Slovakia Streamlines Work Visa Process for Foreigners

Slovakia has made it easier and faster for foreign workers to obtain work visas, addressing the country’s labor shortages. According to Schengen.News, new regulations aim to simplify the process for foreigners seeking employment in Slovakia.

In the past, foreigners had to endure a long and complicated process to secure a residence permit for work in Slovakia. This process required getting a positive opinion from the labor office after submitting a request to the police, which could take an unreasonably long time.

However, the new rules have drastically shortened the timeline, with applications now being processed within two to three months, compared to the previous one-and-a-half years.

While employers still need to get approval from the labor office, this step now occurs before the foreign worker applies for the residence permit, allowing for a much quicker transition into Slovakia.

Q1: What are the recent changes in Slovakia’s work visa process?

A1: The process has been significantly shortened from one-and-a-half years to two to three months. Now, the labor office must give its approval before the worker applies for a residence permit, speeding up entry into Slovakia.

Milan Kurota, Head of Slovakia Invest Group, welcomed the change. He pointed out that it’s crucial for foreign workers to know early on whether the labor office has approved their employment, avoiding unnecessary costs if the application is denied. If the application is rejected, it will happen early in the process, saving the foreign worker the cost of applying for a residence permit.

Q2: Which professions are eligible for Slovakia’s new visa rules?

A2: Professions like cooks, agronomists, bakers, breeders, equipment operators, kitchen workers, learners, and assembly workers are among those eligible under the new visa rules.

However, it’s worth noting that the simplified visa process is only available to nationals from specific countries.

Q3: Who can benefit from Slovakia’s simplified visa process?

A3: The simplified process is only available to nationals from selected countries, which have not been specified in detail.

Note that: Slovakia also introduced easier national visa rules for non-EU workers as of July 15, 2024. These visas will be granted for one year in sectors with labor shortages.

The eligible professions include cooks, agronomists, bakers, breeders, equipment operators, kitchen staff, learners, and assembly workers, among others.

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