National Visa

A national visa is the permission granted by the Slovak Republic authorising its holder for the stay in the territory of the Slovak Republic for the duration of the validity of the visa and in other Member States for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period under the conditions stipulated in the Schengen Borders Code. The national visa may be issued with maximum validity of 1 year.

The conditions of granting of the national visa are regulated by the Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on Residence of Foreigners and on the Amendment and Supplementation to Certain Acts.

Who may apply for a national visa

National (long-stay) visas are issued for stays of duration of more than 90 days. A third country national may be granted a national visa:

1. on the basis of the granted residence permit;
2. for the purpose of submission of the residence permit application in the Slovak Republic;
3. if the applicant is older than 15 years and is accepted for language education at a language school (pdf, 1.15 MB) in the extent of not less than 25 lessons per week;
4. if it is in the interest of the Slovak Republic, namely:
   • on the basis of a certificate or confirmation from the statutory representative of the competent ministry;
   • based on the Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 731 of 8 December 2021 on the Higher Education Internationalisation Strategy 2030 (list of programmes covered by the Strategy);
   • (*) based on the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 113/2023 (pdf, 1.15 MB) on the interest of the Slovak Republic to grant a national visa to selected categories of third-country nationals (citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the Philippines, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Nepal, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan);
   • based on the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 521/2021 (pdf, 1.01 MB) on the interest of the Slovak Republic to grant a national visa to highly qualified third-country nationals;
   • (*) based on the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 269/2022 (pdf, 72.75 KB) on the interest of the Slovak Republic to grant a national visa to relocated third-country nationals and their family members;
   • (*) based on Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 160/2025 on the interest of the Slovak Republic to grant a national visa to selected categories of citizens of the People's Republic of China in connection with the promotion of trade relations and investment development between the People's Republic of China and the Slovak Republic.
5. if it is necessary in order to fulfil the obligations of the Slovak Republic following from international treaties;
6. if the applicant is a family member of a foreigner who was granted asylum or subsidiary protection.

Where you can lodge a national visa application

The application for a national visa can be submitted at the diplomatic mission of the Slovak Republic (pdf, 151 kB). In some locations certain categories of national visa applications may be submitted also in a visa centre. Further information will be provided by the diplomatic mission.

Which documents should be submitted with the national visa application

An application for the national visa shall consist of the following documents (basic documents):

• a national visa application form (pdf, 174.9 kB);
• a valid travel document (its validity shall be at least 90 days after the intended date of departure from the Slovak Republic);
• a full-face colour photograph, conform to ICAO standards (pdf, 437.64 kB), 3 x 3.5 cm showing the applicant´s current appearance;
• a document confirming the purpose of residence (e.g. information from the police authority about the granting of the temporary or permanent residence, a decision on the acceptance of the student for language education at the language school (pdf, 1.15 MB) in the required extent, or other document confirming that the issuance of the national visa is necessary in order to fulfil the obligations of the Slovak Republic following from international treaties or in the interest of the Slovak Republic);
• proof that the applicant will have health insurance upon entry and throughout their stay in the Slovak Republic (e.g. commercial health insurance taken out abroad that covers medical expenses in the Slovak Republic, commercial health insurance taken out in Slovakia, proof of public health insurance in Slovakia, or proof that the applicant will be covered by public health insurance, etc.);
• the date of entry into public health insurance, if this is not directly apparent from the law, shall be proven by the applicant with relevant documentation. If the applicant is unable to provide relevant proof of the date of entry into public health insurance, they shall submit proof of health insurance for the duration of the visa granted with their application.

In addition to the basic documents listed above, a student at the language school shall also submit the following documents:

• a document confirming the accommodation in the Slovak Republic during the whole course of language study (e.g. confirmation from the accommodation facility, affidavit of the property owner on provision of accommodation, or the statutory declaration of the occupant on provision of the accommodation);
• documents indicating that the applicant possesses sufficient means of subsistence during his stay in the Slovak Republic (e.g. bank account statement confirming the financial means of 56 EUR per each day of stay; if the applicant has already paid for the accommodation, the amount is reduced to 26 EUR per each day of stay).

In addition to the basic documents listed above, an applicant for a residence permit shall also submit the following documents:

• the complete application including the supporting documentation for the residence permit which is to be submitted in the Slovak Republic;
• documents indicating that the applicant possesses sufficient means of subsistence during his stay in the Slovak Republic (e.g. bank account statement confirming the financial means of 56 EUR per each day of stay); a separate document on the means of subsistence is not required if the relevant document submitted as part of the application for the residence permit covers the whole period of validity of the national visa;
• a document indicating the date and means of transport to the Slovak Republic.

An application for a D visa for the purpose of submission of the residence permit application in the Slovak Republic may be submitted for the following types of residence: employment, study, special activity, research and development, family reunification, Slovak living abroad, permanent residence for 5 years.

A family member of a foreigner who has been granted asylum or subsidiary protection shall submit:

• a national visa application form
• a valid travel document
• a document which proves his/her family relationship with a person who has been granted asylum or subsidiary protection
• a document confirming the dependency, if required

An applicant for a national visa based on the Resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 731 of 8 December 2021 on the Higher Education Internationalisation Strategy 2030 shall submit:

• a valid passport (its validity shall be at least 90 days after the intended date of departure from the Slovak Republic)
• a completed national visa application form (pdf, 174.9 kB)
• a full-face colour photograph, conform to ICAO standards (pdf, 437.64 kB), 3 x 3.5 cm showing the applicant´s current facial image
• a certificate of study or an acceptance letter from the relevant educational establishment

An applicant for a national visa on the basis of the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 521/2021 (pdf, 1.01 MB) on the interest of the Slovak Republic to grant a national visa to highly qualified third-country nationals shall submit:

Application for a national visa for the purpose of employment

• a valid passport (its validity shall be at least 90 days after the intended date of departure from the Slovak Republic)
• a completed application for a national visa
• a full-face colour photograph, conform to ICAO standards (pdf, 437.64 kB), 3 x 3.5 cm showing the applicant´s current facial image
• proof of education:
  • a university diploma or confirmation of successful completion of a second-level study at a higher education institution in the Slovak Republic or the Czech Republic, or
  • a higher education diploma or a certificate of successful completion of a university or educational establishment as referred to in Annex 1 to the Regulation in a study programme lasting at least three years, or
  • a university diploma or certificate of successful completion of a university or educational establishment in a study programme of at least four years in the case of employment listed in Annex 2 to the Regulation
• a letter of employment of the third-country national issued by the employer or a valid employment contract
• proof of health insurance in the territory of the Slovak Republic valid until the period of entry into force of the employment contract

Application for a national visa of a highly qualified job seeker

• a valid passport (its validity shall be at least 90 days after the intended date of departure from the Slovak Republic);
• a completed application for a national visa;
• a full-face colour photograph, conform to ICAO standards (PDF, 437,64 kB), 3 x 3,5 cm showing applicant´s current facial image;
• proof of education
  • a university diploma or confirmation of successful completion of a second-level study at a higher education institution in the Slovak Republic or the Czech Republic, or
  • a higher education diploma or a certificate of successful completion of a university or educational establishment as referred to in Annex 1 to the Regulation in a study programme lasting at least three years, or
  • a university diploma or certificate of successful completion of a university or educational establishment in a study programme of at least four years in the case of employment listed in Annex 2 to the Regulation;

• a solemn declaration of the applicant on the purpose of the stay with the applicant's certified signature;
• proof of health insurance in the territory of the Slovak Republic for a period of 90 days.

An applicant for a national visa on the basis of the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 269/2022 (pdf, 72.75 kB) on the interest of the Slovak Republic to issue a national visa to relocated third-country nationals and their family members shall submit:

Applicant — relocated employee:

• a valid passport (its validity shall be at least 90 days after the intended date of departure from the Slovak Republic)
• a completed national visa application form (pdf, 174.9 kB)
• a full-face colour photograph, conform to ICAO standards (pdf, 437.64 kB), 3 x 3.5 cm showing the applicant´s current appearance
• a letter of employment of the third-country national issued by the employer or a valid employment contract
• proof of health insurance in the territory of the Slovak Republic valid until the period of entry into force of the employment contract

Applicant — family member of the relocated employee:

• a valid passport (its validity shall be at least 90 days after the intended date of departure from the Slovak Republic)
• a completed national visa application form (pdf, 174.9 kB)
• a full-face colour photograph, conform to ICAO standards (pdf, 437.64 kB), 3 x 3.5 cm showing the applicant´s current appearance
• a registry document (marriage or birth certificate) confirming the family relationship with the relocated employee
• proof of health insurance in the territory of the Slovak Republic valid for the period of validity of the granted national visa

An applicant for a national visa on the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 113/2023 (pdf, 245 kB) on the interest of the Slovak Republic to issue a national visa to selected categories of third-country nationals shall submit:

• a valid passport (its validity shall be at least 90 days after the intended date of departure from the Slovak Republic)
• a completed national visa application form (pdf, 174.9 kB)
• a full-face colour photograph, conform to ICAO standards (pdf, 437.64 kB), 3 x 3.5 cm showing the applicant´s current facial image
• a valid employment contract
• proof of health insurance in the territory of the Slovak Republic valid until the period of entry into force of the employment contract
• the respective authorisation to drive a motor vehicle (driving licence)

To apply for a national visa based on the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 160/2025 on the Slovak Republic's interest to grant a national visa to selected categories of citizens of the People's Republic of China in connection with the promotion of trade relations and investment development between the People's Republic of China and the Slovak Republic, applicants must submit:

• a valid passport
• a completed national visa application form (pdf, 174.9 kB)
• a full-face colour photograph, conform to ICAO standards (pdf, 437.64 kB), 3 x 3.5 cm showing the applicant´s current facial image
• an employment contract or a written promise from the employer to hire a third-country national
• proof of health insurance in the territory of the Slovak Republic valid until the employment contract takes effect

Higher verification and translation of documents

Foreign language documents of education or documents of professional qualification necessary for the performance of employment must be submitted with respective superlegalization for use abroad and accompanied by an official translation into the Slovak language or Czech language.

Collecting of biometric data

The applicant for a national visa shall allow the collection of his/her fingerprints. Fingerprints are not collected from the applicants under 12 years of age.

Appointment for submission of the visa application

Diplomatic missions may require prior appointment for submission of the visa application. Further information will be provided by the respective diplomatic mission.

Visa Fee

The list of fees

In case of the refusal of granting of the national visa the fee is non-refundable.

Decision Making Deadlines

The diplomatic mission shall decide about an application for the granting of national visa within 30 days from its receipt. The diplomatic mission may grant the national visa only after prior consent of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic.

Validity of the national visa

The national visas are issued for stays longer than 3 months, with maximum validity of one year. The national visa may be issued:

1. for 90 days to the holder of the residence permit in the Slovak Republic,
2. for 120 days for submission of a residence permit application in the territory of the Slovak Republic,
3. for the necessary period of time, in case of the family member of a foreigner who was granted asylum or subsidiary protection,
4. for the necessary period of time, in case of the national visa issued in connection with the performance of commitments of the Slovak Republic under international treaties or for the benefit of the Slovak Republic.

It is not possible to appeal a decision on the refusal on the granting of the national visa. Exception applies to the national visa application in accordance with §15 par. 2 of the Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on Residence of Foreigners and on the Amendment and Supplementation to Certain Acts.