Social security for researchers/university teachers without an employment contract
Researchers and university teachers may carry out research or teaching activities in Slovakia without entering into an employment relationship with a Slovak host organisation. This may be the case, for example, when they come to Slovakia on the basis of an invitation from a host organisation, receive a scholarship or other external funding, or remain employed or self-employed in another country.
The absence of an employment contract in Slovakia generally means that the Slovak host organisation does not register the researcher as its employee with the Social Insurance Agency or pay Slovak social insurance contributions on the basis of employment. However, the applicable social security legislation depends on the individual's circumstances and, in cross-border situations, on the relevant EU coordination rules or international social security agreements.
Persons who are not compulsorily insured in Slovakia may, subject to the statutory conditions, take out voluntary social insurance. Foreign nationals generally need to have a temporary or permanent residence permit in Slovakia to participate in voluntary insurance. Different combinations of voluntary sickness, pension and unemployment insurance are available depending on the individual's circumstances.
For researchers and university teachers who are employed or self-employed in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland while carrying out activities in Slovakia, the applicable social security legislation is determined according to the EU social security coordination rules. A person is subject to the social security legislation of only one country at a time.
Special rules apply, in particular, to persons temporarily posted to Slovakia by an employer established in another country and to persons who normally work in two or more countries. The Portable Document A1 (PD A1) certifies which country's social security legislation applies.
Persons who are not economically active are generally subject, under the EU coordination rules, to the legislation of their Member State of residence. The determination of residence for social security purposes is based on the person's circumstances and should not be confused automatically with registered permanent or temporary residence.
For more information, see the section Social security coordination within EU/EEA/Switzerland
For third-country nationals, the applicable rules depend on the individual's circumstances and on whether an international social security agreement applies. Where Slovakia has concluded a bilateral social security agreement with the relevant country, the agreement may determine which country's legislation applies and how social security rights are coordinated.
Where no applicable international agreement or other coordination rules apply, the person's position is governed by the relevant national legislation.
For more information, see the section Social security for third country nationals
State social support is separate from the social insurance system. Researchers and university teachers without an employment contract in Slovakia may be entitled to individual state social support benefits if they meet the conditions laid down for the particular benefit. These may include requirements concerning residence in Slovakia, family circumstances and other specific conditions.
For more information, see the Social security system in Slovakia.