Slovakia - International service provider

Schengen visa

The application for a Schengen visa is filed at the Slovak embassy in the country of your citizenship or country of your residence. The application must be submitted in person, not earlier than three months prior to the planned trip to Slovakia.

The embassy will issue a decision within 15 calendar days from the date of delivery of your application. This period can be extended to a maximum of 45 calendar days, particularly if further assessment of the application is needed.

The fee for applying for a Schengen visa is 80 euros.

To obtain a Schengen visa, you must submit the following documents:

• documents proving the purpose of your business trip, e.g.:
  • an invitation letter issued by the business partner or institution, or invitation verified by the Foreign Police Department; for repeated business trips submit a contract of cooperation with a Slovak company;
  • in case of training seminars, trade fairs, conferences, symposium, congresses: an invitation letter issued by the event organiser, or an official letter from the sending organisation requesting a visa for its employee, or entry tickets for the event.
• other documents: for the purpose of granting a Schengen visa, the embassy is entitled to require any other document with the aim to verify the declared purpose of your business trip and the intention to return back to the country of origin or residence.

It is possible that together with your Schengen visa application you will need to submit an invitation verified by the Foreign Police Department. It is necessary to verify this obligation at the Slovak embassy in the country of your citizenship or country of your residence.

If the obligation to verify the invitation is applicable, the inviting person may be:

• an individual, who is a citizen of the Slovak Republic with permanent residence in Slovakia or a third-country national who has temporary or permanent residence in Slovakia; or
• a legal entity or a sole trader performing similar activities. A Commercial Register extract or a Trade License must be attached to the application.

The invitation verification must be applied for by the host at the competent Foreign Police Department according to their place of residence and submitted on the official application form.

The application for invitation verification must be submitted together with:

• documents proving the purpose of the invitation;
• documents on financial coverage by means of a confirmation of the bank account balance of the inviting person;
• documents proving the accommodation;
• if the inviting person is a legal entity or a sole trader: a commercial registry extract or a trade license;
• administrative fee of 33 euros.

Further requirements:

All documents submitted with the application must not be older than 90 days. The Foreign Police Department will decide on the application within 15 days. An invitation verified by the Foreign Police Department is valid for 90 days from the date of verification.  Once the invitation is verified, the inviting person should send it to the applicant who will attach it to the Schengen visa application.

After obtaining the Schengen visa, you must report the beginning, the location and the estimated length of your residence at the Foreign Police Department within three working days from your arrival to Slovakia. In case you are accommodated in a hotel or other accommodation facility, the provider of accommodation bears this obligation.

The application for the National visa (D) is filed at the Slovak embassy in the country of your citizenship or country of your residence.

The embassy will issue a decision within 30 calendar days from the date of delivery of your application.

The fee for applying for a National visa is 35 euros.

To obtain a National visa, you must submit the following documents:

• a completed and signed official application form;
• a passport valid for at least 3 months after the expiration date of the visa;
• one colour photograph (3 x 3.5 cm);
• documents proving the purpose of your business trip, i.e. proof that you are an international business provider and you meet the conditions under the respective FTA;
• an international travel health insurance policy;
• other documents: for the purpose of granting a National visa (D), the embassy is entitled to require any other document if the submitted documents are not sufficient for the decision;
• visa fee of 35 euros.

Further requirements:

You are obliged to appear in person for an interview, if required.

After obtaining the National visa (D), you must report the beginning, the location and the estimated length of your residence at the Foreign Police Department within three working days from your arrival to Slovakia. In case you are accommodated in a hotel or other accommodation facility, the provider of accommodation bears this obligation.

In specific cases stipulated by law listed below, international service providers do not need temporary residence permit for the purpose of employment for a period of up to 90 days from the beginning of residence in Slovakia, if the third-country national resides in the country legally and fulfilled the reporting duty towards the Foreign Police (within 3 working days from entering the territory of the Slovak Republic). These cases include a third-country national, who:

• works for an significant third-country investor;
• for a maximum period of 90 days in a calendar year secures delivery of goods or services based on a commercial contract and delivers such goods or services, or carries out installation works, warranty services and repairs, work related to system production facilities setup, programming work or vocational trainings;
• secures delivery of goods or services based on a commercial contract and delivers such goods or services, or carries out installation works, warranty services and repairs, work related to system production facilities setup, programming work or professional trainings to a trading company that has been provided with an investment assistance according in the period for which the investment assistance approval was issued.

In specific cases stipulated by law listed below, international service providers also do not need a work permit or a confirmation on the possibility to fill a vacancy (undergo the economic need test) in order to work in Slovakia. These cases include a third-country national, who:

• whose employment relation or posting does not exceed 30 days in one calendar year and
  • who is a teacher, academic employee, university teacher, scientific,
  • who is a research or development worker participating in a professional scientific event or
  • who is a performing artist taking part in the artistic event;
• for a maximum period of 90 days in a calendar year secures delivery of goods or services based on a commercial contract and delivers such goods or services, or carries out installation works, warranty services and repairs, work related to system production facilities setup, programming work or vocational trainings;
• is a partner in a company, or a statutory body of a company, or a member of a statutory body of a company that performs activities on behalf of the company that was provided investment assistance, by performing activities, during a period for which the decision on the approval of the investment assistance was issued for;
• secures delivery of goods or services based on a commercial contract and delivers such goods or services, or carries out installation works, warranty services and repairs, work related to system production facilities setup, programming work or professional trainings to a trading company that has been provided with an investment assistance during the period for which the investment assistance approval was issued;
• is performing an activity for a legal person who has been issued significant investment certificate, and
  • who manages such legal person or its organisational unit or
  • who has an exceptional professional knowledge, skills, abilities or know-how that are necessary for running a company, research techniques or management if performing this activity does not exceed a total of 90 days per calendar year.

In other cases, you will in general need to obtain a temporary residence for the purpose of employment, issued upon a confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy (the so-called single permit to reside and work). You must apply only for the temporary residence for the purpose of employment and do not need to apply for a work permit. This type of temporary residence for the purpose of employment may be granted for a maximum period of two years.

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 the vacancy by a third-country national directly from the Labour Office.

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

To obtain temporary residence for the purpose of employment (or the so-called 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);
• 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 or a confirmation letter from the employer stating that the third-county national will perform work which does not require a work permit;
• a 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;
• administrative fee of 165.50 euros (if the application is submitted at the Foreign Police Department) or 170 euros (if the application is submitted at the Slovak embassy);
• administrative fee of 4.50 euros for issuance of the residence document.

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. This does not apply to persons representing or working for a significant third-country investor in the Slovak Republic.  

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.

Temporary residence for the purpose of employment may be renewed repeatedly, 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. 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 or a confirmation letter from the employer stating that the third-country national will perform work which does not require a work permit;
• a document on accommodation in Slovakia (does not apply to a third-country national regularly commuting to work across state borders from a neighbouring state and persons representing or working for a significant third-country investor in the Slovak Republic);
• a document on financial coverage of residence;
• administrative fee of 99.50 euros;
• administrative fee of 4.50 euros (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.

In the case of a positive decision on your application, the Foreign Police does not issue a written decision and will send you a written notification informing that the residence has been granted, stating the date of granting and date of expiry. The Foreign Police will send a written or electronic notification on granting the residence to you, to the competent Slovak embassy, as well as to the self-governing region and to the municipality according to your place of residence in Slovakia.

You will obtain a written decision in case your application is rejected. 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.

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

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.

More on the procedures, required documents and other conditions related to the temporary residence for the purpose of employment.

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 (i. e. if you are not subject to visa requirements, if you already hold a valid residence (permanent, temporary or tolerated) permit in Slovakia/another Member State, if you hold a national visa D or if you hold a certificate of a Slovak living abroad), you may submit your application for residence at the competent Foreign Police Department in Slovakia. The application must be submitted in person.

The fee for applying for temporary residence for the purpose of business is 232 euros (if the application is submitted at the Foreign Police Department) or 240 euros (if the application is submitted at the Slovak embassy). 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.

To obtain a temporary residence for the purpose of business, 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);
• a document proving the purpose of residence, i.e. a business plan together with the anticipated costs of starting a business or a document confirming the authorisation to do business (not applicable if you are listed in the Commercial Register as a person authorised to act on behalf of the company);
• a document on the feasibility and sustainability of the business activity, if you are documenting the purpose of residence by submitting a business plan;
• a 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 bank account balance confirmation in the name of the applicant from a bank in Slovakia or a bank account statement for the last three months, in case the applicant’s account is not in Slovakia);
• a document on your accommodation in Slovakia for at least six months or for your entire stay;
• administrative fee of 232 euros (if the application is submitted at the Foreign Police Department) or 240 euros (if the application is submitted at the Slovak embassy);
• administrative fee of 4.50 euros for issuance of the residence document.

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. This does not apply to document confirming the authorisation to do business.

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.

Within 30 days from collecting the residence document, you must submit at the Foreign Police a document on 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.

Temporary residence for the purpose of business may be renewed repeatedly, for a maximum period of three 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 the purpose for which you obtained the temporary residence still lasts. When applying for residence renewal, you must not be in arrears of payment towards the Tax Office and Customs Office, of social insurance premiums and must not have any outstanding debts towards your health insurance provider from your business activities and from all the companies you act on behalf of. If you are not a taxpayer or are exempt from paying special insurance contributions, you must submit a document confirming this fact. 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 document proving the purpose of residence (not applicable if the facts confirmed by the original document proving the purpose of residence remained unchanged);
• a document on accommodation in Slovakia;
• a document on health insurance in Slovakia;
• a document on financial coverage of residence;
• a document on a taxed profit of the company on behalf of which you act for the previous fiscal year at least in the amount of 60-times the subsistence minimum; if you did not do business throughout the entire previous fiscal year, you must document a taxed profit in the amount of 5-times the subsistence minimum; if you have not yet been authorised to act on behalf of the company in the previous fiscal year, you must submit a document on financial coverage of the business activities in the amount of 30-times the subsistence minimum;
• administrative fee of 132.50 euros;
• administrative fee of 4.50 euros (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.

In the case of a positive decision on your application, the Foreign Police does not issue a written decision and will send you a written notification informing that the residence has been granted, stating the date of granting and date of expiry. The Foreign Police will send a written or electronic notification on granting the residence to you, to the competent Slovak embassy, as well as to the self-governing region and to the municipality according to your place of residence in Slovakia.

You will obtain a written decision in case your application is rejected. 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.

If you hold a temporary residence for the purpose of business in Slovakia and would like your family members to join you, they may apply for temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification.

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.

Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on Residence of Aliens and on amendment of some acts

Act No. 5/2004 Coll. on Employment Services and on amendment of certain acts