Slovakia’s Foreigners Act: current rules for 2026

Which version of the law applies

The principal residence law is Act 404/2011. This article replaces the former overview limited to the reform of 15 July 2024. For current procedures, use the consolidated version effective from 1 October 2026 and its transitional provisions.

Act 160/2024 took effect on 15 July 2024, Act 178/2025 on 1 July 2025, and key changes in Act 128/2026 on 15 July 2026, with some provisions from 1 October. EU citizen residence, ordinary third-country permits and temporary protection are distinct regimes.

Business: initial grants and changes of purpose

Ordinary initial business applications are made in person at the competent Slovak embassy and are subject to annual intake quotas. The Ministry of Economy participates in business-plan assessment. A registered company does not guarantee approval. An initial business grant lasts three years.

Domestic changes of purpose to business are restricted, including where current temporary residence has been held for less than two years. Renewal of an existing business permit and the special temporary-protection procedure follow their own rules; the overseas-filing requirement is not a universal rule for every business-related action.

Renewal and new business criteria

For self-employed renewal applicants, taxable business income must exceed the previous year’s tax-return threshold. Company representatives must show tax paid at least equal to the applicable minimum corporate tax. These replace the former general profit targets of 20 and 60 subsistence minima.

File renewal by the last day of permit validity. The designated electronic service requires all attachments on filing; in-person applications have a document-completion period. Lawful stay in Slovakia pending a decision does not automatically permit border crossing with an expired card.

New tax and insurance arrears duties cover the entrepreneur and represented companies. Cancellation grounds are subject to Section 131n transitional rules. Proceedings started before 15 July 2026 use the previous rules unless the new rules are more favourable to the applicant.

Slovak language for long-term residence

Long-term residence, dlhodobý pobyt, under Section 52(1)(a) and (c) requires at least A2 Slovak, tested at a language school or public university. This is not a general exam requirement for every permanent-residence category or temporary-permit renewal.

Section 52(7) provides exceptions for children under 14, residence under Section 29 and specified education in Slovak. The ministry may waive the requirement for a lasting adverse physical or mental condition under Section 52(8). Check the precise education periods and evidence in the law.

Transition from temporary protection

From 15 July 2026 until the relevant temporary protection ends, Section 131o(14) permits an application for a residence document for the purposes in Section 21(1)(a–f), if the purpose has been pursued for at least six months immediately before filing. This is a conditional special procedure, not an automatic exchange of protection documents.

A passport and complete evidence under Section 131o(5–9) are required, including purpose, a Ukrainian criminal-record extract no more than 90 days old and accommodation unless exempt. Employment uses a Sociálna poisťovňa confirmation no more than 30 days old; business has a registry-based exception. Incomplete applications are not accepted.

A practical checking sequence

Identify your status and procedure, compare residence and card expiry dates, check the current law and transitional provisions, and prepare the evidence before filing. For Bratislava appointments, use Račianska 62 and your booking confirmation. Check fees against the current Act 145/1995 rather than 2024 tables.