Any EU citizen, a Slovak living abroad or a third country national which plans to study, work or carry out business in Slovakia can request a registration of EU citizen stay or be granted temporary residency, in accordance with Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on the residence of foreigners.
General information of the Internation Organization for Migration (IOM) about residence in Slovakia
EU citizens: IOM EN information
Slovaks living abroad: IOM EN information
Third country nationals: IOM EN information
Extending temporary residence in Slovakia
If you have already been granted temporary residence in Slovakia (prechodný pobyt) for the purpose of studies, and need to extend it before the academic year begins, but you're having issues with the reservation system of the Department of Foreign police, please consider making use of these two following options:
- Centres of Services for Foreigners (CSC): Centres of Services for Foreigners (Centrá služieb cudzincom, CSC) are offices operated by the Migration Office of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic. They operate as “one-stop shop” service points, where clients can access professional assistance in one place – efficiently and clearly.
CSC services are intended for:
- international students at Slovak Universities;
- highly qualified workers and their family members;
- returnees (citizens of the Slovak Republic) returning from abroad back to the Slovak Republic and their family members
CSCs offer individual counselling and assistance in the following key areas:
- Residence-related matters
Support with applications for residence permits, extensions or changes in the purpose of residence. - Employment
Information on legal employment opportunities, working conditions and orientation in the labour market. - Social Integration
Counselling on housing, education, healthcare and other aspects of daily life. - Navigation in the Public Services System
Assistance in communication with public authorities, institutions and relevant organizations.
All services are provided free of charge, with an emphasis on confidentiality and an individual approach to each client. CSCs operate at the Foreign Police Units in the following cities currently:
- Bratislava – Regrútska 4, 831 07 Bratislava
- Žilina – Janka Kráľa 4, 010 40 Žilina
- Košice – Trieda SNP 35, 040 01 Košice
For more information and contact options, please see: https://www.minv.sk/?centres-of-services-for-foreigners
- Electronic service: if you already have a temporary residence card, you can activate your BOK (personal security code, Bezpečnostný Osobný Kód). This service doesn't require any reservation, and once a cabin is empty, you can enter to begin this process, which should take between 5-30 minutes, at any Department of Foreign Police workplace. Once a BOK is activated, you can further activate a qualified electronic signature, which allows you to log into the online system and submit a request for extension of temporary residence electronically. Make sure that the request you're submitting is complete, i.e. you have all documents necessary. Submit a request here: https://portal.minv.sk/wps/wcm/connect/sk/site/main/zivotne-situacie/Cudzinci/Ziadost-o-obnovenie-pobytu/ (once you have completed the previous steps).