Slovakia · Business / Startup

Slovakia Self-employed permit

Savings needed: €5,904+ ≈ $6,600

Temporary residence for the purpose of business: self-employed natural person (Act 404/2011, §22(1)(a))

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026Change log

Key facts

Self-employed permit is a business / startup route for Slovakia. Applicants need savings of €5,904+ ≈ $6,600. You can stay 3 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

Money needed: €5,904+ ≈ $6,600
Government fees: €330 ≈ $370
Processing: Up to 90 days
First stay: 3 yrs

Cost, time and long term

To apply: government fee €330 ≈ $370; savings to show €5,904+ ≈ $6,600; decision: up to 90 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

Government fees€330 ≈ $370

EUR 330 (≈ $370)Administrative fee for an application for temporary residence for business (Act 145/1995, item 24).

Shown, not spent€5,904+ ≈ $6,600 · €3,543+ ≈ $3,960

EUR 5,904.4 (≈ $6,600)Balance on a separate bank account opened for the business of at least 20 times the subsistence minimum (20 x EUR 295.22 (≈ $330), subsistence minimum valid from 1 July 2026); the statute states the multiple, the euro figure is the multiple applied to the Ministry of Labour amount.
EUR 3,542.64 (≈ $3,960)Balance on the applicant's personal bank account showing funds for the stay of at least 12 times the subsistence minimum (12 x EUR 295.22 (≈ $330)).

RenewalRenewable

Granted for up to three years and renewable.

Slov-Lex

Permanent residenceAfter 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

CitizenshipConditions

Citizenship needs 8 years of continuous permanent residence immediately before applying.

Slov-Lex

ProcessingUp to 90 days

The police department decides on a temporary residence application within 90 days.

Slov-Lex

Where to applyFrom abroad

File the application in person at a Slovak embassy or consulate abroad; business residence cannot be applied for at a Foreign Police department in Slovakia.

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic

Presence rulesAbsence 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

Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

Applications are made from outside Slovakia, not after arriving
Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

What you'll need

Who can apply1

Applicants are self-employed natural persons holding a trade or other business authorisation.

What you must show2

A separate business bank account holds at least 20 times the subsistence minimum (20 x EUR 295.22 (≈ $330) = EUR 5,904.40 (≈ $6,600)).
The applicant's personal bank account shows funds for the stay of at least 12 times the subsistence minimum (EUR 3,542.64 (≈ $3,960)).

Documents5

A business plan on the Ministry of Economy template is submitted.
Documents show the business is feasible and sustainable.
Accommodation for at least six months is secured.
A clean criminal record certificate and a medical certificate are submitted.
The business plan, bank statements and criminal record extract must not be older than 90 days.

Steps3

The application is filed in person at a Slovak embassy or consulate abroad.
An application for business residence cannot be filed at a Foreign Police department in Slovakia.
The police decide on the application.

After you arrive1

Health insurance is handed over within 30 days of receiving the permit.

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 3 years at first, renewable
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 10 Oct 2026

Official site

What you need to arrange

Health insurance
Health insurance is handed over within 30 days of receiving the permit
Accommodation
Accommodation for at least six months is secured
Bank account / funds
A separate business bank account holds at least 20 times the subsistence minimum (20 x EUR 295.22 (≈ $330) = EUR 5,904.40 (≈ $6,600))
Police certificate and civil documents
A clean criminal record certificate and a medical certificate are submitted

Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.

Full official text

For third-country nationals who carry on or will carry on business in Slovakia as a natural person; granted for up to three years. ^{1 2 3 4}

What you must show and pay

Savings of at least EUR 5,904.4 (≈ $6,600) · Balance on a separate bank account opened for the business of at least 20 times the subsistence minimum (20 x EUR 295.22 (≈ $330), subsistence minimum valid from 1 July 2026); the statute states the multiple, the euro figure is the multiple applied to the Ministry of Labour amount. ^{1 2}
Savings of at least EUR 3,542.64 (≈ $3,960) · Balance on the applicant's personal bank account showing funds for the stay of at least 12 times the subsistence minimum (12 x EUR 295.22 (≈ $330)). ^{1 2}
A fee of EUR 330 (≈ $370) · Administrative fee for an application for temporary residence for business (Act 145/1995, item 24). ⁵

Requirements

Applicants are self-employed natural persons holding a trade or other business authorisation. ¹
A separate business bank account holds at least 20 times the subsistence minimum (20 x EUR 295.22 (≈ $330) = EUR 5,904.40 (≈ $6,600)). ¹
The applicant's personal bank account shows funds for the stay of at least 12 times the subsistence minimum (EUR 3,542.64 (≈ $3,960)). ¹
A business plan on the Ministry of Economy template is submitted. ¹
Documents show the business is feasible and sustainable. ¹
Accommodation for at least six months is secured. ¹
A clean criminal record certificate and a medical certificate are submitted. ¹
The application is filed in person at a Slovak embassy or consulate abroad. ^{4 1}
An application for business residence cannot be filed at a Foreign Police department in Slovakia. ⁴
The police decide on the application. ¹
Health insurance is handed over within 30 days of receiving the permit. ¹
The business plan, bank statements and criminal record extract must not be older than 90 days. ⁴

Stay

Temporary residence granted for the time needed for the business, up to three years; renewable.
First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

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

Business activity; the holder may also study.

Family

Family members can apply for temporary residence for family reunification.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

Act No. · Slov-Lex (Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-10-01
Amount of the subsistence minimum from 1 July 2026: EUR 295.22 for one adult (Measure 155/2026) · Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-06-25
Residence of foreigners on the territory of the Slovak Republic · Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (employment.gov.sk) · checked 2026-10-10
Residence of Foreign Nationals in Slovakia · Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic · checked 2026-10-12
Act 145/1995 on administrative fees (fee schedule, in force 1 January 2026) · Slov-Lex, Government of the Slovak Republic · checked 2026-10-11
Act No. 40/1993 Coll. on Slovak citizenship, Section 7 (granting of citizenship) · Slov-Lex (Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) · checked 2026-10-11

Self-employed permit and its alternatives

Route	Money needed	Stay	Work
Self-employed permit	Needs savings of €5,904+ ≈ $6,600	3 yr, renewable	–
Innovative startup permit	Needs savings of €12k+ ≈ $13k	3 yr, renewable	–
Company representative permit	Needs savings of €30k+ ≈ $33k	3 yr, renewable	–
Startup Visa Portugal	Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200	2 yr, renewable	–
Entrepreneur visa Spain	–	3 yr, renewable	–

Questions people ask

How much money do I need for the Self-employed permit?

Savings of at least EUR 5,904.4 (≈ $6,600). Balance on a separate bank account opened for the business of at least 20 times the subsistence minimum (20 x EUR 295.22 (≈ $330), subsistence minimum valid from 1 July 2026); the statute states the multiple, the euro figure is the multiple applied to the Ministry of Labour amount. Savings of at least EUR 3,542.64 (≈ $3,960). Balance on the applicant's personal bank account showing funds for the stay of at least 12 times the subsistence minimum (12 x EUR 295.22 (≈ $330)). A fee of EUR 330 (≈ $370). Administrative fee for an application for temporary residence for business (Act 145/1995, item 24).

How long can I stay on the Self-employed permit?

Temporary residence granted for the time needed for the business, up to three years; renewable.

How long does the Self-employed permit take to process?

The police department decides on a temporary residence application within 90 days.

Can I work on the Self-employed permit?

Business activity; the holder may also study.

Can I bring my family on the Self-employed permit?

Family members can apply for temporary residence for family reunification.

Who can apply for the Self-employed permit?

Does the Self-employed permit lead to permanent residence in Slovakia?

Time on the Self-employed permit counts toward permanent residence in Slovakia, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.

How are Self-employed permit holders taxed in Slovakia?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Self-employed 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

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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

Ask the AI about this route AI

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How this was checked

Checked on 2026-10-12 against 6 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
Amount of the subsistence minimum from 1 July 2026: EUR 295.22 for one adult (Measure 155/2026) · Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic · checked 2026-10-10
Residence of foreigners on the territory of the Slovak Republic · Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (employment.gov.sk) · checked 2026-10-10
Residence of Foreign Nationals in Slovakia · Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic · checked 2026-10-12
Act 145/1995 on administrative fees (fee schedule, in force 1 January 2026) · Slov-Lex, Government of the Slovak Republic · checked 2026-10-11
Act No. 40/1993 Coll. on Slovak citizenship, Section 7 (granting of citizenship) · 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, 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.