If UK nationals and their family members are already registered as residents in Slovakia, or if they will be lawfully residing in Slovakia by 31 December 2020, their right to study will stay the same for as long as they remain residents.
As a UK national or a family member of a UK national, your current residence in Slovakia, or the residence which you start before 31 December 2020, will be changed automatically from an EU to a non-EU status. You will need to register your residence and apply for a new Residence Card.
You will get one of the following types of residence status, depending on how long you've been living in Slovakia:
- Five-year residence granted for a period of five years, or
- Long-term residence granted for an indefinite time period/permanent residence for unlimited time.
To be registered as resident in Slovakia means to hold a:
- Registration Certificate (confirmation about the registration of residence) and optionally also the Residence Card (plastic ID card “Pobytový preukaz občana EÚ”) if you are a UK national, or
- Residence Card (plastic ID card “Pobytový preukaz rodinného príslušníka občana EÚ”) if you are a family member of a UK national.
If you belong to one of the categories of UK national family members who may seek residence in Slovakia after the end of the transition period (after 1 January 2021) and still be protected by the Withdrawal Agreement, you will also enjoy the right to study. You will be able to join the UK national at any point in time in the future and if you satisfy the relevant criteria, you will obtain a residence status.
Read more about residence of UK nationals and residence of family members of UK nationals, including how to register your residence, apply for a Residence Card and other important information related to living in Slovakia.
To understand the steps you need to take, please choose one of the following three options that applies to you.
Rights
If you are a UK national or a family member of a UK national who is already registered as resident in Slovakia and currently studying, your right to stay and continue your studies will stay the same for as long as you remain resident. The same applies, if you are lawfully residing in Slovakia before 31 December and studying.
If you register as resident and get a new Residence Card by 30 June 2021 at the latest, you can continue studying in Slovakia basically under the same conditions as Union citizens.
If your studies are subject to tuition, you have the right to the same tuition fees as Slovak citizens.
While studying, you can simultaneously hold multiple statuses, e.g. you may study and work at the same time. You can also change your status at any time, from student to e.g. worker or self-employed worker. And even if you hold a different status before the end of the transition period, you can become a student at a later stage.
After you complete your studies, you may stay in Slovakia and look for work or start doing business.
If your parent is/was a UK national who used to work (employed or self-employed) in Slovakia and who was protected by the Withdrawal Agreement, you can continue to reside in Slovakia and complete your education here, even after your parent no longer resides in Slovakia (e.g. if your parent has left or has deceased).
Registration of residence and Residence Card
You will need to register your residence (unless you have already done so) and replace your Residence Card or obtain a new Residence Card if you don´t have one yet, by following these steps (as a UK national) or these steps (as a family member of a UK national).
The deadline for registering your residence and applying for replacement of your Residence Card or for a new Residence Card is 30 June 2021. However, your specific case may require you to apply for a new Residence Card even earlier. We recommend not leaving the application for replacement of/a new Residence Card until the last moment.
The conditions under which you will be able to study in Slovakia depend on whether you start your residence in Slovakia before the end of the transition period (before 31 December 2020), or not.
Children of foreign nationals (from EU or non-EU countries) with residence in Slovakia can attend schools under the same conditions as Slovak citizens. This includes kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools. They can study at state primary and secondary schools free of charge. This does not apply to private and church schools.
If you are a UK national who is already registered as resident in Slovakia, or will be lawfully residing in Slovakia by 31 December 2020, and if you register your residence (unless you have already done so) and apply for a new Residence Card by 30 June 2021, your child can attend schools in Slovakia under the above conditions.
Your child does not need to reside in Slovakia before 31 December 2020 and may join you at any point in time in the future, if they are under the age of 21 or dependant when seeking residence.
In order to attend a school, your child should have residence in Slovakia.
To obtain residence and/or a Residence Card for your child:
- Follow these instructions if your child is a UK national
- Follow these instructions if your child is a third country national (i.e. citizen of a non-EU country)
- Follow these instructions if your child will join you after 1 January 2021
If you are a UK national who used to work (employed or self-employed) in Slovakia and who was protected by the Withdrawal Agreement, your child can continue to reside in Slovakia and complete his/her education here, even after you no longer reside in Slovakia (e.g. if you have left or no longer fulfil the conditions for lawful residence).