Residence Permit in Slovakia

Residence Permit in Slovakia - 2023 Procedure

Updated on Thursday 23rd November 2023

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Foreigners who wish to stay in the country have to apply and obtain a residence permit in Slovakia. A residence permit is a document that shows proof that an individual is legally allowed to stay in Slovakia.

The Law on Residence of Aliens and Amendment Supplementation of Certain Acts governs the residence permits of foreigners desiring to stay in Slovakia. Residence permits in Slovakia can either be temporary or permanent, depending on the purpose and duration of stay in the country. Certain requirements have to be complied with before a residence permit is granted. Our law firm in Slovakia has assisted many clients with regard to their residence permits.

We are at the service of all those interested in applying for a Slovakia residence permit.

Quick Facts
Temporary residence permit types	Business, student, temporary permits, European Blue Card
Time needed to obtain the temporary residence permit (approx.)	It takes around 30 days to obtain a residence permit in Slovakia
Temporary residence permit validity	1 to 3 years
Documents for obtaining temporary residence	Valid passport, proof of address, recent photographs, proof of accommodation, documents supporting the relocation, clean criminal record
Mandatory registrations with state authorities (i.e. with the population/municipality register)	YES, with the Foreign Police within 3 days from arrival
Dependents can join the temporary permit holder (Yes/No)	YES
Temporary or permanent residency for investment purposes	YES, it is possible to obtain a residence permit in Slovakia through investment
Types of investments available for residency purposes	Business incorporation with job creation
Minimum investment amount	EUR 100 million
Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence	5 years of temporary residency
Residency for individuals married to a citizen of the country	5 years
Documents for obtaining permanent residence in Slovakia	Valid ID/passport, proof of living in Slovakia for the required period of time, proof of local address
Naturalization requirements	After 8 years of living in Slovakia, 5 years through marriage
Citizenship after permanent residence	8 years of holding a permanent residence permit in Slovakia
Dual citizenship permitted (Yes/No)	YES, dual citizenship is permitted in Slovakia

Who can qualify to immigrate to Slovakia and obtain a residence permit?

Foreign citizens interested in immigration to Slovakia and seeking to obtain a temporary residence permit in Slovakia can qualify for temporary stays in the country if one of the following is met:

he or she has entered Slovakia based on a visa (this requirement applies to non-EU citizens);
he or she has entered the country based on an EU visa (this is also an option for non-EU citizens);
he or she has obtained a tolerated residence certificate in accordance with the Slovak law.

In the case of EU and EEA citizens, no visa is required to enter Slovakia and these citizens are not subject to requirements for a temporary residence permit in Slovakia.

When it comes to Slovakia permanent residence, the conditions change and apply to both EU and non-EU citizens, as it follows:

foreign citizens who are married to Slovak citizens or permanent residence permit holders in Slovakia;
children born abroad but who have at least one Slovak citizen as a parent;
minor children of Slovakia permanent residence permit holders who have lived in Slovakia for at least 5 years;
investor can also obtain Slovak residence permits if they make a significant contribution to the economy.

If you are interested in moving to Slovakia and obtaining permanent residence, our law firm is at your disposal with tailored services. The processing time for a permanent residence permit in Slovakia is 90 days. The processing time may be extended if documents are missing from your application. This is why before filing the paperwork or applying in the first place to consult with specialists in the field. This a matter in which our immigration lawyers in Slovakia can help.

Our lawyers can also help you apply for a divorce in Slovakia.

Immigrating to Slovakia from EU countries

Slovakia welcomes citizens coming to work and investors interested in doing business here from everywhere in the world. However, it is easier for EU citizens interested in immigration to Slovakia to apply for residence permits as the procedure implies no entry visa.

Once arrived in Slovakia, a citizen of an EU member state needs to register with the local authorities and then start working (if he or she has made arrangements in this sense prior to entering the country), seek for employment, or start one’s own business.

Applying for a Slovakia residence permit as an EU citizen is not difficult and requires presenting the following documents with the local police department in the region the immigrant has moved to.

The documents to file are:

a duly completed application form (it is issued the office where the registration takes place);
two color photographs (one of them will be placed on the residency card);
the passport which must be valid at the time the application is made;
the proof of residence (the employment contract or another justificative document);
a certificate police indicating a clean criminal record;
proof of accommodation (a rental agreement or property title);
proof of financial sustenance (bank account statement or payslip).

At the time of the application, the documents cannot be more than 90 days older. Our lawyer can guide those interested in moving to the country and obtaining Slovakia permanent residence.

Those who relocate for employment purposes will also need to register with the Slovak Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family.

We are at your service if you need guidance in obtaining a Slovakia residence permit.

Moving to Slovakia from the UK

The UK, an ex-EU country, has many citizens living abroad and after the conclusion of Brexit, a large portion of them decide to move to other EU countries in order to retain their benefits as EU residents.

The good news is that for those who have already obtained residence permits in Slovakia or other EU states do not need to go through any other procedure in order to enter the country. For those who are now considering relocation, the procedure will apply just as in the case of non-EU citizens who need to obtain entry visas and then residence permits.

Moving and obtaining a residence permit is not difficult, as the procedure is straightforward from a legal point of view, however, our immigration lawyers in Slovakia are at your service in order to help you ensure a smooth relocation process.

Temporary residence permit in Slovakia

Only those foreigners with valid travel documents are allowed to apply and are granted a temporary residence permit in Slovakia. Temporary residence permits are only valid throughout the duration of the purpose of the stay of the individual. Temporary residence permits are also issued only for specific purposes and each has a definite duration. Even if a foreigner has been granted a temporary residence permit for one purpose, if another activity is undertaken, a separate residence permit must be obtained for that activity. These are the purposes listed down by our Slovak lawyers:

1. Business – three years;

2. Employment – two years;

3. Studies – six years;

4. Special activity – two years;

5. Research and development - two years;

6. Family reunion – five years;

7. Performance of service obligations – five years;

8. Blue card holders of the European Union – three years.

If you want to relocate to Slovakia in 2023, our lawyers can present the updated procedure. The Slovakia residence permit is not difficult to obtain with the help of our lawyers.

How to obtain a residence permit by starting a business in Slovakia

Slovakia is an appealing destination for businesspersons seeking to live and conduct various commercial activities in a small country that offers them access to a good quality of life and impeccable educational and healthcare services. One of the simplest ways of moving here and obtaining Slovak residence permit is by opening a company.

The procedure of registering a business is quick and can be started before arriving to the country with power of attorney passed on to a local law firm, such as ours. One of our lawyers will start the preparation of the company registration papers and the investor will be able to enter the country as soon as he has proof of ownership in the company. We remind foreign citizens that this applies only if they are non-EU or non-EEA citizens who come to Slovakia for the first time. Those who relocate from another EU country with residence cards obtained in the respective states can relocate to Slovakia without any additional visa requirement.

Investors have another option if they aim at starting a business and remaining in Slovakia indefinitely: the citizenship by investment scheme under which they are required to inject a significant amount of money in the country’s economy. The program is linked to opening a company and the creation of jobs.

If you want to immigrate to Slovakia this way, you can rely on our lawyers who can assist you in drafting the paperwork related to obtaining an investor visa.

Options for foreign workers in Slovakia

Employment is by far one of the most sought ways of moving to Slovakia from outside the European Union. This happens because foreign citizens must first obtain a work contract that will guarantee a stable income, thus enabling them to live here without any worries.

The following options are available for people who want to obtain Slovak residence permits based on employment:

single permits that enable a foreign citizen to live and work in Slovakia;
work permits with temporary residence permits that enable foreign citizens to stay in the country while searching for employment;
temporary residence permits for non-EU citizens who have obtained EU residence permits;
family reunification temporary residence permits.

One must pay attention to the fact that in certain cases special requirements apply. Among these, people who apply for temporary residence permits for family reunion reasons will be granted 12-month validity cards that also come with work permits. Persons relocating from other EU members states will also be issued work permits with a validity of 12 months.

Provided that the non-EU citizen is a first-time residence permit holder in Slovakia, he or she will also need an entry visa when arriving to the country.

Given the fact that hiring non-EU citizens requires having an employer, it is worth noting that when applying for a single residence permit that also comprises a work visa, you should know that such visas are usually issued within approximately one month.

If you have questions on the Employment Law, our immigration lawyers in Slovakia are at your disposal with detailed information.

Family reunification in Slovakia

Foreign citizens who have obtained residence permits in Slovakia and have settled here can apply for family reunion visas and have their close family members relocated here. These must acquire temporary residence permits if they want to stay in the country for more than 90 days in a one-year period.

The following family members qualify for family reunification residence permits for Slovakia:

the spouse of the Slovak resident;
the minor children of Slovak resident or children of his/her spouse;
dependent adult children can also move to Slovakia;
the parents or parents-in-law of the residence card holder.

The main conditions to bring dependent adult children are related to having health problems that lead to them not being able to provide for themselves, while for parents and parent-in-law, the lack of financial stability is main reason under which they can be brought to Slovakia.

Our law firm in Slovakia can review your case if you want to bring your family here and can help you apply for residence permits for them.

Living in Slovakia for 5 years will lead to permanent residency, and those who want to settle here for good have the option of obtaining Slovak citizenship by living here for 8 years. They must submit proof of knowing the country’s culture and language.

Having a Slovak passport comes with numerous advantages, among which the possibility of buying properties and traveling to other countries without applying for visas.

Long-term residence and permanent residence in Slovakia

There is a difference between a long-term residence permit in Slovakia and permanent residency, as the latter enables an applicant to relocate here on an indefinite period of time. The following need to be considered in this sense:

long-term residence is available for foreign citizens who have lived in Slovakia for 5 uninterrupted years;
long-term residency is also available for persons who are EU residence card holders for at least 5 years;
permanent residence is can be obtained for those how have had long-term residence permits for 5 years and have lived 4 years in Slovakia based on them.

If you are interested in applying for a Slovakia residence permit, you can count on our immigration lawyers.

Slovakia residence permit in 2023

If a foreign individual is granted a permanent residence permit in Slovakia in 2023, that person is allowed to reside, leave, and re-enter the country within the time allowed by the police department, the entity in charge of regulating the entry and exit of foreign individuals. The initial duration of validity of a permanent residence permit is five years but can later be extended to an unlimited duration if all requirements under the Law on Residence of Aliens and Amendment Supplementation of Certain Acts are complied with. Our lawyers in Slovakia can give you legal advice on how to obtain a permanent residence permit.

We can also assist those interested in Slovakia permanent residence. It is imperative to keep in mind that you must apply for the appropriate visa in order to lawfully reside and work in Slovakia. The country also participates in the EU Blue Card initiative, so employee relocation is possible here. You can rely on our local law company for assistance if you want to obtain a Slovak residence permit. Here is also a video on this topic:

Steps in applying for a residence permit in Slovakia in 2023

Foreign individuals who want to apply for Slovak residency in 2023 must complete a few steps which generally include choosing a type of permit and preparing the documents they need to file with the Immigration Authorities. Among these, the valid passport and information about the reason to relocate here will need to be presented.

At the level of 2023, the procedure for obtaining a residence permit in Slovakia can be completed online with the support of our lawyers. They will present all the information you need to know and will also help you prepare and file the documents for immigration. Also, if you have any questions, you can send them to our specialists.

Other changes at the level of 2023 imply no labor market test is necessary for non-EU nationals applying to renew their Single Permit/Blue Card to continue their employment with the same sponsoring company and in the same position. Also, non-EU nationals can now continue working in Slovakia while their renewal application is being processed.

There are legal steps that need to be taken if you want to obtain a residence permit in Slovakia. Just get in touch with our law firm in Slovakia and have our associates help you with the process.