Slovakia - Employed worker

Where and how to apply

Single permit to reside and work

A single permit to reside and work is a type of temporary residence for the purpose of employment, which is issued upon a confirmation on the possibility to fill a vacancy. You must apply only for the temporary residence for the purpose of employment and do not need to apply for a work permit. The confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy is issued by the Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family upon request of the Foreign Police Department, within five working days from delivery of the request.

Before you apply, your future employer must report the vacancy to the competent Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family ("Labour Office" - Úrad práce) at least 20 working days prior to your application for temporary residence. It is also possible for the employer to report a job vacancy electronically by means of the labour market internet wizard on this website.

The Labour Office will assess if the position can be filled by a candidate registered in the local (district) Register of Unemployed Job Seekers. If the vacant position is not filled within 20 working days of reporting the vacancy by a candidate listed in the Register of Job Seekers, your employer may issue you a written promise of employment or conclude a contract of employment.

You may apply for temporary residence for the purpose of employment (the so-called single permit) only after 20 working days from reporting the vacancy.

In general, it is recommended to file the application for temporary residence at the Slovak embassy in the country of your citizenship or country of your residence. In specific cases stipulated by law (e.g. if you are not subject to visa requirements, if you already hold a valid residence permit in the country/in another Member State), you may submit your application for residence at the competent Foreign Police Department in Slovakia. The application must be submitted in person.

After submitting your application for residence, the relevant Foreign Police Department in Slovakia will request the confirmation on the possibility to fill a vacancy by a foreigner directly from the Labour Office.

The fee for applying for a single permit to reside and work is EUR 165.50 (if the application is submitted at the Foreign Police Department) or EUR 170 (if the application is submitted at the Slovak embassy).

Work permit

In specific cases stipulated by law, you need to acquire a work permit in order to be employed (e.g. within the first 12 months from obtaining temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification, within the first 12 months from commencement of temporary residence of a third-country national who has the status of a person with long-term residence in another Member State).

Before applying for a work permit, your future employer must report the vacancy to the competent Labour Office at least 10 working days prior to applying for a work permit.

The Labour Office will assess if the position can be filled by a candidate registered in the local (district) Register of Unemployed Job Seekers. If the vacant position is not filled within 10 working days of reporting the vacancy by a candidate listed in the Register of Job Seekers, your employer may issue you a written promise of employment or conclude a contract of employment.

You or your employer may apply for a work permit at the competent Labour Office, depending on your future place of work, on an official application form, only after 10 working days from reporting the vacancy. The application can be submitted in person, by post or your future employer may do so on your behalf on basis of a power of attorney.

The Labour Office will issue a work permit within 20 working days from delivery of the application.

Applying for a work permit is free of charge.

Temporary residence for the purpose of employment based on work permit

In specific cases stipulated by law, once a work permit has been issued, you must apply for temporary residence for the purpose of employment. You must do so in person at the Slovak embassy in the country of your citizenship, or your residence. In specific cases stipulated by law, you may submit your application at the competent Foreign Police Department in Slovakia.

The fee for applying for temporary residence for the purpose of employment is EUR 165.50 (if the application is submitted at the Foreign Police Department) or EUR 170 (if the application is submitted at the Slovak embassy).

Documents required

Work permit

To obtain a work permit, you or your employer must submit:

• a completed and signed official application form in Slovak language;
• a valid passport;
• a contract of employment or a written promise of employment set out on the official form;
• in cases of regulated professions: an officially translated and authenticated (by apostille or superlegalisation) document proving the required education for the position or decision on recognition of the education document;
• a copy of your residence document (if you already hold one); and
• other documents depending on your case, if required by the Labour Office.

Temporary residence for the purpose of employment/single permit to reside and work

To obtain temporary residence for the purpose of employment/single permit to reside and work, you must submit:

• a completed and signed official application form in Slovak language;
• a valid passport and two colour photographs (3 x 3.5 cm);
• if your case requires a work permit: an authenticated copy of the work permit; or
• if your case requires a confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy: a contract of employment or a written promise of employment set out on the official form and in cases of regulated professions also the officially translated and authenticated (by apostille or superlegalisation) document proving the required education for the position, or decision on recognition of the education document;
• if your case does not require a work permit, nor a confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy: an employer’s confirmation that you will perform an activity not requiring a work permit;
• criminal record statement from the country of your citizenship and other countries where you resided for more than 90 days during six consecutive months in the last three years;
• proof of financial means to cover the cost of your stay (either a confirmation from the employer on the height of the agreed salary or a bank account balance confirmation);
• a document on your accommodation in Slovakia for at least six months or for your entire stay;
• a document from the municipality confirming the accommodation meets criteria defined by the Ministry of Health;
• administrative fee of EUR 165.50 (if the application is submitted at the Foreign Police Department) or EUR 170 (if the application is submitted at the Slovak embassy);
• administrative fee of EUR 4.50 for issuance of the residence document.

Administrative fees at the Foreign Police are paid in form of electronic fee stamps (eKolok), which may be bought directly at the Foreign Police Department through a vending machine, or at a post office. Consular fees at Slovak embassies are paid in cash or via bank transfers. It is recommended to verify the possible means of payment with the specific embassy.

Further requirements

All documents issued by official authorities abroad must be officially translated into Slovak by a certified translator and properly authenticated (apostille or superlegalisation). It is possible to submit documents issued or verified by official authorities of the Czech Republic in Czech language.

The documents must not be older than 90 days at the time of submitting the application.  

You must enter the territory of the Slovak Republic within 180 days from being granted the residence.

You must report the beginning of your residence at the Foreign Police Department within three working days from your arrival to Slovakia.

Within 30 days from collecting the residence document in Slovakia, you must submit at the Foreign Police a medical report not older than 30 days confirming you do not suffer from a disease constituting a threat to public health (this can be prolonged by 60 days, if requested).

Within three working days from collecting the residence document, you must get a health insurance.

Submitting an application for temporary residence does not entitle you to reside in Slovakia. Until you obtain the temporary residence, you are entitled to stay in Slovakia only on the basis of a valid visa, another residence permit, or within the visa-free regime.

You must reside in the territory of Slovakia for more than half of the length of the granted temporary residence in a calendar year.

Duration of validity of permits

The single permit to reside and work may be granted for a maximum period of two years with the possibility of a repeated renewal, or for a maximum of five years, if stipulated by an international treaty or in case of reciprocity (currently applicable only to US citizens).

Your work permit is valid for the duration of your employment contract or for a maximum of two years with the possibility of a repeated renewal, or for a maximum of five years, if stipulated by an international treaty or in case of reciprocity (currently applicable only to US citizens).

Your temporary residence for the purpose of employment is valid for the duration of your employment contract or for a maximum of two years with the possibility of a repeated renewal, or for a maximum of five years, if stipulated by an international treaty or in case of reciprocity (currently applicable only to US citizens).

Conditions for renewal

Temporary residence for the purpose of employment/single permit to reside and work

Temporary residence may be renewed repeatedly. Temporary residence for the purpose of employment may be renewed for a maximum period of five years.

If you want to apply for renewal of temporary residence, you must do so in person at the competent Foreign Police Department no later than the last day of validity of the temporary residence. The temporary residence is considered legal in the territory of Slovakia until the decision on its renewal. It is required that your employment lasts, i.e. the purpose for which you obtained the temporary residence still lasts. At the same time, your employer must report the vacancy to the Labour Office at least 10 working days (in the case of a work permit), or 20 working days (in the case of a confirmation on the possibility to fill a vacancy) before submitting the application for temporary residence. The application for renewal of temporary residence must be accompanied by a valid passport, otherwise the Foreign Police will not accept the application.

The application must be submitted together with:

• a valid passport;
• one colour photograph (3 × 3.5 cm);
• a contract of employment or work permit;
• a document on accommodation in Slovakia (does not apply to a foreign national regularly commuting to work across state borders from a neighbouring state);
• a document on financial coverage of residence;
• administrative fee EUR 99.50;
• administrative fee EUR 4.50 (for issuing a residence document).

Administrative fees at the Foreign Police are paid in form of electronic fee stamps (eKolok), which may be bought directly at the Foreign Police Department through a vending machine, or at a post office.

Work permit

The work permit may be renewed repeatedly, but always for a maximum period of two years. The application for renewal of work permit must be submitted at the earliest 90 days and at least 30 days before the expiry of your current work permit. It is required that you work with the same employer and on the same position.

Appeals

You can file an administrative appeal to the Directorate of Foreign Police/Directorate of Border and Foreign Police. You can file a judicial appeal to the Regional Court.

Further information

Recognition of foreign diplomas and qualifications

More on visas

Overview of all necessary information (including residence and work)

More on working in Slovakia

More on residence permits

A work permit or confirmation on the possibility to fill a vacancy is always tied to a particular employer, position and place of work.

If you hold a single permit to reside and work and wish to change your employer, you must inform the competent Foreign Police Department about the change within five working days and submit a new contract of employment or written promise of employment, your residence document and passport. The new employer has to report the vacancy to the competent Labour Office at least 20 working days before you inform the Foreign Police.

If you hold a work permit and wish to change your employer, you or your new employer must apply for a new work permit at the competent Labour Office. The new employer has to report the vacancy to the competent Labour Office at least 10 working days prior to applying for the work permit.

As a holder of temporary residence for the purpose of employment/single permit to reside and work, your status in Slovakia is linked to your work. If the purpose of your residence status ceases to exist (e.g. your contract is terminated before the expiry of your residence, or you quit and no longer work), you as well as you employer must inform the Foreign Police Department within three working days. In such case, your residence permit remains valid for another 60 days (the so-called protective period), during which your residence will not yet be revoked. If you wish to stay in Slovakia, the protective period may serve to search for a new work and/or apply for a new temporary residence.

If you hold a temporary residence for the purpose of employment/single permit to reside and work in Slovakia and would like your family members to join you, they may apply for temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification.

Your residence status is aligned with the duration of your work permit (if required) and is valid for the duration of your employment contract.

If you wish to change your status, i.e. change the type or purpose of your residence (e.g. from employment to business), you must submit a new application for residence at the Foreign Police Department, no later than the last day of validity of your current residence.

Family members

Family members include your spouse of at least 18 years of age, your and your spouse’s unmarried children younger than 18 years of age, your unmarried children younger than 18 years of age, unmarried children of your spouse younger than 18 years of age, your dependent unmarried children older than 18 years of age or dependent unmarried children of your spouse who cannot provide for themselves due to a long-term unfavourable health condition, your dependent parent or parent of your spouse who lacks appropriate family support in the country of origin.

The Foreign Police Department can grant your family members residence until the validity of your residence expires, for a maximum period of 5 years.

Your family members may study, conduct business (does not apply to parents and children older than 18 years of age) and be employed during their stay in Slovakia. However, they need to obtain a work permit in the period of up to 12 months from being granted temporary residence. After the period of 12 months, they may work without further permits.

Long-term residence

You may apply for long-term residence, if you have legally resided in Slovakia for at least five consecutive years directly prior to the submission of your application.

More on long-term residence