Card validity and residence validity

First compare the card expiry date with your residence decision. If temporary residence itself is expiring, renewal under Section 34 is required. Issuing a new card under Section 73 does not extend the permit.

If the card expires before the underlying residence, or you hold unlimited permanent or long-term residence under Sections 46 or 52, apply for a new card at least 30 days before expiry. Booking an appointment is not an application.

When replacement is needed early

A third-country national must notify the police of changes to their name, marital status, citizenship or passport details within five working days. Address changes have their own notification duty; request a new card within five working days if its details are no longer correct.

Report loss, theft or damage within five working days of discovering it, and do not delay the replacement application. If theft occurs abroad, keep the local police report and contact the Slovak consulate before travelling back.

Preparing a card application

Prepare a valid passport, the old card, evidence of changed details and accommodation evidence where required for your procedure. The police capture biometrics. Check the current document list for the selected service rather than relying on old instructions about printed photographs.

Select the residence-document service at the competent Foreign Police department. Since 18 May 2026, the Bratislava department has operated at Račianska 62; Regrútska 4 is the old address. Check your booking confirmation before visiting.

Fees and delivery

Standard issuance with delivery within Slovakia costs €10; expedited issuance within two working days costs €39. First replacement of a lost, destroyed, damaged or stolen card costs €29, or €54 expedited. A repeat occurrence within two years costs €54 or €79 respectively. Exemptions and corrections of official errors have separate rules.

Standard production takes up to 30 days. For electronic applications, production timing depends on biometric capture. Permit processing and card production are separate stages, not a guaranteed delivery date. Check the new card details and configure BOK and signing certificates where needed.

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