Slovakia: Visa for Highly-Skilled Foreign Nationals and Relocated Employees Now Available

January 31, 2023

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Country / Territory

At a Glance

  • As of July 2022, highly-skilled foreign nationals can apply for a temporary employment permit (National Visa) valid for up to one year, with the possibility of an extension.
  • The National Visa is suitable for foreign nationals outside of the European Union seeking relocation to a Slovakian entity of their current employer or highly-qualified foreign nationals from specified universities seeking initial employment in Slovakia.

The situation

The Slovakian government implemented the National Visa on July 20, 2022, a one-year temporary employment permit available to either highly-qualified foreign nationals seeking initial employment or employees seeking relocation under their current employer. This visa aims to attract foreign talent within the information technology sector in an effort to fulfill demand amid ongoing labor shortages.

Note that EU citizens do not qualify for the National Visa.

The National Visa is suitable for the following worker categories: 

Details

 Relocated employees Highly-skilled foreign nationals
Eligibility

    • Managers and highly-skilled specialists (defined as ‘an expert requiring exceptional professional knowledge, skills, abilities, knowledge, qualifications, and experience necessary for operation or management’) seeking relocation to a Slovakian entity of their current employer qualify for the National Visa. Occupations must be specified within the Slovakian statistical classification index.

       

    • Individuals must have been employed with the sponsoring company for a period of time that the government has not yet clarified. An employment contract is required once the applicant commences work in Slovakia

    • This visa is also suitable for graduates of certain higher education universities within Slovakia or the Czech Republic; a higher educational institution listed in relevant regulations or of an equivalent education according to the European Qualification Framework certain research institutions; or graduates of certain higher education universities who will be employed in certain occupations.

    • An employment contract is not required for application purposes, but an offer of employment is required.

       

       
Process and approval. The application process for both categories varies slightly depending on in-country or abroad submission.
    • Employers must submit a list of relocated employees and their occupation codes to immigration authorities.
    • If the list is approved, the National Visa application is submitted either at the Slovak embassy/Foreign Police or with the Foreign Police in Slovakia.
    • After commencing employment, all applicants must notify the Labour Office Registration of their stay within seven days.

 
    • Applicants must submit an  application at a Slovakian embassy/Foreign Police or in Slovakia to the Foreign Police in person.
    • After commencing employment, all applicants must notify the Labour Office Registration of their stay within seven days.

 

 
Dependents Family members of National Visa holders under this category are eligible to apply for family reunification. Accompanying dependents are also able to study or work during National Visa validity. Dependents are not permitted to apply for family reunification under this category.
  • Quicker process. Since the process for the National Visa is not as administratively demanding as other permit types, both new and relocated employees are expected to start work in Slovakia sooner than under other permit types.
  • Efforts to combat skill shortages. The National Visa aims to bring highly-skilled foreign nationals to fulfill demand within the information technology sector, an industry that has been struggling on both a national and global level.
  • Consular discretion. Since applications are handled at the consular level, this may result in discrepancies surrounding eligibility assessments, document requirements and application processes.

As of October 2022, Slovakian authorities simplified the D visa process for managers from third countries. The relaxation of procedural requirements, as with the National Visa, has been a growing trend on both a regional and global level in an effort to revitalize struggling economies. 

Employers and foreign nationals should expect that overall processing timelines will depend on appointment availability and eligibility assessments within consulates.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

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