Vocational Training in Slovakia
2 documented routes of this kind in Slovakia, each with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Temporary Residence for Special Activity (Internship, Traineeship, Lecturing, Sport, Arts)
Residence covering lecturing, sport, artistic or voluntary activity, accredited journalism, medical treatment, and internship/traineeship.
- Processing time
- 30 days
- Validity
- Max 2 years (max 5 years for a professional sports contract)
- Language requirement
- None
Requirements
- Confirmation from the hosting school/organisation, internship confirmation, sports/artistic contract, or similar as proof of purpose
- Valid passport
- Clean criminal record
- Health insurance
Required Documents
- Official application form required
- Valid passport required
- Proof of purpose (school/organisation confirmation, internship confirmation, sports/artistic contract, etc.) required
- Criminal-record extract required
- Health insurance proof required
Official fees
- Special-activity residence application fee 140 EUR
- Residence card issuance 10 EUR
Process Steps
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1
Secure the activity confirmation
Obtain the confirmation from the hosting school, organisation, sports club, or internship provider.
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2
File the special-activity application
File at a Slovak embassy abroad or the Foreign Police. Fee EUR 140 plus card fee. Processing 30 days.
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3
Register after arrival
Report to the Foreign Police within 3 working days and conclude health insurance within 3 working days of collecting the card.
Official Sources
Temporary Residence for Seasonal Employment (Long-Term, 91–180 Days)
A legally distinct permit for third-country nationals performing seasonal work in Slovakia for between 91 and 180 days within 12 consecutive months. Unlike the 90-day work-permit-only route, this track requires a temporary residence permit for seasonal employment issued by the Foreign Police or Slovak embassy. It carries different documentation requirements (criminal record clearance, medical report) and a separate fee structure.
- Processing time
- Employer must notify the Labour Office at least 20 working days before the intended start date. Individual permit processing time is not separately specified beyond the notification window.
- Validity
- Up to 180 days within 12 consecutive months; renewable once up to the 180-day ceiling per year.
- Language requirement
- None
- Permanent residence
- Not applicable — seasonal employment residence does not count toward the five-year permanent residence threshold.
- Citizenship
- Not applicable.
Requirements
- Valid passport
- Employment contract or written promise of employment on the official form
- Proof of accommodation in Slovakia
- Financial means documentation (ability to support yourself during stay)
- Criminal record statement from country of citizenship and from all countries of residence exceeding 90 days in the past 3 years (covering 6 consecutive months)
- All foreign documents must be translated into Slovak by a certified translator and bear apostille or superlegalisation; documents must not be older than 90 days at submission
- Medical report confirming no public-health-threat disease, submitted within 30 days of collecting the residence document; report must not be older than 30 days
Required Documents
- Valid passport required
- Two colour photographs (3 x 3.5 cm) required
- Employment contract or official written promise of employment form required
- Proof of accommodation in Slovakia required
- Proof of financial means required
- Criminal record statement (from country of citizenship plus countries of 90-day+ residence in past 3 years) required
- Medical report confirming no public-health-threat disease (submitted within 30 days of collecting the residence document) required
- Apostille or superlegalisation on all foreign public documents, plus certified Slovak translation required
Official fees
- Application fee (Foreign Police Department) 33 EUR
- Application fee (Slovak embassy) 35 EUR
- Residence document issuance fee 4.5 EUR
- Renewal application fee 16.5 EUR
- Renewal document issuance fee 4.5 EUR
Process Steps
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1
Employer notifies Labour Office
The employing company reports the seasonal vacancy to the competent Labour Office at least 20 working days before the intended start of employment.
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2
Gather documents
Collect passport, employment contract or written promise of employment, accommodation proof, financial means evidence, criminal record statement(s), and certified Slovak translations with apostille for all foreign public documents. Documents must not be older than 90 days at submission.
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3
Submit application
Submit the temporary residence for seasonal employment application at the Slovak Foreign Police Department in Slovakia or at the Slovak embassy/consulate abroad. Pay the application fee (EUR 33 at Foreign Police; EUR 35 at embassy) plus the EUR 4.50 document issuance fee.
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4
Collect residence document
Once approved, collect the residence document from the issuing authority.
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5
Submit medical report within 30 days
Within 30 days of collecting the residence document, submit a medical report (not older than 30 days) to the Foreign Police confirming no disease constituting a public health threat.