🇸🇰Slovakia Visa for Benin Citizens2026 Requirements, Fees & Documents

National Long-Stay Visa (Type D)

Authorises stays exceeding three months in Slovakia for specific purposes such as awaiting residence permit, language studies, national interest, or international treaty obligations. Serves as a bridge to a residence permit.

• Maximum validity one year.
• Eligible categories include: persons with approved residence permit awaiting card issuance; language students aged 15+ enrolled in minimum 25 weekly hours; persons serving Slovakia's national interest; persons fulfilling international treaty obligations; family members of asylum seekers or persons under supplementary protection.
• Applications at Slovak diplomatic missions abroad, or at Border and Foreign Police in specific circumstances.
• Governed by Act No. 404/2011 on Residence of Foreigners.
• Online appointment booking mandatory via the national booking system since December 2022.

Temporary Residence for Employment

Allows third-country nationals to reside and work in Slovakia under a specific employment contract. Includes regular employment, seasonal work, and intra-company transfers.

• Permit valid up to 3 years, renewable.
• Standard processing 90 days; expedited (30 days) for certain categories.
• Applicant must have an employment contract or binding job offer.
• Labour market test may apply unless employer holds a labour shortage exemption.
• Applications at Slovak diplomatic missions abroad (as of July 2025 for new applications).
• Digital application platform operational since December 2024.
• After 5 years continuous legal residence, permanent residence may be sought.

EU Blue Card (Modrá karta EÚ)

Temporary residence and work permit for highly qualified third-country nationals employed in a skilled occupation requiring at least a university degree, with a salary of at least 1.2x the average monthly wage in Slovakia.

• Valid up to 5 years (or contract duration + 90 days if shorter).
• Fee EUR 250 initial (~USD 272), EUR 140 renewal.
• 30-day processing from complete application.
• No labour market test required as of 15 July 2024.
• Employment contract minimum 6 months.
• Salary threshold approximately EUR 1,716/month (1.2x 2023 average; updated annually).
• Employer must notify Labour Office.
• Blue Card holders may apply for long-term/permanent residence after 5 consecutive years.
• Governed by Act No. 404/2011 as amended.

Temporary Residence for Study (Štúdium)

Allows third-country nationals to reside in Slovakia for the purpose of studying at an accredited Slovak educational institution, including universities, secondary schools, and language courses.

• Permit valid up to 6 years.
• Processing 30 days from complete application.
• Administrative fees may be waived for students.
• Applicant must provide proof of admission to accredited institution, financial means, and accommodation.
• Digital application platform available since December 2024.
• Language students (15+ years) enrolled in minimum 25 weekly instruction hours may qualify for a National Visa (Type D) rather than a residence permit for shorter stays.

Temporary Residence for Research and Development

Allows third-country national researchers and scientists to reside in Slovakia to conduct research or development activities at accredited research organisations.

• Permit valid up to 2 years.
• Processing 30 days.
• Applicant must hold a hosting agreement with an accredited research organisation in Slovakia.
• Implements EU Directive 2016/801 on students and researchers.

Temporary Residence for Family Reunification (Zlúčenie rodiny)

Allows family members of legally residing third-country nationals or Slovak citizens to join and reside with them in Slovakia.

• Permit valid up to 3 years, tied to sponsor's permit duration.
• Standard processing 90 days.
• Family members of EU Blue Card holders and highly qualified workers may benefit from expedited 30-day processing.
• Administrative fee exemptions apply for minor children.
• Sponsor must demonstrate stable income, health insurance, and adequate accommodation.

Temporary Residence for Special Activities (Špeciálna činnosť)

Covers third-country nationals engaged in specific temporary activities in Slovakia not falling under standard employment, such as artists, athletes, journalists, or trainees on structured programmes.

Permit valid up to 3 years. Applicant must provide documentation of the specific activity and sponsor/organiser in Slovakia.

Tolerated Residence (Tolerovaný pobyt)

Granted to third-country nationals who cannot be removed from Slovakia due to legal or humanitarian obstacles, and to victims of trafficking in persons, pending regularisation or removal.

• Issued by the Border and Foreign Police as a protection status rather than a typical visa or permit application.
• Valid in 6-month increments.
• Not a pathway to regular immigration status.

Permanent Residence – 5-Year (Trvalý pobyt na 5 rokov)

Grants long-term settlement rights in Slovakia to third-country nationals who have resided legally in the country for a qualifying period (generally 5 years of continuous temporary residence).

• Valid for 5 years, renewable.
• Standard processing 90 days; 30 days for families of significant investors.
• Requires proof of 5 years continuous legal residence, stable income, health insurance, and accommodation.
• After holding the 5-year permit for 4 years (total 9+ years legal residence), unlimited permanent residence may be sought.

Permanent Residence – Unlimited (Trvalý pobyt na neurčitý čas)

Grants indefinite settlement rights in Slovakia to qualifying long-term residents.

• Eligible after 4 years of holding a 5-year permanent residence permit, or for minor children of permanent residents.
• Standard processing 90 days; 30 days for investor category.
• Permit becomes invalid if holder is outside Slovakia for 180+ consecutive days without authorisation.
• Pathway to citizenship after total 8 years continuous legal residence.

Diplomatic / Official Visa

Issued to diplomatic and official passport holders of countries requiring visas for Slovakia, for the purpose of official government business, postings, or assignments.

• Diplomatic and service/official passport holders of many countries benefit from visa exemptions under bilateral agreements (separate from ordinary passport exemptions).
• NATO and Partnership for Peace military/civilian personnel are exempt from visa requirements on official assignment using military ID or movement orders.
• The full bilateral diplomatic passport table is published at www.minv.sk/?bezvizovy-rezim; the page was not fully machine-readable during June 2026 validation.

Working Holiday National Visa (Type D)

Young people from countries with a bilateral working holiday / youth mobility agreement to spend up to one year in Slovakia, funding an extended holiday through incidental temporary work.

• Issued as a Slovak national (Type D) long-stay visa under bilateral Working Holiday / Youth Mobility agreements.
• Slovakia has agreements with Australia (age 18-30), New Zealand (18-35), Canada (18-35, Youth Mobility Program), Japan and Taiwan.
• Valid up to 1 year; permits residence plus incidental/temporary work in Slovakia and travel in the rest of the Schengen Area up to 90 days per 180.
• Annual quotas and reciprocal age/eligibility conditions apply per country.
• Applied for at a Slovak embassy or consulate abroad.
• Governed by the respective bilateral agreement and Act No. 404/2011.

Temporary Residence for Seasonal Employment

Third-country nationals performing season-dependent work (e.g. agriculture, tourism, hospitality) in Slovakia for more than 90 days.

• Seasonal employment exceeding 90 days requires temporary residence for the purpose of seasonal employment; total seasonal work may not exceed 180 days in any 12 consecutive months.
• The employer must first report the vacancy to the Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (at least 20 working days before).
• Decision within 90 days, reduced to 30 days if the applicant performed seasonal work or held this residence within the previous 5 years.
• Administrative fee EUR 33 (Foreign Police) or EUR 35 (Slovak embassy) plus EUR 4.50 for the residence card.
• Governed by Act No. 404/2011 implementing EU Directive 2014/36/EU on seasonal workers.

Temporary Residence for Employment - Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT)

Managers, specialists, or trainee employees of a company established outside the EU temporarily seconded (more than 90 days) to a Slovak branch or group company.

• Implements EU Directive 2014/66/EU on intra-corporate transfers.
• The worker must have been employed by the non-EU company for at least 6 months (managers/specialists) or 3 months (trainees) before transfer.
• Valid a maximum of 3 years for managers and specialists, and a maximum of 1 year for trainee employees.
• No separate work permit is required; the employer reports the posting to the Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family.
• Application is made in person at a Slovak embassy abroad; the Foreign Police decide within 90 days (30 days for significant foreign investors or OECD nationals).
• Fee EUR 170 for the residence application plus EUR 4.50 for the residence card.
• Permits intra-EU mobility to other member states under the ICT scheme.

Long-term Residence (Dlhodoby pobyt) - EU Long-Term Resident Status

Third-country nationals who have resided legally and continuously in Slovakia for 5 years, granting EU long-term resident status with enhanced rights and intra-EU mobility.

• EU long-term resident status under Council Directive 2003/109/EC, legally distinct from national permanent residence (trvaly pobyt).
• Granted after 5 years of continuous lawful residence immediately preceding the application, with proof of stable and regular income, accommodation, and - since 15 July 2025 - Slovak language knowledge at A2 level verified by examination.
• Confers rights close to those of nationals and the possibility to relocate to other EU member states.
• Application submitted in person at the Border and Foreign Police Department.