Moving to Bratislava? Let's make the paperwork the easy part.

EU/EEA citizens must register within 90 days of arrival — you'll get a potvrdenie o pobyte EÚ (EU residence confirmation) valid for 5 years. Non-EU citizens must register before their visa-free period expires, typically within 90 days under Schengen rules, or at the point of their first entry if arriving on a national visa. Your employer's HR department or a relocation company can usually assist with the exact paperwork required.

Yes, under EU regulation EC 1186/2009 (Relief from customs duties), if you are permanently relocating you can import one personal vehicle duty-free. Conditions: you must have owned and used the car for at least 12 months and 6 months respectively before the move, and apply for the relief within 12 months of establishing residence in Slovakia. Contact the Slovak Customs Authority (financnasprava.sk) for the form Colné vyhlásenie C12.

The exchange window opens 185 days after your residence is registered in Slovakia. Once the window opens, you have 60 days to complete the exchange at your district Dopravný inšpektorát. Required documents: valid foreign licence, Slovak ID/residence permit, proof of registered address, medical certificate (lekársky posudok) from a certified physician. US, UK and most non-EU licences are exchangeable without re-sitting a test.

It is perfectly possible to self-manage your move to Bratislava, especially for EU citizens. However, a relocation company typically adds value for: customs clearance on non-EU shipments, temporary storage while finding an apartment, school and healthcare registration, and getting a Slovak bank account before you have an address. For non-EU nationals, a specialist relocation company can significantly reduce stress and the risk of missing deadlines.