--- title: "Slovakia Researcher permit requirements 2026: 2-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/research/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Slovakia · Work # Slovakia Researcher permit **First stay:** 2 yrs Temporary residence for research and development (Act 404/2011, §26) First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 2 yrs (Valid for the length of the hosting agreement, up to two years.) - **Who can apply:** Most passports (Third-country nationals (citizens of states outside the EU/EEA).) ## Key facts Researcher permit is a work route for Slovakia. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Processing:** Up to 30 days - **First stay:** 2 yrs ## Time and long term **Renewal: Renewal rules** Valid for the length of the hosting agreement, up to two years. [Slov-Lex](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2011/404/20261001.html) **Permanent residence: After 5 years of residence** Long-term (indefinite) stay after 5 years of lawful, continuous residence before applying; study time counts at half, while seasonal work and some special-activity permits do not count. [Slov-Lex](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2011/404/20261001.html) **Citizenship: Conditions** Citizenship needs 8 years of continuous permanent residence immediately before applying. [Slov-Lex](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/1993/40/20260612.html) **Processing: Up to 30 days** Decisions on research permits are due within 30 days of a complete application. [Slov-Lex](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2011/404/20261001.html) **Presence rules: Absence limits** Absences of up to six consecutive months and ten months in total do not break the 5 years for long-term stay. [Slov-Lex](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2011/404/20261001.html) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Needs a job offer from an employer in Slovakia - Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant carries out research or development under a hosting agreement. #### What you must show - The hosting agreement declares monthly funds for the stay and return travel of at least the minimum wage. #### Documents - A hosting agreement with an approved research organisation is submitted. - No separate accommodation proof is required for researchers. - A document confirming a clean criminal record, not older than 90 days, is submitted. #### Steps 1. The application is filed in person at a Slovak diplomatic mission abroad, or at a police department by an applicant already lawfully in Slovakia or exempt from visas. 2. The Police Department decides within 30 days of a complete application. #### After you arrive - Proof of health insurance is handed to the Police Department within 30 days of receiving the residence document. - A medical certificate of no disease endangering public health, not older than 30 days, is due within 30 days of receiving the residence document. ## What happens at day 183 How Slovakia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **Up to 2 years at first** - **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in a 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). - **Foreign-source income:** 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. [All tax rules for Slovakia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Health insurance** Proof of health insurance is handed to the Police Department within 30 days of receiving the residence document - **Accommodation** No separate accommodation proof is required for researchers - **Police certificate and civil documents** A document confirming a clean criminal record, not older than 90 days, is submitted Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** Researchers working under a hosting agreement, with permission to run a business during the stay. (source 1) #### Requirements - The applicant carries out research or development under a hosting agreement. (source 1) - The hosting agreement declares monthly funds for the stay and return travel of at least the minimum wage. (source 2) - A hosting agreement with an approved research organisation is submitted. (source 1) - No separate accommodation proof is required for researchers. (source 1) - A document confirming a clean criminal record, not older than 90 days, is submitted. (source 1) - The application is filed in person at a Slovak diplomatic mission abroad, or at a police department by an applicant already lawfully in Slovakia or exempt from visas. (source 1) - The Police Department decides within 30 days of a complete application. (source 1) - Proof of health insurance is handed to the Police Department within 30 days of receiving the residence document. (source 1) - A medical certificate of no disease endangering public health, not older than 30 days, is due within 30 days of receiving the residence document. (source 1) #### Stay - Valid for the length of the hosting agreement, up to two years. - First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case. #### Nationality Third-country nationals (citizens of states outside the EU/EEA). Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia. #### Work Research under the hosting agreement; the holder may run a business. #### Family Spouse (both at least 18), unmarried children under 18, dependent adult children unable to care for themselves and dependent parents of the holder or spouse can apply for temporary residence for family reunification, valid until the holder's residence ends and for at most five years. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [Act No.](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2011/404/20261001.html) · Slov-Lex (Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-10-01 2. [Act No. 172/2005 Coll. on the organisation of state support of research and development, consolidated text effective 16 June 2026 (Slovak)](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2005/172/20260616.html) · Slov-Lex, Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Act No. 40/1993 Coll. on Slovak citizenship, Section 7 (granting of citizenship)](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/1993/40/20260612.html) · Slov-Lex (Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) · checked 2026-10-11 ## Researcher permit and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Researcher permit | – | 2 yr | – | | [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/eu-blue-card/) | – | 5 yr, renewable | – | | [Major investor staff permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/significant-foreign-investor/) | – | – | – | | [Work permit (single permit)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/temporary-residence-employment/) | – | 5 yr, renewable | – | | [Intra-company transfer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/intra-company-transfer/) | – | 3 yr | – | ## Questions people ask ### How long can I stay on the Researcher permit? Valid for the length of the hosting agreement, up to two years. ### How long does the Researcher permit take to process? Decisions on research permits are due within 30 days of a complete application. ### Can I work on the Researcher permit? Research under the hosting agreement; the holder may run a business. ### Can I bring my family on the Researcher permit? Spouse (both at least 18), unmarried children under 18, dependent adult children unable to care for themselves and dependent parents of the holder or spouse can apply for temporary residence for family reunification, valid until the holder's residence ends and for at most five years. ### Who can apply for the Researcher permit? Third-country nationals (citizens of states outside the EU/EEA). Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia. ### Does the Researcher permit lead to permanent residence in Slovakia? Time on the Researcher permit counts toward permanent residence in Slovakia, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. ### How are Researcher permit holders taxed in Slovakia? No special regime in our records is tied to the Researcher permit. The standard rules apply: 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. ## More in Slovakia [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/working-holiday/) [Innovative startup permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/business-innovative-project/) [Company representative permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/business-company-representative/) [Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/temporary-residence-business/) [Seasonal work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/seasonal-employment/) [Special activity permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/special-activity/) [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/study/) [Slovak citizenship by ancestry](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/slovakia/citizenship-by-ancestry/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇵🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) [🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 3 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Act No.](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2011/404/20261001.html) · Slov-Lex (Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Act No. 172/2005 Coll. on the organisation of state support of research and development, consolidated text effective 16 June 2026 (Slovak)](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2005/172/20260616.html) · Slov-Lex, Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Act No. 40/1993 Coll. on Slovak citizenship, Section 7 (granting of citizenship)](https://www.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/1993/40/20260612.html) · Slov-Lex (Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.