Possibility of permanent residence in the country
Possibility of visa-free visits to EU countries
Possibility to get free quality education in Slovakia for yourself and your children
Possibility to conduct business in Slovakia and other EU countries
Types of residence permit for a foreigner in Slovakia:
- temporary residence;
- permanent residence;
- tolerated residence.
A temporary residence permit in Slovakia can be obtained on the following grounds:
- business;
- employment;
- study;
- special activity;
- research and development;
- family reunion;
- fulfilling the duties by civilian units of the armed forces;
- acknowledged status of a Slovak living abroad;
- long-term resident status in an EU member state.
A temporary residence permit can also be obtained on the basis on a Blue Card.
There are three types of permanent residence permit:
- permanent residence for 5 years;
- permanent residence for an unlimited time;
- residence permit for third country citizens who hold the long-term resident status of the EU.
Tolerated residence permit is a special type of residence permit granted for a short period of time (180 days at most) subject to certain conditions listed in the law.
An application for a temporary residence permit shall be submitted:
- personally at the embassy / consulate of the foreign state if the applicant is abroad, or
- personally at the Foreign Police Department if the applicant is in Slovakia on the basis of a valid temporary residence permit or valid national visa or if they do not need a visa to stay in Slovakia.
The applicant may enter the country on a type D visa.
The application shall be accompanied by:
- valid passport;
- 2 photographs in the prescribed format (3 х 3.5 cm);
- proof of payment of the administrative fee;
- document proving the purpose of stay (not older than 90 days);
- no-criminal-record certificate (not older than 90 days);
- document proving a lodging (not older than 90 days);
- document proving financial coverage (not older than 90 days).
Documents issued in another country must be apostilled and translated into Slovak.
The applicant must enter Slovakia within 180 days of obtaining a temporary residence permit.
Within 3 workdays of arrival in the country, they must report the beginning of their residence to the Foreign Police Department and enter into a health insurance contract (within 30 days of obtaining the residence permit, it is necessary to provide the Foreign Police Department with that contract and a medical report confirming that the person does not suffer from any disease that could endanger public health).
A residence permit may be refused if the applicant:
- is under investigation or has other problems with the law;
- provided the visa center with false information (visa violations);
- poses a threat to the security of the country or has dangerous infectious diseases.
The applicant receives confirmation that the application has been accepted at the Foreign Police Department or embassy on the day of its submission.
Decision on issuance of a residence permit is made within 90 days after the day when the relevant application was accepted by an authorized person.
Obtaining a residence permit in Slovakia on the basis of registration as a sole trader is one of the fastest and relatively easy ways to obtain a residence permit.
The first residence permit is issued for 2 years; then it may be extended for up to 3 years. Extension of a residence permit is allowed if the applicant has a sufficient income and pays taxes in Slovakia (a sole trader must have an income of ~5,400 EUR per year; the minimum tax for a sole trader is 100 EUR). The applicant’s family members can apply for a residence permit along with the applicant.
IMPORTANT: a residence permit is renewed on the same grounds on which it was initially obtained.
A permanent residence permit for 5 years may be obtained by a foreign citizen who:
- is married to a citizen of Slovakia who has a permanent residence permit in Slovakia or is a relative who is dependent on a citizen of Slovakia who has a permanent residence permit in Slovakia;
- is a child of a citizen of a third country with a residence permit in Slovakia for 5 years, provided that the child has not attained 18 years of age and is not married.
A permanent residence permit may also be issued in other (exceptional) cases if it is necessary in the interests of Slovakia.
An application for a permanent residence permit for 5 years shall be submitted personally in the embassy / consulate of Slovakia abroad. If the applicant is in Slovakia, they may submit the application at the Foreign Police Department of Slovakia.
The application shall be accompanied by:
- valid passport;
- 2 photographs in the prescribed format (3 х 3.5 cm);
- document proving the purpose of stay;
- no-criminal-record certificate;
- document proving financial coverage;
- document proving a lodging.
If the applicant is a child under 18 years of age, a parent’s written consent shall also be enclosed with the application.
Requirements as to the documents are analogous to those described above (the validity period is 90 days; apostille and translation into Slovak are required).
Within 3 workdays of obtaining the residence permit, the applicant must enter into a health insurance contract and, within 30 days, provide the Foreign Police Department with a recent medical report confirming that they do not have any disease that could endanger public health.
Permanent residence permit for an unlimited time
A permanent residence permit for an unlimited time can be granted to a person who has held a permanent residence permit for 5 years for at least 4 years as well as to a child of a person with a permanent residence permit for an unlimited time under 18 years of age.
An application for a permanent residence permit for an unlimited time shall be submitted personally at the police department of Slovakia on a special form.
The application shall be accompanied by:
- valid passport;
- 2 photographs in the prescribed format (3 х 3.5 cm);
- document proving financial coverage (not older than 90 days);
- document proving health insurance in Slovakia;
- no-criminal-record certificate (if the applicant is a child over 14 years old but under 18 years old).
Optional: they may request a document proving a lodging (not older than 90 days) and a declaration proving that the reasons for issuance of the residence permit remain the same.
A long-term residence permit may be issued to a foreign citizen who:
- has been in the territory of Slovakia for 5 years by the time of submitting the application;
- has held for 5 years a legal permanent residence permit in EU member states as a holder of a Blue Card, if they have been in the territory of Slovakia on a Blue Card for at least 2 years by the time of submitting the application.
An application for a long-term residence permit shall be submitted personally at the police department of Slovakia on a special form.
The application shall be accompanied by:
- valid passport;
- 2 photographs in the prescribed format (3 х 3.5 cm);
- document proving a regular stable source of income for the applicant and family members;
- document proving health insurance in Slovakia.
We can assist in obtaining a temporary residence permit in Slovakia on the basis of registration as a sole trader (for 2 years with possible further extension).
Our service fee depends on the number of people wishing to obtain a residence permit along with the principal applicant and is approximately
EUR 4 050 for the principal applicant and
EUR 2 350 for each additional applicant (spouse of the principal applicant, minor children).
