Slovakia for Ukrainians 2025: how to successfully emigrate and legalise in the country?

Slovakia is a popular destination for Ukrainians looking for new opportunities to live and work in Europe. Its convenient location and stable economy make it an attractive country for emigration. However, the legalisation process can be complicated, so it is important to know all the steps and requirements. Learn more about obtaining a visa, legalisation in the country and other important aspects of emigration to Slovakia in 2025

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Slovakia is quite a popular destination for Ukrainians looking for new opportunities to live and work in Europe. The country offers not only a stable economy, but also a convenient location close to Ukraine, making it a convenient option for emigration.

Many people are looking for options for legalisation and adaptation in this country, knowing that the process can be complicated, but it is quite realistic.

We will tell you how to obtain a visa, residence and work permits and successfully emigrate to Slovakia in 2025 in this article.

Detailed information on what you need to know before moving to Slovakia can be found here:

- Travelling to Slovakia for tourism purposes;

- Work in Slovakia;

- Immigration to Slovakia;

- Study in Slovakia;

- Temporary protection in Slovakia 2025.

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Do Ukrainians need a visa for Slovakia?

No, Ukrainians can travel to Slovakia without a visa for a short-term stay. Thanks to the visa-free regime, you can stay in the country for up to 90 days within 180 days with a biometric passport. This rule applies to tourist, business and family trips. In order not to exceed the permissible period of stay, use the calculator to calculate the number of days you have already spent and the remaining days you can stay in the Schengen area.

Starting the emigration process: visa to Slovakia

First of all, you need to determine the type of visa that will suit your moving conditions:

- Short-term Schengen visa (type C). This visa allows you to stay in Slovakia and other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within every 180 days. It is suitable for tourist, business, visitor, cultural, sporting or religious events, as well as for visiting relatives or friends. Despite the visa-free regime, a Schengen visa may be required if you exceed 90 days of stay in the Schengen area, as well as for specific cases that do not fall under the visa-free regime.

- Long-term national visa (type D). This visa entitles you to a long-term stay in Slovakia for the purposes of study, employment, and family reunification. A type D national visa also allows you to stay in other Schengen member states for up to 90 days within every 180 days.

- Business visa. It is intended for business trips, including participation in business meetings, conferences and other events. An invitation from a Slovak company or organisation is required.

- Student visa for persons planning to study in Slovakia. It is necessary to provide proof of enrolment in an educational institution, financial guarantees and health insurance.

- Employment visa. This type of visa is required for official employment in Slovakia. The process involves obtaining a work permit from a Slovak employer and relevant documents confirming employment. Read more about the requirements for an employment visa in Slovakia here.

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Slovak visa for Ukrainians: what documents are required?

To apply for a visa to Slovakia, Ukrainians need to prepare a package of documents that depends on the type of visa. However, the basic set usually includes the following documents:

- A completed visa application. The electronic application should be filled in on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia. After filling it out, save it in PDF format and print it out.

- Valid international passport. The validity of the passport must be at least three months after the intended departure from Slovakia.

- Photos. Two colour photographs of 3.5 x 4.5 cm or 3 x 3.5 cm in size that meet ICAO requirements and reflect the applicant's current appearance.

- A document confirming the purpose of the stay. This can be a written confirmation of admission to the educational institution, a residence permit from local authorities, or another document confirming the need to stay in Slovakia.

- Proof of health insurance covering the entire period of stay in Slovakia.

- Proof of financial security. Documents confirming that you have sufficient financial means to stay in Slovakia, such as a bank statement.

- Proof of accommodation. Documents confirming the availability of accommodation for the period of your stay in Slovakia, e.g. confirmation from a hotel or landlord.

Please note that the list of documents may vary depending on the specific purpose of the trip (study, work, family reunion, etc.). It is recommended to check the current list of documents in advance on the official website of the Embassy of Slovakia in Ukraine or contact the consular section directly for the most up-to-date information.

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Slovakia for Ukrainians: stages of preparation and obtaining a visa

Visa application for Slovakia for Ukrainians involves several stages that you need to go through to get the right document for a legal stay in the country:

1. Preparation of documents. First of all, you need to prepare all the necessary documents, which will depend on the type of visa you want to obtain (for example, a tourist, work, student, or family reunion visa).

2. Make an appointment at the consulate. To submit documents, you need to make an appointment at a consulate or visa centre. This can be done through the online system on the official website of the consulate or through the visa centre, if there is one in your city. It is important to do this in advance, as the number of places may be limited, especially during the peak tourist season.

3. Submission of documents. During the appointment at the consulate or visa centre, you must submit all the prepared documents and pay the consular fee. Depending on the type of visa, you may need to provide additional documentation, such as health insurance or other proof.

4. Application processing. After submitting the documents, the consulate reviews your application. Visa processing time may vary, but it usually takes between 5 and 15 business days, depending on the type of visa and the specific situation.

5. Obtaining yourvisa. Once your visa is ready, you will receive it at the consulate or through a visa application centre if you applied through an intermediary. It is important to check the accuracy of all the data in the visa before receiving it.

6. Check the conditions of stay. After receiving the visa, it is important to carefully check its conditions: validity, number of entries, maximum period of stay in Slovakia and the Schengen area in general.

7. Entering Slovakia. After obtaining a visa, you can travel to Slovakia. The rules for entering Slovakia require you to have documents confirming the purpose of your stay and sufficient financial security for the duration of your stay.

If your visa application is refused, you will be given an explanation and you can file an appeal or correct the deficiencies in your documents and reapply.

In order to avoid such situations and refusals, we advise you to contact qualified visa lawyers. Specialists will advise you on the necessary documents, help you prepare your application and provide full legal support of the process from the beginning to the receipt of a positive decision.

Residence permit in Slovakia for Ukrainians

Temporary residence permit in Slovakia

Ukrainian citizens can obtain a temporary residence permit in Slovakia on several grounds. These may be business or entrepreneurial activities, seasonal or permanent work, studies, as well as certain types of activities such as lecturing, sports or cultural activities, internships, research activities. A temporary residence permit may also be issued on the basis of family reunification or service in peacekeeping units of the Armed Forces. One of the options is to obtain an EU Blue Card, which entitles you to temporary residence in the country.

In order to apply for a temporary residence permit, you need to contact the nearest Slovak embassy or consulate or, if you are already legally in the country, the Slovak Migration Police. When applying, you must provide a standard set of documents, including an application form, two colour photographs, a receipt of the administrative fee, a valid passport, documents confirming the purpose of your stay, a certificate of no criminal record, proof of accommodation and financial security.

Permanent residence in Slovakia

Permanent residence in Slovakia provides a more stable status for a foreigner and gives him/her almost equal rights with Slovak citizens. It allows not only to stay in the country without restrictions, but also to work, receive medical care and use other public services. A permanent residence permit can be issued for different periods of time: five years or an unlimited period, depending on the grounds and circumstances. There is also a possibility to obtain a long-term residence permit or a right to stay for citizens of other EU member states and their families.

The main condition for obtaining a permanent residence permit is previous residence in Slovakia with a temporary residence permit for at least five years. An application for permanent residence may be submitted by persons staying in Slovakia on the basis of business or other legal grounds. In addition, permanent residence may be granted to the spouse or child of a Slovak citizen, as well as to foreigners whose activities are in the interests of Slovakia, for example, in the economic, scientific or sports fields.

An application for a permanent residence permit is submitted to the Slovak Migration Police or the consular section of the Slovak Embassy in Ukraine. The standard package of documents required for this procedure includes: a completed application, two colour photographs, a receipt of payment of the administrative fee, a valid passport, proof of the purpose of stay, a certificate of no criminal record, a document proving the availability of accommodation and financial security. As in the case of temporary residence, different categories may have additional documentary requirements.

Read more about moving to Slovakia for permanent residence here.

How to obtain Slovak citizenship?

Acquisition of Slovak citizenship is regulated by Act No. 40/1993 on the Citizenship of the Slovak Republic, and there are several ways to acquire this status. These options include acquisition of citizenship by birth, adoption or admission to citizenship. The latter is the main way for those who wish to voluntarily acquire citizenship and includes the process of naturalisation or rooting.

Naturalisation refers to the acquisition of citizenship at the request of a person who must submit an application to the relevant authorities. This process involves an assessment of the application and may result in a refusal of citizenship. In general, the standard period for acquiring Slovak citizenship through naturalisation is 8 years, during which a person must legally reside in the country on the basis of a residence permit. However, there are exceptions when citizenship can be obtained more quickly. For example, persons with high achievements in the economy, science, technology, culture, social sphere or sports can obtain Slovak citizenship much earlier. There are also other reasons why it is beneficial for Slovakia to acquire citizenship.

There are also other options for accelerated citizenship: persons who have lived in Slovakia for at least two years with a residence permit (e.g. minor children with Slovak citizenship guardians) can apply for citizenship. Also, persons who are married to a Slovak citizen and legally reside in the country can obtain citizenship after five years. Refugees can apply for citizenship after four years of residence with a residence permit.

The process of applying for Slovak citizenship is carried out through the Ministry of the Interior, which examines each application and submits it to the Minister for a final decision. During the application process, the committee conducts an interview with the candidate, which includes questions about the applicant's personality, family, as well as knowledge of the history, geography and socio-political development of Slovakia. One of the parts of the interview is a reading aloud of an article from a Slovak newspaper of at least 500 words. The applicant receives the text 30 minutes before the interview and has to write down the content of the article.

Upon successful completion of the interview and fulfilment of all conditions, the applicant must take an oath of allegiance to the Slovak Republic. The oath is a prerequisite for acquiring citizenship, where the applicant confirms his/her loyalty to the state and the obligation to comply with the Constitution and laws of Slovakia.

Working in Slovakia: how to obtain a work permit?

Foreign nationals who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland can be employed in Slovakia only if they have a work permit. This also applies to persons who have a temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification, but not more than 12 months after obtaining such a permit. A work permit is also required for persons holding a temporary residence permit in Slovakia who are citizens of countries with long-term residence permits in another EU country, provided that their stay in Slovakia does not exceed 12 months. In addition, a work permit is issued for seasonal work lasting no more than 90 days in a 12-month period.

A work permit can be issued for a period of up to two years, with the possibility of extension up to five years if it is provided for by international agreements. For seasonal work, a work permit is issued for only 90 days during the year.

The process of obtaining a work permit involves submitting an application to the local centre of employment, social affairs and family at the place of future work. The application can be submitted in person, by post or through an authorised person, such as an employer. The application should be submitted no earlier than 10 working days after the employer informs you of the vacancy. After submitting the application, the Employment Service reviews it and decides whether to issue the permit.

The application must be accompanied by an officially completed application form, a copy of the Slovak residence permit (if applicable), an employment contract or a written employment offer from the employer, as well as a decision on the conversion of a diploma or a document on the relevant education with a translation into Slovak. If the application is submitted by an employer, a written power of attorney is also required.

For persons coming for seasonal work, you must additionally provide documents confirming the availability of accommodation for the period of work and health insurance for the duration of your stay in Slovakia.

It is important that all documents must be in Slovak, and documents drawn up in a foreign language must be translated into Slovak by a certified translator.

The application process is free of charge, and after reviewing the application, the employment authorities decide whether to issue a work permit.

For more information on employment in Slovakia for expats, please follow the link.

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The specialists will help you not only avoid bureaucratic mistakes that can delay the process or lead to a refusal, but also provide advice at all stages of your stay abroad.

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Just a reminder! Are you planning a trip from Ukraine to Slovakia by your own car? It is worth getting acquainted with the current rules for drivers in advance. Read about all the nuances of travelling to Slovakia by car in 2025 and what you need to know here.

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