On 5 June 2025, the National Council of the Slovak Republic approved an amendment to Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Foreigners, effective from 1 July 2025.
We would like to inform you of significant legislative changes in the field of residence of foreigners in Slovakia resulting from this new legal regulation.
- Temporary residence for the purpose of business
-
- It is now stipulated that an applicant for temporary residence for the purpose of business must submit their application only at a Slovak embassy or consulate abroad. This means that neither persons who have been granted temporary refuge in Slovakia nor persons who have been issued a national visa in Slovakia may apply for a temporary residence permit for business purposes at the competent Foreign Police department.
- Another significant restriction for applicants for temporary residence for the purpose of business is the introduction of quotas for accepting applications from third-country nationals. Quotas are set separately for each Slovak embassy/consulate, with the annual limit set at 700 persons.
- From 1 July 2025, a business plan must be attached to the application for temporary residence. When assessing the business plan, the Foreign Police will request an opinion from the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic on whether the applicant’s business activity is beneficial to Slovakia’s economic interests. The Ministry’s opinion is of a recommendatory nature for the proceedings before the Foreign Police.
- The Foreign Police will automatically grant a business-purpose temporary residence for three years. Previously, this was usually granted for shorter periods.
- Proof of financial security for residence and business activities will no longer require bank statements from the past three months; a current confirmation of account balance will be sufficient.
- Another change is that persons who have been granted temporary residence for a purpose other than business may apply to change the purpose to business only if they have already held temporary residence in Slovakia for more than two years.
- Other changes affecting various types of residence
-
- The validity of a national visa in connection with a residence application is extended from 90 to 120 days, giving more time to secure an appointment with the Foreign Police.
- A foreign national granted temporary residence for the purpose of study may change to another residence purpose only after successfully completing their studies.
- For all types of temporary residence (except for business purposes), it will no longer be necessary to prove financial security for residence.
- The obligation to submit a colour photograph when applying for residence is abolished.
- Change to the reservation system
The Foreign Police reservation system will now provide two types of services: authorised and unauthorised.
Authorised services can be used by foreigners with a valid electronic residence card who have activated their 6-digit personal security code. After logging in, the holder can book an appointment for specific services up to 60 days in advance.
Unauthorised services are available to foreigners without an electronic residence card with a personal code. The range of services is the same, but booking is possible only 40 days in advance.
If a foreigner misses an appointment without cancelling it in advance, they will be placed on a blacklist and barred from using the reservation system for 60 days, as before.
- Quotas for submitting business residence applications
| Slovak Embassy/Consulate | Annual Quota |
|
Uzhhorod/Kyiv (visa and residence services currently suspended) |
190 |
|
Sydney |
6 |
|
Taipei |
1 |
|
Abu Dhabi |
6 |
|
Ankara |
3 |
|
Istanbul |
5 |
|
Astana |
13 |
|
Athenes |
5 |
|
Baku |
4 |
|
Bangkok |
4 |
|
Beirut |
4 |
|
Belgrade |
62 |
|
Berlin |
2 |
|
Brazília |
6 |
|
Buenos Aires |
6 |
|
Bucharest |
1 |
|
Delhi |
9 |
|
Dublin |
2 |
|
Hanoi |
53 |
|
Havana |
5 |
|
Jakarta |
8 |
|
Yerevan |
4 |
|
Cairo |
9 |
|
Chișinău |
8 |
|
London |
5 |
|
Madrid |
4 |
|
Mexico City |
9 |
|
Minsk |
4 |
|
Moscow |
22 |
|
Nairobi |
23 |
|
Nicosia |
1 |
|
Ottawa |
3 |
|
Paris |
7 |
|
Beijing |
17 |
|
Shanghai |
18 |
|
Podgorica |
3 |
|
Prague |
1 |
|
Pretoria |
8 |
|
Riyadh |
4 |
|
Sarajevo |
6 |
|
Skopje |
16 |
|
Sofia |
1 |
|
Seoul |
3 |
|
Tashkent |
7 |
|
Tbilisi |
68 |
|
Tehran |
4 |
|
Tel Aviv |
7 |
|
Tirana |
19 |
|
Tokyo |
8 |
|
Warsaw |
4 |
|
Vienna |
6 |
|
Washington |
3 |
|
New York |
3 |
|
Total |
700 |
