Options for Ukrainian citizens staying in Slovakia

Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine (February 24, 2022), thousands of people have sought safe refuge in neighboring countries. Slovakia is one of these countries, offering a legalization system based on international and European norms. During this time, legislation has been updated with new rules, especially regarding residence, access to services, and housing support. From July 1, 2025, changes to the Act on the Residence of Aliens came into effect, impacting application procedures, document requirements, and conditions for certain types of residence permits.

Temporary Protection (Dočasné útočisko)

What is Temporary Protection

Temporary Protection is a legal status for Ukrainians who fled Ukraine due to the war. It allows them to live legally in Slovakia, work, get an education, medical care, and social support. The status has been extended until March 4, 2027. If the EU makes a further decision to extend it, Slovakia will automatically implement this extension.

Who is eligible

• Citizens of Ukraine.
• Persons who, before February 24, 2022, had international protection or equivalent national protection in Ukraine.
• Family members of such persons (spouse, minor children, other relatives who lived together and were dependent), provided they lived in Ukraine before February 24, 2022.
• Foreigners who had permanent residence in Ukraine before February 24, 2022, and cannot safely return to their country.

What rights the status provides

• Right to work: as an employee or self-employed, without a separate permit.
• Education: full access to the education system for children and adults.
• Medical care: access to the national healthcare system, including basic and emergency care.
• Social assistance: financial aid, relocation/housing support.
• Housing: subsidies for homeowners hosting people with temporary protection, and housing assistance for newcomers.

  Restrictions / Specifics

• From July 1, 2024, a new subsidy system for homeowners providing free accommodation to persons with temporary protection came into effect in Slovakia. As of March 1, 2025, free accommodation is provided for the first 60 days after obtaining the status. After these 60 days, only vulnerable groups are eligible for continued subsidies:

  — persons receiving financial aid from the Úrad práce (Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family),   — persons with severe disabilities,   — pensioners aged ≥ 65 years,  — parents or guardians of children under 5 years old,  — children under 5 years old.  

• Temporary protection does not guarantee automatic right to permanent residence; separate legal conditions must be met.
• The EU approved a phased exit from the temporary protection regime for Ukrainians

 

Other Residence Options: Temporary Residence, Work, Study, Business

Besides temporary protection, there are other ways to legally stay in Slovakia. From July 1, 2025, changes to the Act on the Residence of Aliens came into effect, affecting application procedures for temporary residence, especially for entrepreneurial activities.

Temporary Residence

This is for individuals who wish to stay longer than 90 days for the following purposes:

• study,
• work,
• entrepreneurial activity,
• family reunification.

Residence Permit for Study (štúdium)

Temporary residence for study is intended for students of higher education institutions, colleges, language courses, or other educational programs in Slovakia. Conditions and Requirements:

• The application must be submitted in person at the Foreign Police (cudzinecká polícia) in Slovakia or at a Slovak embassy/consulate abroad.
• Required documents:
  • A valid foreign passport.
  • Proof of admission to an educational institution (e.g., an acceptance letter from a university, college, or language school).
  • A completed official application form.
  • Health insurance covering your stay in Slovakia.
  • A criminal record certificate from your country of origin and from countries where you have resided for more than 90 days in the last three years (exceptions apply for secondary school students).
  • Proof of accommodation (e.g., rental agreement, confirmation from a dormitory or landlord) for at least 6 months (or for the entire duration of stay if shorter).

From July 1, 2025, a photograph is no longer required for the application, and proof of financial means is not necessary.   Restrictions / Specifics

• Allows working up to 20 hours per week without a separate employment permit.
• The period of stay partially counts towards the required time for obtaining Permanent Residence; 1 academic year counts as 0.5 towards permanent residence.

• After obtaining a diploma (including a bachelor's degree), a student is considered a successful graduate, and the purpose of their stay (study) ends. In this case, the temporary residence permit may be canceled 30 days after completing studies if an application to change the purpose of stay or extend it is not submitted.

  After completing studies, any person who has obtained a bachelor's, master's, engineer's, or other degree can apply for an extension of their residence permit within 30 days of officially finishing their studies. We explain this in more detail in this article: Residence Permit after University: 9 Months to Find a Job or Start a Business  

Residence Permit for Entrepreneurial Activity (podnikanie)

From July 1, 2025, applying for temporary residence for entrepreneurial activity at the Foreign Police in Slovakia is no longer possible. Applications are accepted only through the relevant Slovak consular offices abroad, based on quotas set by the Slovak government for each calendar year (700 applications in total for 2025). Conditions and Requirements:

• Completed application form

• Valid foreign passport

• Criminal record certificate

• You must submit a business plan and a document proving the realism and sustainability of the business activity.
• Financial requirements: the funds must be in two separate bank accounts (one for living expenses, the second for business).

For living expenses: proof of funds of at least 284.13 EUR/month or 3409.56 EUR/year (subsistence minimum as of 07/01/2025). For business activity:       — Sole trader (živnostník): at least 20 times the subsistence minimum (i.e., 5,682.60 EUR);       — Company director: at least 100 times the subsistence minimum (i.e., 28,413 EUR).   Restrictions / Specifics

• A temporary residence permit for entrepreneurship is issued for 3 years.
• Changing the purpose of temporary residence to entrepreneurship is possible only after 24 months from receiving the previous residence permit.

 

Residence Permit for Employment

Temporary stay for employment can be obtained in the following cases:

• Based on confirmation of the possibility to fill a vacant position (VPM) or a separate employment permit.
• Without the need for a work permit or VPM, if provided for by international agreements, for graduates of Slovak educational institutions, or for certain categories (e.g., seasonal workers or intra-company transfers).
• For seasonal work (up to 240 days) or intra-company transfer within a company.

You can read more about this here and here Conditions and Requirements:

• Completed official application form
• Valid passport: 
• Proof of purpose of stay:
  • For a unified permit: not required, if there is a VPM from the labor office (úrad práce).
  • For an employment permit: a document from the labor office (úrad práce) issued at the place of work.
  • Without a permit/VPM: a letter from the employer about hiring (e.g., for graduates of Slovak schools/universities).
  • For international agreements: a copy of the agreement exempting from the permit (e.g., for certain categories of sailors or researchers).
• Criminal record certificate from the country of origin and countries where the applicant has resided for more than 90 days in the last three years 
• Proof of accommodation: Rental agreement, owner's affidavit, or letter from a hotel/dormitory (for ≥6 months). 
• Health insurance: Arrange within 3 working days after receiving the temporary residence card, submit proof within 30 days. 
• Diploma (if needed): For regulated professions (doctors, teachers), recognition of education in Slovakia is required.

  Restrictions / Specifics       — The temporary residence permit is issued for the period of employment, but not longer than 2 years (for seasonal work – up to 240 days within 12 consecutive months).       — The application for a temporary residence permit based on VPM must be submitted within 90 days of the VPM issuance.       — The employer must notify the labor office (úrad práce) about the vacant position (VPM) 20 working days before applying for the VPM (15 days for seasonal work).       — If you change employers or type of work, a new VPM or employment permit is required with a re-check of conditions.  

Residence Permit for Family Reunification

A temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification in Slovakia can be obtained by:

1. Family members of a person with permanent or temporary residence permit in Slovakia.
2. Direct relatives of a person with refugee status, under 18 years of age.
3. Dependent persons according to international agreement.

Relatives eligible for reunification are considered:

• Spouse, if both have reached 18 years of age.
• Unmarried children under 18 years of age of a person with a residence permit and/or their spouse.
• Unmarried children over 18 years of age who cannot care for themselves due to long-term illness.

Parents of a person with a residence permit or their spouse who need their help and do not receive adequate support in their country of origin. You can read more details here  

What documents are needed to submit the application:

1. Valid passport.
2. Document confirming family relationship (e.g., birth certificate, marriage certificate, medical certificates in case of dependent persons, etc.).
3. Consent of the other parent, if it concerns a minor child (under 18 years old), unless the child has been granted custody to one parent.
4. Extract from the criminal record from the country of citizenship of the applicant and from countries where the applicant has resided for more than 90 days in the last 3 years.
5. Proof of accommodation in Slovakia for a period of at least 6 months (rental agreement, confirmation from the property owner, or confirmation from a hotel).

  Restrictions / Specifics       — A temporary residence permit for family reunification may be granted for a maximum of five years. The duration of stay depends on the person the applicant wishes to reunite with and the expiry date of their residence permit.  

Permanent Residence

This is a more stable status that grants rights close to those of citizens in many areas. We have described this in detail in our article: How to Obtain Permanent Residence and Citizenship in Slovakia  

Practical Advice for Ukrainians Seeking to Legalize Their Stay

• Apply quickly for temporary protection status when you arrive or as soon as possible — this makes it easier to access services, help, and housing.
• For students: apply to extend or change the purpose of your temporary stay as soon as possible after finishing your studies to avoid cancellation of your permit. Please note that changing the purpose from study to another is only possible after completing your education.
• For entrepreneurs: please note that from July 1, 2025, applications for temporary residence for entrepreneurship will only be submitted through consulates abroad, and changing the purpose to entrepreneurship is only possible after 24 months of a previous permit.
• Follow news about legislation, as some rules may change. Especially follow IOM (Migration Information Centre)

    Slovakia, as a country that has supported thousands of Ukrainians during the full-scale invasion, offers various legalization options for individuals seeking protection and the possibility of further stay in the country. Temporary protection is the simplest and fastest option for those seeking a safe place to live, as it provides broad access to medical services, education, and social assistance. However, this status does not guarantee permanent residence in the country, and additional steps may be needed in the future to transition to permanent residency. For those planning to study, temporary residence for educational purposes can be an optimal solution. It allows not only to study but also to work part-time, and later to extend your stay in Slovakia after graduation. Temporary residence for employment or entrepreneurial activity is suitable for those who want to continue their career or start a business in Slovakia. However, you need to consider the limitations and requirements imposed on these individuals, particularly regarding proof of finances and a business plan. If your goal is family reunification, this option allows you to be together with your relatives in Slovakia, but it also involves a number of documentary requirements and limitations on the duration of stay. Overall, the choice between these options depends on your specific situation: whether you plan to stay in Slovakia temporarily or are looking for an opportunity for long-term residence. Approach the choice with all seriousness, carefully analyzing each option and considering future prospects to choose the best path for yourself and your family.