Slovak visa resources
Eligibility for a Slovakia long-stay visa
Slovakia's national long-stay routes are purpose-bound: each temporary-residence permit is tied to one authorised reason for staying.
Important
Slovakia's national long-stay framework is governed by the Act on the Residence of Aliens (Act 404/2011). It distinguishes temporary residence, permanent residence and tolerated residence. For most third-country nationals moving to Slovakia, the relevant route is a temporary residence permit, entered via a national (Type D) visa where required.
A central principle is that a temporary residence permit is binding for one purpose only. Applicants must show they meet the conditions for that specific purpose, hold accommodation and sufficient financial means, and are not a threat to public health or security.
Recognised temporary-residence purposes
- Business / self-employment
- Employment (including the single permit) and the EU Blue Card for highly qualified workers
- Study
- Research and development
- Family reunification
- Certain special activities (e.g. lectureship, sport, internship)
General conditions applicants must meet
- Evidence of the specific authorised purpose of stay
- Secured accommodation in Slovakia
- Sufficient financial means to cover the stay
- Clean criminal record (apostilled/superlegalised extract)
- Health insurance and, after the card is granted, a medical report confirming no disease dangerous to public health
Beyond temporary residence
- Permanent residence is available as a five-year permit, an unlimited-duration permit, or EU long-term resident status
- Tolerated residence covers narrow humanitarian and practical-obstacle situations and is not a general migration route
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.