Slovakia · Work
Slovakia Special activity permit
First stay: 2 yrs
Temporary residence for special activity (lecturing, artistic, sporting, traineeship, volunteering, accredited journalist)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Special activity permit is a work route for Slovakia. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- €140 ≈ $160
- Processing
- Up to 30 days
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee €140 ≈ $160; decision: up to 30 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€140 ≈ $160
- EUR 140 (≈ $160)Administrative fee for an application for temporary residence for special activity (lecturing, artistic, sporting, traineeship, healthcare, volunteering, journalist) (Act 145/1995, item 24). The item lists no fee for government or EU programme activities and treaty activities. Teachers, university lecturers and applicants under 18 are exempt.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Slovakia
- Work rights are limited
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The person is not an entrepreneur.
- Covered activities include lecturing, artistic and sporting work, traineeship, volunteering, accredited journalism, medical care, and programme or treaty activities.
What you must show1
- The application fee is EUR 140 (≈ $160) for lecturing, artistic, sporting, traineeship, medical care, volunteering and journalist activity; the fee act lists no fee for programme and treaty activities, and teachers, university lecturers and applicants under 18 are exempt.
Documents3
- Confirmation for the activity from the school, arts agency, sports organisation, programme body or host organisation is submitted.
- A document confirming a clean criminal record, not older than 90 days, is submitted.
- Proof of accommodation for at least six months of the stay (the whole stay if shorter) is submitted.
Steps1
- 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.
After you arrive2
- 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 yearStaying 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 Tax records checked
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
Proof of accommodation for at least six months of the stay (the whole stay if shorter) is submitted
- 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
For non-entrepreneurs doing lecturing, artistic or sporting activity, a traineeship, government or EU programme activity, an international-treaty commitment, medical care or accompaniment, volunteering or accredited journalism. 1
What you must show and pay
- A fee of EUR 140 (≈ $160) · Administrative fee for an application for temporary residence for special activity (lecturing, artistic, sporting, traineeship, healthcare, volunteering, journalist) (Act 145/1995, item 24). The item lists no fee for government or EU programme activities and treaty activities. Teachers, university lecturers and applicants under 18 are exempt. 2
Requirements
- The person is not an entrepreneur. 1
- Covered activities include lecturing, artistic and sporting work, traineeship, volunteering, accredited journalism, medical care, and programme or treaty activities. 1
- The application fee is EUR 140 (≈ $160) for lecturing, artistic, sporting, traineeship, medical care, volunteering and journalist activity; the fee act lists no fee for programme and treaty activities, and teachers, university lecturers and applicants under 18 are exempt. 2
- Confirmation for the activity from the school, arts agency, sports organisation, programme body or host organisation is submitted. 1
- A document confirming a clean criminal record, not older than 90 days, is submitted. 1
- Proof of accommodation for at least six months of the stay (the whole stay if shorter) is submitted. 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. 1
- Proof of health insurance is handed to the Police Department within 30 days of receiving the residence document. 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. 1
Stay
- Time needed for the purpose, up to two years; up to five years for professional sport under a sport contract.
- 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
Only the special activity named in the permit; the permit is for non-entrepreneurs.
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.
Official sources
- Act No. · Slov-Lex (Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-10-01
- Act 145/1995 on administrative fees (fee schedule, in force 1 January 2026) · Slov-Lex, Government of the Slovak Republic · checked 2026-10-11
Special activity permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special activity permit | – | 2 yr | Limited |
| Blue Card | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Major investor staff permit | – | – | – |
| Work permit (single permit) | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Intra-company transfer | – | 3 yr | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Special activity permit?
A fee of EUR 140 (≈ $160). Administrative fee for an application for temporary residence for special activity (lecturing, artistic, sporting, traineeship, healthcare, volunteering, journalist) (Act 145/1995, item 24).
How long can I stay on the Special activity permit?
Time needed for the purpose, up to two years; up to five years for professional sport under a sport contract.
How long does the Special activity permit take to process?
Decisions on special-activity permits are due within 30 days of a complete application.
Can I work on the Special activity permit?
Limited. Only the special activity named in the permit; the permit is for non-entrepreneurs.
Can I bring my family on the Special activity 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 Special activity 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.
How are Special activity permit holders taxed in Slovakia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Special activity 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
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 2 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.
- Act No. · Slov-Lex (Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) · checked 2026-10-10
- Act 145/1995 on administrative fees (fee schedule, in force 1 January 2026) · Slov-Lex, Government of the Slovak Republic · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.