What is temporary residence?

A third country national (i.e. non EU citizen) planning to work, do business or study in Slovakia may be granted a temporary residence (provided that he/she meets the relevant legal conditions and based on a submitted application).

A temporary residence may be granted for one of the following specific purposes: 

1. Business
2. Employment or seasonal employment
3. Study
4. Special activities (lecturing, sport, artistic and voluntary activities, activity of an accredited journalist, medical treatment, internship etc.) 
5. Research and development
6. Family reunion
7. Performing professional duties by civilian units of the armed forces 
8. Person with acknowledged status of a Slovak Living Abroad
9. Person with acknowledged long-term residence in another Union Member State

A Blue Card is also considered as a temporary residence permit.

There is no legal entitlement for being granted temporary residence.

You can download fact sheets with more information regarding temporary residence.

A foreign national must always apply for temporary residence in person, except in the case of family reunion which allows the application to be submitted by a foreign citizen with whom an immobile applicant is applying for family reunion. The application is usually submitted abroad at a Slovak diplomatic mission accredited to the country of the applicant´s citizenship or the country of the applicant´s residence. The Slovak diplomatic mission that accepted the application will interview the applicant for the purpose of preliminary assessment of the application.

The application for the temporary residence may be also submitted to the Foreign Police Department if:

1. the applicant is residing in Slovakia on the basis of a valid residence permit issued by SR or EU Member state,
2. the applicant is residing in Slovakia on the basis of a valid Schengen visa for the purpose of seasonal employment,
3. the applicant is residing in Slovakia on the basis of a valid national visa (must apply for a temporary residence for the same purpose the applicant declared when the national visa was granted; not applicable when applying for a temporary residence for the purpose of study, special activity and research and development),
4. the applicant does not need a visa to enter Slovakia,
5. the applicant was granted a temporary refuge,
6. the applicant is the holder of the certificate of a Slovak living abroad,
7. the applicant is the holder of tolerated residence (acc. to Paragraph 58 section 1, points a-c or section 2).

Temporary residence allows the third country national to stay legally in Slovakia and to travel abroad and back during the period for which the residence was granted. 

The first temporary residence may be granted for various time periods depending on the purpose of residence. In case of a third country national applying for temporary residence for the purpose of:

• employment for a maximum period of five years,
• special activities or research and development for a maximum period of two years,
• for the purpose of business for a maximum period of three years,
• for the purpose of special activity based on professional sports contract, family reunion, performing professional duties by civilian units of the armed forces, Slovak Living Abroad or persons with long-term residence in another Union Member State for a maximum period of five years, 
• for the purpose of study for a maximum period of six years,
• Blue Card for a maximum period of five years.

Temporary residence is always granted for a specific purpose, which must be documented in the application. If the purpose of residence persists and the foreigner continues to meet the conditions for residence, temporary residence may be renewed, even repeatedly. However, if the purpose of residence for which the temporary residence was granted changes, the foreign national has to apply for a change of the purpose of the temporary residence (it is considered a new application for a temporary residence).