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SlovakiaPhoto: Stano Novak / CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
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Visa field guide · SK

Plan your Slovakia application

A mandatory online form comes before the embassy interviewSee the common routes, understand the hand-offs, then confirm every requirement on the official website.

01 / ROUTES

Choose the route that matches your trip

These are starting points—not an eligibility decision. Open the official route before you apply.
  • ↗
    Schengen visa (C)

    Visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period when Slovakia is the main destination, or the first country of entry when no main destination applies.

  • ↗
    National visa (D) & temporary residence

    A longer-stay entry route, followed by a temporary residence permit under the Act on Residence of Aliens for stays over 90 days.

02 / JOURNEY

What the application journey usually looks like

The exact order can vary by visa, nationality and application location. “If asked” steps are conditional.
  1. 01
    Confirm Slovakia is the competent country

    mzv.sk explains when the Slovak mission, rather than another Schengen state, is competent to decide the case.

  2. 02
    Complete the mandatory online pre-application

    Applicants must complete and submit the online application before the personal interview, not instead of it.

    GUIDELENS HELPS HERE
  3. 03
    Book the in-person interview at the embassy or visa centre

    The interview and document submission still happen in person at the embassy or an authorised visa centre.

  4. 04
    Attend with documents & biometrics

    Bring the required evidence and be ready to give biometrics where applicable.

    IF ASKED
  5. 05
    Track the decision

    The mission or portal communicates the decision through the channel it specifies.

  6. 06
    Apply for temporary residence if staying long-term

    Longer stays fall under a separate Act on Residence of Aliens, administered mainly through Slovak missions abroad rather than inside Slovakia.

03 / BEFORE YOU START

Four things to know before you start

Official portal
mzv.sk sets out Schengen visa competence rules, required documents and the online pre-application requirement.
Online step is mandatory
Applicants must submit their Schengen application online before attending the in-person interview with supporting documents.
Competent mission rule
A Slovak mission is competent when Slovakia is the main destination, or the country of first entry if no single main destination can be identified.
Long-stay residence
A temporary residence permit under Act No. 404/2011 on Residence of Aliens is normally filed at a Slovak embassy abroad; applying directly to the Foreign Police inside Slovakia is only possible in specific situations.

04 / PRACTICAL GUIDE

Slovakia visa details that differ from the regional guide

Slovakia adds a mandatory online pre-application step ahead of the in-person interview, and treats longer stays as a separate legal process from the Schengen visa.
  1. 01

    Submit the online application before, not instead of, the interview

    Slovak missions require applicants to complete and submit their Schengen visa application online first; the personal interview and document handover at the embassy or visa centre still follow afterward.

    MZV SR · Application for a Schengen visa ↗
  2. 02

    Competence follows destination, not nationality alone

    The Slovak diplomatic mission decides your case when Slovakia is your main Schengen destination, or your country of first entry if no single main destination applies, which can matter on multi-country trips.

    MZV SR · Schengen visa ↗
  3. 03

    Longer stays use a dedicated Aliens Act, mostly started abroad

    A temporary residence permit runs under Act No. 404/2011 on Residence of Aliens rather than the Schengen visa rules, and third-country nationals normally file the application at a Slovak mission accredited to their country, not after arriving in Slovakia.

    MZV SR · Long-term stay of a foreigner ↗
  4. 04

    Keep the Schengen rule in view

    For a multi-country trip, apply to the country that is the main purpose or longest stay. Use the first country only when stays are equal. The 90 days in any 180-day period are counted across the whole Schengen area.

    European Commission · Applying for a Schengen visa ↗

05 / PREPARE

Information worth gathering before you open the form

Not every item applies to every route. Use the official checklist generated for your application.

  • Passport and previous travel-document details

  • Travel dates, itinerary and accommodation

  • Travel medical insurance for the Schengen stay

  • Evidence of funds and the purpose of the trip

  • Employment, study or sponsor information where relevant

  • Translations and route-specific documents requested locally

06 / OFFICIAL

Continue with the official authority

View current requirementsMinistry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic

You remain responsible for reviewing and submitting your application.