The EU Council has extended temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 4, 2026.
Who can obtain temporary protection?
Temporary protection in Slovakia is available to the following persons:
• Citizens of Ukraine who were forced to leave their country due to the war.
• Persons who received international or similar national protection in Ukraine before February 24, 2022.
• Family members of Ukrainian citizens or persons who had international or similar national protection in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 (provided they resided in Ukraine before that date).
• Foreigners who had a permanent residence permit in Ukraine as of February 24, 2022 and cannot safely return to their home country.
What rights do recipients of temporary protection have in Slovakia?
Upon being granted temporary protection status, persons have access to a number of services and benefits:
• Medical care: Protection entitles you to access to the Slovak healthcare system, including medical services and support in case of emergency.
•
Financial support: It is possible to receive financial assistance from the government and international organizations such as
UNHCR to cover basic needs.
•
Housing: It is possible to apply for assistance in obtaining temporary housing through registration centers organized by the government. If it is not possible to provide separate housing, it is worth applying through these centers. The state also supports private individuals who provide free housing for displaced persons. For more information,
please follow the link.
• Access to education: Children and adolescents can continue their education in schools and other educational institutions in Slovakia.
• Mobile communication: At the registration centers, you can get free SIM cards for calls and Internet access from some local mobile operators, as well as use free Wi-Fi points.
Starting from August 6, 2024, Slovakia has new rules for Ukrainian refugees to apply for temporary protection. Here are the main steps to take to obtain this status:
1.Preliminary online registration
Before submitting documents to the police station, you must fill out an online application for “Dočasné útočisko”. This is a necessary step without which the documents will not be accepted. You can register on the official website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic in the
booking system section.
2.Making an appointment at a police station
After submitting the online application, you need to reserve a date and time to submit your documents at the selected police station. This can be done through the same booking system. Please note that only one person can be reserved for each visit.
3.Visit to the police station
Applications for temporary protection are accepted only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 07:30 to 13:30. You must have your identity documents, such as a foreign passport, with you during the visit. It is not possible to submit documents without an appointment.
4.Choosing a police station
You can apply to any of the 13 police stations for foreigners in the cities of Michalovce, Košice, Prešov, Romavská Sobota, Ružomberok, Banská Bystrica, Žilina, Trencin, Nitra, Dunajská Streda, Nove Zamky, Trnava, and Bratislava. Choose the branch that is most convenient for you, regardless of the place of your planned residence in Slovakia.
5.Submission of documents and processing time
If you have a foreign passport or other identity document, temporary protection status is granted immediately. If you do not have such documents, the application may take at least 30 days to be processed. After the decision is made, you will receive a document marked “DOČASNÉ ÚTOČISKO”, which confirms your right to stay in Slovakia.
Is it possible to go to Ukraine and return to Slovakia?
The temporary protection status granted to you in Slovakia does not restrict your right to travel to Ukraine. Visiting Ukraine does not cancel your temporary protection status and you will continue to be entitled to the same benefits.
Is it possible to move freely within the country and the European Union while under temporary protection?
All foreigners from Ukraine who have been granted temporary asylum in the territory of the Slovak Republic have the right to move and travel within the EU member states if they meet the conditions for entry into their territory.
However, if a foreigner with temporary asylum decides to live in another EU member state and this state has granted him/her temporary asylum or another form of protection, the temporary asylum in the territory of the Slovak Republic is revoked.
In this regard, we warn that if foreigners with temporary asylum intend to leave the Slovak Republic for countries outside the European Union (e.g. for a summer vacation), they must have a valid passport that entitles them to cross the so-called external border of the European Union.
– How much are refugees paid in Slovakia?
The amount of financial assistance depends on the number of family members and their age, but does not exceed 380 euros per month for a family. The payments are:
• €80 for an adult.
• €160 for children under 3 years old.
• €60 for children from 3 to 18 years old.
Additional payments are available to families with disabled members. Financial assistance is not provided to those who work in Slovakia. The application for benefits is submitted together with the application for temporary protection. There is also a one-time winter allowance of 150 euros per person or up to 400 euros per family.
– Does Slovakia provide housing for Ukrainians?
Ukrainian refugees can receive temporary housing from the state, staying in hotels or with Slovak families. A detailed list of available housing (public, hotel and private) can be found on the
Pomoc pre Ukrajinu platform.
– Do Ukrainians have the right to work in Slovakia?
Ukrainians with temporary protection status have the right to work, but they cannot conduct entrepreneurial activities. You can look for a job through the
Istp.sk platform by filling out a questionnaire with your job preferences. You can also use websites such as
LinkedIn or
Upwork if you speak English or Slovak.
– Can Ukrainian children study in Slovakia?
Ukrainian children who come with their parents have the right to attend Slovak educational institutions. Preschool education is compulsory for children from the age of 5. Primary and secondary education is free of charge for children aged 6 to 16. To register, you need to contact the chosen kindergarten or school directly.
– Do Ukrainians have the right to medical services in Slovakia?
Ukrainians with temporary protection status are entitled to free emergency medical care. Other basic medical services are usually provided for a fee.
– Do Ukrainians in Slovakia receive housing compensation?
Starting from July 1, 2024, housing compensation is provided only for the first 120 days after obtaining temporary protection status. After that, the assistance is available only to vulnerable categories such as children under 5 years old, persons with disabilities, persons caring for children, and persons over 65 years old.
Amount of compensation:
• 5 euros per person per night in apartments.
• Maximum amounts depend on the number of rooms:
- 1-room accommodation - 390 euros.
- 2-room - 540 euros.
- 3-room accommodation - 720 euros.
- 4 or more rooms - 900 euros.
– What should I do if my passport expires?
Apply to the Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovakia, where you can extend the validity of your passport: up to 5 years for adults and up to 4 years for children. Reception takes place on a first-come, first-served basis from 08:00 to 20:00 daily at the following address: Radvanska 35, Bratislava.
– What should I do if I have a child with me without a passport?
Please contact the Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovakia to enter information about the child and paste his/her photo in the parents' passport. You must provide a photo of the child, a birth certificate and a passport of one of the parents.
– How to cross the border with pets?
Slovakia allows the importation of pets without a passport and vaccination at border crossings. You need to fill out a special form available at these border crossing points.
