A temporary residence permit for employment purposes is the gateway to the Slovak labor market for most third-country nationals. Regardless of whether your company plans to employ a welder, production operator, IT specialist, or warehouse worker from outside the European Union, this permit is essential. Obtaining the permit requires thorough preparation, precise adherence to deadlines, and correct compilation of all legal attachments.
In recent years, Slovak companies have faced a chronic shortage of both skilled and unskilled labor across all sectors. The domestic labor market is no longer sufficient to meet demand, and more and more employers are turning to foreign applicants. Any error in documentation or misunderstanding of the legislative process can delay the employee's onboarding by many long months.
In this article, you will find a complete and up-to-date overview of how the process of obtaining a temporary residence permit for employment works, including changes valid for 2025. You will learn what exact documents and attachments the Foreign Police require, what the employer must prepare, what the foreign national arranges themselves, and what the realistic deadlines are. All information is based on valid legislation and official informational materials from the IOM Migration Information Centre (MIC).
Basic Conditions and Duration of Residence Permit
A temporary residence permit for employment purposes is an official permit issued by the relevant department of the Foreign Police of the Police Force of the Slovak Republic. This permit authorizes a third-country national to reside in the territory of the Slovak Republic and to legally work here for a specific employer in a pre-determined job position.
A significant change is the maximum duration of the residence permit. A temporary residence permit for employment purposes is granted for the anticipated duration of employment, but for a maximum of five years. It is important to emphasize that a condition for issuing a certificate or permit for employment is a main employment relationship or a part-time employment relationship based on an employment contract. Agreements on work performed outside an employment relationship are not permissible.
A foreign worker needs this type of residence if they are not a citizen of an EU member state, the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland. Citizens of these European countries can work freely in Slovakia, without any special permit, solely based on an informational obligation.
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Contact Ergasia →Application Procedure — Step by Step
The entire process of obtaining a temporary residence permit has several precisely defined phases. It is absolutely crucial to follow them in the correct order, as many steps logically build upon each other and cannot be performed simultaneously or skipped.
Phase 1: Notification of a Vacant Job Position (Labor Market Test)
The process usually begins with the employer. The employer must report the vacant job position to the relevant Labor, Social Affairs and Family Office (ÚPSVaR). The deadlines for reporting are as follows:
- At least 20 working days in advance, if it is necessary to obtain a confirmation of the possibility of filling the vacant job position (the so-called single permit).
- At least 10 working days in advance, if an employment permit is required.
In specific cases, when the labor office issues a confirmation without examining the labor market situation (e.g., for professions in short supply), it is sufficient for the vacant job position to be reported on the day of application. Reporting a vacant job position is not necessary at all if the applicant is, for example, a holder of a national visa in the interest of the Slovak Republic, who will be employed in the same job position.
Phase 2: Preparation and Verification of Documents
While the deadline at the labor office is running, both the employer and the future employee prepare their parts of the documentation. All public documents issued abroad must be officially verified (apostille or superlegalization) and subsequently translated into Slovak by an official translator registered in the List of Experts, Interpreters, and Translators of the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic.
Phase 3: Personal Submission of the Application
The application for a temporary residence permit is always submitted by the third-country national in person on the prescribed form and in Slovak. The place of submission depends on the applicant's current status:
- At the diplomatic mission of the Slovak Republic accredited for the country of which the applicant is a citizen, or in which they reside.
- Directly at the Foreign Police department in Slovakia, but only in specific cases (e.g., if they are already residing in Slovakia based on another valid residence permit, a national visa, or are a holder of a certificate of a Slovak living abroad).
The application for a single permit must be submitted within 180 days of the issuance of the confirmation of the possibility of filling the vacant job position.
Phase 4: Waiting for a Decision and Starting Work
The Foreign Police will usually issue a decision within 90 days of receiving a complete application. For an application for a single permit, the deadline is 60 days. In specific cases (e.g., professions in short supply, significant foreign investors, business service centers), the deadline is shortened to 30 days.
Important note: After submitting a complete application for a single permit to the Foreign Police, the applicant may start working even before the residence decision itself is issued.
Legal Attachments to the Temporary Residence Application
In the case of an application for a single permit, it is absolutely essential to submit a valid travel document. If the applicant does not submit a valid travel document, the application will not be accepted at all. Other documents can be submitted later in this case, but their submission cannot be avoided. In other cases (outside of a single permit), all the following documents must be submitted at once with the application, otherwise the application will not be accepted:
1. Document proving the purpose of residence (does not apply in the case of a single permit, where the police verify this purpose directly with the labor office): an international agreement or an employment permit or an employer's confirmation that an employment permit is not required, together with a verified copy of the Slovak diploma.
2. Criminal record extract from the country of which the applicant is a national, and from countries in which they have resided for more than 90 days during six consecutive months in the last three years. This document is not submitted when changing the type or purpose of residence.
3. Document on accommodation in Slovakia for at least six months (or for the entire stay, if applying for a shorter residence permit). This document is not required for regular commuting to work across the state border from a neighboring state and for workers in international transport. Acceptable forms of accommodation documents are:
- Officially verified affidavit of the applicant's property ownership.
- Officially verified lease agreement in which the applicant is listed as the tenant (signatures of both parties must be officially verified).
- Officially verified affidavit of the property owner about providing accommodation (signatures of all owners must be officially verified).
- Confirmation from an accommodation facility (hotel, hostel) about providing accommodation.
4. Administrative fees:
- 250 EUR for submitting the application.
- Fee for issuing and delivering the residence document: 10 EUR (within 30 days) or 39 EUR (within 2 working days).
Important rule: Documents must not be older than 90 days at the time of application (with the exception of the accommodation document for an applicant working for a significant foreign investor in Slovakia).
Grace Period and Obligations After Granting Residence
A significant element of stability for employees is the introduction of a grace period. If a person with a granted temporary residence loses their employment during the validity of the residence, a 60-day grace period applies, during which the Foreign Police will not cancel the residence and the person can look for another job.
Obtaining a residence card does not end administrative obligations. The foreign national must fulfill the following steps:
- Arrive in Slovakia within 180 days of its granting.
- Report the start of residence to the Foreign Police within three working days of entering Slovakia.
- Conclude health insurance no later than three working days after receiving the residence document.
- Submit a medical report to the Foreign Police within 30 days of receiving the document (not older than 30 days) confirming that they do not suffer from a disease endangering public health.
- Reside in the territory of the Slovak Republic for more than half of the granted temporary residence period in a calendar year.
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Contact Ergasia →Frequently Asked Questions
When is a temporary residence permit for employment not required at all?
A temporary residence permit is not required for a period of up to 90 days from the start of residence, if the applicant is legally residing in Slovakia, has fulfilled the obligation to report the start of residence to the Foreign Police within three working days of entry, and meets one of the exceptions. These exceptions include, for example, work for a significant foreign investor, posting by an EU employer as part of service provision, employment in international transport (posting by a foreign employer), or performing seasonal work.
Is it possible to change employers during the validity of the residence permit?
A person with a granted residence permit can only perform activities in Slovakia for which the temporary residence permit was granted. If they wish to perform a different activity or change employers, they must apply for a change of purpose of temporary residence no later than the last day of the validity of the current residence. However, in case of job loss, a 60-day grace period applies to find new employment.
Who arranges and pays for the criminal record extract?
The criminal record extract is typically arranged and paid for by the applicant (foreign national) themselves in their home country, including securing the relevant apostille or superlegalization. The subsequent official translation into Slovak is often procedurally and financially covered by the future employer or recruitment agency to ensure its correctness and timeliness.
What about renewing (extending) residence?
A temporary residence permit can be renewed repeatedly, again for a maximum of five years. The application for renewal is submitted in person or electronically no later than the last day of its validity. The basic condition is that the employment continues. Upon expiration of the residence permit, the right to work ceases, with the exception of cases where a complete application for residence renewal has been submitted.
What Should Be Your Next Step
Employing third-country nationals in Slovakia is now a standard and often the only way to address the shortage of skilled labor. The process of obtaining a temporary residence permit is constantly evolving and legislatively regulated, with changes valid for 2025 bringing new possibilities, such as granting residence for up to five years or introducing a grace period.
The key to success remains one hundred percent documentation preparation, realistic time planning, and an experienced partner who will guide you through the entire bureaucratic process without errors.
Contact us today — the first consultation regarding the employment of foreign nationals is free and without obligation. Write to us at zemla@ergasia.group or fill out the contact form at ergasia.group/#formular-zamestnavatelia and we will help you with recruitment and the entire immigration agenda.