Eligibility quiz
Do you run or plan to run a business in Slovakia yourself?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Slovakia
You can live in Slovakia for the expected length of your business, up to three years.
Your residence card is evidence of your right to live there, but renewal is not automatic.
Study in Slovakia
You can study in Slovakia while you hold this residence.
Studying does not extend your residence or change its business purpose.
Run your business
You can carry out your declared business in Slovakia, including acting for a company or cooperative outside an employment relationship.
Travel and return
You can leave and re-enter Slovakia while your residence is valid.
Short visits to other Schengen countries may be possible, generally for up to 90 days in any 180 days, depending on your citizenship, passport and border rules.
How to apply
From outside SlovakiaFrom outside Slovakia
Find your consulate
Find the Slovak consulate responsible for the country where you live or the country that issued your passport. If there is no suitable consulate or you have a serious reason, ask Slovakia’s foreign ministry to designate another one.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Slovak consulate covers your city for temporary residence for the purpose of business?”
Download the application form
Download the application form for temporary residence.
Download the formFill in the form
Fill in the form in Slovak, using block capitals or a typewriter, and sign it yourself.
See how to fillSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Slovakia temporary residence for the purpose of business application form?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the consulate.
See required documentsBook an appointment
Arrange an appointment to apply in person, following your consulate’s instructions.
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Go to your appointment
Bring your completed form, passport and required documents to the consulate, and attend the interview in person. Pay the application fee as the consulate instructs.
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Wait for the decision
Wait for the police to decide after the consulate sends your application to them, and answer any requests for more information. A complete application is decided within 90 days.
See how long it takesSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Slovakia temporary residence for the purpose of business application take?”
Obtain your residence document
After approval, obtain your residence document as instructed. You can then travel to Slovakia under the entry and visa rules that apply to you.
Find out how to collectSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I obtain my Slovakia temporary residence for the purpose of business document after approval abroad?”
Travel to Slovakia
Travel to Slovakia in line with the entry and visa rules that apply to you.
Find entry informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I enter Slovakia after approval of temporary residence for the purpose of business?”
Once in SlovakiaOnce in Slovakia
Report your stay
Within three working days of entering Slovakia, report when your stay began, where you are staying and how long you expect to stay to the foreign police. You do not need to report it yourself if your accommodation provider has that duty.
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Submit health insurance proof
Submit proof of health insurance to the foreign police within 30 days of receiving your residence document.
Find out how to submitSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit health insurance proof after receiving Slovakia temporary residence for the purpose of business?”
Submit your medical report
Submit a medical report to the foreign police within 30 days of receiving your residence document; the report must be no more than 30 days old. You can ask the police for an extension of up to 60 days, then continue your business stay in Slovakia.
Find medical report informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a medical report after receiving Slovakia temporary residence for the purpose of business?”
Documents needed
Required to applyRequired to apply
Proof of living funds
Get a bank balance confirmation in your name from a Slovak or foreign bank, no more than 90 days old. It must show at least the Slovak minimum living amount for each month of your requested stay, or 12 times that amount if your stay is longer than a year.
Proof of business funds
Get proof of funds in a separate Slovak or foreign account for your business, no more than 90 days old. You need 20 times the Slovak minimum living amount if you are an individual entrepreneur, or 100 times if you act for a company or cooperative. If you act for a company or cooperative and submit an innovative-project business plan, the amount is 40 times the minimum living amount.
Proof of health insurance
Submit proof of your health insurance to the police within 30 days of receiving your residence document.
Valid passport
Bring your valid passport or other valid travel document. Your application cannot be accepted without it.
Passport photos
Bring two recent colour photographs measuring 3 × 3.5 cm. Follow your consulate’s current instructions if it asks for a different number.
Proof of accommodation
Provide a sworn statement that you own the property, a lease, a hotel or hostel confirmation, or a sworn statement from the person or organisation providing your accommodation. Where needed, add proof that the landlord or accommodation provider has the right to use the property. The evidence must be no more than 90 days old and cover at least six months, or your whole stay if it is shorter.
Police certificate
Get criminal-record evidence that covers the whole country that issues it. It must be no more than 90 days old; a certificate covering only part of a country is not accepted.
Application form
Submit the signed application for temporary residence. It must be in Slovak, in block capitals or typed.
Business plan
Submit a business plan using the form published by the Slovak Ministry of Economy, or its form for an innovative project. Alternatively, provide evidence that your business is workable and sustainable, such as future contracts, expected customer orders, certificates or prepared price lists. The evidence must be no more than 90 days old.
Medical report
Submit a medical report confirming that you do not have a disease that threatens public health. Give it to the police within 30 days of receiving your residence document; the report must be no more than 30 days old. You can ask the police to extend the deadline by up to 60 days.
Business authorisation records *
Provide the trade authorisation, other licence or business-register record that applies to your business. If you act for a company, evidence can include its founding agreement or a business-register extract naming you as managing director, or an extract with the meeting minutes appointing you. A founding agreement must be signed by all founders, and their signatures must be officially certified when it identifies you as managing director.
* Only if your business structure requires proof of authorisation or appointment.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Business purpose limits
You must carry out your business purpose in Slovakia.
A different activity normally requires a new residence application, and this residence does not by itself allow an ordinary job for an employer.
Residence reporting duties
Report to the police within five working days of an address change and three working days if your business purpose ends.
Tell them in writing if you will be abroad continuously for more than 180 days.
You must also meet residence-reporting and statistical-information duties.
Residence can end
Your residence ends when it expires, its purpose ends or other legal grounds apply.
Police may cancel it for failing to fulfil its purpose, false information, public-order, security or health reasons, breaches of legal duties or other legal grounds.
When it ends, return your card and leave by the last day of authorised residence unless you have another lawful basis to stay.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
r/AnchorLessEurope
English Reddit group for people living in Europe interested in visas
Join on RedditForeigners in Bratislava
English Facebook group for people living in Slovakia interested in Slovak local life
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English Facebook group for people living in Slovakia interested in Slovak local life
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