Where and how to apply

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.

In case of a minor child, the application is submitted by the legal representative (parent, foster parent, guardian). A minor child older than 15 years of age may submit the application also independently, however it must be signed by his/her legal representative. Signature of the legal representative must be certified by a public notary.

Applying for temporary residence for the purpose of study is free of charge.

Documents required

You must prove you have been admitted to an educational institution seated in Slovakia, accredited by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport.

To obtain temporary residence for the purpose of study you must submit:

• a completed and signed official application form in Slovak;
• a valid passport and two colour photographs (3 × 3.5 cm);
• a confirmation of admission for the study from a state administration authority or school, or a confirmation from an organisation administratively securing programs approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic or EU programs;
• a criminal record statement from the country of your citizenship and from all countries where you resided for more than 90 days during six consecutive months in the past three years (this does not apply in the case of a secondary school student, a foreign national younger than 14 years of age and when changing the type/purpose of residence);
• a document proving financial means;
• a document on your accommodation in Slovakia (does not apply to university students and in the case of regularly commuting to school across state borders from a neighbouring state);
• administrative fee EUR 4.50 (for issuing a residence document).

Third-country nationals applying for residence for the purpose of study are exempt from paying an administrative fee when submitting their application.

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 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.

You must report the beginning of your residence at the Foreign Police Department within three working days from your arrival to Slovakia.

Within 3 working days from collecting the residence document in Slovakia, you must get a health insurance.

Within 30 days from collecting the residence document, 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).

Submitting an application for temporary residence does not entitle you to reside in Slovakia. Until you obtain the temporary residence, you are entitled to stay in Slovakia only on the basis of a valid visa, another residence permit, or within the visa-free regime.

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

You may obtain temporary residence for the purpose of study for the foreseen length of the studies, however for a maximum of six years.

Conditions for renewal

Temporary residence may be renewed repeatedly. Temporary residence for the purpose of study may be renewed for a maximum period of five years. It is required that you further study in the territory of Slovakia.

If you hold temporary residence as a university student and want to stay in the territory of Slovakia after completing the study with the objective to look for a job or to start doing business, your residence may be renewed for a period of nine months.

The application for renewal of temporary residence for the purpose of study must be submitted in person at the competent Foreign Police Department no later than the last day of validity of the temporary residence. Your current residence is considered legal in the territory of Slovakia until the decision on the new application. The application for renewal of temporary residence must be accompanied by a valid passport, otherwise the Police Authority will not accept the application.

The application must be submitted together with:

• a valid passport;
• one colour photograph (3 × 3.5 cm);
• a confirmation from a school or competent state administration authority on continuation of the study, or a university diploma obtained during the granted temporary residence and a confirmation on completion of the study in the case of applying for renewal of temporary residence for nine months;
• a document on accommodation in Slovakia (does not apply to university students and in the case of regularly commuting to school across state borders from a neighbouring state);
• a document on financial coverage of residence;
• administrative fee EUR 4.50 (for issuing a residence document).

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

Recognition of foreign diplomas

Scholarships

More on visasSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••

More on residence permits

Employment during studies

As a student, you may work in a limited extent. You will not need a work permit or confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy, if you work for up to ten hours per week (or the corresponding number of days or months per year), or up to 20 hours per week in case of a university student (or the corresponding number of days or months per year).

If you wish to work more than 10 or 20 hours per week, you must change the purpose of your temporary residence from study to employment. If you hold temporary residence for the purpose of employment (or any other type of temporary residence), you may study without any additional permits.

University students can work a maximum of 20 hours per week, while other students and students of language courses are entitled to work a maximum of ten hours per week (or the corresponding number of days or months per year).

Stay and employment after studies

If you properly finish your university studies in Slovakia, your residence remains valid for another 30 days (the so-called protective period). During this time, you may apply for another type of residence, or search for employment.

If you successfully graduate from university or high school in Slovakia and wish to stay here to work, you may apply for temporary residence for the purpose of employment, which is in this case issued without the need of a work permit or confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy.

However, you may change your status to a worker at any time during your studies, by applying for temporary residence for the purpose of employment. Successfully finishing your studies is not a prerequisite for applying for temporary residence for the purpose of employment or business, but it will have to be issued based on a confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy, or a work permit.

Change of status

During the granted temporary residence for the purpose of study, you are entitled to conduct business.

If you wish to change your status, i.e. change the type or purpose of your residence (e.g. from study to employment), you must submit a new application for residence at the Foreign Police Department, no later than the last day of validity of your current residence.

If you hold temporary residence for the purpose of study due to your attendance of a language or professional training for university studies, organised and implemented by a university, it is not possible to submit the application for change in the purpose of residence at Foreign Police Department in Slovakia.

If the purpose of your residence status ceases to exist (e.g. you terminated or interrupted your studies), you must inform the Foreign Police Department within three working days.

Long-term residence

As a holder of temporary residence for the purpose of study, 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 study is only counting as half of its length.

More on long-term residenceSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••

Family members

If you hold a temporary residence for the purpose of study 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 or dependent unmarried children of your spouse who cannot provide for themselves due to a long-term unfavourable health condition, 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 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. After the period of 12 months, they may work without further permits.