--- title: "Moving to Slovakia 2026: visas, requirements and tax" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Bratislava Castle above the old town # 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 12 October 2026. **Longest first stay:** **6 years** Student permit 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. Young people from partner countries seeking a working holiday Entrepreneurs and freelancers planning to run a business Highly qualified professionals with a job offer Researchers and intra-company transfers Students and those in special activities like volunteering or journalism ## Working holiday · 1 ### [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/working-holiday/) **Age limit and funds needed:** Ages and funds vary by passport Casual jobs OK Needs health cover [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/working-holiday/) ## Business / Startup · 3 ### [Innovative startup permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/business-innovative-project/) **Savings needed:** €12k+ ≈ $13k Stay 3 yrs, renewable Needs money in the bank [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/business-innovative-project/) ### [Company representative permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/business-company-representative/) **Savings needed:** €30k+ ≈ $33k Stay 3 yrs, renewable Needs health cover [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/business-company-representative/) ### [Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/temporary-residence-business/) **Savings needed:** €5,904+ ≈ $6,600 Stay 3 yrs, renewable Needs health cover [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/temporary-residence-business/) ## Work · 7 - [Blue Card **First stay:** 5 yrs](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/eu-blue-card/) - [Major investor staff permit –](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/significant-foreign-investor/) - [Work permit (single permit) **First stay:** 5 yrs](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/temporary-residence-employment/) - [Intra-company transfer **First stay:** 3 yrs](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/intra-company-transfer/) - [Researcher permit **First stay:** 2 yrs](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/research/) - [Seasonal work permit –](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/seasonal-employment/) - [Special activity permit **First stay:** 2 yrs](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/special-activity/) ## Student · 1 ### [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/study/) **First stay:** 6 yrs Needs health cover [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/study/) ## Spouse visas · 2 For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident. ### [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/spouse-of-citizen/) **First stay:** 5 yrs Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/spouse-of-citizen/) ### [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/family/) **First stay:** 5 yrs Can work: yes Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/family/) **Free movement and visa-free stays · 1** - **[EU free movement](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/free-movement-eu/)** · Lets you live here Open to 31 passports: [Austria](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/austria/), [Belgium](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/belgium/), [Bulgaria](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/bulgaria/), [Croatia](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/croatia/), [Cyprus](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/cyprus/), [Czechia](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/czechia/), [Denmark](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/denmark/), [Estonia](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/estonia/), [Finland](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/finland/), [France](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/france/), [Germany](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/germany/), [Greece](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/greece/), [Hungary](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/hungary/), [Iceland](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/iceland/), [Ireland](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/ireland/), [Italy](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/italy/), [Latvia](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/latvia/), [Liechtenstein](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/liechtenstein/), [Lithuania](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/lithuania/), [Luxembourg](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/luxembourg/), [Malta](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/malta/), [Netherlands](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/netherlands/), [Norway](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/norway/), [Poland](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/poland/), [Portugal](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/portugal/), [Romania](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/romania/), [Slovakia](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/slovakia/), [Slovenia](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/slovenia/), [Spain](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/spain/), [Sweden](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/sweden/), [Switzerland](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/switzerland/). [Where each passport can live without a visa →](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/) ## Tax Tax rules for newcomers are not covered in the records. Standard rules ### [Ordinary taxation of unlimited-liability taxpayers on worldwide income](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/tax/#tax-sk-worldwide-residence-baseline) 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 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/tax/) Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) **No digital nomad visa in Slovakia.** Remote workers usually look at [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/working-holiday/), or [nomad visas elsewhere](https://settleanywhere.com/visas/digital-nomad/). **Switch to later · 1** For your nationality or ancestry ### [Slovak citizenship by ancestry](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/citizenship-by-ancestry/) [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/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 1. Ensure you have valid health insurance for your stay, as required for your residence permit. 2. Register your address with the local authorities within the required timeframe. 3. Open a Slovak bank account for local transactions and salary deposits. 4. Apply for a residence card at the Police Department if you haven't already. 5. Register with the Labour Office if your permit requires it. 6. 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/business-innovative-project/) 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/business-company-representative/) 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/temporary-residence-business/) 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/eu-blue-card/) gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. [Work permit (single permit)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/temporary-residence-employment/) gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. There is also [Major investor staff permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/significant-foreign-investor/). ### How do I get a student visa for Slovakia? Slovakia has 1 student visa. [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/study/) 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/spouse-of-citizen/) gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/family/) gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. ## Compare with [🇵🇹 Portugal](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/) [🇪🇸 Spain](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/) [🇬🇪 Georgia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/) [🇮🇹 Italy](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/) [🇬🇷 Greece](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/) [🇩🇪 Germany](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/) [🇫🇷 France](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/) [🇬🇧 United Kingdom](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.