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The Slovak Republic has approved comprehensive amendments to Act no. 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Foreigners, effective as of 15 July 2024. Our summary of these legislative changes, which will impact both employers and foreign nationals, is as follows:

Employment of foreigners

• Applications for residence permits for the purpose of employment will now be processed within 60 days, a reduction from the previous 90 days.  
• Applicants can now deliver documents electronically.
• The “Additional data on employment” document has been abolished. In its place, a new procedure has been introduced whereby employers must obtain “Confirmation of a foreigner filling a vacant job position.”
• To this end, employers are now required first to submit foreigners’ applications to fill vacant positions, together with an employment contract or promise of employment, to the local Labor Office, which will issue the Confirmation within 15 days.
• Foreign candidates can now apply for residence with the foreign police only after the Labor Office has issued the Confirmation of agreement to their filling a vacant position.
• Once the foreign national has filed a complete application with the foreign police, they are authorized to commence work.

Changes to long-term residence

• Beginning from 15 July 2025, proof of Slovak language knowledge at minimum A2 level through a language exam will become mandatory.
• The right to long-term residence is granted after five years of legal and continuous residence. Up to 12 consecutive months and a maximum of 18 months spent outside the EU, or half the period of a study residence permit in the EU, will count toward this period.

Permanent residence for five years

• Applicants are permitted to stay in Slovakia pending a decision on their permanent residence application, provided they have submitted a complete application.

Application for a Blue Card (temporary residence based on highly qualified employment)

• A first-degree university education is sufficient to denote highly qualified employment. Confirmation of equivalent professional experience can substitute for a university degree in the fields of IT and communication technologies.
• Professional experience can be demonstrated not only by a decision on recognition of a university diploma but also by a document proving higher professional skills for at least three years during the seven years prior to submission of an application for a Blue Card.
• Blue Card validity is extended from four to five years.
• The minimum wage requirement is reduced from 1.5 times to 1.2 times the average monthly wage of the calendar year preceding the year in which an application is submitted.
• In addition to their Blue Card employment, a foreigner can also engage in other employment activities or conduct their own business activities.

Change of residence purpose

A request to change the purpose of residence from employment to business is possible only after 12 months have elapsed from the granting of residence for employment. Foreigners with a residence permit for study purposes must pass final exams at a high school or university before applying for a change of purpose of residence.

National visas

• National visas can now be applied for through an authorized external service provider appointed by the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs, available within the applicant’s home country.

Further legislative updates

• Renewal of temporary residence for business purposes requires no outstanding debts as of the date of application, or their repayment within 20 days of application. There are expanded definitions of situations where a foreigner may be denied entry or residence.
• The police have increased authority to detain foreigners.
• Third-country nationals must present a valid travel document when leaving, as they do on entry.
• Implementation of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) to regulate travel authorization for visa-exempt third-country nationals is expected in mid-2025.

We will continue to monitor these developments closely. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact one of our immigration professionals.