Slovakia is a country that is located in the center of Europe and is distinguished by a strong and fast-growing economy, even in spite of global problems. The main industries are the production of vehicles and electronics, as well as tourism.

In 2024, many expats live in Slovakia. However, since there is a small labor market, local residents always have an advantage over foreigners when it comes to employment. Therefore, in order to get a job in Slovakia, an expat usually has to have certain skills that are in short supply.

Requirements for employment of foreigners in Slovakia

In order to legally work in Slovakia, a foreigner will need a certain list of documents, which depends on the expat's citizenship:

- Citizens of the European Union, EEA and Switzerland do not need to obtain any documents to work in Slovakia.

- All other expats must have a work permit for employment in the country, the procedure of which consists of the following stages:

1. Find a Slovak employer and sign an employment contract.

2. Obtain a work permit in Slovakia.

3. Contact the Slovak consulate to obtain a work visa and residence permit.

4. Move to Slovakia and start working.

What types of work permits are approved in Slovakia?

To work as an employee in Slovakia, a foreigner can receive:

- A single residence and work permit.

- Work and temporary residence permit for the purpose of employment.

- Temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification and work permit during the first 12 months.

- Temporary residence permit of a citizen of a third country who has the status of a permanent resident in another EU member state and a work permit for the first 12 months.

The list of documents and the procedure for obtaining a work permit in Slovakia is in this article.

Changes to Slovak labor legislation in 2024

Currently, Slovakia is experiencing an acute shortage of personnel, so it is actively working on simplifying migration legislation, in particular, in 2024, the country had:

1. National visa rules for foreign workers have been simplified

From July 15, 2024, Slovakia grants long-term visas to foreign workers under new, simplified requirements. These specialists will first receive a one-year work permit in Slovakia. After the end of the one-year period, foreign workers will be able to extend their stay in the country in order to work in alternative ways.

However, these rules apply only to citizens of certain countries who possess certain skills.

- Which specialists can obtain a work permit in Slovakia under a simplified procedure?

In 2024, the following foreign specialists received simplified access to national work visas of Slovakia: forklift operators, welders, builders, electricians and other specialists in the engineering, rubber, chemical and plastic industries, as well as electronics and instrument engineering. Cooks, waiters, agricultural and food industry workers, bakers, cleaners, etc. have also been granted simplified access to national visas.

- Citizens of which countries have the right to receive a simplified work visa to Slovakia?

To obtain a permit, foreign workers must be citizens of one of these countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, North Macedonia, Philippines, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan .

2. The procedure for obtaining a work permit has been accelerated

Foreign workers can now come to Slovakia for employment faster, as the country has introduced new rules.

Previously, foreigners who wanted to apply for a residence permit for the purpose of working in Slovakia had to go through a lengthy procedure, which included a positive opinion from the labor office after submitting an application to the police.

According to the new rules, the process will be significantly accelerated, applications will be considered within two to three months instead of 1.5 years, as before.

In order to safely move, travel or work in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.