Application procedure
Duties after the residence permit was granted
Renewal of the residence permitTemporary residence for the purpose of studies in case of university students/PhD students
Temporary residence for the purpose of special activity
Temporary residence for the purpose of research and development 
Mobility of third country nationals within EU
Duties after arrival in Slovakia

Depending on the activity you are going to pursue in Slovakia and the way it will be carried out, you may apply for one of the following types of temporary residence:

•      temporary residence for the purpose of studies,
•      temporary residence for the purpose of special activity,
•      temporary residence for the purpose of research and development. 

Type of temporary residence	Time period for decision on granting  a residence permit
Studies	within 30 days
Special Activity
Research and development

To find out which type suits your situation best, please, consult the “Navigation”. 

You must apply in person at the Slovak embassy/consulate general competent for your home country/country of residence or at a Foreign Police department in Slovakia. Your application will be accepted at the Foreign Police in Slovakia only if you are:

•      granted an EU residence permit,
•      granted a tolerated residence,
•      holder of a national visa (see section “National Visa”),
•      third‑country national who does not need a visa to enter, or
•      Slovak living abroad. 

Application procedure

Usually, it is necessary to submit a complete application with all the requested attachments, otherwise, it will not be accepted. If the embassy or the police department refuses to accept your application, they will notify you in writing of the documents you need to enclose so that it can be accepted.

If you submit your application at a Slovak embassy/consulate general, you will be   interviewed for the purpose of a preliminary assessment of your application. The interview will be conducted in Slovak or another language understandable to both parties. The embassy will prepare a written record of the interview and attach it to the application for the temporary residence. The record shall be made in the language in which the interview was held, and it must be signed by the applicant. The embassy will send its position on granting of the temporary residence to the Foreign Police department along with the record and its translation. Please note that it is also advised to consult the embassy with the way of notification on granting the residence.

If you apply directly at a competent Foreign Police department in Slovakia the police officer in charge will confirm a receipt of your application (last page of the application form; you should keep the receipt) and will ask you to provide a mobile phone number (you can write the number on your application form). You will be notified by a text message in the Slovak language when your residence card is ready. You can collect the residence card at the Foreign Police department in person or you can appoint somebody else with a power of attorney to do it for you.

If you apply for a temporary residence longer in advance and the Foreign Police decides on your application earlier than 30 days prior to starting your planned activity (the purpose of stay), the Foreign Police will set the starting date of your temporary residence exactly 30 days before the starting date of your planned activity (the purpose of stay). If the time between the decision of the Foreign Police on granting the temporary residence and the commencement of your planned activity (the purpose of stay) is shorter than 30 days, the day of commencement of the granted temporary residence will be the same as the date of the decision.

Once your temporary residence is granted, the police department will send you a written notice thereof, stating the effective and the expiry date of your residence. The time validity of a travel document is not regarded when deciding on the duration of a granted temporary residence.

Duties after the residence permit was granted

Once you are granted the temporary residence, you are obliged to submit a document proving your health insurance within 30 days from the collection of your residence card. Health insurance contracts in other language than Slovak (except for Czech) must be translated into Slovak by a sworn translator. In case you do not have a health insurance covering your stay in Slovakia, you have to obtain it within 3 working days from collecting your residence card. Moreover, you have to submit a medical certificate confirming that you do not suffer from any disease threatening public health within 30 days3 from collecting your residence card. The certificate cannot be older than 30 days. It can be obtained in specific medical centres only (see page 68) and a fee will be charged. Both documents can be submitted either in person or sent as a registered letter via regular postal service.

Renewal of the residence permit

If you want to renew your residence permit you must file the application for the renewal of a temporary residence in person at the respective Foreign Police department, using an official form, no later than the last day of the current temporary residence validity. Your temporary residence is considered legal (only) in the territory of Slovakia until the decision on its renewal is made.

It is necessary to submit a document proving health insurance and document on financial coverage of the residence (it is not necessary to submit the criminal record extract).

Temporary residence for the purpose of studies in case of university students/PhD students

Students from third countries who are planning to study a full degree programme (Bachelor, Master, PhD) in Slovakia shall apply for the temporary residence for the purpose of studies.

Complete application consists of the following documents:

• completed application form “Application for temporary residence”; the forms are also available at local Foreign Police departments. Please note that it must be completed in the Slovak language);
• 2 recent full-face colour photographs 3 × 3.5 cm;
• valid passport (police officer will make a copy of it);
• document proving the purpose of the stay (in Slovak) – confirmation on studies issued by a state authority (the respective ministry) or the host university
• document proving sufficient financial resources for the stay (in Slovak) – e.g. applicant’s bank account balance statement, letter of award stating the amount of applicant’s scholarship, confirmation of the financial coverage, or an affidavit issued by another person about the provision of financial resources together with that person’s bank account balance statement;
• criminal record extract (apostilled or superlegalised) from applicant’s home country and every country where the applicant has stayed for more than 90 days during 6 consecutive months within the last 3 years (if any). High school students are exempted from this obligation.

University students do not have to enclose a confirmation on accommodation in Slovakia.

Each document issued in a language other than Slovak (except for documents issued in Czech) has to be translated to Slovak by a sworn translator. None of the documents proving the purpose of your stay, financial resources and criminal record extract can be older than 90 days on the day of submitting the application for a temporary residence.

Fee: 4.50  € for issuing the residence card.

When submitting the temporary residence application, it is possible to request for accelerated issuance of the residence card (within 2 working days). The service fee is €24,90.

Police department shall grant the temporary residence for the purpose of studies for the expected duration of studies with a maximum of 6 years. The temporary residence for the purpose of studies remains valid for up to 30 days after the completion of university studies. The university diploma and the state examination certificate serve as a proof of the completed studies.

Students who completed their university education in Slovakia (full degree studies) can apply for the renewal of their temporary residence after the completion of their studies for the purpose of job seeking or starting a business. In this case, it can be prolonged for 9 months.

Temporary residence for the purpose of special activity

University students (including PhD students) from third countries can not only be regular full degree students, but also they may come to Slovakia within an official exchange or mobility programme approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic (e.g. National Scholarship Programme), an EU programme (e.g. Erasmus+) or a programme resulting from an international agreement (e.g. CEEPUS) binding on the Slovak Republic or upon an invitation from a university/education institution to give lectures/teach, as well as interns studying at higher education institutions outside Slovakia or within two years of completing such studies. In such case they shall apply for the temporary residence for the purpose of special activity. However, these nationals cannot be employed in Slovakia under a work contract.

Complete application consists of the following documents:

•  completed application form “Application for temporary residence” (the forms are also available at local Foreign Police departments and it must be completed in the Slovak language);
•  2 recent full‑face colour photographs 3 × 3.5 cm;
•  valid passport (police officer will make a copy of it);
•  document proving the purpose of the stay (in Slovak):

• • lecturers: confirmation from applicant’s host university/education institution that he/she will carry out the activities of a university teacher/lecturer (e.g. invitation letter for a lecture stay),
  • participants in governmental/EU programmes (e.g. National Scholarship Programme, Erasmus+): confirmation from a state authority (the competent ministry) in charge of a programme or a confirmation from an organisation administering such a programme under a contract with a competent state authority (e.g. scholarship award letter, confirmation on lecturing/research activity within a governmental/EU programme),
  • participants in a programme arising from an international agreement (e.g. CEEPUS): international agreement or a confirmation from a state authority (the competent ministry) in charge of a programme or a confirmation from an organisation administering such a programme under a contract with a competent state authority (e.g. scholarship award letter, confirmation on lecturing/research activity within an international programme),
  • interns: certificate of internship containing a description of the training programme, including the training objective, duration of the training, conditions of placement and supervision of the traineeship, internship working time and legal relationship between the intern and the receiving organisation;
    
    
•      document proving sufficient financial resources for the stay (in Slovak) – e.g. applicant’s bank account balance statement, confirmation of the financial coverage, or, in case of participants in governmental/EU programmes, a document proving the purpose of the stay, if it contains information about the financial coverage provided;
•      criminal record extract (apostilled or superlegalised) from applicant’s home country and every country where the applicant has stayed for more than 90 days during 6 consecutive months within the last 3 years (if any);
•      document proving the accommodation (in Slovak) for at least six months of the temporary residence; in the case of a shorter stay, it is necessary to provide a proof of accommodation for the whole stay – e.g. confirmation from the accommodation facility, rental agreement (with notarised signatures) or an affidavit on the provision of accommodation (with notarised signature);
•      interns also: declaration of the receiving organisation to cover the costs associated with the potential administrative expulsion;
•      interns also: either a university diploma not older than two years at the time of applying for a temporary residence, together with a decision on a recognition of the diploma or a certificate of current studies issued by the higher education institution, whereby the traineeship must correspond to the achieved/current higher education.

A proof of accommodation is not required in case the purpose of applicant’s stay is participation in a governmental/EU programme, the fulfilment of a commitment of the Slovak Republic under an international treaty and he/she is a university student or carries out pedagogic or research activity. Interns also need not proof accommodation.

Fees:   99.50 € for the temporary residence application (100  € in case of application submitted at the embassy/consulate of the Slovak Republic),

             33 € for the application for a renewal of the temporary residence,
             4.50  € for issuing the residence card.

When submitting the temporary residence application, it is possible to request for accelerated issuance of the residence card (within 2 working days). The service fee is €24,90.

Exemptions from the obligation to pay the application and the renewal fee      

• Applicants for a temporary residence for the purpose of a special activity who are participating in a governmental/EU programme, as well as those whose activity in Slovakia is resulting from an international agreement;
• interns who are receiving a scholarship of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic or a scholarship under an international agreement, as well as the foreign language lecturers coming to Slovak schools within programmes arising from international agreements;
• applicants who are pedagogic staff or university teachers.

Police department shall grant the temporary residence for the purpose of special activity for the time necessary to achieve its purpose, but for a maximum of 2 years.

Temporary residence for the purpose of research and development

Researchers (and to some extent PhD students who may be seen not only as regular students but also as young researchers) who have signed a hosting agreement with a research organisation or a university can apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of research and development.

Complete application consists of the following documents:

• completed application form “Application for temporary residence” ( the forms are also available at local Foreign Police departments and it must be completed in the Slovak language);
• 2 recent full‑face colour photographs 3 × 3.5 cm;
• valid passport (police officer will make a copy of it);
• hosting agreement in Slovak language (as a proof of the purpose of stay and as a proof of financial resources);
• document proving sufficient financial resources for the stay (in Slovak) – e.g. hosting agreement, applicant’s bank account balance statement or a confirmation of financial coverage;
• criminal record extract (apostilled or superlegalised) from the country, where the applicant has resided the longest during the last 10 years.

Foreigners applying for the temporary residence for the purpose of research and development do not have to enclose a confirmation of accommodation in Slovakia. However, the hosting agreement should contain a clause regarding the accommodation.

Each document issued in a language other than Slovak (except for documents issued in Czech) has to be translated to Slovak by a sworn translator.  In case the translation is done abroad, the competence of the translator must be attested by the Slovak embassy/consulate.

None of the documents proving the purpose of your stay, financial resources and criminal record extract can be older than 90 days on the day of submitting the application for a temporary residence.

The embassy of the Slovak Republic which receives the application will interview the applicant for the temporary residence for the purpose of a preliminary assessment of his/her application. The interview will be conducted in Slovak or another language understandable to both parties. The embassy will prepare a written record of the interview and attach it to the application for the temporary residence. The record shall be made in the language in which the interview was held, and it must be signed by the applicant. (If the applicant does not speak Slovak, he/she may turn to an interpreter at his/her own expenses and the interpreter must sign the record, too.) The embassy will send its position on granting of the temporary residence to the Foreign Police department along with the record and its translation.

In the case of applying for a renewal of a temporary residence, it is not necessary to submit the criminal record extract. It is, however, necessary to submit a confirmation of health insurance on the territory of the Slovak Republic.

Fee: 4.50  € for issuing the residence card.

When submitting the temporary residence application, it is possible to request for accelerated issuance of the residence card (within 2 working days). The service fee is €24,90.

Police department shall grant the temporary residence for the purpose of research and development for the period of validity of the hosting agreement, but for a maximum of 2 years.

Researchers who carried out their research in Slovakia can apply for the renewal of their temporary residence after the completion of their research activities, for the purpose of job seeking or starting a business. In this case, it can be prolonged for 9 months.

Note: PhD students that were granted a temporary residence for the purpose of research and development can also carry out activity ipon an employment contract, an agreement on work performed outside the employment (e.g. work performance agreement) or based on a granted scholarship.

What is a Hosting Agreement?

A Hosting Agreement is a tool facilitating faster and easier entry procedures related to the legal stay of third country researchers who want to carry out research and development activities in the EU.

The Hosting Agreement is the main supporting document representing a foundation for the temporary residence for the purpose of research and development, and its concept is built on the European legislation. It is signed by a host research organisation in Slovakia (public or private) and by the third country researcher. Only research organisations authorised by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic are eligible to issue a Hosting Agreement.

List of authorised research organisations is published at
www.vedatechnika.sk (link to the list, click at “Zoznam právnických osôb vykonávajúcich výskum a vývoj, ktorým bolo povolené prijímať cudzincov”; in Slovak only) or in the register of organisations in the Information System for Science and Research SK CRIS www.skcris.sk (CRIS = Current Research Information System; in both Slovak and English). It is recommended to check both resources because of different data updating.

An organisation that wants to obtain such authorisation must apply for the licence at the Science and Technology Department of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic. 

Hosting Agreement must contain the following:

•      name and surname of the third country researcher;
•      identification of the host research organisation;
•      specification of the researcher’s work classification and his/her working conditions;
•      purpose, duration and professional focus of the research project, and availability of the necessary financial resources for it to be carried out;
•      certified copy of the researcher’s qualification;
•      declaration of the host research organisation stating that it will reimburse the costs related to the researcher’s stay and return incurred by public funds in case he/she remains illegally in the territory of the Slovak Republic;
•      declaration about sufficient financial coverage of researcher’s stay;
•      declaration of researcher’s health insurance;
•      information about the foreseen carrying of a part of research in another state.

More information and model Hosting Agreements

Mobility of third country nationals within EU

As of 1 May 2018, new simplified rules of mobility of third country nationals within EU are applicable in Slovakia. They enable students, researchers and researchers' family member with a residence permit in one of the EU member states (except for Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom) to carry out short-term stays (max 1 year) in Slovakia without the need to obtain a temporary residence in Slovakia.

Intra-Eu Mobility of University Students

If you are a holder of a residence permit for the purpose of university studies in one of the member states (except for the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark) you are allowed to carry out a mobility (short-term stay) in Slovakia for a max of 360 days without the need to apply for a temporary residence in Slovakia, if:

• you will carry out a part of your studies in Slovakia within an EU programme (e.g. Erasmus+), Slovak governmental programme (e.g. National scholarship programme), a multilateral programme supporting mobility (e.g. CEEPUS) or within an agreement between higher education institutions,
• you will carry out a part of their studies during the validity period of the residence permit granted by the other EU Member State

Higher education institution in Slovakia, where you will carry out your studies, notifies the Ministry of Interior thereof in advance and submits:

•  proof of the fact, that a student will carry out a part of his/her studies in Slovakia within an EU programme (e.g. Erasmus+), Slovak governmental programme (e.g. National scholarship programme), a multilateral programme supporting mobility (e.g. CEEPUS) or within an agreement between two or among more HEIs,
•  proof of admission to studies,
•  copy of a residence card issued by a member state (a uniform format for all EU Member States, the purpose of a residence is stated in the „Note“ of the residence card),
•  copy of a passport,
•  information about the start and finish dates of mobility,
•  proof of financial coverage of stay in the amount of subsistence minimum for every month of stay or a confirmation of the higher education institution stating that the student will be provided with sufficient resources to cover the costs of living, study costs and travel costs for the return to the member state.

Procedure – obligations of receiving organisations

The receiving higher education institution in Slovakia is obliged to notify the Ministry of Interior (Bureau of Border and Foreign Police of the Presidium of the Police Force) of the intention to host student/s who are residents of another member state during their mobility in advance. If the Ministry of Interior does not raise any objection, the mobility of the third-country student/s with residence permit in another member state may take place at any moment within the period of validity of the authorisation.

The receiving higher education institution’s notification shall be sent in advance. Based on the notification the Ministry of Interior may object to the mobility of the researcher/s to its territory within 30 days from having received the complete notification.

The higher education institution is obliged to report the Foreign Police in writing any change influencing the mobility in Slovakia, within three working days of learning about them.

Note: If a student plans to carry out a part of his/her study in Slovakia in accordance with the above mentioned points, and if he/she has been granted a temporary residence in another EU Member State for a purpose other than study or research and development, it is not possible to apply the simplified procedure of the Intra-European mobility. In this case the student has to apply for a temporary residence for the purpose of special activity at the Slovak embassy/Consulate in a EU Member State where he/she has been granted the current temporary residence.

Duties after arrival in Slovakia

Besides duties related to visa and temporary residence, each third country national is obliged to report his/her stay to the Foreign Police within 3 working days since his/her arrival in Slovakia. If you are granted a Schengen/national visa or if you are not required to obtain a visa to enter Slovakia, you must report the beginning, place and foreseen duration of stay. If you were granted a residence, you need to report the beginning of your stay.

This is usually done by the accommodation provider if you are staying in a hotel, hostel or dormitory. If you are staying in private accommodation (e.g. in a rented flat or at a friend’s place), you must submit the “Notice of the stay”. This can be done either in person or sent as a registered letter via regular postal service.

As a third country national residing in Slovakia, you are obliged to report any change regarding the place of your residence, name, surname, personal status, nationality and data in your passport within 5 working days from the day when the change occurred.

What do you need to report your stay?

If you are staying in private accommodation, come in person to the Foreign Police office during the office hours and present the following:

•      completed form “Notice of the stay” (available in 7 languages; it must be completed in the Slovak language; the forms are also available at local Foreign Police offices);
•      valid ID/passport.