UK nationals and their family members currently living in Slovakia (before 31 December 2020) who wish to travel out of the country during the upcoming Holiday Season should be aware of the following:
Key date
- On 31 December 2020 at 23h59 CET, the transition period ends
- As of 1 January 2021 at 00h00 CET, UK nationals are treated as third country nationals (i.e. non-EU citizens)
Register your residence and get a residence card in Slovakia before traveling
- If you are living in Slovakia without being registered and without having a residence card, we strongly encourage you to do so before you leave Slovakia for holidays
- Unless you have already done so, we advise you to register your residence and apply for a residence card at your earliest convenience
Traveling back to Slovakia after 1 January 2021
If you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement but you will not be in Slovakia at the end of the transition period, you will need to prove that you are a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary when traveling back after 1 January 2021, otherwise your passport will be stamped.
How to prove you are a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary
If you can prove you are a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary, your passport should not be stamped. These documents can serve as a proof:
- Your new (non-EU and Withdrawal Agreement-compliant) residence card
- If you have applied for the new Withdrawal Agreement-compliant residence card but not yet received it, you can carry your certificate of application (i.e. confirmation you have applied for the residence card which is part of the application form and which should be given to you by the foreign Police upon submission of your documents)
- In case you have not applied for the new Withdrawal Agreement-compliant residence card yet, you can carry your valid EU residence card (under the previous free movement regime)
- In case you have not applied for the new Withdrawal Agreement-compliant residence card yet and you don’t have valid EU residence card, you can carry alternative evidence that you are resident in Slovakia, such as a tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020
Stamping your passport
If you cannot prove you are a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary and that you are resident in Slovakia, i.e. if the documents you provide are not adequate or if in doubt, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area, and your passport may be stamped. This will not affect your rights in Slovakia.
Border checks
As of 1 January 2021, the following applies to all UK nationals, including Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries:
- The need to use the “ALL PASSPORTS” or “VISA NOT REQUIRED” lanes
- Thorough border checks upon entry and exit
More information
See the British Embassy’s Travel Advice for entry requirements for both the UK and your return to Slovakia.
Get in touch with the British Embassy
If needed, you can get in touch with the British Embassy Bratislava via the contact form at www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-bratislava or by telephone on +421 2 5998 20 00.