How to apply work visa for Slovakia in 2023?

About the country

Description: Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's mostly mountainous territory spans about 49,000 square kilometres, with a population of over 5.4 million. The capital and largest city is Bratislava, the second-largest is Košice.

Where are the available jobs?

In 2021, there were the most vacancies in the public administration, defense and social security sector; industry; transport and storage; wholesale and retail; health and social assistance. There are vacancies for machine operators and assembly workers, craftsmen, service and trade workers, specialists, administrative workers. The information technology sector has long struggled with a shortage of specialists as well as healthcare with a shortage of doctors and nurses. There are also vacancies for welders, truck and truck drivers, bus drivers, forklift operators.

Hot jobs:

Labour supply and demand are significantly affected by the current situation in Europe and therefore the labour market has changed compared to previous years. The positions that require specialised qualification are technologists, IT specialists, nurses and doctors. High demand is also for manual logistics workers, production workers, bus and truck drivers, couriers and vendors.

Short overview of the labour market:

As of December 31, 2021, the Slovak Republic had a population of 5,434,712. The share of women in the total population was 51.2%. 5,733 immigrated and 3,395 people emigrated. On average in 2021, total employment fell by 1.4% to 2,560.6 thousand people. Out of a total of 18 sectors monitored, only 6 achieved growth, the most important education, information and communication and real estate activities. The largest decreases were throughout the year in accommodation and food services, where employment fell by 17.9%, as well as in arts, entertainment and recreation by 11.4%. The decline in the number of employees in the two most important employment sectors, industry and trade, was slight.

The number of persons working abroad for up to 1 year decreased by 5.4% in 2021 compared to the previous year to almost 112.1 thousand persons. They worked mainly in construction, industry, healthcare and social assistance. Within European countries, they worked mainly in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. More than a quarter of workers abroad came from the Prešov region.

The unemployment rate in 2021 reached 6.8%. The number of unemployed people who last worked in trade and construction increased the most. The number of unemployed who last worked in industry has fallen sharply. The highest unemployment rate was in the Prešov region (11.4%) and the lowest in the Bratislava region (2.6%).

Do I Need a Visa to Work in Slovakia?

You need a visa to work in Slovakia if:

• You are a national from a non-EU/EEA country, and you got a job in Slovakia. 
• You are a national from a country that has a visa agreement with Slovakia, but you plan on staying and working in the country for more than 90 days. 

EU/EEA nationals do not need a visa to work in Slovakia, but they need to register their new residence after they settle down in the country— usually after three months.

Slovakia, which is officially known as the Slovak Republic, is a desirable location for expatriates due to its high-income economy, rising living standards, and resilience in the face of a relatively recent financial crisis. If your company is planning to expand or outsource operations in this European nation, you’ll need to make sure any foreign employees who plan to relocate have the appropriate permits and visas to live and work there legally.

Types of Work Visas in the Slovak Republic

The Slovak Republic is part of the Schengen Area. This means that foreign nationals from nonvisa-exempt countries will need a Schengen visa to enter Slovakia. Several categories of Schengen visas are available, but the three most common types are the:

• Airport transit visa: This visa allows foreign nationals to travel through Slovakia on their way to another destination.
• Entry visa: An entry visa allows foreign nationals to enter the Slovak Republic for short-term purposes.
• Long-stay visa: A long-stay visa allows foreign nationals to remain in the Slovak Republic for an extended period of time.

Foreign nationals who intend to work in Slovakia will need to obtain a Slovak work permit as well as a residence permit.

Requirements to Obtain Slovakia Work Visas

Foreign nationals will need the following documents to apply for a Slovakian Schengen visa:

• A completed application form
• A valid passport containing at least two blank pages
• Two recent passport photographs
• Proof of sufficient financial means
• Proof that the applicant has travel medical insurance coverage for their stay in Slovakia
• An employment contract with a company based in the Slovak Republic

To apply for a permit to work in the Slovak Republic, foreign nationals should be prepared to submit the following documents:

• A valid passport
• A signed application form completed in the Slovak language
• An employment contract or official job offer from an employer based in Slovakia
• Officially translated documents that support the applicant’s professional and educational qualifications for the position

The Slovakian Labour Office may require additional documents on a case-by-case basis.

Application Process

Before a foreign employee can apply for a Slovakian work permit, the employer must report the job opening to the Labour Office. Their doing so provides an opportunity for the Labour Office to find an eligible Slovakian citizen to fill the position. After 15 business days, the employee can move forward with the work permit application process.

Foreign nationals can begin the application process at the Slovakian embassy or consulate in their country of residence. However, it’s more common for the employer to initiate the application on behalf of the employee. Employers can submit the work permit application directly to the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family in the Slovak Republic.

In addition to a work permit, foreign nationals will require a residence permit. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is responsible for the issuance of residence permits for foreign nationals who intend to live and work in Slovakia. Like with the work permit, foreign employees should lodge this application before leaving their country of residence for Slovakia.

Once the appropriate officials have issued a work permit and a residence permit, foreign nationals will be free to travel to the Slovak Republic and begin working for your company.

Things to Know About Working in Slovakia

Here is what you need to know before moving to Slovakia for work:

• Mandatory health insurance. Slovakia has public mandatory health insurance for employed persons in the country. In this case, you can opt for private insurance if you want more coverage in those areas that public health insurance does not cover. However, it usually takes a few months after you enter the country to become eligible for public health insurance, so during this time, you should purchase a private policy to keep you safe just in case something happens.
• Slovakia minimum wage. From January 2018, the minimum wage amount in Slovakia depends on the type of occupation. Employers are obliged to classify every job position according to the level of difficulty specified by the Slovak Labour Code. According to the Labour Code, the minimum wage for the 1st level of difficulty will be €480.

To get the minimum wage, multiply the amount €480 by the coefficient of the minimum wage presented below:

Living Costs in Slovakia

Slovakia is the 7th cheapest country in the EU, so spending a lot won’t be your problem. The country is very budget-friendly, and you can live a good life without spending a lot daily.

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How Can AtoZ Serwis Plus Help You ?

• Advise you on the documentation that will be required for the visa
• Advise you on how the funds needed for the visa need to be shown
• Complete the application process
• Review your documents needed for the visa application