On June 11th, the Slovak Government approved changes to the legislation related to the residence and employment of foreign nationals. These changes will come into effect on July 15th, 2024. We want to inform you about these changes as they will impact most of the processes we manage for you and your foreign candidates or employees.
Anticipated changes in immigration process from July 15th 2024
Most of the changes will be effective from July 15th, 2024. Applications submitted before this date will be processed according to current requirements and legislation. While we have already implemented many changes at ProRelo, not all information is available yet. We expect to gain more practical experience after the changes are launched.
Key Objectives and Changes
- Earlier start of employment for NON-EU nationals.
- Digitalization efforts: Certain types of applications will need to be filed electronically.
- New step for employers: Employers intending to employ NON-EU nationals will have a new process step.
- Pre-approval required: The Foreign Police will process only pre-approved applications by the Labour Office.
- Shorter processing times: Some applications will have a processing time reduced from 90 to 60 days.
- New employer obligations: Employers of NON-EU nationals must store immigration-related documents.
- Blue Card: Longer validity and reduced requirements for certain positions.
Below are more detailed explanations of these changes.
Temporary Residence Permit for Employment Purposes (Single Permits, ICT Permits)
From July 15th, employers must electronically submit a “Request for Confirmation on the Possibility to Fill a Vacancy” signed by a qualified electronic signature (QES) for processes requiring vacancy confirmation. This step is new and will be managed by the employer instead of the authorities.
Before submitting the request for Labour Office confirmation, employers must still submit a Vacant Position Notification to the Labour Office and complete the required waiting period. The Labour Office will then have 15 business days to process and issue the confirmation. With this confirmation, the foreign national can apply for the Temporary Residence Permit.
Once a complete application is submitted, the foreign national can start working and stay legally in Slovakia until a decision is made. Employers must store the confirmation of the complete application and provide a copy to the foreign national. ProRelo can manage this process for you if needed. Processing time will shorten from 90 to 60 days, with expedited processing available for certain employers.
If you prefer to manage this internally, you must appoint a person authorized to access www.slovensko.sk and organize a QES.
Blue Cards
The process for Blue Cards will follow the same steps as above. Additionally, Blue Cards will now be valid for 5 years instead of 4, with new salary and educational requirements:
- Salary Requirement: 1.2 times the average monthly wage instead of 1.5 times.
- Educational Requirement: A Bachelor’s degree will suffice instead of a Master’s.
- Diploma Recognition: Required except for certain IT positions with 3 years of professional experience.
Long-Term Residence Permits
Starting July 15th, 2025 (next year), applicants will need to prove Slovak language knowledge at level A2 to apply for a Long-Term Residence Permit.
National Visa in the Interest of the Slovak Republic
From July, applications for this visa can only be submitted at the Slovak Embassy in the country of residence or the Foreign Police in Slovakia, but only for visa-exempt nationals or those with residence permits in another Schengen country. New reasons for visa rejection include suspicions about the purpose of stay and foreign policy interests.
Other Changes
- Verified Invitations, Business Residence Permits, Permanent Residence Permits for 5 Years: Now require bank account statements from the last 3 months instead of just a confirmation of balance.
- Application Changes: Some applications for a change of purpose will only be possible through a Slovak embassy abroad.
Next Steps
We will assess the impact of these changes on individual cases and communicate with the authorities for further clarification. We will inform affected individuals and contacts accordingly. If you need more detailed information, please contact us. We will launch separate communications for specific queries. Our team is standing by in case of your questions.
