Slovakia (SK)
Slovakia is a landlocked Central European republic that joined the European Union in 2004 and the Eurozone in 2009.
Capital: Bratislava
Region: Europe
Language: Slovak
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Affordable (index 44)
Emergency: 112
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Slovakia.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Long-term / Permanent Residence
Eligibility
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: eligible for permanent residence certificate (osvedčenie o trvalom pobyte EÚ) after 5 years of continuous legal residence in Slovakia. Non-EU nationals: eligible for long-term residence (pobyt na neobmedzený čas) after 5 years of continuous legal temporary residence.
Duration
Permanent (unlimited duration), subject to maintaining connection to Slovakia. EU permanent residence card must be renewed every 10 years (biometric document). Non-EU long-term residence permits are issued as a plastic card, valid until revoked.
Requirements
- ✓EU citizens: 5 years continuous legal residence. Valid EU ID or passport. Proof of continued economic activity or self-sufficiency. Application at Cudzinecká polícia.
- ✓Non-EU nationals: 5 years continuous temporary residence. No criminal convictions. Language requirement: Slovak language test at A2 level (confirmed requirement from July 2025 update). Self-sufficiency (no long-term social benefit dependency). Proof of stable income and accommodation.
- ✓For both: absence from Slovakia must not exceed 6 consecutive months or 10 months total in the 5-year qualifying period.
EU permanent residence in Slovakia provides the right to work and reside without further renewal of work/residence documents. Non-EU long-term residents receive nearly the same rights as EU citizens within Slovakia. Permanent residence is an important stepping stone to citizenship.
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Citizenship
Name
Slovak Citizenship by Naturalisation
Eligibility
Foreign nationals who have legally and continuously resided in Slovakia for at least 8 years immediately before the application. EU/EEA citizens: 5 years of legal residence (reduced period under bilateral agreements may apply).
Duration
Permanent — Slovak citizenship is not time-limited.
Requirements
- ✓Continuous legal residence in Slovakia for at least 8 years (EU/EEA: 5 years)
- ✓Slovak language proficiency test — B1 level (intermediate)
- ✓Slovak constitutional and cultural knowledge test (ústna skúška zo slovenského jazyka a reálií — written and oral)
- ✓No criminal convictions (clean criminal record from Slovakia and all countries of previous residence)
- ✓Proof of integration: employment, language use, community participation
- ✓Prior citizenship renunciation: the July 2025 reform removed the general requirement to renounce prior citizenship upon naturalising as Slovak. Confirm the current position with the Ministry of Interior, as the reform is recent and full implementation details may still be developing.
- ✓Fee: €700 application fee (non-refundable)
July 2025 reform update: Slovakia changed its dual citizenship rules in July 2025, removing the automatic-loss-of-Slovak-citizenship provision for Slovak citizens who acquire foreign nationality, and the general renunciation requirement for naturalising foreigners. This is a significant liberalisation. The Slovak language test (B1 for citizenship, A2 for PR) is the main challenge — achievable with 1–2 years of serious study.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Citizenship by Slovak Descent (repatriation)
Eligibility
Ethnic Slovaks abroad (Zahraniční Slováci) with documented Slovak ancestry may be eligible for a simplified naturalisation under Act 474/2005 on Slovaks Living Abroad. Also relevant for descendants of Slovak emigrants.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship.
Requirements
- ✓Proof of Slovak origin (parents, grandparents were Slovak)
- ✓Slovak language and culture knowledge
- ✓Declaration of Slovak identity
- ✓Application at Slovak embassy or consulate
The Úrad pre Slovákov žijúcich v zahraničí (Office for Slovaks Living Abroad — uszz.gov.sk) administers programmes for Slovaks abroad. Overseas Slovaks may also apply for the Osvedčenie o príslušnosti k slovenskému národu (Certificate of Slovak Nationality), which facilitates residence and cultural rights.
Citizenship through Slovak Spouse
Eligibility
Foreign nationals married to a Slovak citizen for at least 3 years who have also legally resided in Slovakia for at least 3 years.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship.
Requirements
- ✓Valid marriage to a Slovak citizen (at least 3 years duration)
- ✓Legal residence in Slovakia for at least 3 years
- ✓Slovak language test (B1)
- ✓Slovak reálie knowledge test
- ✓Clean criminal record
- ✓Note: Dual citizenship rules still apply — renunciation of previous citizenship is generally required
This is a shortened residency path (3 years instead of 5/8) for spouses of Slovak citizens. The reduced period recognises the integration facilitated by marriage to a Slovak national.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
✓
Dual citizenship is allowed — Slovakia's dual citizenship rules changed significantly in July 2025. Under the reform effective July 2025, Slovak citizens who acquire a foreign nationality no longer automatically lose their Slovak citizenship — the prior rule of automatic loss was removed. Conversely, foreign nationals naturalising as Slovak are also no longer required to renounce their prior nationality in all cases under the reformed framework. This is a fundamental departure from the pre-2025 position under Act No. 40/1993 which made Slovakia one of the strictest dual-citizenship jurisdictions in the EU. The prior regime (automatic loss for Slovak citizens acquiring foreign nationality; mandatory renunciation for naturalising foreigners) remains relevant for events that occurred before the July 2025 reform. Anyone affected by the old rules — including those who previously lost Slovak citizenship because they naturalised abroad — should consult a Slovak citizenship lawyer to understand whether their situation is affected by the new rules. Retroactive reinstatement provisions should also be checked.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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