Slovakia: Forthcoming Policy Changes to Impact Employers of Temporary Residence Permit Applicants

Updated - July 5, 2024: The below reforms will go into effect on July 15, 2024. Additionally, from the same date, additional procedural reforms will also go into effect. First, applicants for a Verified Invitation, Business Residence Permit, or Five-Year Residence Permit will need to provide bank account statements from the preceding three months (as opposed to simply confirming the to-date bank account balance). Second, it will no longer be possible to submit certain change-of-purpose applications (for instance, changing from employed to self-employed status) in country. Rather, applicants will need to submit such applications at Slovak consular posts. Applicants already in Slovakia will therefore need to leave the country to file such applications. Third, only visa-exempt or Schengen residence permit holders will be able to apply in country for the so-called ‘National Visa in the Interest of the Slovak Republic’; all other individuals will need to apply at a Slovak consular post. Currently, any foreign national can apply in country (or overseas) for such visa. 

The Slovak government has approved a proposed amendment that, if the bill passes, would implement the following changes (among others) on or around July 15, 2024 (the date is subject to change). First, the government would reduce the standard government processing time for Temporary Residence Permits for employment purposes to 60 days, down from 90 days (the 30-day expedited processing option would remain). Second, the EU Blue Card process would be simplified and would feature a lower minimum salary threshold and a longer validity period. Third, employers of Temporary Residence Permit for employment purposes (including Single Permits or Intra-Corporate Transferee permits) will need to ensure that the relevant labor market test attestation has been signed with a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES). This change – which would make it easier for authorities to confirm that the form has been signed by an authorized representative – would require employers to appoint a designated individual (empowered with power of attorney to sign on behalf of the employer) to manage the QES process, including managing of the company account on www.slovensko.sk. When this bill passes, we will publish an alert further detailing the changes – including any variations that arose during the legislative process.