenia (and those of Slovenian ancestry up to the fourth generation in direct descent) may be naturalized after one year's residence in Slovenia. Renunciation of foreign citizenship is not required under this concession. a person who is married to a Slovenian citizen for at least three years may be naturalized after one year's residence in Slovenia the requirement to renounce foreign citizenship may be waived upon special application. a general waiver to the naturalization requirements can be made based on the national interests of Slovenia a person of "Slovenian origin" up to the second generation in direct descent or a former Slovenian citizen may be naturalized without any residence requirements. The application for Slovenian citizenship can be lodged with a Slovenian diplomatic mission from abroad. In this case, the applicant is required to prove his/her active ties with the Republic of Slovenia, i.e. his/her active participation over several years in Slovenian associations, Slovenian-language schools, expatriate or national minority organizations. The Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenes Abroad, which is the authority competent for evaluating the existence of national reasons in concrete terms, gives a positive opinion in cases when the applicant is a person of Slovenian origin and when he/she has proven the existence of his/her active ties with the Republic of Slovenia. Children aged under 18 can normally be naturalized alongside their parent, if resident in Slovenia. Those aged 14 or over must normally give their own consent. Deprivation of citizenship Involuntary deprivation of citizenship Involuntarily deprivation of citizenship occurred in Slovenia during a period of 'identity erasure' whereby a number of vital records and registries were cleansed of people when the former Yugoslavia collapsed. Involuntary deprivation of Slovenian citizenship may only occur, though, when the Slovenian holds a second nationality, and only deprived in circumstances of which are based on "activities ... contrary to the international and other interests of the Republic of Slovenia". These are generally defined as: if the person is a member of any organisation engaged in the activities to overthrow the Constitutional order of the Republic of Slovenia; or if a person is a member of a foreign intelligence service and as such jeopardises the interests of the Republic of