Moving to Slovakia
14 ways to move to Slovakia in our guide: 1 working holiday visa, 3 business / startup routes, 7 work visas, 1 student visa, 2 spouse visas.
No digital nomad visa. Checked against official sources on .
Slovakia offers a range of residence routes for non-EU citizens, from working holidays to business and highly skilled employment. The system is structured, with clear categories depending on your purpose of stay.
Working holiday · 1
Working Holiday
Age limit and funds needed: Ages and funds vary by passport
Business / Startup · 3
Innovative startup permit
Savings needed: €12k+ ≈ $13k
Company representative permit
Savings needed: €30k+ ≈ $33k
Self-employed permit
Savings needed: €5,904+ ≈ $6,600
Work · 7
Student · 1
Student permit
First stay: 6 yrs
Spouse visas · 2
For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident.
Spouse of a citizen
First stay: 5 yrs
Spouse of a resident
First stay: 5 yrs
Free movement and visa-free stays · 1
EU free movement · Lets you live here
Open to 31 passports: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Tax
Tax rules for newcomers are not covered in the records.
Standard rules
Ordinary taxation of unlimited-liability taxpayers on worldwide income
Worldwide income
Details
- On: Worldwide income of persons with unlimited tax liability
- Who: Unlimited liability: permanent residence, a home
- Limit: €44k/yr ≈ $49k
Individuals with permanent residence, a home or habitual abode in Slovakia are taxed on worldwide income; employment-type income is taxed at 19%, 25%, 30% and 35% on bands tied to the subsistence minimum.
Taxed on
Worldwide income of persons with unlimited tax liability; Slovak-source income of persons with limited liability.
Who it applies to
- Unlimited liability: permanent residence, a home (accommodation not just occasional, with intent to stay permanently judged from personal and economic ties), or habitual abode.
- Habitual abode: stay of at least 183 days in the calendar year, continuous or in several periods, counting every started day.
Exclusions
- A person who stays in Slovakia usually only for study or medical treatment, and a person treated as unlimited-liability taxpayer in another treaty state, has limited liability.
Limits
- EUR 43,983.32 a year (≈ $49,100) · 2026 tax base up to which the 19% rate applies: 154.8 times the subsistence minimum valid on 1 January 2026 (EUR 284.13 (≈ $320)).
- EUR 60,349.21 a year (≈ $67,400) · 2026 upper limit of the 25% band (212.4 times the subsistence minimum).
- EUR 75,010.32 a year (≈ $83,800) · 2026 upper limit of the 30% band (264 times the subsistence minimum); 35% applies above this.
- EUR 26,083.13 a year (≈ $29,100) · 2026 tax base up to which the full basic non-taxable amount of 21 times the subsistence minimum (EUR 5,966.73 (≈ $6,670)) applies (91.8 times the subsistence minimum).
- EUR 100,000 a year (≈ $112,000) · Business and self-employment receipts not exceeding this amount are taxed at 15% of the base; above it the 19/25/30/35% bands apply.
Days in the country
- At least 183 days in calendar year · Staying in Slovakia at least 183 days in the calendar year, continuous or in several periods, makes the person habitually resident (unlimited liability).
Tax residence
Bands: 19% up to 154.8 times the subsistence minimum, 25% to 212.4 times, 30% to 264 times, 35% above, for the base under Section 4(1)(a); a separate 19% rate applies to capital income under Section 7. The subsistence minimum used is the amount valid on 1 January of the tax year.
Visas
Independent of the residence permit.
Other taxes
Health and social insurance contributions and VAT are separate.
Checked against official sources on Change log
Checked against official sources on Change log
Slovakia in pictures
Switch to later · 1
For your nationality or ancestry
Slovak citizenship by ancestry
Path to permanent residence · 3
- Citizenship after 8 years · Grant of Slovak citizenship to descendants of Czechoslovak citizens born in Slovakia (Act 40/1993 Section 7(2)(j), in force 1 April 2022)
- PR after 5 years · Long-term residence (Act 404/2011, §52)
- PR after 5 years · Permanent residence: five-year and unlimited (Act 404/2011, §43, §46)
Arriving in Slovakia: first steps
- Ensure you have valid health insurance for your stay, as required for your residence permit.
- Register your address with the local authorities within the required timeframe.
- Open a Slovak bank account for local transactions and salary deposits.
- Apply for a residence card at the Police Department if you haven't already.
- Register with the Labour Office if your permit requires it.
- Keep copies of all immigration documents and renewals in a safe place.
Questions people ask
Does Slovakia have a working holiday visa?
Yes. Slovakia has 1 working holiday visa. Working Holiday gives a first stay of 1 year.
Can I move to Slovakia by starting a business?
Slovakia has 3 business or startup routes. Innovative startup permit asks for savings of at least EUR 11,808.8 (≈ $13,200) and gives a first stay of 3 years that can be renewed. Company representative permit asks for savings of at least EUR 29,522 (≈ $33,000) and gives a first stay of 3 years that can be renewed. Self-employed permit asks for savings of at least EUR 5,904.4 (≈ $6,600) and gives a first stay of 3 years that can be renewed.
What work visas does Slovakia offer foreigners?
Slovakia has 7 work visas. Blue Card gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. Work permit (single permit) gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. There is also Major investor staff permit.
How do I get a student visa for Slovakia?
Slovakia has 1 student visa. Student permit gives a first stay of 6 years that can be renewed.
Can I join my spouse or partner in Slovakia?
Yes. Slovakia has 2 spouse visas. Spouse of a citizen gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. Spouse of a resident gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed.
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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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