Seasonal work refers to an activity the performance of which does not exceed 180 days within 12 consecutive months and is bound to a certain time of the year with a significantly higher volume of work in a specific field.
Seasonal employment may be performed in two regimes:
- short-term seasonal work (up to 90 days); or
- long-term seasonal work (more than 90 days, but up to a maximum of 180 days).
For short-term seasonal work in Slovakia, not exceeding 90 days within 12 consecutive months, you must, in general, obtain:
- a work permit; and
- a Schengen visa for the purpose of seasonal employment (if you are subject to visa requirements).
For long-term seasonal work in Slovakia, exceeding 90 days, but up to a maximum of 180 days within 12 consecutive months, you must, in general, obtain:
- temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment.
Where and how to apply | Work permit In case of a short-term seasonal work, before applying for a work permit, your future employer must report the vacancy to the competent Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (“Labour Office” – Úrad práce) at least 10 working days prior to your application for a work permit. The Labour Office will assess if the position can be filled by a candidate registered in the Register of Unemployed Job Seekers. If the vacant position is not filled within 10 working days of reporting the vacancy by a candidate listed in the Register of Job Seekers, your employer may issue you a written promise of employment or conclude a contract of employment. You or your employer may apply for a work permit at the competent Labour Office, depending on your future place of work, on an official application form, only after 10 working days from reporting the vacancy. The application can be submitted in person, by post or your future employer may do so on your behalf on the basis of a power of attorney. The Labour Office will issue a work permit within 20 working days from the submission of the application. If you obtained a seasonal work permit or a temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment in the last five years before submitting the application, the Labour Office will issue a work permit within 10 working days from submitting the application. Applying for a work permit is free of charge. Schengen visa for the purpose of seasonal employment In case of a short-term seasonal work and if you are subject to visa requirements, after obtaining the work permit you will also need to apply for a Schengen visa for the purpose of seasonal employment, before you arrive to Slovakia and start working. You must submit the application in person at the Slovak embassy in the country of your citizenship or country of your residence. The visa fee is EUR 60. Temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment Performing seasonal employment for a period longer than 90 days is possible only based on a temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment. However, the overall duration of seasonal employment may not exceed 180 days. In this case, you have two options:
Before applying for temporary residence, your future employer must report the vacancy to the competent Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family at least 20 working days prior to your application for residence. The Labour Office will assess if the position can be filled by a candidate registered in the Register of Unemployed Job Seekers. If the vacant position is not filled within 20 working days of reporting the vacancy by a candidate listed in the Register of Job Seekers, your employer may issue you a written promise of employment or conclude a contract of employment. In general, it is recommended to file the application for temporary residence at the Slovak embassy in the country of your citizenship or country of your residence. In specific cases stipulated by law (e.g. if you are not subject to visa requirements, if you already hold a valid residence permit in the country/in another EU member state), you may submit your application for residence at the competent Foreign Police Department in Slovakia. The application must be submitted in person. After submitting your application for residence, the relevant Foreign Police Department in Slovakia will request the confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy by a foreigner directly from the Labour Office. The fee for applying for a single permit to reside and work is EUR 33 (if the application is submitted at the Foreign Police Department) or EUR 35 (if the application is submitted at the Slovak embassy). |
Documents required | Work permit To obtain a work permit, you or your future employer, must submit:
Schengen visa for the purpose of seasonal employment To obtain a Schengen visa for the purpose of seasonal employment, you must submit:
Temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment To obtain temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment, you must submit:
Administrative fees at the Foreign Police are paid in form of electronic fee stamps (eKolok), which may be bought directly at the Foreign Police Department through a vending machine, or at a post office. Consular fees at Slovak embassies are paid in cash or via bank transfers. It is recommended to verify the possible means of payment with the specific embassy. |
Further requirements | All documents issued by official authorities abroad must be translated into Slovak by a certified translator and properly authenticated (apostille or superlegalisation). It is possible to submit documents issued or verified by official authorities of the Czech Republic in the Czech language. The documents must not be older than 90 days at the time of submitting the application. You must enter the territory of the Slovak Republic within 180 days from being granted the residence. Within 30 days from collecting the residence document in Slovakia, you must submit a medical report not older than 30 days confirming that you do not suffer from a disease constituting a threat to public health (this can be prolonged by 60 days, if requested). Within 3 working days from collecting the residence document, you must get a health insurance. You must report the beginning of your residence at the Foreign Police Department within three working days from your arrival to Slovakia. You must reside in the territory of Slovakia for more than half of the length of the granted temporary residence in a calendar year. |
Duration of validity of permits | A work permit for the purpose of seasonal employment may be issued for a maximum of 90 days within 12 consecutive months. Temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment is aligned with the duration of the confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy. The Labour Office issues the confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy for a maximum of 180 days within 12 consecutive months. If you were performing seasonal employment based on a work permit during 90 days and during this period submitted an application for temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment, your residence is considered legal in the territory of Slovakia until the decision on the application. |
Conditions for renewal | Work permit for the purpose of seasonal employment Your work permit for the purpose of seasonal employment may be renewed only once, while the total duration of your seasonal work may not be longer than 90 days during 12 consecutive months. This applies also when working for a different seasonal employer. In order to renew the work permit, your employer must report the vacancy to the competent Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family at least five working days prior to your application for renewal of the work permit. When applying for renewal of the work permit, it is not required that you work for the same employer and on the same position, as stated in your initial work permit. This means you may work for one employer at the beginning of your stay and for another one after renewing your work permit. The application for renewal of the work permit must be submitted at the latest 20 days before the expiry of your current work permit. The Labour Office will renew a work permit within 20 working days from delivery of the application. If you obtained a seasonal work permit or a temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment in the last five years before submitting the application, the Labour Office will renew a work permit within 10 working days from submitting the application. Temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment Your temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment may be renewed only for a period not exceeding 180 days during 12 consecutive months, which also includes your prior temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment and stay during which you performed seasonal work, and if the renewal of residence is required in order to finish the seasonal work. In order to renew the residence, your employer must report the vacancy to the competent Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family at least 15 working days prior to your application for renewal of the temporary residence. You must apply for the renewal of temporary residence in person at the competent Foreign Police Department no later than 30 days before expiry of your current temporary residence. The temporary residence is considered legal in the territory of Slovakia until the decision on its renewal. The application for renewal of temporary residence must be accompanied by a valid passport, otherwise the Foreign Police will not accept the application. The application must be submitted together with:
Administrative fees at the Foreign Police are paid in form of electronic fee stamps (eKolok), which may be bought directly at the Foreign Police Department through a vending machine, or at a post office. |
Appeals | You can file an administrative appeal to the Directorate of Foreign Police/Directorate of Border and Foreign Police. You can file a judicial appeal to the Regional Court. |
Further information | More on visasSearch for available translations of the preceding link More on residence permitsSearch for available translations of the preceding link More on working in SlovakiaSearch for available translations of the preceding link Overview of all necessary information (including seasonal work)Search for available translations of the preceding link |
Change of employment | The seasonal work permit and confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy are tied to a particular seasonal employer and position. Change of seasonal employer is not possible without obtaining a new seasonal work permit, or new confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy. However, if you apply for renewal of your seasonal work permit, you do not need to work for the same seasonal employer or on the same position, i.e. you may change one seasonal employer for another seasonal employer, or change your position within your existing seasonal employer. |
Change of status | If you hold a temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment and wish to change your status (e.g. from seasonal employment to a standard, non-seasonal work), you can only do so if you return to your home country and apply for another type or purpose of residence at the Slovak embassy. You may not submit your application for a different residence at the Foreign Police in Slovakia. If the purpose of your residence status ceases to exist (e.g. your contract is terminated before the expiry of your temporary residence and you no longer work), you must inform the Foreign Police Department within three working days. However, your residence permit remains valid for another 60 days (the so-called protective period). |
Family members | If you hold a temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment in Slovakia and would like your family members to join you, they may apply for temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification. Family members include your spouse of at least 18 years of age, your and your spouse’s unmarried children younger than 18 years of age, your unmarried children younger than 18 years of age, unmarried children of your spouse younger than 18 years of age, your dependent unmarried children older than 18 years of age, or dependent unmarried children of your spouse who cannot provide for themselves due to a long-term unfavourable health condition, your dependent parent or parent of your spouse who lacks appropriate family support in the country of origin or dependent family members pursuant to an international treaty. The Foreign Police Department can grant your family members residence until the validity of your residence expires. Your family members may study, conduct business (does not apply to parents and children older than 18 years of age) and be employed during their stay in Slovakia. However, they need to obtain a work permit in the period of up to 12 months from being granted temporary residence. |
Long-term residence | As a holder of temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment, you may not obtain long-term residence. It is necessary to first obtain temporary residence for another purpose (e.g. employment or business) and only then you may apply for long-term residence. In general, obtaining long-term residence requires legally residing in Slovakia for at least five consecutive years directly prior to the submission of the application. However, the time period of your temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment is not counted into this required length at all. |
No information available