When it comes to entering and residing in Slovakia, distinct regulations are in place for citizens from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland, as opposed to citizens from non-EU/EEA countries, often referred to as third countries.
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EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
Nationals of the European Union*, as well as citizens of the European Economic Area** and Switzerland and their family members, do not need a visa for entry or a long stay permit (more than 3 months).
Staying for LESS than 3 months
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national and you intend to stay in Slovakia for less than 3 months, you need to submit the notice of stay to the foreign police office within 10 working days after your arrival to Slovakia. This is usually made by the accommodation provider if you are accommodated in a hotel, hostel or dormitory.
If you are accommodated in private accommodation (e.g. in a private rented apartment or at a friends' place), you are obliged to submit the notice of stay at the competent foreign police office (either in person or via a regular postal service).
Staying for MORE than 3 months
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national and you intend to stay in Slovakia for longer than 3 months, you need to to submit the notice of stay to the foreign police office within 10 working days after your arrival to Slovakia. This is usually done by the accommodation provider if you are accommodated in a hotel, hostel or dormitory. After that, you can stay in Slovakia without any further obligations for up to three months from the entry into the Slovak Republic. Once this period of three months is over, you need to apply for the registration of residence in Slovakia within next 30 days.
Get the form HERE
The application processsing time is 30 days.
To register his/her residence, an EU/EEA/Swiss national must personally visit the Foreign Police Department (FPD) competent for his/her place of residence in Slovakia. Registration cannot be applied for electronically, by email or a proxy. Booking an appointment at the respective FPD must be done via the online Booking system. For more details see the website of the Ministry of Interior of SR.
For registration you will need to present the following documents:
- valid ID/passport,
- a document proving the purpose of your stay in Slovakia and/or sufficient financial resources:
- in the case of employment in the territory of the Slovak Republic – an employment confirmation or a written promise of employment from the employer,
- a proof of sufficient financial means for you and your family members not to become a burden on the social assistance system of the Slovak Republic and a proof of health insurance in Slovakia or a certificate of insurance reimbursement for medical expenses in the territory of the Slovak Republic,
- in the case of study in Slovakia – a confirmation of study or an admission letter to a school in Slovakia and a statutory declaration of sufficient financial resources,
- in case you assume to be employed in Slovakia – a statutory declaration on a continuing search for a job in Slovakia and a proof of medical insurance,
- in case of an accompanying family member of an EU citizen - a certificate of registration of the EU citizen, and a birth or marriage certificate, or a proof of your permanent relationship.
On the day of submission the complete application, the Foreign Police Department shall issue a Registration Certificate, i.e. confirmation on registration a residence of a EU/EEA/Swiss national, indicating his/her name, surname, address of the registered person and the date of registration.
As an EU/EEA/Swiss national you may be interested in obtaining a Residence card of an EU citizen valid up to 5 years. To apply for a Residence card, you need to visit the Foreign police Department competent for their place of residence in Slovakia in person. You will need to submit the following:
- two recent photographs (3 x 3,5 cm),
- document in Slovak proving provision of accommodation (e.g a confirmation from your accommodation provider or a rental agreement with officially notarized signatures).
Signatures on the affidavits and tenancy agreements must be notarized. The residence card is issued within 30 days of application.
Fee: 4.50 EUR for the issue of an EU national residence card.
24,50 EUR for expedited issuance of the residence card within 2 working days.
3,00 EUR (aditional) for sending the residence card to the address in Slovakia.
If your accompanying family member is an EU/EEA/Swiss national, he/she can proceed in accordance with procedures relevant to other nationals of the EU/EEA/Switzerland:
Special rules apply to the family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals coming from third countries. Their entry and stay rights differ according to whether they are travelling with/joining the EU/EEA/Swiss national or they are travelling alone.
If entering the Schengen Area from a third country, a family member may have the obligation to obtain a visa. In this case, a family member can apply for a visa at a competent embassy or consulate (visa shall be issued within 15 days) or directly at the border, where the family member enters the Schengen Area. A clear proof of the family relationship with the EU/EEA/Swiss national is a basis for issuing the visa. For details about visa procedures see the section “Visa – Schengen Visa”.
If entering Slovakia from another Schengen member state, a family member accompanying/joining an EU/EEA/Swiss national is not required to have a visa. The existence of a family relationship and the fact of accompanying/joining must be clearly manifested. If the family member comes alone, the visa may be required.
A family member of the EU/EEA/Swiss national who is a holder of a valid travel document can stay (without any further obligations) in the Slovak territory for 3 months from the date of entry if she/he accompanies or joins the EU/EEA/Swiss national whose family member she/he is. The beginning of his/her stay in Slovakia shall be reported by the family member of the EU/EEA/Swiss national at the competent foreign police department within 10 working days from the date of entry into the territory of the Slovak Republic.
If a family member plans to stay in Slovakia for a period longer than 3 months, he/she has to apply for the issuance of a document called “Residence Card of EU Citizen Family Member” at a foreign police office within 30 days after the 3-month period from the date of entry into the territory of the Slovak Republic.
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Non-EU citizens
If you are a non-EU/EEA/Switzerland national entering Slovakia and the EU, the entry conditions and procedures are in general more demanding than those concerning EU citizens.
The best starting point for the specific information in your particular case is the Slovak embassy accredited to the country of your citizenship or residence, or go to the GUIDE to administrative duties.
Depending on your nationality, you might (or might not) be obliged to apply for a visa before travelling to Slovakia. The type of visa you need depends on the purpose and length of your stay. Before submitting your application, we recommend you to contact the territorially competent Slovak embassy/consulate general, which will provide you with detailed and up-to-date information. Before visiting the embassy/consulate in person, we recommend to contact them by telephone or email and arrange an appointment beforehand if possible.
Since December 2007, the Slovak Republic is a part of the Schengen Area and the common Schengen rules apply for visa requirements.
Check here to see whether or not you are allowed visa-free access to the EU:
The Schengen visa is a short-stay visa issued by any country in the Schengen area. It enables you to enter the 26 Schengen countries for one or several visits, the duration of which cannot exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.
Cyprus, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania recognise Schengen visa as equal to their national visa for the purpose of transit or a planned stay not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period; however, this only applies to visa valid for two or multiple entries.
The date of entry is the first day of stay in the territory of a Schengen Member State and the day of leaving is the last day of such stay. The duration of stay authorised by a temporary residence is NOT included into the duration of a visa stay. The term "any" (in the expression "any 180-day period") implies the application of a "moving" 180-day period, looking backwards at each day of the stay (the day of entry or the day of the inspection), in order to verify whether the condition of 90/180 days is fulfilled. The absence from the Schengen area for a period of 90 consecutive days enables a new stay for the period of 90 days. In examining the compliance with the rule of 90/180 days under this visa, a stay in the countries that are not members of the Schengen area is disregarded (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania). On the contrary, the stays in the Schengen countries outside the EU - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are taken into the account. In order to calculate the period of stay in the territory of Schengen countries and to check the compliance with the 90/180 rule, it is possible to use a Visa calculator.
Foreigners may be asked to enclose an official invitation validated by a police authority to their visa application. It is necessary to verify this obligation with the embassy/consulate of the Slovak Republic in your home country. The invitation can be replaced by the Hosting Agreement in the case of a research stay.
Note: Invitation in the Schengen visa granting procedure ≠ invitation letter (acceptance letter), in which a hosting institution agrees with the realisation of a scholarship or research stay, nor an invitation to an educational/research event.
The request to verify an invitation can be submitted by an inviting person:
Slovak citizen with the permanent residence in Slovakia or a foreigner with a permanent or temporary residence in Slovakia,
organisation/company with the seat in Slovakia.
A request must be submitted using an official form, at a respective foreign police department corresponding to the inviting person's place of residence or to the seat of the inviting organisation. The inviting person has to submit:
- completed form Application for Verification of an Invitation,
- valid ID,
- document declaring the purpose of the invitation – e.g. being a relative of the invited person; business licence of the inviting person; business or other labour relationships; organisation of a cultural, sportive or scientific event (invitation from an organisation or an organiser, programme of the event), study or other form of education, provision of health care etc.,
- document proving the ability of the inviting person to cover all expenses related to the stay and travel of the invited person. A bank account balance statement of the inviting person, issued by a bank, shall prove the financial capacity. The account balance must be at least 12- times the subsistence minimum (subsistance minimum per each month- from 01.07.2023 the subsistence minimum is 268,88 EUR/month) and 56 € for each day of the invited person’s stay. If the inviting person invites more people, he/she shall demonstrate the ability to cover 12-times the subsistence minimum only once (only on behalf of himself/herself), and the amount of 56 € for each invited person.
- document proving the provision of accommodation for the invitee.
Documents submitted with the application cannot be older than 90 days (except for a document proving a family relationship). The police officer in charge will carry out an interview with the inviting person concerning the relation with the invited person, the purpose of his/her stay etc.
Fee for the request to verify an invitation: 33 EUR
The Foreign Police department issues a confirmation upon submission of the request and verifies the invitation within 15 days. The verified invitation is valid for 90 days.
A national (long-stay) visa (type “D”) can be granted:
- if it is necessary for granting a residence in Slovakia,
- interest of the Slovak Republic based on Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 731 of 8.12.2021 on the Higher Education Internationalisation Strategy 2030 (Scholarship holder within Erasmus+, CEEPUS programme, National Scholarship Programme of SR, Bilateral intergovernmental treaties, Government scholarships of SR)
- interest of the Slovak Republic based on the Regulation of the Government No. 521/2021 Coll. (The link also includes Annex 1 and Annex 2). (Highly qualified person graduated from a) 2. cycle of higher education in Slovakia or Czech Republic b) top higher education institutions listed in Annex 1 c) 2. or 3. cycle of higher education and will be employed in Slovakia (professions in Annex 2)
- for language education in a language school (the applicant must be at least 15 years old and the tuition must take at least 25 hours weekly),
- if it is necessary to fulfil Slovakia’s commitments under international treaties,
- or if it is for the benefit of the Slovak Republic.
The visa issued for a stay longer than 90 days, however, for a maximum of one year. If it is issued for granting a residence permit in Slovakia, the visa is issued for a period of 90 days. In case of of the language education, its validity is limited to 31 July of the given academic year. If you are allowed to stay longer than for a year, the national visa will be replaced by a temporary residence before the day of its expiry. The long-term visa holders are allowed to travel to other Schengen member states (outside the borders of the state which issued the visa); however, these stays cannot exceed 90 days in any 180-days period.
The possibility to apply for a national visa depends on the decision of the competent Slovak embassy/consulate abroad. Therefore, it is necessary to contact the embassy/consulate and get information about your specific situation.
In case you have been granted a residence permit in another country you may apply for a visa at embassy/consulate general competent for the country of your current residence. Provided you legally reside in the territory of the Slovak Republic and the issuance of the national visa is in the interest of the Slovak Republic, you may also apply for the national visa at the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic.
The embassy will decide whether to grant a national visa within 30 days of submission of the application. The Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic will decide in that same period.
In case of applying for a national visa in order to apply for a temporary residence in the Slovak Republic, keep in mind to bring all the documents necessary for the residence permit application to Slovakia with you. If you are not granted the temporary residence within the period of your visa validity, you will need to leave Slovakia (Schengen Area) when the visa expires.
A third country national may be granted a national visa if it is in the interest of the Slovak Republic;
- on the basis of a certificate from the statutory representative of the competent ministry;
- based on the Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 731 of 8.12.2021 on the Higher Education Internationalisation Strategy 2030; (scholarship holders of the programmes such as Erasmus+, CEEPUS, National Scholarship Programme of SR, Bilateral intergovernmental treaties, Government scholarships of SR; list of programmes covered by the Strategy)
- based on the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 521/2021 (pdf; 1.01 MB) on the interest of the Slovak Republic to grant a national visa to highly qualified third-country nationals; graduated from a) 2. cycle of higher education in Slovakia or Czech Republic b) top higher education institutions listed in Annex 1 c) 2. or 3. cycle of higher education and will be employed in Slovakia (professions in Annex 2). The link above also includes Annex 1 and Annex 2)
National visa in the interest of the Slovak Republic can be applied for in case of at least 3-month stay, while they can be granted for up to maximum 12 months.
Among the professions, for which you can be employed under national visa are e.g.
- University teachers
- Scientists and researchers in various fields and disciplines
- Executives (managers) in education and training, in industry, research and development executives (managers)
- IT professionals with high added value
- Health care professionals with high added value
Country quotas apply: maximum of 3000 national visas per a calendar year can be granted in the framework of this Government Regulation.
For this particular type of national visa you may apply at:
- competent embassy of SR
- respective Foreign Police Department in Slovakia provided you have entered and resided in Slovakia lawfully.(e.g. on a basis of Schengen visa)
Application processing time is 30 days.
NB:Applying for a temporary residence permit might also be more suitable (when compared to the national visa only) in case you would like your family members to join you in Slovakia, or if you would like to pursue continuous stays longer than 1 year, or take an opportunity of further intra EU mobility (specific cases and target groups) or seek job in Slovakia afterwards (specific cases and target groups).
More information is available HERE
Residence Permit
If you do not fall into any of the groups for whom national visa in the interest of the Slovak Republic can be granted (see the National visa for scholarship holders/highly qualified persons section) you will need to apply for temporary residence permit for a stay lasting more than 90 days.
Applying for a temporary residence permit might also be more suitable (when compared to the national visa only) in case you would like your family members to join you in Slovakia, or if you would like to pursue continuous stays longer than 1 year, or take an opportunity of further intra EU mobility (specific cases and target groups) or seek job in Slovakia afterwards (specific cases and target groups).
Find below an overview of the residence permit types revelant for incoming university students, PhD students, lecturers , researchers and their family members.
Students from third countries staying in Slovakia for longer than 90 days shall apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of studies (including those who will attend a language or professional training for university studies organised and implemented by a higher education institution).
Person with the temporary residence for the purpose of studies is allowed to run a business. A university student may work 20 hours per week (or equivalent number of days or months per year.
After a successful completion of studies, it is possible to apply for renewal of the temporary residence for 9 months to seek a job or start a business.
A list of documents to be submitted to the competent Foreign police department and details on the application procedure can be found HERE.
The application processing takes 30 days.
Researchers who signed a Hosting Agreement with a research institution or a university can apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of research and development. We recommend to researchers and receiving organisations to give priority to this type of temporary residence mailny due to:
- fewer administrative duties (e. g. in case of highly mobile researchers a proof of clear criminal record only from one country is required)
- immediate employment regardless of the labour market situation and without a need to obtain a work permit
- possibility to carry out the activity upon an employment contract, an agreement on work performed outside the employment (e. g. work performance agreement) or based on a granted scholarship
- possibility to teach a specified number of hours
- simplified mobility within EU
- possibility to renew a residence permit for 9 months for the purpose of job seeking or starting a business
- immediate access of spouses to the labour market
- simplified mobility of researcher´s family members within EU
A list of documents to be submitted to the respective embassy/competent Foreign police department and details on the application procedure can be found HERE
The application must be submitted in person, making a reservation of an appointment to the competent Foreign Police Department (FPD) via online Booking system. Without the appointment and application generated by the booking system you will be not able to visit the competent FPD.
Application processing time is 30 days.
NB: If you are a scholarship holder within Erasmus+, CEEPUS programme, National Scholarship Programme of SR, Bilateral intergovernmental treaties, Government scholarships of SR, or a highly qualified person graduated from a) 2. cycle of higher education in Slovakia or Czech Republic b) top higher education institutions listed in Annex 1 c) 2. or 3. cycle of higher education and will be employed in Slovakia (professions in Annex 2) and you are coming to Slovakia for a stay for min. 3 months up to 1 year without a family member it might be more convenient for you to apply for national visa in the interest of the Slovak Republic based on:
- Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 731 of 8.12.2021 on the Higher Education Internationalisation Strategy 2030.
- Regulation of the Government No. 521/2021 Coll. ((The link also includes Annex 1 and Annex 2).
For more information go to National visa for scholarship holders/highly qualified persons section.
This is a type of temporary residence is for scholarship holders within an exchange/mobility programme of SR or the EU or a cooperation scheme, university teachers - lectors (for whom National visa in the interest of the Slovak Republic is not applicable) and researchers without a Hosting Agreement or an employment contract.
A list of documents to be submitted and details on the application procedure can be found HERE.
The application processing time is 30 days.
If you come to Slovakia to work as a researcher or university teacher/lecturer, but your host research institution/university does not/ cannot conclude a Hosting Agreement with you and either a vacancy or you do not meet the criteria for highly qualified employment (therefore you are not eligible for national visa in the interest of the Slovak Republic, residence permit for research and development based on the hosting agreement or residence permit for a special activity), you shall apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of employment.
The temporary residence for the purpose of employment can be granted on:
the basis of a confirmation of the possibility to fill a vacant position, within the so-called single residence and work permit procedure (relevant for the majority of cases),
a work permit (relevant for a few specialised cases), or
if none of these two documents is required for the employment of a third country citizen (e.g.university student with temporarry residence for the purpose of studies, a graduate of HEI/university in Slovakia, pedagogic/academic employee/artist/R&D staff participating in professional scientific/artistic event whose employment in SR does not exceed 30 days in a calendar year).
A list of documents to be submitted and the details on the application procedure can be found HERE.
The application processing time is 90 days.
The EU Blue Card is a specific form of temporary residence that you can be granted in Slovakia in case you have a higher professional qualification. It enables you to enter the Slovak labour market more easily and work in highly qualified jobs. Higher professional qualification means a qualification attested by a certificate of higher education (method of proof of which is given below). If you are interested in obtaining the EU Blue Card, you must conclude an employment contract with a future employer in Slovakia, or to obtain a written promise of future employment from him.
Such an employment contract shall be concluded for a period of at least one year from the date of the EU Blue Card issuance, while the agreed salary must be at least 1.5 times the average monthly salary in the economy of the Slovak Republic in the relevant sector as published by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic for the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the application for the EU Blue card was filed.
Statistical data on the amount of the average monthly salary is listed at the website of the Statistical Office of the SR.
The employer willing to employ you in a highly qualified job is obliged to report a vacancy at the Central Labour Office at least 15 working days before you submit your application for a Blue Card. You cannot apply before before this period has elapsed.
More information on the procedure related to the employment requiring higher qualification can be found HERE.
You can apply for a Blue card (i.e. for a temporary residence) in person at the Slovak embassy/consulate competent for your country or at a Foreign Police office in Slovakia. However, you can’t do so earlier than 30 working days after a vacancy is reported by your potential employer. Your application will be accepted at the foreign police office in Slovakia only if you are staying in Slovakia legally.
If you are a holder of an EU Blue Card issued by another EU Member State you may apply for a Blue Card within 30 days after the entry into the territory of the Slovak Republic. Normally, you have to submit a complete application; however, your Blue Card application cannot be refused if you submit at least a filled out application form and your valid passport.
- Family members who are EU/EEA/Swiss nationals
Family members who are EU/EEA/Swiss nationals can can follow the procedures applicable to other nationals of from these regions.
For more information go to EU citizens section.
- Family members who are third country nationals
Family members of a third country national wishing to join him/her in Slovakia for a period longer than 90 days have to apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of family reunion. In accordance with the current regulations, following persons are seen as family members of a third country national:
- a spouse if both spouses are at least 18 years old
- a common single child of the third country national and his/her spouse younger than 18 years of age
- his/her single child younger than 18 years of age
- a single child of his/her spouse younger than 18 years of age
- his/her dependent single child older than 18 years of age or dependent single child of his/her spouse older than 18 years of age who cannot take care of him/herself due to the long-term unfavourable health condition
- his/her parent or a parent of his/her spouse who is dependent on his/her care and lacks appropriate family support in the country of origin.
A list of documents to be submitted and details on the application procedure can be found HERE
The application processing time is 90 days.
Mobility of third country nationals within EU
As of 1 May 2018, new simplified rules of mobility of third country nationals within EU are applicable in Slovakia. They enable students, researchers and researchers' family member with a residence permit in one of the EU member states (except for Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom) to carry out short-term stays (max 1 year) in Slovakia without the need to obtain a temporary residence in Slovakia.
- Intra-EU mobility of university students
If you are a holder of a residence permit for the purpose of university studies in one of the member states (exept for the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark) you are allowed to carry out a mobility (short-term stay) in Slovakia for a max of 360 days WITHOUT the need to apply for a temporary residence in Slovakia, if:
- you will carry out a part of your studies in Slovakia within an EU programme (e.g. Erasmus+), Slovak governmental programme (e.g. National scholarship programme), a multilateral programme supporting mobility (e.g. CEEPUS) or within an agreement between higher education institutions, and
- you will carry out a part of your studies during the validity period of the residence permit granted by the other EU Member State
- higher education institution in Slovakia, where you will carry out your studies, notifies the Ministry of Interior thereof in advance (30 days).
The details on the obligations of a receiving organisation in Slovakia can be found HERE.
- Intra-EU Mobility of researchers
If you are a researcher who is a holder of a residence permit for the purpose of research in one of the member states (except for the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark) you are allowed to carry out a research mobility (short-term stay) in Slovakia for a max of one year WITHOUT the need to apply for a temporary residence in Slovakia, if:
- your mobility is carried out during the period of validity of the temporary residence in other EU Member State
- your host research organisation in Slovakia notifies the Ministry of Interior of the intention to host such a researcher.
The details on the obligations of a receiving HEI/ research organisation in Slovakia can be found HERE.
- Mobility of researchers’ family members
If you are a family member of a researcher and you are a holder of a residence permit for the purpose of family reunification in one of the member state (states except for the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark) you can join the researcher/warrantor during his/her stay in Slovakia WITHOUT having to apply for a temporary residence permit. This applies if the researcher’s host university/research organisation in Slovakia notifies the Ministry of Interior of SR of the intention of a family member to move while his/her residence permit in another EU country is still valid.
The details on the obligations of a receiving HEI/ research organisation in Slovakia can be found HERE
- Mobility-related duties of HEI/research organisation regarding outgoing students/ researchers
When it comes to mobility of third country students or researchers who are holders of temporary residence in Slovakia and want to carry out a student/research mobility in another member state, their home HEI or research organisation is obliged to notify the Ministry of interior of SR of their intention within three working days of learning thereof.
An application for the renewal of the temporary residence should be submitted in person at the competent foreign police department in Slovakia (FPD) on the last day of the current temporary residence validity at the latest. The appointment at aproapriate FPD could be done only via the online Booking system.
The temporary residence is considered legal (only) in the territory of the Slovak Republic until the decision on its renewal is made.
The list of required documents can be found HERE.
The application precessing takes 30 days (for residence permit for the purpose of studies, research and development, and special activity).
In case of third countries nationals who were granted a temporary residence for other purposes, the decision shall be made within 90 days. In particularly complicated cases, this period can be extended by a maximum of 30 days.
- Renewal of residence pemit for the purpose of job seeking or starting a business
If you want to renew your residence permit for the purpose of job seeking or starting a business after completion your studies in Slovakia, a university diploma (obtained during the granted temporary residence) or a confirmation on completion of your studies should be submitted as a document proving the purpose of your stay. For researchers who conducted research in Slovakia, a confirmation of completing their research activity should be provided.
Students and researchers are required to submit document on financial coverage of the residence. Unlike students researchers are also required to submit a document proving health insurance.
It is not necessary to submit a document proving no criminal record and medical certificate, if these documents were submitted together with the application for a temporary residence. Upon the successful submission of your application, the police officer will issue a a confirmation document for you.
The application procedure takes 30 days.
For a long-term residence permit can apply a third country national:
- who has legally resided in Slovakia for an uninterrupted period of at least 5 years directly prior to the submission of the application;
- whose long-term residence expired or was cancelled due to legally stipulated reasons;
- who has had a five-year legal uninterrupted residence in the territory of an EU Member State as a Blue Card holder and has resided in Slovakia as a Blue Card holder for at least two years prior to the submission of the application.
The possibility to apply for a long-term residence does not apply to a third country national, who:
- is an asylum seeker;
- was granted tolerated residence following Art. 58 Par. 3;
- applied for temporary shelter;
- is a displaced person;
- holds temporary residence for the purpose of study;
- holds temporary residence for the purpose of special activity (internship within studies outside Slovakia, activities resulting from the programmes of the Slovak Government and EU, commitment of SR arising from international treaties)
- holds temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment;
- enjoys diplomatic immunities according to international law.
NB 1: Third country nationals staying in Slovakia on a temporary residence for the purpose of studies or special activity must first obtain temporary residence for another purpose (e.g. research and development) before they can apply for the long-term residence permit.
NB 2: Temporary residence for the purpose of studies count only a half duration towards the 5-year period of lawful and continuous residence.
NB 3: No more than 6 consecutive months and no more than 10 months in total during wich the applicant has stayed outside of Slovakia shall be counted towards the period of continuous residence.
The application for long-term residence must be submitted in person, using an official form completed via online Booking system of the Foreign Police Department in Slovakia. It must be submitted together with a valid passport, two photos and the following documents, not older than 90 days:
- proof of fixed and regular income for the applicant and their family members to avoid being a burden for the Slovak social security system;
- proof of health insurance in Slovakia;
- proof of accommodation (only if the applicant's long-term residence expired or was cancelled due to legally stipulated reasons);
NB 4: A third country national, who held a temporary residence for the purpose of family reunion prior to applying for long-term residence may prove fixed and regular income by a notarially certified affidavit of the spouse or parent certifying that he/she will provide the applicant with financial and material coverage during his/her stay in Slovakia, accompanied by a document according to the previous sentence.
Application processing time is 90 days.
Residence permit is tied to one purpose. If you want to perform an activity other than the one which your residence permit allows, you must submit a new application for temporary residence. The temporary residence is considered legal (only) in the territory of the Slovak Republic until the decision on the new application.
When applying for a change in a purpose of a temporary residence it is not necessary to submit a document proving no criminal record and medical certificate, if these documents were submitted together with the application for a temporary residence.
In case of change in the purpose of temporary residence (the purpose of study, special activity or research and development) it is recommended to apply for change of the purpose at least 30 days before termination of a current residence permit.
NB 1: A third country national can study if he/she has been granted a temporary residence for the purpose of employment, special activity or family reunification.
NB 1 :Each document issued in a language other than Slovak (except for documents issued in Czech) has to be translated to Slovak by an official translator. The list of official translators can be found HERE. In case the translation is done abroad, the competence of the translator be attested by the Slovak embassy/consulate.
NB 2: Signatures on affidavits, power of attorney, and tenancy agreements as well as photocopies of the documents must be notarized.
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Guide to administrative duties
When hesitating what you should do in order to organise your entry and legal stay in Slovakia, you can use our interactive navigation that will guide you to proper procedures fitting your circumstances.
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EU/EEA/Swiss nationals
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national and you intend to stay in Slovakia for less than 3 months, you need to submit the notice of stay to the foreign police office within 10 working days after your arrival to Slovakia. This is usually made by the accommodation provider if you are accommodated in a hotel, hostel or dormitory.
If you are accommodated in private accommodation (e.g. in a private rented apartment or at a friends' place), you are obliged to submit the notice of stay at the competent foreign police office (either in person or via a regular postal service).
Non-EU nationals
If you are a third-country national you are obliged to report your stay to the foreign police within 3 working days since your arrival in Slovakia. This is usually done by the accommodation provider if you are staying in a hotel, hostel or dormitory. If you are staying in private accommodation (e.g. in a private rented flat or at a friends’ place), you have to submit the Notice of the stay in person directly at the competent foreign police office.
Get the form HERE