IOM MIGRATION INFORMATION CENTRE

Information for successful graduates of Slovak universities

You are considered a successful graduate of a Slovak university on the day you receive your diploma (including a Bachelor’s degree). By obtaining the diploma, you officially complete your university studies, and the purpose of your residence in Slovakia therefore ceases. Depending on your situation, we recommend that you renew your temporary residence for the purpose of study as soon as possible (either to continue your studies or to search for employment for a period of 9 months) or apply for temporary residence for a different purpose, such as employment. 30 days after successfully completing your studies, the Foreign Police may cancel your residence. However, your temporary residence would not be cancelled immediately — you would be informed about the beginning of the cancellation process by a letter sent to your registered address. You can apply for renewal of your temporary residence or for the change of purpose of temporary residence at any time, as long as your residence has not been officially cancelled by the Foreign Police.

Due to the ongoing emergency situation linked to the war in Ukraine, if the validity of your residence expires during the emergency situation, it is automatically extended until two months after the revocation of the emergency situation (unless cancelled by the Foreign Police for legally stipulated reasons or unless your application for its renewal is rejected). This means your stay in Slovakia is lawful, the residence remains valid, however you don´t have a valid residence card to prove your residence in the country. During such automatically extended validity, you can apply for renewal of your residence or change of the purpose/type of your residence and carry out all activities which your residence authorises you to do (e.g. continue working). This rule applies to the territory of Slovakia only.

The following applies to successful graduates of Slovak universities:

• You may be employed in Slovakia without a work permit and without a confirmation on the possibility to fill the vacancy.
• The employer must fulfil the standard obligation of reporting the job vacancy before hiring the graduate (no fixed deadline).
• You may start working in Slovakia immediately after obtaining your diploma (Bachelor's or Master's) — you do not need to wait for a new temporary residence for employment, only a valid residence permit is required (e.g. temporary residence for study).
• Employment can be based on an employment contract (pracovná zmluva) or based on agreements performed outside the employment relation (dohody o prácach vykonávaných mimo pracovného pomeru). To apply for temporary residence for employment, your working hours must be at least 20 hours per week.
• Your employer will need to report the vacancy and inform about the start of your employment by submitting the relevant form to the Labour Office, indicating they are employing you as a university graduate (§ 23a ods. 1 písm. t)). You can be employed in Slovakia without a work permit/approval from the Labour Office.

With temporary residence for the purpose of study, you may apply for change in the purpose of residence from within Slovakia at the Foreign Police only if:

• You have successfully passed the final exam at a Slovak secondary school, or
• You have properly completed your studies at a Slovak secondary school, or
• You have obtained a first- or second-level university degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s).

This article is divided into three parts:

1. Renewal of temporary residence for the purpose of study based on continuing studies
2. Renewal of temporary residence for the purpose of study for job seeking for 9 months
3. Change of purpose of temporary residence from study to employment

1. Renewal of temporary residence for the purpose of study

The application for renewal must be submitted in person at the competent Foreign Police department or electronically no later than the last day of validity of your current residence permit (during the emergency situation, your residence is automatically extended until two months after it is lifted). The condition is that you continue studying in Slovakia. You must provide a confirmation from your school or a relevant government authority proving your continued studies.

Only a valid passport must be submitted with the application, otherwise, the Foreign Police will not accept it. If all required documents are not submitted with the application, you must do so within 30 days, or the proceedings will be stopped without the right to appeal. In justified cases, the Foreign Police may extend the deadline by 15 days. The residence is considered valid (only) within Slovakia until a decision on the renewal is made.

The list of required documents can be found at the end of our information (temporary residence - study) sheet HERE.

2. Renewal of temporary residence for the purpose of study for job seeking for 9 months

Graduates who wish to stay in Slovakia after their studies to look for a job or start a business can apply for a 9-month renewal of their temporary residence for the purpose of study. The application must be submitted in person or electronically at the relevant Foreign Police department no later than the last day of validity (during the emergency situation, your residence is automatically extended until two months after it is lifted). The condition is successful graduation from a university in Slovakia (including Bachelor’s degree). The purpose of residence is proved by a notarized copy of your university diploma or confirmation of graduation.

The application must be accompanied by a valid passport, otherwise, the Foreign Police will not accept your application. If you fail to submit all required documents, you must do so within 30 days, or the proceedings will be stopped without the right to appeal. In justified cases, the Police may extend this deadline by 15 days. The residence is valid (only) within Slovakia until the renewal decision is made.

The list of required documents can be found at the end of our information (temporary residence - study) sheet HERE.

3. Change of purpose of temporary residence from study to employment

If you have successfully completed secondary or university education in Slovakia and have found an employer, you may apply for temporary residence for the purpose of employment, usually granted for 5 years. This is a change of purpose of residence, not a renewal, and thus requires submitting a new application. The application must be submitted in person at any Foreign Police department, no later than the last day of your current residence validity (during the emergency situation, the residence is extended until two months after it is lifted).

To apply for temporary residence for employment, you must provide a confirmation from your employer (template available HERE) and a notarized copy of your diploma (if you have not already submitted it previously). Since you are changing the purpose from study to employment, you do not need to submit a criminal record extract (if submitted previously) or a medical certificate. The list of required documents can be found in our information sheet (temporary residence - employment) HERE. The standard processing time is 90 days (30 days in case of shortage professions, work for business service centers or technology centres). However, due to the current emergency situation, this timeline may be delayed.

If your job position or employer changes after your temporary residence for the purpose of employment has been granted, you must notify the competent Foreign Police department using a confirmation from your new employer (template available HERE). We recommend sending this document by registered mail and keeping the original/copy, as well as the proof of mailing. You may begin working on the new position immediately, without any approval process, as long as you have a valid residence permit.

Additional useful information from our website:

• Documents required for each type of temporary residence
• What you should know before signing an employment contract (downloadable fact sheet)
• How should your monthly salary slip look like and its content (downloadable fact sheet)
• How to search for work in Slovakia
• Termination of employment
• Practical tips how to work safely

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