Zlepšenie imigračných procesov pre štátnych príslušníkov tretích krajín

On 21 May 2025, the Slovak government approved amendments to Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Foreigners to enhance the efficiency of the Slovak foreign police, address capacity issues, and reduce waiting times for third-country nationals. These changes will go into effect starting in July 2025.

 Background                                                                                                                                                                                                             As of early May 2025, third-country nationals in Slovakia are facing delays with the immigration process due to limited appointment availability with the Slovak foreign police. Additionally, faulty residence cards and the requirement for in-person visits have increased confusion in connection with the renewal process and its requirements. This situation has led to expired permits and the resulting lack of valid documentation has led to difficulties for third-country nationals, including banks suspending their accounts if they cannot provide a new residence permit card, and difficulties in accessing health insurance. 

 Key developments                                                                                                                                                                                       The amendments will be implemented on 1 July 2025 and introduce the following changes:

• Extended national visa validity: The validity period for national visas issued to third-country nationals will increase from 90 days to 120 days, providing additional time to schedule appointments.
• Quotas for temporary residence applications: New quotas will be established for applications for temporary residence for business purposes. The residence permits granted under these quotas will now be valid for up to three years (up from two years previously). The government will determine these quotas, setting the total number of applications for nationals of specific countries per calendar year while considering the security situation in these countries. Applicants will be required to submit their applications at Slovak embassies abroad, along with a business plan and all documents translated into Slovak by a certified translator.
• Change of residence regulations: Third-country nationals who hold temporary residence for purposes other than business will be required to wait for two years before applying to change the purpose of their residence to business. This change aims to prevent quota circumvention.
• Reduced documentation requirements: The amendments will streamline the documentation process by eliminating the need for proof of financial security in most cases. When required, a confirmation of bank account balance will replace the previous requirement to produce three months’ worth of bank statements.
• Streamlined administrative processes: The Ministry of Interior will expand the number of situations in which jurisdiction can be assigned to other police units, enabling faster processing of applications. 

Additionally, as of 1 September 2025, employers will be required to submit labor office notifications for their third-country national employees exclusively through an electronic platform. Currently, employers can submit these notifications online or via post.

 Impact on employers                                                                                                                                                                               These changes are expected to benefit employers by streamlining the application process for third-country nationals. Employers  may adjust their internal policies to comply with the new regulations, as labor office notifications will only be submitted through the operational electronic filing system.  

Key steps                                                                                                                                                                                                                 EY will continue to monitor these developments. Should you have any questions, we encourage you to contact the author or one of our immigration professionals.