I’m a UK national

You might find useful familiarizing yourself with the following basic terms used throughout this section and the differences between them before further reading and undertaking any steps.

Notice of the Stay

All foreign nationals (Union citizens, their family members and third country nationals alike) arriving to Slovakia have the obligation to notify the Foreign Police of the start and place of their residence.

This obligation applies if they are renting, own a property, live with relatives, friends etc. If they are staying in a hotel, hostel, or similar accommodation facility, it is instead the responsibility of the accommodation provider.

The obligation is fulfilled by sending the completed Notice of the Stay form by mail to the Foreign Police Department competent according to their place of residence in Slovakia. The completed form may also be submitted in person.

Union citizens and their family members must do so within 10 working days (third country nationals within three working days) from entering Slovakia.

Registration of residence

Union citizens holding a valid passport or ID card have the right of residence in Slovakia for a period not exceeding three months without any conditions.

Union citizens have the right of residence in Slovakia for a period longer than three months, if they satisfy certain conditions.

Union citizens intending to stay for a period longer than three months must register their residence at the Foreign Police within 30 days from the lapse of three months from entering Slovakia.

To be registered as resident in Slovakia means to hold a Registration Certificate (confirmation about the registration of residence) and optionally also a valid Residence Card (plastic ID card “Pobytový preukaz občana EÚ”).

To register residence, Union citizens must go to the Foreign Police Department competent according to their place of residence in Slovakia and submit the completed application form, together with the required documents. They must do so in person. Applying electronically, by mail or by means of an authorised representative is not possible.

You may use the online booking system of the Foreign Police to book an appointment for registering your residence.

On the day of submitting a complete application, the Foreign Police will issue a Registration Certificate, i.e. a confirmation about the registration of residence of the Union citizen.

Registration Certificate

A Registration Certificate is the document issued by the Foreign Police on the day of submitting a complete application for registration of residence by a Union citizen. It serves as a confirmation certifying that the Union citizen has registered his/her residence in Slovakia. It states the name and surname, address of the registered person and the date of registration.

A Registration Certificate and a Residence Card are not the same. These are two different documents.

Residence Card

A Residence Card is the plastic ID card issued to foreign nationals (Union citizens, their family members and third country nationals alike) in Slovakia by the Foreign Police. It is issued to Union citizens and their family members based on their application and to third country nationals upon granting of residence.

Union citizens who register their residence in Slovakia are not required to apply for a Residence Card. This means that having a Residence Card for Union citizens in Slovakia is not mandatory, but only a possibility they may opt for voluntarily.

To apply for a Residence Card, Union citizens must go to the Foreign Police Department competent according to their place of residence in Slovakia and submit the completed application form, together with the required documents. They must do so in person. Applying electronically, by mail or by means of an authorised representative is not possible.

The same application form is used for applying for a Residence Card and for registration of residence of Union citizens.

Residence Cards for Union citizens are issued within 30 days from their application. Expedited issuance within two working days is possible for a fee of 24.50 EUR.

To understand the steps you need to take, please chose one of the following three options.

What do you want to do now that the UK has left the EU?