Temporary residence of foreigners (2025)

What residence permit are you looking for?Select from the menu for more information.

Temporary residence for employment

Have you found a job in Slovakia and need temporary residence? We will provide you with the appropriate documents, examinations and other requirements.

Temporary residence for business purposes

Have you decided to start a business as a self-employed person? Are you going to run your own business and want to secure your own trade license?

Temporary stay for family reunification

Have you gotten married or want to merge your family with a stay in Slovakia and are you looking for help with the legislative procedure? We will also help you with family reunification issues.

Transitional stay for the purpose of study

Are you a student and don't know how to get started with the administration? We are here for you even in that case. Read more about how to secure a student's stay.

What is temporary residence for foreigners

A temporary residence permit is a type of permit that allows citizens of third countries (i.e. countries outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland) to stay legally in the territory of a country for a longer period of time than a short-stay visa or visa-free travel allows. This stay is always tied to a specific purpose and is of limited duration.

Temporary residence does not mean permanent residence or an automatic right to citizenship - it is a temporary permit that can be extended, but also refused or revoked, depending on whether the conditions are met and the laws of the country of residence are respected.

This type of residence is mainly granted to people coming for work, business, study, family reunification or other specific purposes. Each country sets its own rules and requirements for obtaining it, but in most cases the process is administratively demanding and requires several documents.

Warning. The aim of this information guide is to provide basic information on the conditions, procedure and obligations related to obtaining and maintaining temporary residence in Slovakia. They are by no means a detailed guide on how to obtain a residence permit. Each case is individual and requires a specific procedure and approach to the applicant's case.

Get help from a professional.Contact us.

Put your request in the hands of experienced professionals and we will take care of the smooth process of obtaining or renewing your temporary residence.

Basic characteristics of a temporary stay

Purpose of stay:
- Employment
- Business
- The study
- Research and development
- Family reunification
- Specific purposes (e.g. volunteer programmes)
Conditions for obtaining temporary residence:
- Valid travel document (passport)
- Security and medical clearance
- Financial security of the stay
- Proof of purpose of stay (e.g. employment contract, confirmation of enrolment)
- Arranged accommodation
- Travel health insurance
Duration:
- It is usually granted for a period related to the purpose of the stay, but for a maximum of several years (e.g. employment - 2 years, studies - for the duration of the studies).
- Possibility of extension subject to conditions.
Rights and obligations of the holder of a temporary residence permit:
- Opportunity to work, do business or study, depending on the purpose of your stay
- Obligation to comply with the laws of your country of residence
- Obligation to report changes (e.g. change of employer, change of address)
- When the permit expires, the need to leave the country or apply for an extension
Grounds for refusal or cancellation of temporary residence:
- Failure to meet conditions (e.g. insufficient finance, unreliable employer)
- Threat to public order or safety
- Detection of fraud in the submission of an application
- Failure to fulfil obligations during your stay

More information on specific categories and types of stays can be found on our website under the specific section. Information is also available on the public resources of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, in the Alien's stay section. We cannot guarantee the accuracy, truthfulness or timeliness of this information. Therefore, please follow the updates in the Article.