Incorrect accommodation can lead to cancellation

Foreigners applying for residence in the Slovak Republic must meet a number of legal conditions. One of the most important is the demonstration of secure accommodationthat meets legal conditions and certain standards. In recent months, our office has encountered a sharp increase in cancellations of residence permitsthat foreigners don't even know about. This is followed by administrative expulsion.

These are cases where applicants state false, non-existent or inappropriate addresses. This is often the case through no fault of their ownbut the unprofessionalism and irresponsible behaviour of intermediarieswho trade in human destinies and provide accommodation that does not meet the legal conditions. The consequences can be severe - often leading to revocation of the residence granted and administrative expulsion.

Accommodation is not just a formality

The law clearly states that accommodation submitted as part of the application for residence:

• must be real, habitable,
• it must meet hygiene and technical standards, thus it cannot be a space that is not intended for living,
• the capacity of the property must not be exceeded (e.g. if 10 people live in a one-room flat),
• it must be a house, flat, boarding house or other legally recognised accommodation.

In addition to meeting these criteria, it is important that the property is actually accessible and occupied by the person applying for the residence. It is not permissible for this to be a "paper" accommodation without real housing.

The address also serves as a delivery address

A very important aspect is that this address also serves as a correspondence address for communication with the immigration police and other authorities. The foreigner is obliged to collect mail at this address - including decisions to grant, extend or revoke residence. The police can also at any time carry out an accommodation check.

If the applicant does not take delivery, the latter after the expiry of the retention period shall be deemed to have been served by the so-called fiction of service. In other words - the office shall decide as if it had received the consignmenteven though he never actually saw her. In practice, this means that many foreigners have no idea that their residence has been revoked, a they will only find out about it when they check in or try to leave.

Risk with fictitious addresses

Some applicants rely on the so-called. "proforma" addressesoffered to them for a fee by various intermediaries or acquaintances. Often it is about:

• non-existent or abandoned addresses,
• addresses without the owner's consent,
• addresses where the foreigner does not actually live and has no chance to collect mail.

After payment of the fee the intermediary often disappears and the applicant is left without assistance. Consequently, he or she is put in a situation where:

• his residence is revoked,
• has a problem submitting a new application,
• may even be banned from entering the territory of the Slovak Republic or the Schengen area.

How to protect yourself?

To avoid these risks, adhere to the following principles:

• Check that the accommodation meets legal requirements and capacity limits.
• Secure written consent from the property owner.
• Make sure you have access to the mail at the address above and can realistically retrieve it.
• Avoid unverified intermediaries and illegal offers for a lower fee.
• If in doubt, contact a lawyer or the police directly.

Reliable help for applicants

If you are not sure whether your address meets the legal requirements, we can help you with this. We offer verified accommodation that complies with the law, meets hygiene standards and capacity limits. In addition, we always inform our clients about the delivered parcelsso as not to put themselves in a situation the fiction of service and subsequent cancellation of the residence without their knowledge.

If you have doubts whether your current address meets all standards and is credible, we recommend you check directly with the immigration police or our office. We will be happy to provide you with expert advice and help you arrange accommodation that meets all legal requirements.