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Guide to administrative duties - Entry and stay in Slovakia
Are you an EU/EEA/Swiss national?
Do you intend to stay in Slovakia for less than 3 months?
Please continue with the part The EU/EEA/Swiss nationals - Staying in Slovakia for less than 3 months
Do you intend to come to Slovakia with your family members?
Is the accompanying family member an EU/EEA/Swiss national?
Your family member can proceed in accordance with procedures described in the section Family members who are EU/EEA/Swiss nationals
For more information about the procedures for the family members consult the part Family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who come from third countries.
You don´t need to take any administrative action in this issue prior to your arrival to Slovakia.
Please continue with the part The EU/EEA/Swiss nationals - Staying in Slovakia for more than 3 months
Do you intend to come with your family members?
You don´t need to take any administrative action in this issue prior to your arrival to Slovakia.
Is the accompanying family member an EU/EEA/Swiss national?
Your family member can proceed in accordance with procedures described in part Family members who are EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.
For more information about the procedures for the family members consult the part Family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who come from third countries.
Do you intend to stay for less than 90 days?
What kind of activity do you plan to perform in Slovakia?
For this short stay it is not necessary to apply for a temporary residence.
There are certain administrative duties you need to fulfil upon arrival in Slovakia.
Do you need a visa?
Find out whether the home country is on the list of countries whose citizens require visas to enter the Schengen Area.
For detailed information about the visa procedures read the part Schengen visa.
You don´t need to take any administrative action in this issue prior to your arrival to Slovakia.
For this short stay is not necessary to apply for a temporary residence permit.
There are certain administrative duties you need to fulfil upon arrival in Slovakia.
Do you need the visa?
Find out whether the home country is on the list of countries whose citizens require visas to enter the Schengen Area.
For detailed information about the visa procedures read the part Schengen visa.
You don´t need to take any administrative action in this issue prior to your arrival to Slovakia.
For this short stay is not necessary to apply for a temporary residence permit.
There are certain administrative duties you need to fulfil upon arrival in Slovakia.
Do you need the visa?
Find out whether the home country is on the list of countries whose citizens require visas to enter the Schengen Area.
For detailed information about the visa procedures read the part Schengen visa.
You don´t need to take any administrative action in this issue prior to your arrival to Slovakia.
For this short stay is not necessary to apply for a temporary residence permit.
There are certain administrative duties you need to fulfil upon arrival in Slovakia.
Do you need a visa?
Find out whether your home country is on the list of countries whose citizens require visas to enter the Schengen Area
For detailed information about the visa procedures read the part Schengen visa.
You don´t need to take any administrative action in this issue prior to your arrival to Slovakia.
In general even in the case of a stay longer than 90 days and employment in Slovakia it is necessary to apply for a temporary residence permit. Even though the Act no. 404/2011 Coll. provides for certain situations where it is possible to stay for employment within the first 90 days without a temporary residence permit, these are very specific cases that are not crucial to this publication. Please continue in the navigation as if your stay was longer than 90 days.
For more information read the parts:
Third country nationals - Staying in Slovakia for more than 90 days
When is a work permit or a confirmation of the possibility to fill a vacant position not required?
Confirmation of the possibility to fill a vacant position
In case the activity requires higher qualification and the working conditions and terms will be met, the Temporary residence in case of employment requiring higher qualification – Blue card of the EU can be granted.
There are certain administrative duties you need to fulfil upon arrival in Slovakia.
Do you need a visa?
Find out whether the home country is on the list of countries whose citizens require visas to enter the Schengen Area.
For detailed information about the visa procedures read the part Schengen visa. You don´t need to take any administrative action in this issue prior to your arrival to Slovakia.
Do you intend to come with your family members?
You don´t need to take any administrative action in this issue prior to your arrival to Slovakia.
Is the accompanying family member an EU/EEA/Swiss national?
Your family member can proceed in accordance with procedures described in Family members who are EU/EEA/Swiss nationals
For more information about the procedures for the family members consult the part Temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification.
Do you have a valid residence permit from another EU Member State for the purpose of university studies or research and are you coming in Slovakia for a study/research mobility in the duration of up to 360 days (students) or 1 year (researchers)?
Find out more about conditions of mobility.
Do you fall in any of the following groups?
You can apply for national visa for the duration of at least 90 days and up to 1 year. This group of third country nationals has a special status, for them national visa can be granted 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. List of the approved programmes is provided at the website of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of SR.
Do you need a visa to enter the Slovak Republic?
Find out whether the home country is on the list of ountries whose citizens require visas to enter the Schengen Area.
For specific national visa procedures and requirements see the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of SR.
Even nationals who can enter the Slovak Republic in visa-free regime can submit application for national visa in order to be legally residing here for the duration of up to 1 year.
For specific national visa requirements see the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of SR.
You can apply for the national visa even from the territory of the Slovak Republic at the respective Foreign Police Department. You need to book the appointment in advance. It is essential that you apply for national visa as soon as you arrive in Slovakia, so that from the application date to the end of your stay is not less than 90 days.
You can apply for national visa for the duration of at least 90 days up to 1 year. This group of third country nationals has a special status, for them national visa can be granted in the 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).
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.
Do you need a visa to enter the Slovak Republic?
Find out whether the home country is on the list of ountries whose citizens require visas to enter the Schengen Area.
For specific national visa procedures and requirements see the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of SR.
Even nationals who can enter the Slovak Republic in visa-free regime can submit application for national visa in order to be legally residing here for the duration of up to 1 year.
For specific national visa requirements see the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of SR.
You can apply for the national visa even from the territory of the Slovak Republic at the respective Foreign Police Department. You need to book the appointment in advance. It is essential that you apply for national visa as soon as you arrive in Slovakia, so that from the application date to the end of your stay is not less than 90 days.
The previous groups are specifically identified as groups for whom national visa can be granted in the interest of the Slovak Republic and they can last from 90 days up to 1 year. If this is not applicable to you, 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).
Continue with answering further questions.
Do you need a visa to enter the Slovak Republic?
Find out whether the home country is on the list of ountries whose citizens require visas to enter the Schengen Area.
Do you intend to apply for the temporary residence permit abroad?
It is possible to apply for temporary residence permit abroad prior to the arrival to Slovakia. After issuing the temporary residence permit a Slovak embassy/consulate on the basis of an application issues the National visa (type “D”) allowing the entry into Slovakia.
While planning your stay, please note that this procedure may last longer due to diplomatic post between a Foreign Police Office in Slovakia and the respective Slovak embassy/consulate.
For further information about the visa procedure, read the part Apply for a temporary residence from abroad (in case you need a visa) in section Staying in Slovakia for more than 90 days.
It is possible to apply for the temporary residence permit in Slovakia. In such case you first apply for the National visa (type “D”) abroad first, but you typically attach all documents necessary for the application for temporary residence permit along with the visa application, nevertheless.
Note: The application procedure for temporary residence for the purpose of study, research and development and special activity, may take 30 days after the date the application was accepted by the respective Foreign Police Office. In other cases, the procedure can take 90 days.
Do not forget to bring all documents needed for the application for the temporary residence with you; otherwise, you will have to leave Slovakia (Schengen Area) at the latest on the date when your visa expires.
For further information about the residence permit procedure and visa read the part Apply for a temporary residence in Slovakia (in case you need a visa) in the section Staying in Slovakia for more than 90 days.
Do you intend to apply for a temporary residence in Slovakia?
It is possible to apply for a temporary residence in Slovakia if you are staying in the Slovak territory legally.
Note: The application procedure for temporary residence for the purpose of study, research and development and special activity, may take 30 days after the date the application was accepted by the competent Foreign Police Office. In other cases the procedure can take 90 days. Beware, you will have to apply and also obtain the temporary residence within 90 days after entering Slovakia (Schengen Area), otherwise you will have to leave the territory of Slovakia (Schengen Area). Without having visa, you can reside in the Slovak territory (Schengen Area) for 90 days in any 180 days period. If the cumulative stay as a result of multiple stays in the territory of Slovakia (Schengen Area) were to exceed 90 days in the 6 consecutive months, conditions of the entry to Slovak territory (Schengen Area) would have to be consulted with the Slovak representative body abroad.
For further information about the residence permit procedure read the part Application for temporary residence permit in Slovakia, in case visa is not required in section Stying in Slovakia for more than 90 days.
It is possible to apply for temporary residence permit abroad at the Diplomatic Mission of the SR prior to the arrival to Slovakia.
For further information about the residence permit process read the part Application for a temporary residence abroad, in case a visa is not required in section Staying in Slovakia for more than 90 days.
What kind of activity do you plan to perform during your stay in Slovakia?
Irrespective of the type of study (full programme study or credit academic mobility/exchange stays), it is possible to apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of study.
If you are invited by a Slovak university/or an accredited institution to carry out your PhD studies, you also apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of study.
For detailed information read the parts:
Temporary residence for the purpose of study
When is a work permit or a confirmation of the possibility to fill a vacant position not required?
There are certain administrative duties you need to fulfil upon arrival in Slovakia.
If you plan to carry out research or development and you signed a Hosting Agreement with a university or a research institution in Slovakia, it is possible to apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of research and development.
For detailed information read the parts:
When is a work permit or a confirmation of the possibility to fill a vacant position not required?
There are certain administrative duties you need to fulfil upon arrival in Slovakia.
Interns studying at higher education institutions outside Slovakia or within two years of completing such studies can apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of a special activity, based on the certificate of internship.
There are certain administrative duties you need to fulfil upon arrival in Slovakia.
If you haven´t signed a Hosting Agreement with university or a research institution in Slovakia and you plan to carry out research or development, accomplish teaching activities of a lecturer – university teacher based on a simple invitation letter from a Slovak university, but with no employment contract, or you will perform teaching activities within an exchange/mobility programme of the SR or the EU or cooperation scheme, but with no employment contract – it is possible to apply for the temporary residence permit for the purpose of special activity in case of lecturers – university teachers and researchers without a Hosting Agreement.
For detailed information read the part:
Temporary residence for the purpose of special activity
There are certain administrative duties you need to fulfil upon arrival in Slovakia.
If you plan to carry out research and development in Slovakia upon a work contract without a Hosting Agreement or teaching at a university on the basis of a work contract, it is possible to apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of employment.
For detailed information read the parts:
Temporary residence for the purpose of employment
When is a work permit or a confirmation of the possibility to fill a vacant position not required?
Confirmation of the possibility to fill a vacant position
In case the activity requires higher qualification and the working conditions and terms will be met, the Temporary residence in case of employment requiring higher qualification – Blue card of the EU can be granted.
There are certain administrative duties you need to fulfil upon arrival in Slovakia.
Do you intend to come with your family members?
Is the accompanying family member an EU/EEA/Swiss national?
Your family member can proceed in accordance with procedures described in part Family members from EU/EEA/Switzerland
In general in such case, it is more suitable to have a temporary residence permit granted, rather than national visa only, as there is no chance of family reunification possible with granted national visa only.
For more information about the procedures for the family members consult the part Temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification.
You don´t need to take any administrative action in this issue prior to your arrival to Slovakia.
This guide is produced as part of EURAXESS Slovakia programme managed by SAIA, n. o. and funded by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic. It reflects the views of the authors only, and the funding organisation cannot be held responsible for any use of the information contained here.
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