In specific cases, you will be able to come to Slovakia to join your UK national family member after the end of the transition period (after 1 January 2021) and still have your rights protected under the Withdrawal Agreement. You will obtain residence status.
In all other cases, if you come to Slovakia to join your UK national family member after 1 January 2021, the rights set by the Withdrawal Agreement will not be guaranteed. In order to obtain residence in Slovakia, you will have to meet all applicable conditions. Depending on your citizenship, you will be able to apply for one of the types of temporary residence or permanent residence (if you are a third country national) or register your right of residence (if you are a Union citizen).
1. Persons protected by the Withdrawal Agreement
Some categories of persons who do not yet reside in Slovakia before the end of the transition period (by 31 December 2020) will be able to join the UK national even after the end of the transition period (after 1 January 2021) and still enjoy the rights set by the Withdrawal Agreement.
This applies if you are the UK national´s:
- Partner in a duly attested, durable relationship, if the relationship was durable before the end of the transition period and continues at the time you seek residence in Slovakia;
or
- Spouse, if you are married to the UK national at the time you seek residence, but at the end of the transition period you were in a durable relationship with this UK national (i.e. not married yet);
or
- Direct relative, if you satisfy the criteria set out in the definition of a direct relative both before the end of the transition period and at the time you seek residence in Slovakia;
or
- Child, if you were born or adopted after the end of the transition period and you are under the age of 21 or dependant when seeking to join your UK national family member.
This option applies regardless of your nationality, whether you are a UK national, Union citizen or third country national.
In all four cases above, you will be able to join the UK national and start your residence in Slovakia at any point in time in the future.
You will have to apply for a residence status and a Residence Card within three months from your arrival to Slovakia or by 30 June 2020, whichever is later.
If you belong to one of the above categories and satisfy the relevant criteria, you will obtain residence.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
The rules below apply to UK nationals or third country nationals. If you are a Union citizen and want to register your residence in Slovakia, please follow these steps.
STEP 1: Notify the Foreign Police of your stay
You must notify the Foreign Police of the start and of your place of residence within three working days from the day of entering Slovakia. This obligation applies if you are renting, live with relatives or friends etc. If you are staying in a hotel, hostel, or similar accommodation facility, it is instead the responsibility of the accommodation provider.
To notify the Foreign Police of your stay, you must send the completed Notice of the Stay form by mail to the Foreign Police Department competent according to your place of residence in Slovakia. You may also submit the completed form in person.
Find your competent Foreign Police Department here. Contact details of Foreign Police Departments are available here.
STEP 2: Apply for a residence status and a Residence Card
You will have to apply for a residence status and a Residence Card within three months from your arrival to Slovakia or by 30 June 2020, whichever is later.
You will obtain a residence status and the Five-year Residence Card (“Povolenie na pobyt – trvalý”). The Residence Card will be issued with a validity of five years.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the residence status and the Residence Card, you must go to the Foreign Police Department competent according to your place of residence in Slovakia. You 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 applying for your residence status.
Find your competent Foreign Police Department and check the office hours here. Contact details of Foreign Police Departments are available here.
You must submit the following documents at the Foreign Police:
- Valid passport
- Two passport size colour photographs (3 x 3.5 cm)
- Application form automatically generated by the online booking system
- Application form completed in Slovak language (optional)
- Document(s) certifying the existence of a family relationship/partnership with the UK national (i.e. proving that you belong to one of the categories of persons who may start their residence in Slovakia after the end of the transition period)
- Document(s) certifying the existence of a family relationship/partnership with the UK national before the end of the transition period
- Document(s) certifying you satisfy the criteria set out in the definition of a direct relative both before the end of the transition period and at the time of seeking residence in Slovakia related to age or dependence (where applicable)
- Document(s) certifying the registration of residence of the UK national before the end of the transition period (e.g. Registration Certificate or Residence Card of your UK national family member)
- Document on accommodation
- Optional fee(s)
The application form
If you use the online booking system to book an appointment with the Foreign Police, it will automatically generate your application form, which you should print out.
Even if you use the online booking system, you may consider bringing both completed forms to the Foreign Police, the automatically generated one and the one that you fill in manually, as a backup.
Document on accommodation
The document on accommodation may be one of the following:
- Affidavit about ownership of a property (if you own property)
- Tenancy agreement with the owner or the user of the property and documentation of eligibility to use the property if it is a tenancy agreement with the user of the property
- Affidavit of a natural person or a legal entity about the provision of accommodation and documentation of eligibility to use the property if it is an affidavit of the user of the property
- Confirmation from an accommodation facility (e.g. a hotel, hostel)
Signatures in affidavits and tenancy agreements must be notarized.
FEES AND TIMELINES
The Residence Card will be issued free of charge, within 30 days from your application.
For your convenience, you may consider paying one or both of the following optional fees:
- Expedited issuance of the Residence Card within two working days (instead of the standard 30 days): 24.50 EUR
- Sending the Residence Card to your address in Slovakia (to avoid going to the Foreign Police again in order to collect it): 3.00 EUR
Fees at the Foreign Police are paid in form of electronic fee stamps (eKolok), which may be bought:
- Online by visiting and registering on this website. Once you select your fees, you need to print them out. The fees may be used within 30 days from the purchase. They may be paid with a card.
- Via the eKolok mobile app. You will get a QR code which you will show on your mobile phone at the Foreign Police Department. The fees may be used within 30 days from the purchase. They may be paid with a card.
- At the Foreign Police Department through a vending machine. The fees may be used within 30 days from the purchase. They may be paid in cash or with a card.
- At a post office. The fees may be used within two years from the purchase. They may be paid in cash or with a card.
Unused fees may be returned at a post office for reimbursement within two years from the purchase.
2. Persons not protected by the Withdrawal Agreement
Unless you belong to one of the categories of persons under point 1., if you come to Slovakia to join your UK national family member after 1 January 2021, the rights set by the Withdrawal Agreement will not be guaranteed. Depending on your citizenship, you will be able to apply for one of the types of temporary residence or permanent residence (if you are a third country national) or register your right of residence (if you are a Union citizen).
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
The following applies to third country nationals only (not to Union citizens). If you are a Union citizen who seeks residence in Slovakia, please follow the instructions for Union citizens.
STEP 1: Notify the Foreign Police of your stay
After your arrival to Slovakia, you must notify the Foreign Police of the start and of your place of residence within three working days from the day of entering Slovakia. This obligation applies if you are renting, live with relatives or friends etc. If you are staying in a hotel, hostel, or similar accommodation facility, it is instead the responsibility of the accommodation provider.
To notify the Foreign Police of your stay, you must send the completed Notice of the Stay form by mail to the Foreign Police Department competent according to your place of residence in Slovakia. You may also submit the completed form in person.
Find your competent Foreign Police Department here. Contact details of Foreign Police Departments are available here.
STEP 2: Apply for residence
In order to obtain residence as a third country national in Slovakia after 1 January 2021, you will have to meet all applicable conditions. Depending on your situation, you will be able to apply for one of the types of temporary residence or permanent residence.
You can apply for residence at the Foreign Police Department competent according to your place of residence in Slovakia, or at the Diplomatic Mission of the Slovak Republic in the UK or in the country of your residence.
Submitting an application for residence does not entitle you to reside in Slovakia. Until the residence is granted, you may stay in Slovakia only within the visa-free regime or based on another residence permit.
Find out more:
- General information on obtaining residence for third country nationals in Slovakia
- Temporary residence – who is entitled, conditions and procedures
- Permanent residence – who is entitled, conditions and procedures