Fees & rules verified for 2026. Administrative fees and procedures are updated periodically. Always confirm the current amount on the official fee schedule at minv.sk or the Migration Information Centre before paying.
The short version
Slovakia's residence rules are set by Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on Residence of Aliens and administered by the Foreign Police (cudzinecká polícia). What you need depends entirely on your citizenship:
- EU / EEA / Swiss citizens, you don't need a permit. You can live and work in Slovakia freely. If you stay longer than 90 days, you register your residence at the Foreign Police (free of charge).
- Third-country nationals (UK, US, Ukraine, India, etc.), you need a temporary residence permit (prechodný pobyt) tied to a purpose: employment, business, study, family reunification or research. You apply at a Slovak embassy abroad, or at the Foreign Police in Slovakia if you entered visa-free and are still within your legal stay.
Start early. Gathering apostilled documents takes weeks, and the Foreign Police has up to 90 days to decide. If your visa-free days are running out, apply from abroad rather than risking an overstay.
EU, EEA & Swiss citizens
As an EU citizen you have the right of residence in Slovakia, no permit needed. For the first 90 days, a valid ID card or passport is all you need. (The old obligation to report your stay within 10 days of arrival was abolished as of July 2025.)
Staying longer than 90 days? Register your residence
If you stay beyond three months, you're obliged to register your residence within 30 days after the initial 90-day period ends. Registration is free, but you must do it in person at the Foreign Police department for your district, it cannot be done online, by email or through a proxy.
- Valid ID card or passport
- Proof of accommodation (rental contract, owner's affidavit, or hotel confirmation)
- Proof of the purpose of your stay, e.g. employment contract, confirmation of study, or proof of sufficient financial resources for yourself
- Health insurance (EHIC card from your home country, or Slovak insurance)
You'll receive a residence registration certificate on the spot or shortly after. You can also optionally request a residence card of an EU citizen (useful as a local ID).
Third-country (non-EU) nationals
First: know your visa-free limit
Citizens of visa-exempt countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and others) can stay in the Schengen Area, including Slovakia, for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. This time is for visiting, not working. To live in Slovakia, you need a temporary residence permit.
Types of temporary residence
Temporary residence is always granted for a specific purpose, and you can only do what your permit allows:
- Employment, usually requires a confirmed job offer; for most jobs, the vacancy must first be reported to the Labour Office. Often processed as a "single permit" combining residence + work authorisation.
- Business, for entrepreneurs with a Slovak trade license (živnosť) or as a company executive (konateľ).
- Study, for students accepted at a Slovak school or university.
- Family reunification, for close family of a person already holding Slovak residence.
- Research and development, for researchers with a hosting agreement.
Where to apply
At a Slovak embassy or consulate abroad
The standard route. Apply at the Slovak diplomatic mission accredited for your country of citizenship or legal residence. This is your only option if you need a visa to enter Slovakia, or if your visa-free days have already run out.
At the Foreign Police inside Slovakia
Possible only if you entered visa-free and are still legally within your 90/180 days at the moment of filing. If you've exceeded your visa-free limit, the Foreign Police cannot accept your application. Book an appointment in advance through the Ministry of Interior's online reservation system.
Rules for in-country filing have been tightening. Recent amendments have restricted which applications can be filed inside Slovakia for certain purposes and nationalities. Before relying on route B, confirm your specific case with the Migration Information Centre (free counselling) or the Foreign Police.
Documents checklist
All foreign documents must be no older than 90 days at the time of filing, legalised with an apostille (or consular superlegalisation), and officially translated into Slovak (Czech is also accepted).
- Completed official application form (in Slovak)
- Valid passport
- Two identical colour photos, 3 × 3.5 cm
- Criminal record extract from your home country and any country where you lived 90+ days in the last 3 years, apostilled, translated, max 90 days old
- Proof of purpose, employment contract / trade license / admission letter / marriage certificate, depending on permit type
- Proof of accommodation in Slovakia (notarised rental contract or owner's affidavit)
- Proof of financial resources, at least the Slovak subsistence minimum per month of stay (€284.13/month as of July 2025; the amount is updated every July)
- Administrative fee (see below)
Accommodation proof is the most common stumbling block. A standard Airbnb booking doesn't qualify, you need a proper lease with notarised owner signatures, or the owner's notarised consent. Sort this out before anything else.
Fees & processing times
| Item | Detail | Amount / time |
|---|---|---|
| Business permit application | Filed in Slovakia / abroad | €232 / €240 |
| Study permit application | All filings | Free |
| Other purposes | Varies by purpose & filing place | check current schedule |
| Residence card issuance | Biometric card | €6 |
| Decision deadline | Standard application | up to 90 days |
| Decision deadline | Single permit (work + residence) | up to 60 days |
| EU citizen registration | In person at Foreign Police | Free |
Fees change periodically, always verify the current amount on the MIC fee overview before paying. Spouses of Slovak citizens and applicants under 18 are exempt.
After approval: card, insurance, medical check
Collect your biometric residence card
Once approved, you'll be invited to provide biometrics and collect your residence card at the Foreign Police.
Get Slovak health insurance
Health insurance is mandatory for every resident. If you're employed in Slovakia, you join the public system through one of three insurers: state-run VšZP, Dôvera or Union (Union is currently the only one with English online registration). Your employer registers you, but you choose the insurer. Self-employed people and students arrange it themselves, don't delay, deadlines are short (typically 8 days from when your insurance obligation starts).
Submit your medical report
Within 30 days of collecting your residence card, you must give the Foreign Police a medical report (not older than 30 days) confirming you don't carry a disease threatening public health. In Bratislava this is typically done at a clinic specialising in examinations for foreigners, your HR department or relocation agent will know the nearest one, or ask MIC.
Renewing your permit
Temporary residence is granted for a limited period (typically 1–3 years depending on purpose, up to 5 for study). To renew:
- File the renewal application at the Foreign Police before your current permit expires, at the latest on its last day of validity, but realistically start 90 days before expiry.
- You'll need updated versions of essentially the same documents (accommodation, finances, purpose). The criminal record extract is usually not required again for renewals.
- If you filed on time, you may legally stay in Slovakia while the renewal is being decided, even if your old card expires meanwhile.
Navigating the Foreign Police
The Foreign Police (Oddelenie cudzineckej polície) is the single most important office for expats in Slovakia. It handles EU registration, temporary and permanent residence permits, and the issuance of biometric residence cards. Here is everything you need to know before you go.
New address from 18 May 2026. The Bratislava Foreign Police moved from Regrútska 4 to Račianska 62, 831 02 Bratislava (Nové Mesto district). Any older guide, including older versions of this one, may show the wrong address.
Office hours, Račianska 62
- Monday: 07:30 – 15:30
- Tuesday: 07:30 – 15:00 (national visas & extensions only)
- Wednesday: 07:30 – 15:30
- Thursday: 07:30 – 14:00 (national visas, extensions & temporary asylum)
- Friday: 07:30 – 15:30
- Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Getting there: the Račianska location has significantly better public transport access than the old Vajnory office, direct tram lines serve the street. Paid parking (PAAS zone NM2, ~135 spaces) is available in front of the building.
The appointment system
All substantive services are by appointment only. Walk-ins are effectively impossible for permits, registrations and card collections. Appointments are booked through the Ministry of Interior's reservation portal at portal.minv.sk → "Rezervačný systém" → "Cudzinecká polícia".
Since 7 August 2025 the system uses a two-tier model:
Existing permit holders (authorised tier)
If you already hold a Slovak electronic residence card with a chip, you log in using your BOK code (a 6-digit personal security code) via USB card reader or the eIDENTITA mobile app. This gives you access to slots up to 60 days in advance.
First-time applicants (unauthorised tier)
No electronic document needed. Enter your name, date of birth, passport number, phone and email manually. You can book up to 40 days in advance. This is the route for anyone arriving for the first time.
After booking you receive a PIN code by SMS and email, do not lose it. At the office, enter the PIN at a self-service touch terminal, which prints your queue ticket. You cannot join the queue without it. Each person may hold only one active booking per 15-calendar-day period across all Foreign Police offices in Slovakia.
What is a BOK code and why does it matter?
The BOK (bezpečnostný osobný kód) is a 6-digit code linked to your electronic residence card. It acts as a PIN for using your card for online services, including booking Foreign Police appointments as an authorised user. Activate it as soon as you receive your first residence card, you can do this at any District Police Directorate (Okresné riaditeľstvo PZ) or District Office client centre. You do not need to return to the Foreign Police itself.
Cards issued before October 2023 may have limited compatibility with the eIDENTITA app. Cards issued before June 2021 have further restrictions, check compatibility before attempting online booking.
What to do first when you arrive
- All nationalities: Your landlord or property owner is legally obliged to register your address within 3 working days of your arrival. Make sure they do this, ask for confirmation. If you stay in a hotel, it is done automatically.
- EU citizens (0–90 days): No action required. The old 10-day reporting obligation was abolished on 1 July 2025.
- EU citizens (staying beyond 90 days): Register your residence at the Foreign Police within 30 days after the 90-day mark (i.e., by approximately day 120 from arrival). Registration is free and the certificate is issued on the spot.
- Non-EU nationals: You must hold a valid national visa or residence permit before or immediately upon arriving. Book a Foreign Police appointment as soon as you arrive if you are applying in-country, Bratislava slots fill weeks out.
Electronic applications (from 15 December 2024)
You no longer need to visit the office to submit renewal applications if you already hold an activated residence card. The following can be filed electronically via slovensko.sk:
- Renewal of temporary residence
- Application for long-term residence (5+ years)
- Application for permanent residence (unlimited)
- Issuance of a new residence card
Electronic filing avoids the appointment queue entirely for these cases. You still need an activated BOK code and a compatible card.
Processing times at a glance
- Temporary residence (first application): 90 days from receipt of a complete file
- Temporary residence (some categories): 60 days
- Permanent residence: 90 days
- Biometric card, standard: 30 days (€10)
- Biometric card, expedited: 2 business days (€39)
- EU citizen registration: Same day at the office
If your permit expires while your renewal is pending, you are still legally authorised to remain in Slovakia until the Foreign Police decides. Carry your application receipt (podací lístok) at all times as proof of legal status. Since the 2024 amendments, non-EU workers can also continue working during renewal processing.
Practical tips
- Book 90+ days before your permit expires. Bratislava is the busiest office in Slovakia, processing around 500 clients per day. Slots go fast, especially in September–October when international students register.
- Bring everything. Officers frequently send applicants away for a single missing document. Request a complete checklist via the call centre (0800 222 222, Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00, Wed until 17:00) before your appointment.
- Language: Most officers speak only Slovak. Bring a Slovak-speaking friend, or consider hiring an immigration lawyer for complex applications. The IOM Migration Information Centre (mic.iom.sk/en) provides free advisory in English.
- September–October is peak season. Avoid non-urgent visits during this period if you can.
- Status check: The office does not proactively notify you about your application. You can call 0800 222 222 or visit in person to ask. There is no online status tracker.
Useful contacts
- Foreign Police Bratislava, Račianska 62, 831 02 Bratislava (Nové Mesto). Tel: +421 961 036 999 · Email: ocppzba@minv.sk. Book via portal.minv.sk. Free call centre: 0800 222 222 (Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00, Wed until 17:00).
- Migration Information Centre (MIC IOM), free legal counselling for foreigners in English: mic.iom.sk, helpline 0850 211 478. The single most useful resource for any residence question.
- Ministry of Labour info for foreigners, employment.gov.sk
- EURAXESS Slovakia (researchers & academics), euraxess.sk
Bring a Slovak speaker if you can. English proficiency at the Foreign Police counter varies. Many expats hire an immigration lawyer or relocation agent for the appointment itself, you can find vetted English-speaking ones in our Lawyers & Legal directory.
FAQ
Can I work while my application is being processed?
No, not until the permit (or single permit) is granted. Working without authorisation is grounds for rejection and a future entry ban.
Can I apply for permanent residence right away?
Generally no. Permanent residence (first for 5 years) is available after years of continuous temporary residence, with exceptions, e.g. spouses of Slovak citizens, who can apply immediately.
Does time spent studying count toward permanent residence?
Only partially, study years typically count at half value toward the continuous-residence requirement. Verify your specific case with MIC.
What happens if my application is rejected?
You can appeal within 15 days of receiving the decision. A rejected application doesn't ban you from reapplying, but fix the reason for rejection first, MIC or an immigration lawyer can review your file.
- Migration Information Centre IOM, mic.iom.sk (residence procedures, fees, documents)
- Ministry of Interior SR, Foreign Police (minv.sk)
- Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, Information for Foreigners
- EURAXESS Slovakia, Temporary Residence
- European Commission, EU Immigration Portal: Slovakia