Temporary residence permit for the purpose of study

A foreigner (third-country national) may obtain temporary residence for the purpose of study in the Slovak Republic if:

• a) Is a full-time student at a secondary school and is under 20 years of age on the date of submitting the application for temporary residence; if they are enrolled in post-secondary, qualification, specialization, or higher vocational studies, they must be under 23 years of age on the date of submitting the application for temporary residence,
• b) Is a university student, or
• c) Is participating in a language or professional preparation course for university studies, which is organized and conducted by a university in the Slovak Republic.

An application for temporary residence for the purpose of study may be submitted at the Slovak Republic’s embassy accredited to the country that issued the applicant’s travel document, or at the locally competent department of the foreign police.

A third-country national may personally submit an application at the relevant foreign police department in the Slovak Republic if they are staying in the territory of the Slovak Republic:

1. Based on a valid residence permit,
2. Granted tolerated stay under § 58 paragraph 1 letters a) to c) or paragraph 2,
3. Granted a national visa,
4. If the third-country national is visa-exempt, or
5. If they hold a certificate of Slovak living abroad.

The embassy will conduct an oral interview with the applicant and then send the application along with the attachments and its opinion on granting temporary residence to the locally competent foreign police department.

The application for temporary residence is submitted on an official form, and a valid travel document must be presented at the time of submission.

Together with the application form, it is necessary to submit:

1. One color photograph measuring 3 x 3.5 cm, showing the current appearance in a three-quarter profile of the face,

a valid passport,

2. A document proving the purpose of stay (which, according to § 32, paragraph 5, letter f) of the Foreigners’ Residence Act, can be a certificate from the relevant state authority, a school confirming the acceptance of a third-country national for studies, or a confirmation from an organization administratively managing programs approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic or European Union programs based on an agreement with the relevant state authority),

3. A criminal record extract (except for secondary school students),

4. Proof of financial security (in accordance with § 32, paragraph 6, letter c) of the Foreigners’ Residence Act) (“A bank statement for the last three months from an account in the name of the third-country national, a confirmation of scholarship award, a confirmation from the statutory body of a legal entity ensuring financial resources during the stay, or a sworn statement from a person providing financial support to the third-country national during the stay, accompanied by a bank statement for the last three months from an account in the name of that person, if the third-country national is applying for temporary residence according to § 24 or § 30!)

5. Proof of accommodation in the territory of the Slovak Republic (except for university students).

All documents submitted to the foreign police must always be in the original or in a certified copy, no older than 90 days.

If they are in a language other than Slovak or Czech, an officially certified translation into Slovak is required. Please note that if the translation was made abroad, it must be certified by the relevant Slovak embassy in that country.

Fee of the foreign police department are here.

The foreign police have 30 days to decide on a residence application.

The police department shall grant temporary residence for the purpose of study for the anticipated duration of the study, but for no more than six years.

During the first 90 days from the start of the stay in the territory of the Slovak Republic, temporary residence may not be required in certain cases. The condition is that the foreigner (third-country national) meets the residence requirements according to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399, establishing the Union code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code), and has fulfilled the obligation under § 111 paragraph 2 letter a) – reporting, within three working days of entering the territory of the Slovak Republic, the start, place, and expected duration of their stay if they have been granted a Schengen visa or national visa or if they are visa-exempt, unless this obligation is fulfilled by their accommodation provider.

“Temporary residence for the purpose of study is not required for up to 90 days from the start of the stay in the territory of the Slovak Republic, provided that the third-country national meets the residence conditions under a special regulation and has fulfilled the obligation under § 111 paragraph 2 letter a).”

A third-country national who has been granted temporary residence for the purpose of study by the police department may engage in business activities during the period of temporary residence.

The school where the foreigner – a third-country national is studying is obliged to notify the police department in writing within three working days of the beginning of studies, interruption of studies, abandonment of studies, exclusion from studies or termination of studies of the third-country national who has a temporary residence for the purpose of studies. In the same way, a language school whose pupil is an alien – a third-country national who has been granted a national visa pursuant to Section 15(1)(b) is obliged to notify the Ministry of the Interior in writing within three working days of the above-mentioned facts pursuant to the preceding sentence.

Change of university

If foreigner changes the school at which he/she is studying, he/she must notify the competent department of the Foreign Police and submit a new proof of studies.