Foreigners - Running a business in the Slovak Republic
DECISION ON APPLICATION FOR GRANT AND RENEWAL
OF TEMPORARY RESIDENCE
TO NATIONALS OF THIRD COUNTRIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS
We are pleased that you are interested in doing business in Slovakia.
On this page, you will find useful information for third-country nationals who wish to obtain temporary/permanent residence in the Slovak Republic for the purpose of business.
A. Applications for Temporary Residence:
In accordance with the amendment to Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Foreigners and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts (as per current legislation), as of 01 July 2025, applications for the granting of temporary residence for the purpose of business are accepted exclusively at our diplomatic missions abroad, with no territorial exceptions.
Who assesses the application for temporary residence that I have submitted at the diplomatic mission?
Applications for the granting/renewal of temporary residence are assessed by the Bureau of Border and Foreign Police of the Slovak Republic. In the process of deciding on an application for temporary residence pursuant to § 22 of Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Foreigners and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, the police department considers the public interest, security aspects, and the economic interests of the Slovak Republic.
Pursuant to Act No. 404/2011 Coll., the Bureau of Border and Foreign Police requests an opinion from the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic (MoE SR) regarding the application for the granting or renewal of residence for third-country nationals. The MoE SR does not assess the application itself and does not have the authority to decide on the application. The MoE SR evaluates whether the applicant’s business activity is beneficial to the economy of the Slovak Republic. The opinion of the MoE SR is issued in the form of a sub-opinion, which serves as a recommendation for the administrative procedure conducted by the relevant department of the Bureau of Border and Foreign Police of the Slovak Republic.
How is the applicant’s business activity evaluated for its contribution to the economy of the Slovak Republic?
As of 1 July 2025, a Business Plan is a mandatory attachment to the application for temporary residence. Based on the quality of the submitted business plan, the feasibility and sustainability of the business are evaluated, as well as its expected contribution to the economy of the Slovak Republic—for example, the creation of jobs or conducting business in sectors with labor shortages. For applications for the extension of temporary residence, the MoE SR examines in detail whether the applicant is conducting real (not virtual) business activities in the Slovak Republic, including compliance with tax obligations, the number of employees, and the contribution to reducing unemployment in the districts. Similar to other EU countries, we also place emphasis on the personal qualifications of applicants, such as education, professional courses, certificates, work experience, and knowledge of Slovak and English.
After evaluating the contribution of the business activity, the opinion is forwarded to the relevant department of the Foreign Police.
What documents must I attach to my application?
I. For applicants seeking the granting of temporary residence:
To enable an objective assessment of the planned business activity, we recommend attaching:
• Business Plan, or
• Business Plan for the implementation of an innovative project,
• Supporting documentation, such as:
- preliminary contracts,
- preliminary lease agreements,
- preliminary supplier agreements,
- preliminary customer agreements,
- education overview, certificates, attestations,
- proof of knowledge of Slovak and English.
II. For applicants seeking the renewal of temporary residence:
To enable an objective assessment of the ongoing business activity, we recommend attaching:
• applicant identification (address, company ID, tax ID, etc.),
• description of the business activity performed by the applicant,
• education overview, certificates, attestations,
• financial statements for the previous accounting period,
• lease agreements,
• supplier agreements,
• customer agreements, price lists,
• business cooperation agreements,
• invoices from the previous accounting period, or a summary thereof,
• employee records,
• proof of knowledge of Slovak and English.
For applicants seeking permanent residence:
We recommend first applying for temporary residence and then, after demonstrating economic benefit, applying for permanent residence. The MoE SR issues an opinion on the benefit of the business, particularly if it concerns an employee whose employer holds a certificate of significant investment.
What are the deadlines for the MoE SR to issue its sub-opinion on my application?
Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Foreigners and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts sets a deadline of 60 days from the delivery of the application by the police department for the MoE SR to issue its sub-opinion within the administrative procedure conducted by the competent department of the Bureau of Border and Foreign Police. The MoE SR aims to assess each application objectively, transparently, and as quickly as possible. The deadline for the police department to issue a binding decision arises from § 33 para. 8 of Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Foreigners and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts. The police department decides on the application for residence within 90 days.
I want to do business in the Slovak Republic, I am a foreigner—what additional conditions must I meet?
The business activities of foreign persons in the Slovak Republic are regulated by Act No. 513/1991 Coll., the Commercial Code, as amended.
Foreign persons may conduct business in the Slovak Republic under the same conditions and to the same extent as Slovak persons, unless otherwise provided by law.
Additional requirements for entrepreneurs are determined by:
• Act No. 455/1991 Coll. on Trade Licensing,
• Act No. 431/2002 Coll. on Accounting,
• Act No. 595/2003 Coll. on Income Tax,
• Act No. 222/2004 Coll. on Value Added Tax, etc., which impose various obligations on entrepreneurs.
Further information on business can be found on the MoE SR website. Your suggestions for improving residence-related processes under the competence of the MoE SR may be sent to: cudzinec@mhsr.sk.
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