A tachograph card for a third-country driver — officially referred to in EU legislation as a driver card — is one of the most common obstacles that transport companies in Slovakia encounter shortly after a selected driver obtains residency or a visa. Without a tachograph card, a driver simply cannot get behind the wheel. And the law is clear: to issue a tachograph card in Slovakia, a minimum stay of 185 days is required. This means that a new driver from India, Uzbekistan, or another third country must wait almost half a year before they can start working — even if all other documents are in order.
For most transport companies in Slovakia, this condition is a fundamental problem. They have invested time in recruitment, paid for residency processing, the driver is physically in Slovakia — and yet cannot start work. Every day of waiting is a direct loss of capacity. This is where the solution that Ergasia Recruitment typically uses for its clients comes in: issuing a tachograph card in another EU member state where the driver meets the conditions.
In this article, we will explain how the entire process works step by step, what documents are needed, and how long it takes. If you employ or plan to employ a third-country driver in Slovakia, this information will save you at least several months of unnecessary waiting.
Why the 6-month residency condition blocks a driver's start
Before we get to the solution, an important terminological note: a tachograph card and a driver card are the same document. The official name under EU regulation is driver card, but the term tachograph card is also widely used in practice. In this article, we use both terms interchangeably.
The issuance of tachograph cards (driver cards) is governed by Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 February 2014 on tachographs in road transport. Specifically, Article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this regulation state:
"Driver cards shall be issued by the competent authority of the Member State where the driver has his normal residence, upon his request."
"For the purposes of this Article, normal residence means the place where a person usually lives, i.e. for at least 185 days in each calendar year, because of personal and occupational ties to that place."
— EU Regulation No 165/2014, Article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2
In practice, the competent authorities interpret this to mean that the driver must demonstrate actual residency in Slovakia during this period. A third-country driver who has just started temporary residency does not meet this condition — and an application for a tachograph card submitted in the first months of their stay will be rejected or not processed by the competent authority.
This is not a flaw in the process — it is a systemic legal requirement. But it has a legal solution: issuing the card in another EU member state where the driver meets the normal residence condition or where a different interpretation applies.
An EU solution — issuing a tachograph card without a waiting period
Some EU member states issue tachograph cards for third-country drivers without the condition of a 6-month stay in their territory. The key is proper application setup and meeting documentation requirements. Ergasia Recruitment has direct experience with this process — we regularly arrange tachograph cards within the EU for drivers whom the agency mediates for Slovak transport companies.
The resulting card is a full-fledged European tachograph card, issued by an EU member state, valid for 5 years. It is recognized in all EU countries, including Slovakia, and the driver can use it immediately upon delivery for work.
The entire process — from document submission to card delivery in Slovakia — typically takes 3 weeks. The driver does not need to be physically present in the given country during processing. The card is delivered by courier directly to their address in Slovakia.
Required documents — what the driver must have
The documentation is simpler than you might expect. The following documents are required for issuing a tachograph card within the EU:
- Driving license — a valid driving license issued in the EU with category CE, or a combination of a domestic (national) driving license and an international driving permit
- Driver Qualification Card (DQC) — issued in the EU, with a valid code 95
- Passport — a valid driver's identity document
Residency or a visa are not required. The driver does not need to have residency or a visa in the given EU country for the tachograph card to be issued. This is a key difference compared to the Slovak procedure and precisely why this solution is so practical for transport companies in Slovakia.
EU-issued vs. domestic driving license
If the driver comes from a third country and has a driving license issued in an EU member state (e.g., they previously worked in Germany or Austria), the process is simplest — this license, along with the DQC and passport, is sufficient.
If the driver only has an Indian or Uzbek driving license, an international version of the license is also required. In Slovakia, after 6 months of residency, the driver is entitled to exchange a foreign driving license for a Slovak one — Ergasia also assists with this process, which takes approximately 2–3 weeks.
Driver Qualification Card issued in the EU
The DQC must be issued by an EU member state. For drivers who do not yet have a DQC, Ergasia arranges courses in English within the EU. A short course takes 4–5 days plus approximately 2 weeks for card issuance. A long course takes approximately one month. Both courses include a medical examination and psychological tests.
Do you need a tachograph card for a driver as soon as possible?
Contact us — we will help you arrange a tachograph card within the EU without unnecessary waiting.
Contact Ergasia →Timeline — from documents to delivery
One of the biggest advantages of this solution is speed. Compare the two scenarios:
| Procedure | Issuance in Slovakia | Issuance within the EU (Ergasia) |
|---|---|---|
| Residency condition | 185 days (approx. 6 months) | Not required |
| Required documents | DL, DQC, passport, proof of residency | DL (EU or domestic + international), DQC issued in EU, passport |
| Processing time | After 6+ months of residency | 3 weeks from document submission |
| Driver's physical presence abroad | — | Not required |
| Card validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Recognition in EU | Yes | Yes (all EU states) |
| Delivery to Slovakia | Personal collection | By courier to driver's address |
The standard period is therefore 3 weeks from the submission of complete documents to the delivery of the finished card by courier to the driver's address in Slovakia. The driver does not need to travel abroad — the entire process is handled by correspondence.
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