Employment of Foreign Nationals in Slovakia
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Citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland have free access to the Slovak labour market and may work in Slovakia without a work permit or other employment authorisation.
Although no work permit is required, the employer has certain reporting obligations towards the competent Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family in connection with their employment.
If an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen intends to stay in Slovakia for more than 3 months, they are required to register their residence with the competent Foreign Police Department. The application for registration must be submitted within 30 days after the first 3 months of stay have elapsed. When registering residence on the basis of employment, the applicant must provide a valid identity card or passport and a written promise of employment or an employment contract.
For more information, see Entry conditions and residence for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
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If you wish to work in Slovakia and you are not a citizen of an EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland, the conditions under which you may work depend on several factors, including:
- the purpose of your stay,
- the type of work you will perform,
- the expected duration of your employment,
- your nationality, and
- whether any exemptions apply.
In general, a third-country national may work in Slovakia if they:
- hold a valid EU Blue Card,
- have been granted temporary residence for the purpose of employment (the so-called single permit), which combines residence and access to the labour market;
- have been granted a work permit, where required by law, together with the appropriate residence permit;
- was granted a work permit and temporary residence for the purpose of family reunion within the first 9 months from being granted the residence,
- are entitled to work without a work permit or labour market test under one of the exemptions provided by the Employment Services Act (for example, certain researchers, university teachers, family members in specific situations, graduates of Slovak higher education institutions, or other exempt categories).
Whether you need a work permit, a labour market test, or neither depends on your individual circumstances. Before starting employment, you should always verify which rules apply to your specific case.
Most third-country nationals are employed under an employment contract. In certain cases permitted by Slovak legislation, work may also be performed under agreements outside an employment relationship.
Certain categories of highly qualified professionals benefit from simplified procedures for employment in Slovakia.
If you are employed as a pedagogical employee, university teacher, researcher or artist at a HEI, or as a member of R&D staff carrying out educational or research activities, your employment is generally not subject to the labour market test. This means that the employer is not required to demonstrate that the vacancy could not be filled by a job seeker registered in Slovakia before employing you.
Your employer is, however, required to fulfil the notification obligations towards the competent Labour Office in accordance with the applicable legislation. Once these requirements have been met, you may proceed with your application for Temporary residence for the purpose of employment, provided that you meet all other legal conditions.
The exact procedure may vary depending on your nationality, your residence status, and the nature of your employment. Therefore, it is advisable to consult your host institution or the relevant EURAXESS Centre before submitting your application.
Note: Researchers hosted by a recognised research organisation may, in certain cases, apply for temporary residence for the purpose of research and development rather than temporary residence for employment. The applicable procedure depends on the nature of the hosting arrangement and the legal basis of the research activity.