🇨🇩→🇸🇰Democratic Republic of the Congo→Slovakia

90 daysmultiple entry15-30d processing

Short-term tourism, visiting friends or family, cultural events, and other non-work purposes within the Schengen Area. Valid for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area.

Applied for at Slovak diplomatic missions or consulates abroad. Processing within 15 calendar days from receipt of application. Emergency issuance at border crossing possible for humanitarian cases only (up to 15 days). Applicant must provide valid travel document, photo, proof of purpose, financial means, return transport, health insurance, and accommodation confirmation not older than 90 days. Fee set by EU Regulation (EUR 80 for adults, EUR 40 for children 6-12 years). Slovakia as Schengen member state applies the common Schengen visa. Single or multiple entry at consular discretion.

90 daysmultiple entry15-30d processing

Short-term business activities such as meetings, negotiations, conferences, and trade fairs in Slovakia or the Schengen Area, not constituting employment.

Same Type C Schengen visa; purpose declared as business. Applicant must provide employment letter or invitation from Slovak company. Does not authorise paid work. For longer-term business activity or self-employment, see Temporary Residence for Business (Type D / residence permit).

multiple entry90-150d processingvalid 1095d

Allows third-country nationals to reside in Slovakia for the purpose of operating a business as a self-employed person (sole trader) or as a company director/owner managing a Slovak company.

As of 1 July 2025, applications must be submitted exclusively at Slovak diplomatic missions abroad. Ministry of Economy issues opinion within 60 days; Border and Foreign Police issues final decision within 90 days (total up to 150 days). Permit valid up to 3 years, renewable. Feasibility and sustainability of the business plan is assessed, including job creation or activity in labour-shortage sectors. No fixed minimum investment in law but economic benefit must be demonstrated. After 5 years continuous legal residence, permanent residence may be applied for.

single entry15-30d processing

Authorises nationals of specific countries to transit through the international transit zone of a Slovak (or any Schengen) airport without entering the Schengen Area.

Required only for nationals of countries listed in Annex IV of the EU Visa Code. Applied for at Slovak diplomatic missions abroad. The holder does not enter Slovak territory; transit is confined to the international zone of the airport. Governed by the EU Visa Code (Regulation EC 810/2009).

multiple entry90d processingvalid 1095donline

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. Governed by Act No. 404/2011.

multiple entry30d processingvalid 2190donline

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. Governed by Act No. 404/2011. 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.

multiple entry30d processingvalid 1825donline

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.

multiple entry30-90d processingvalid 1095donline

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). Governed by Act No. 404/2011. Digital application platform operational since December 2024. After 5 years continuous legal residence, permanent residence may be sought.

multiple entry30-90d processingvalid 1095d

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. Governed by Act No. 404/2011.

180 daysmultiple entry30-90d processingvalid 180d

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.

multiple entry

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.

multiple entryup to 90d processing

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. Governed by Act No. 404/2011.

365 daysmultiple entryvalid 365d

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. Administrative fee per Slovak MFA consular fee schedule: EUR 90 (~USD 98) for a national visa connected to a residence permit; EUR 50 (~USD 54) for a national visa granted in the interest of the Slovak Republic or to fulfil international treaty obligations; EUR 15 (~USD 16) for a national visa related to an already-granted residence permit. No fee for third-country family members of EU/EEA nationals exercising free movement rights. Fee schedule confirmed via https://www.mzv.sk/en/web/gknewyork-en/services/administrative-fees (a Slovak MFA consular fee page; direct automated fetch returns HTTP 403 consistent with other mzv.sk pages already noted in this record's data_quality.gaps, but the fee schedule is corroborated by the IOM Migration Information Center, mic.iom.sk, an official partner source).

multiple entry30-90d processingvalid 1825donline

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. Governed by Act No. 404/2011.

multiple entry30-90d processingonline

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. Governed by Act No. 404/2011. Pathway to citizenship after total 8 years continuous legal residence.

multiple entry30d processingvalid 730donline

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. Governed by Act No. 404/2011. Implements EU Directive 2016/801 on students and researchers.

multiple entry90d processingvalid 1095donline

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. Governed by Act No. 404/2011. Applicant must provide documentation of the specific activity and sponsor/organiser in Slovakia.

valid 180d

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. Governed by Act No. 404/2011.

365 daysmultiple entryvalid 365d

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.