Introduction to Slovakia (1) - Settling or living in Slovakia for a short period of time

The Republic of Slovakia is part of the Schengen Area, within which people, goods, services and capital can move freely. If you do not require a visa to enter Slovakia, you obtain a Schengen visa, or you hold temporary or permanent residence in Slovakia, you can cross the internal national borders of the respective member states without subjecting to any border or customs controls. This also means you can enter Slovakia via another Schengen country without having to arrange a transit visa.

If you are a national of one of the following countries, you can travel to Slovakia with a valid travel document and stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period: Albania (biometric passport holders), Andorra Ireland, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina (with biometric passport), Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, North Macedonia (with biometric passport) Have a biometric passport), Georgia (for biometric passport holders), Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macau, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova ( Biometric passport holders), Monaco, Montenegro (biometric passport holders), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia (holders of biometric passports), Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan (holders of passports with ID numbers), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuva Rwanda, Ukraine (with biometric passport), United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City (Holy See) and Venezuela.

If you are not a national of any of the above countries or an EU/EEA/Swiss national, you will need a Schengen visa to enter and stay in Slovakia for a short period of up to 90 days. Schengen visa applications must be submitted in person to the embassy or consulate of Slovakia and other countries abroad. The application must be submitted together with the following materials: ? Completed Schengen visa application form, ? Valid travel document, ? Color photo (3 3.5 cm), ? Document proving the purpose of travel, ? Return ticket, ? Document proving accommodation, ? Covering your stay Proof of financial ability during the stay, ? Document proving your health insurance, (insurance for the entire stay in the Schengen Area for international travel) ? In certain cases, an invitation to verify the visa application by the foreign police department is subject to a payment of 35 – 60* Euros management fees.

If you have already obtained residency in Slovakia and need a visa to enter the Schengen Area, you can apply for a national visa. The conditions for issuing a national visa are similar to those for a Schengen visa. Applications for national visas are submitted at the diplomatic mission recognized by the Slovak government and the country in your country of citizenship or residence. There is an administration fee of €9.50* for the issuance of a national visa.

You can get more information at the Slovak diplomatic mission accredited to your country or on the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic *** mzv. Do you want to check if you need a visa to enter Slovakia***? Use the VISA CHeCK – http://mic.iom.sk/visacheck/en/home web application to check Slovakia entry requirements based on your country of origin. The application also lets you know what type of residence permit you need to study, work or start a business in Slovakia.

If you intend to stay in Slovakia*** and the country for more than 90 days within 180 days, you need to apply for one of the following types of residence. A residence permit represents a form of "long-term visa" which, while valid, entitles you to stay within the territory of Slovakia and the entire Schengen Area, and to travel freely abroad and return to the Schengen Area without the need to arrange a separate visa.

Temporary residence entitles you to stay in Slovakia and the country and to leave the country and return within the approved period. It is granted only for a specific purpose and authorizes you to perform other activities only under exceptional circumstances. May be granted for the purposes of business, employment, seasonal work, study, special events (lectures, sports, arts, voluntary activities, etc.), research and development, family reunification or the performance of professional duties in armed civilian units, with recognized Slovak A person with expatriate status or a person with recognized long-term residence in another EU member state. The EU Blue Card is also considered a temporary residence. The first temporary residence permit may be granted for different periods depending on the purpose for which it was granted and may be repeatedly extended.

Applications for temporary residence must be submitted at the diplomatic mission of Slovakia*** in your country of nationality or in your country of residence. You can also submit an application to the competent foreign police station in your place of residence in the following cases: ? You are living in Slovakia on the basis of a valid residence permit; ? You are living in Slovakia on the holder of a national visa; ? Your place of residence in Slovakia is based on the grant of a residence permit permitted place of residence; ? You are a citizen of a country that does not require a visa; ? You hold a certificate of residence abroad in Slovakia.

Applications for temporary residence for the purpose of intra-company transfer must be submitted to the diplomatic mission of the Slovak Republic.

Submitting an application does not give you the right to live in Slovakia, and if you are not issued a residence permit within 90 days of your entry into Slovakia or before your visa expires, you will have to leave Slovakia.

Applications must be submitted in person on the official form in Slovak language (also available on the MIC website mic.iom). The application must be submitted together with the following materials: ? Valid passport; ? Two color photos (3 3.5 cm); ? Document proving the purpose of residence; ? Proof of no criminal record; , apply for temporary residence for a shorter period; ? Documents regarding financial security in your place of residence, if the period of residence exceeds 1 year, the minimum monthly living allowance for each month you live, up to 12 times the minimum monthly living allowance; In the case of minors, this amount is reduced by half; ? Financial security for business activities (only for temporary residence for business purposes) is evidenced by confirmation of the balance of a bank account established for business purposes, and monthly in the case of self-employed persons 20 times the minimum life span, in an amount equal to 100 times the minimum life span per month in the case of an executive of a commercial company; ? Management fee in the form of a tax stamp (amount of 33 to 232 euros*, depending on the purpose of residence) .

These documents must be no more than 90 days old at the time of application submission. All documents issued abroad must be officially legalized (Apostille or Super Legalization) and, if in a foreign language, have to be officially translated into Slovak.

The authority will make a decision within 90 days (sometimes within 30 days) of the date you submit your complete application.

After obtaining temporary residence, in most cases you must:

Enter Slovakia within 180 days of being granted, otherwise its validity will expire upon your entry Report the start of your stay to the foreign police within 3 working days after entering the territory of Slovakia; ? Sign a health insurance policy within 3 working days after collecting the residence document; ? Submit a health insurance policy to the foreign police within 30 days after collecting the residence documents. A document regarding your health insurance in Slovakia; ? A medical report submitted to the foreign police station not older than 30 days from the date of collection of the residence documents, confirming that - you do not suffer from a disease endangering public health; ? Reside in Slovakia for more than half of the period of the granted temporary residence in a calendar year;

Permanent residence entitles you to remain in the territory of Slovakia*** and the State of Slovakia (SR) for the duration of the grant , and carry out activities within almost the same scope as their own citizens. It gives you the right to travel abroad and return, to work, do business, study or receive health care and social security. There are 3 types of permanent residence: five-year permanent residence, indefinite permanent residence and long-term residence.

You can apply for permanent residence for five years if you meet the following conditions:

? Spouse of a Slovak citizen permanently residing in Slovakia or a Slovak citizen permanently residing in Slovakia Immediate family members; ? Unmarried children under the age of 18 are entrusted to the personal care of the foreigner who is the spouse of a Slovak citizen who has permanently resided in Slovakia; Children under the age of 18 who are under the personal care of a foreigner with a permanent residence for 5 years; ? Dependent children over the age of 18 of a foreigner with a permanent residence who may be unable to take care of themselves due to long-term adverse health conditions.

In certain circumstances, even if these requirements are not met (e.g. grant to a stateless person, witness or for reasons worthy of special consideration), the Slovak government may grant you permanent residence for five years if it wishes . The Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Interior can also grant permanent residence for five years.

Applications for five-year permanent residence can be submitted to the competent foreign police station or to the Slovak *** and diplomatic mission accredited in your country of nationality or country of residence, depending on your place of residence.

You can submit an application to the foreign police station only if:

? You are living in Slovakia on the basis of a valid residence permit; ? You are living in Slovakia on the basis of a national visa ; ? You are residing in Slovakia on the basis of a Schengen visa granted by another Member State on the basis of a representative agreement between Slovakia and another Member State on the grant of Schengen visas; ? Your place of residence in Slovakia is based on the permitted place of residence granted; ? You are not A citizen of a country that requires a visa; or? You hold a Slovak residence certificate abroad. At the diplomatic mission, you will be interviewed for an initial assessment of your application. Applications must be submitted in person on an official form in Slovak language.

The application must be submitted together with the following materials: ? A valid passport; ? Two color photos (3 3.5 cm); ? Documents proving the purpose of the application, for example: marriage, certificate issued in Slovakia and proof of permanent residence of the spouse, residence in Slovakia ( i.e. a valid ID card); ? Excerpts from the criminal registration of your country of origin and the country where you have lived for more than 90 days for 6 consecutive months in the past 3 years; times; ? Documentation of your stay in Slovakia; ? Administrative fees in the form of a tax stamp (amount of 165.50 euros. If you are the spouse of a Slovak citizen, or his/her immediate family member)*.

These documents must be no more than 90 days old at the time of application submission. All documents issued abroad must be officially legalized (Apostille or Super Notary) and officially translated into Slovak.

A decision will be made within 90 days of the date you submit your complete application. There is an administrative fee of €4.50* for the issuance of a residence document (i.e. identity card). Submitting an application for five-year permanent residence does not give you the right to live in Slovakia. Until you obtain permanent residence, you are only entitled to stay in Slovakia on the basis of a valid visa, another residence or the visa exemption regime.

After 5 years of becoming a permanent resident, you must: ? Enter the territory of Slovakia within 180 days of approval; ? Notify the competent foreign police station about the start of your stay within 3 days of your residence Within days. Arrival in Slovakia; Sign up for a health insurance policy within 3 working days Submit a medical report to the foreign police confirming that you do not suffer from a disease dangerous to public health within 30 days of collecting residence documents in another EU member country’s residence.

You can apply for permanent residence indefinitely if the following conditions are met: ? You have held permanent residence for at least five years with a period of 4 years, ? You are a child of a foreigner under the age of 18, and you live indefinitely permanently .

Applications for indefinite permanent residence must be submitted in person on an official form in Slovak language to the competent foreign police station according to your place of residence. You must do this before the last day your current residency is valid. The application must be submitted together with the following materials:

A valid passport; ? Two color photos (3 3.5 cm); ? Documentation of your financial security for residence in Slovakia in an amount equal to 12 times the legal minimum life span; ? Proof Documentation from your health insurance; ? Excerpts from the criminal registration of your country of origin and the country where you have lived for more than 90 days in 6 consecutive months in the past 3 years (only for foreigners over 14 years old and 18 years old with indefinite permanent residence) children under the age of 1).

The foreign police may ask you to submit a document regarding your accommodation and an affidavit to confirm that the reasons for permanent residence are still valid.

A decision will be made within 90 days of the date you submit your complete application. The fee for submitting an application for a permanent residence permit is €165,50. There is an administration fee of €4.50* for the issuance of a permanent residence document (i.e. identity card).

Your five-year permanent residence in Slovakia is considered legal until a decision is issued on your application for indefinite permanent residence.

If you apply for material needs benefits, the foreign police will revoke your permanent residency indefinitely!

You can apply for indefinite long-term residence if you meet the following conditions:

? You have lived legally in Slovakia for at least 5 consecutive years before submitting your application; ? You are a Blue Card holder The holder has lived legally and uninterruptedly in the territory of an EU member state for 5 years and has lived in Slovakia as a Blue Card holder for at least 2 years before submitting the application; ? Your long-term residence was previously obtained in another EU member state Long-term residence expired because you lived outside the territory of Slovakia for 6 years or because you lived outside the territory of the EU for 12 or 24 consecutive months. Applications for long-term residence must be submitted in person on an official form in Slovak language to the competent foreign police station in your place of residence. You must do this before the last day your current residency is valid. The application must be submitted together with the following materials: ? A valid passport; ? Two color photos (3 3.5 cm); ? Documents proving regular and fixed income; ? Documents proving your health insurance.

A decision will be made within 90 days of the date you submit your complete application. There is an administration fee of €4.50* for the issuance of a permanent residence document (i.e. identity card). Your stay in Slovakia is considered legal until a decision is taken on your long-term residence application.

Generally you are obliged to leave the country before the last day of validity of your permanent residence. If the foreign police reject your application for permanent residence indefinitely, or cancel your permanent residence, you are obliged to leave the country within 30 days after the decision takes effect.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to leave Slovakia and you do not meet the conditions for the grant of other types of residence, you can apply for this type of residence. The maximum period is 180 days, and repeat extensions may be requested. Granting the right of residence entitles you to live on the territory of Slovakia*** and the country during the grant period and you can also work. However, it does not give you the right to conduct business.

You can apply for this type of residence under the following circumstances:

? You are a minor found in the territory of Slovakia*** and the country; To respect private and family life and that you do not endanger national security or public order, you must submit an abstract of the criminal registration from your country of citizenship and your country of residence for the last 3 years. more than 90 days within 6 consecutive months); ? It stems from Slovakia’s international commitments.

If you are applying for asylum, the police will not accept the application.

Applications for this type of residence must be submitted in person, on an official form in Slovak language, to the competent foreign police station of your place of residence. The application must be submitted together with its written justification and documentation justifying the grounds for granting tolerant leave. An administration fee of €99.50* and €33* is payable when applying for an extension.

The criminal authorities apply for tolerant leave on your behalf if:

? You are a victim of human trafficking and you are over 18 years old;

? You Being illegally employed under particularly exploitative working conditions, or if you are a minor illegally employed.

This agency may grant approval if you are unable to leave Slovakia for specific reasons without a valid visa or residence permit. You can stay in Slovakia until these reasons terminate. However, staying in Slovakia is not considered residence according to the Law on the Residence of Foreigners in Slovakia. This means that you do not have the right to apply for verification of invitation, grant of temporary or permanent residence, work or conduct business during your stay in Slovakia. You can remain in Slovakia during the following periods:

? There are obstacles to administrative expulsion; ? Institutional care related to emergency medical care is provided; ? Isolation measures are in place; ? Time of departure; ? Detention; ? Preparation for assisted voluntary return; ? Preparation and execution of administrative expulsion, or return under specific regulations.

In the case of institutional care or isolation measures, you may remain in Slovakia only if these are provided or ordered while your stay in Slovakia is still legal. At the same time, you must leave the territory of Slovakia within three days after the end of institutional care or isolation measures.