Are you a non-EU citizen wishing to work as a highly-skilled employee in Slovakia? You can find information below on the conditions to fulfil and procedures to follow, as well as the rights you can enjoy during your stay.
According to the Slovak legislation, a highly-qualified worker (other than a Blue Card) is not classified as a separate category and does not have a separate type of residence. Depending on the situation, you can either apply for a Blue Card, or a temporary residence for the purpose of employment.
A Blue Card is issued for up to four years and authorises you to enter, reside and work in Slovakia and to leave and re-enter Slovakia during the period for which it is issued.
To fulfil the conditions to be characterised as a highly-qualified worker, you must hold a university or college diploma (e.g. Bachelor, Master, PhD), your contract of employment must be concluded for at least one year and must foresee a minimum monthly salary of at least 1.5 times the average monthly wage in the Slovak national economy in the relevant branch (the data is available on the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic). The number of non-EU citizens who can work and reside in Slovakia is not limited by a quota. However, the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family shall assess whether it is possible to fill the vacancy corresponding to highly qualified employment by a candidate registered in the Register of Unemployed Job Seekers.
To work as a “highly-qualified” worker in Slovakia, you must, in general, obtain a specific type of temporary residence for the purpose of employment, the so-called Blue Card. The Blue Card may be granted based on a confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy corresponding to highly qualified employment issued by the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family upon request of the Foreign Police Department. The confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy corresponding to highly qualified employment is issued within five working days from delivery of the request of the Foreign Police Department to the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family.
Any exemptions to the above requirements are stipulated by law.
If you are subject to visa requirements, you might also need to obtain an entry visa in order to arrive to Slovakia.
| Where and how to apply | Blue CardAt least 15 working days before applying for a Blue Card, your future employer must report the vacancy to the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, depending on your future place of work.The Labour Office will assess if the position can be filled by a candidate registered in the Register of Unemployed Job Seekers. If the vacant position is not filled within 15 working days of reporting the vacancy by a candidate listed in the Register of Job Seekers, your employer may issue you a written promise of employment or conclude a contract of employment.In general, it is recommended to file the application for a Blue Card at the Slovak embassy in the country of your citizenship or country of your residence. You may also apply for a Blue Card directly in Slovakia at the relevant Foreign Police Department if you reside in the country legally or within 30 days from entering Slovakia if you already hold a Blue Card issued by another EU member state. The application must be submitted in person.After submitting your application for a Blue Card, the relevant Foreign Police Department in Slovakia will request a confirmation on the possibility to fill a vacancy corresponding to highly qualified employment by a foreigner from the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family. If you meet all of the legal requirements and the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family confirms that you can be employed in the job, you can be granted a Blue Card.The fee for applying for a Blue Card is EUR 165.50 (if the application is submitted at the Foreign Police Department) or EUR 170 (if the application is submitted at the Slovak embassy).Employer obligationsYour employer must issue one of the following documents:a contract of employment for the performance of highly-qualified work with the duration of at least one year from the date on which the Blue Card is issued and with the minimum monthly salary of at least 1.5 times the average monthly wage in the Slovak national economy in the relevant branch, as published by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic for the calendar year before the year in which the application for a Blue Card was submitted; ora written promise to conclude a contract for the performance of highly-qualified employment with you (the official form is available at the Central Labour Office ). In this case the contract of employment must be submitted to the Foreign Police Department within 30 days from collecting the Blue Card. |
| Documents required | To obtain a Blue Card you must present the following documents to the relevant authority:a completed and signed official application form in Slovak;a valid passport and two colour photographs (3 × 3.5 cm);a contract of employment for the performance of highly qualified work (if not submitted together with the application, you must do so within 30 days from receiving the residence document) or a written promise of the employer to hire you;a decision on the recognition of a document on education corresponding to highly-qualified employment as stated in the contract of employment or in the written promise of employer;proof of clear criminal record (criminal record statement from the country of your citizenship and from all countries where you resided for more than 90 days during six consecutive months in the past three years);a document on your accommodation in Slovakia;administrative fee of EUR 165.50 (if the application is submitted at the Foreign Police Department) or EUR 170 (if the application is submitted at the Slovak embassy);administrative fee EUR 4.50 (for issuing a residence document).Administrative fees at the Foreign Police are paid in form of electronic fee stamps (eKolok), which may be bought directly at the Foreign Police Department through a vending machine, or at a post office. Consular fees at Slovak embassies are paid in cash or via bank transfers. It is recommended to verify the possible means of payment with the specific embassy. |
| Refusal of a Blue Card | Your application for a Blue Card can be refused in the following circumstances:you do not meet the legal conditions;the documents you submitted were obtained fraudulently, are fake or have been modified;you constitute a threat to national security, public order or public health;your employer has violated the prohibition of irregular employment during the past five years;you hold a Blue Card issued by another EU Member State for less than 18 months;the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family has issued a negative decision on the possibility to fill the vacancy corresponding to highly qualified employment. |
| Further requirements | All documents issued by official authorities abroad must be translated into Slovak by an official translator and properly legalised (apostille or higher legalisation of documents). It is possible to submit documents issued or verified by the official authorities of the Czech Republic in Czech language.The documents must not be older than 90 days at the time of submitting the application. Submitting an application for a Blue Card does not entitle you to reside in Slovakia. Until the Blue Card is granted, you are entitled to stay in Slovakia only during the validity of a visa, another residence permit, or within the visa-free regime. If you hold a Blue Card issued by another Member State with expiring validity during the proceeding for issuance of a Blue Card in Slovakia, your residence in Slovakia is considered legal until the decision on issuance of the Blue Card.You must enter the territory of the Slovak Republic within 180 days from being granted the residence.You must report the beginning of your residence at the Foreign Police Department within three working days from your arrival to Slovakia.Within three working days from collecting the residence document, you must get a health insurance.Within 30 days from collecting the residence document (when applying at the diplomatic mission) or from submitting the application (when applying at an Foreign Police Department), you must submit at the competent Foreign Police Department a medical report not older than 30 days confirming that you do not suffer from a disease constituting a threat to public health.You must reside in the territory of Slovakia for more than half of the length of the granted temporary residence in a calendar year. |
| Duration of validity of the Blue Card | A Blue Card is issued for a period of four years, or if the duration of employment is shorter than four years, a Blue Card is issued for the duration of employment period extended by 90 days. |
| Conditions for renewal | The Blue Card may be renewed repeatedly, for a maximum period of four years, or if the duration of the employment relationship is shorter than four years, the Foreign Police Department will issue the Blue Card for the period of duration of the employment relationship, extended by 90 days.If you want to apply for renewal of the Blue Card, you must do so in person at the competent Foreign Police Department no later than the last day of validity of the Blue Card. The residence is considered legal in the territory of Slovakia until the decision on its renewal. It is required that the employment still lasts and meets legally stipulated criteria, i.e. the purpose for which the Blue Card was granted still lasts. At the same time, it is required that your employer reports a job vacancy to the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family at least 15 working days before submitting the application for renewal of the Blue Card.The application must be submitted together with:a valid passport;one colour photograph (3 × 3.5 cm);a contract of employment (contract of employment in the duration of at least one year and the salary must be at least in the amount of 1.5 times the average wage in the Slovak national economy in the relevant branch – data is available on the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic) or a written promise of employment (in this case the contract of employment must be submitted within 30 days from collecting the Blue Card);a decision on the recognition of a document on education;a document on accommodation in Slovakia;administrative fee EUR 99.50;administrative fee EUR 4.50 (for issuing a residence document).Administrative fees at the Foreign Police are paid in form of electronic fee stamps (eKolok), which may be bought directly at the Foreign Police Department through a vending machine, or at a post office. |
| Appeals | You can file an administrative appeal to the Directorate of Foreign Police/Directorate of Border and Foreign Police. You can file a judicial appeal to the Regional Court. |
| Change of employment | If you wish to change your employer, you must inform the Foreign Police Department at least five days before commencement of your new job and submit your new contract of employment or a written promise of employment and decision on the recognition of your document on education.Your new employer must report the vacancy to the Central Labour Office at least 15 working days before you inform the Foreign Police Department about the change. The relevant Foreign Police Department will request a new confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy corresponding to highly qualified employment by a foreigner from the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family. |
| Health care | You have the right to public health insurance in Slovakia. You must get health insurance within three working days from collecting the residence document. |
| Unemployment | Your Blue Card will not be revoked if you become unemployed unless the period of unemployment is longer than three consecutive months, or there is more than one period of unemployment during the validity of your Blue Card, or you do not inform the Foreign Police about your unemployment within five working days of becoming unemployed.If you find a new job corresponding to highly-qualified employment during the period of your unemployment not exceeding three months, you must inform the Foreign Police Department. The Foreign Police will request a new confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy corresponding to highly qualified employment by a foreigner from the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family. |
| Change of status | If you wish to change your status, i.e. change the type or purpose of your residence (e.g. from highly-qualified employment to business), you must submit a new application for residence at the Foreign Police Department, no later than the last day of validity of your current residence. |
| Family members | If you hold a Blue Card in Slovakia and would like your family members to join you, they may apply for temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification.Family members include your spouse, unmarried children younger than 18 years of age, dependent children older than 18 years of age (up to 25 years of age), your dependent parent or parent of your spouse who lacks appropriate family support in the country of origin or your dependent family members pursuant to an international treaty.The Foreign Police Department may grant your family members residence for the duration of your Blue Card.A Blue Card holder who has lawfully resided in another EEA country with his family members and who wishes to reunite with his family in Slovakia can apply for the necessary residence at the Foreign Police Department within 30 days of entering the country.If your family member has a legal residence in another Member State where your family lived together and wishes to reunite with you, as a Blue Card holder in Slovakia, he/she must submit the application for temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification at the Foreign Police Department within 30 days of entering Slovakia. You, as a Blue Card holder in Slovakia, may also submit this application on their behalf.Your family members may study, conduct business (does not apply to parents and children older than 18 years of age) and be employed during their stay in Slovakia (immediately from the start of their residence and without the need to obtain a work permit). |
| Long-term residence | You can apply for long-term residence, if you hold a Blue Card in Slovakia for at least two years directly before submitting the application and if you have five years of legal uninterrupted residence as a Blue Card holder in another EU member state.You must submit an application to the Foreign Police Department no later than the last day of validity of your Blue Card together with the following documents:a valid passport;two identical photos (size 3 x 3.5 cm);stable and regular income;health insurance;administrative fee EUR 165.50 (not applicable in case of a child younger than 18 years of age);administrative fee EUR 4.50 (for issuing a residence document).Administrative fees at the Foreign Police are paid in form of electronic fee stamps (eKolok), which may be bought directly at the Foreign Police Department through a vending machine, or at a post office. |