Short-term stay
Short-term stay in the Schengen area is a stay for tourism, study or business purposes (strictly non paid/no labor) not exceeding total of 90 days in any 180-day period. For long term stay see Residence permit in Slovak Republic or National visa for special cases.
The date of entry shall be considered as the first day of stay on the Schengen territory and the date of exit shall be considered as the last day of stay on Schengen territory.
„Any 180-day period“ implies the application of a „moving“ 180-day reference period, looking backwards at each day of the stay during the last 180-day period, in order to verify that the „90 days/180-day period“ requirement is fulfilled. Among others, it means that only absence of uninterrupted period of 90 days allows the third country national’s new stay for up to 90 days.
The third country national himself is responsible to calculate the number of days spend in the Schengen territory so that the rule „90 days in any 180-day period“ is respected. If the rule is not respected, he will not be allowed to enter the Schengen territory.
A short stay calculator has been created for public and can be used in order to apply the rule of „90 days in any 180-day period“ correctly.
To find out more please visit the European Commission website.
Types of visas
Schengen visa type A: airport transit visa
Authorizes the bearer to enter the international zone of the airport and to remain there until the time of the departure of the flight to the destination country.
Schengen visa type C: uniform short stay visa
The visa entitles its holder to enter and stay in the Schengen area for not more than a total of 90 days in any 180-day period. This visa may be issued for one, two or multiple entries.
Schengen visa type C: limited territorial validity visa (LTV)
This special type of Schengen visa entitles its holder to enter and stay only in the Schengen State that has issued the visa or in some other cases, in the certain Schengen States specifically mentioned when applying for the visa. A visa with limited territorial validity shall be issued exceptionally
a) when the Member State concerned considers it necessary on humanitarian grounds, for reasons of national interest or because of international obligations,
b) when for reasons deemed justified by the Embassy, a new visa is issued for a stay during the same six-month period to an applicant who, over this six-month period, has already used a uniform visa or a visa with limited territorial validity allowing for a stay of three months.
Where to apply for a visa
Foreign nationals legally residing in the Japan who are subject to visa requirement and want to enter the Schengen area may apply for visa as follows:
1. If the Slovak Republic is your target destination, visa application must be submitted at the Slovak embassy in Tokyo.
2. If the visit includes more than one destination, or if several separate visits are to be carried out within a period of two months, visa application must be submitted at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen state whose territory constitutes the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length of stay, counted in days, or the purpose of stay, of your main destination.
3. If you intend to visit several Schengen states and do not have a main destination, visa application must be submitted at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen state of first point of entry into the Schengen area.
When to apply for a visa
The visa application procedure may be lengthy in some cases. Therefore, you should file your application well in advance, but not sooner than 6 months prior to your planned trip, but not shorter than 15 days prior to start of the trip.
Personal appearance and biometric data
Personal appearance while submitting the application is required. All applicants are asked to arrange their appointment in advance (see General Information). The is an exception for application submitted by professional, cultural, sport or educational associations/institutions for their members.
As of May 15, 2014, the applicants for Schengen visa are required to provide biometric data (fingerprints) when submitting the application. The biometric data of persons applying for a Schengen visa will be stored in a new Visa Information System (VIS). Certain categories of applicants are exempted from the requirement to give fingerprints, including
- children under the age of 12 (must still appear in person but no fingerprints are taken),
- persons from whom fingerprinting is physically impossible,
- heads of state or government and members of national government with accompanying spouses, and the members of their official delegation when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organizations for an official purpose,
- sovereigns and other senior members of a royal family, when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organizations for an official purpose.
Decision on the application
Applications shall be decided on within 15 calendar days of the date of the lodging of an admissible application. The period may be extended up to a maximum of 60 calendar days.
Exemptions apply to the nationals of third countries, which have signed Community-level visa facilitation agreements. Such countries include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Serbia and Ukraine. With respect to the nationals of mentioned countries, the decision must be delivered within 10 calendar days.
Schengen visa for multiple entries
Schengen visa for multiple entries should be issued:
- for a validity period of one year, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used three visas within the previous two years
- for a validity period of two years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year within the previous two years
- for a validity period of five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for two years within the previous three years.
Validity of issued Schengen visa should not be longer than validity of the passport into which the Schengen visa should be issued.
Airport transit visas and visas with limited territorial validity shall not be taken into account for the issuing of multiple-entry visas.
Application for Schengen visa / What should be submitted
1. Visa Application Form
Filled in Application for Schengen visa (PDF 99,2 kB) in a legible manner.
The application must be signed by the applicant in presence of the visa officer. In the case of minors or persons lacking legal capacity, the application must be signed by their legal guardian.
2. Photo
1 recent color passport size photo (minimal size 3 x 3,5 cm/1,2 x 1,4 inch)
3. Travel Document
Passport or official travel document issued not earlier than in 10 years recognized by the Slovak Republic (and Schengen countries) with a validity that exceeds the intended stay of the applicant in the Schengen area by at least 3 months. Please make sure that the passport has at least 2 blank pages. Handwritten travel documents and travel documents, which are not machine readable will not be accepted.
4. PROOF OF LEGAL RESIDENCE IN THE U.S. (re-entry document)
Original of valid Residence Permit in Japan. The Japanese residence permit or visa should be valid at least 3 months beyond the intended departure from the territory of Schengen.
5. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
Visiting family/friends
Invitation letter (original) with a signature of the inviting person authenticated by Slovak public notary or a letter of invitation authenticated by Alien Police in the Slovak Republic.
Note: The Embassy reserves the right to decide what type of document will be required for the verification of the purpose of stay. An invitation authenticated by the Alien Police may be requested from visa applicants of any nationality. Copy of Slovak ID (or residence permit in Slovakia) of the inviting friend/relative must also be submitted.
Business journey
Invitation letter (original) from a business partner (business company or institution) in the Slovak Republic specifying the nature of the business and authenticated by Slovak public notary.
AND
Reference letter from U.S. employer or Invitation letter (original) from an individual businessman specifying the nature of the business and authenticated by Slovak public notary or a letter of invitation authenticated by Alien Police in the Slovak Republic specifying the nature of the business
International conferences, seminars, workshops, cultural and sport events
Invitation letter issued by organizer of the event,
or
Official letter issued by employment company of the visa applicant verifying continued employment and purpose of journey to the Slovak Republic,
or
Invitation letter from the organizer of the event in the Slovak Republic verified by Foreign Police in the Slovak Republic
Note: The Embassy is free to decide what type of document will be required for the verification of the purpose of stay.
Other purposes
Other documents demonstrating the purpose of travel and stay in the Slovak Republic (e.g. medical treatment, study visits or special activities shorter than 90 days, etc.).
6. Proof of Accommodation
Evidence of hotel bookings or travel plans for the entire Schengen area:
confirmed hotel reservations (it is required that the reservation is confirmed directly by hotel, not just by the provider of reservation) stating name, address and telephone number of the hotel, including confirmation number (we advice you to present a confirming letter from hotel stating your name, surname, date of accommodation, stamp of the hotel and sign of hotel´s employee)
or
Voucher issued by a Travel Agency verifying payment of services in the Slovak Republic (length of stay, hotel accommodation, board and lodging, trips, etc). The voucher must include information on the services paid, not just the reservation or a partial payment for the services.
7. PROOF OF SUFFICIENT FINANCIAL MEANS FOR THE INTENDED STAY
Personal bank account statement(s) during the last 3 months. The statements must show the name and address of the owner;
or
- Proof of regular income (such as pay slips of the last 3 months);
In case of business, if applicable, letter stating that all expenses are fully covered by. (e.g. a written proof from the inviting company or from the sending employer/company). Invitation letter from inviting company in Schengen should be submitted in original with sign of statutory body validated by notary.
Note: Personal bank account statement of the visa applicant may still be required.
In case of students/researchers, if applicable, letter stating that all expenses are fully covered by.
Note: Personal bank account statement of the visa applicant may still be required.
In case of the self-employed (tax return from previous fiscal year or proof of previous economic activity and of an income during previous fiscal year)
In case of the retired (e.g. copy of pension certificate or a letter of previous employer or a pension check stub or confirmation from the responsible authority about amount of pension).
If the applicant is minor and travels without parents: officially recognized statement from both parents (or single parent if applicable) or legal guardian authorizing the child to travel and covering the costs with evidence on the existence of the financial coverage.
8. MEANS OF TRANSPORT – TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Flight (roundtrip)/travel reservations or other proof of intended transport and full itinerary (if several Schengen states will be visited or if the trips covers several Schengen states and non-Schengen countries too).
9. DOCUMENTS SUPPORTING INTENTION TO RETURN
Any documents which support declared intent not to stay in Schengen area.
10. TRAVEL INSURANCE
Confirmation on travel medical insurance issued by the insurance company covering all costs that may arise during stay in Schengen area in connection with any urgent medical care and/or emergency treatment in the hospital including potential medical repatriation or death.
The travel insurance must be valid for all Schengen member states and the entire length of the applicant’s stay. A minimum insurance coverage of 30,000 EUR is required.
Business journeys - the company travel medical insurance may be accepted in some exceptional cases (contact the Embassy for further details). Confirmation letter from the company AND the Declaration page of the company insurance indicated minimum insurance coverage and its validity in all Schengen states must be submitted.
Applicants for a multiple Schengen (short-term) visa submit a proof of travel health insurance according to the given requirements only for the first trip. For the purposes of subsequent trips, they are required to sign a statement of understanding that they are obliged to conclude a travel medical insurance for the subsequent trips.
11. CONSENT FOR MINORS TRAVELING WITHOUT PARENTS
For minors (children under the age of 18) travelling without or with only one parent a written consent from the parent or legal guardian who is not traveling with the minor (certified by a Notary public) is required.
If there is only one custodian, document confirming this fact is required (e.g. a birth certificate, death certificate, court decision on sole custody, etc.).
12. VISA FEE
For processing of the visa application a fee in the amount of 80 EUR is charged /40 EUR for a child of age from 6 to 12 years/. Visa fees are paid in JPY and vary depending on the current exchange rate between the EUR and JPY. The fee is paid in cash in JPY only, personal, business checks and credit cards are NOT ACCEPTED. Visa fees are non-refundable. In the case of a visa refusal, the fee will not be reimbursed.
For processing of the visa application lodged by citizens of the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Serbia, Russian Federation and Ukraine, fee in the amount of 35 EUR (payment in JPY according to actual exchange rate) is charged. In the case of a visa refusal the fee will not be reimbursed.
The visa fee is waived for:
- spouses and children of EU citizens/nationals. The spouse must present a marriage certificate /duly translated into English language if necessary/ and valid EU citizen’s passport. For accompanying minors, birth certificates must be presented.
- students, postgraduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake stays for the purpose of study or educational training;
- researchers, as defined in point (2) of Article 3 of Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*4), travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research or participating in a scientific seminar or conference
- representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events.
Refusal of a visa, annulment and revocation of issued visa
The reason for refusal is notified using the established refusal form in Slovak language and English language.
A visa shall be annulled where it becomes evident that the conditions for issuing it were not met at the time when it was issued, in particular if there are serious grounds for believing that the visa was fraudulently obtained.
A visa shall be revoked where it becomes evident that the conditions for issuing it are no longer met.
Appeal procedure
Applicant can appeal against the decision on the refusal of the application for granting of the Schengen visa or on annulment or revoking granted Schengen visa.
Appeal can be submitted at the Embassy within 15 days from the date of receiving the decision.
Administrative fee in the amount of 30 EUR (payment in JPY according to actual exchange rate) is charged and will not be reimbursed, not even in case of a positive decision.
The lawyer filling appeal must attach proxy to the appeal in Slovak language.
A written Decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the appeal is delivered usually to the applicant within 60 days from the date of filing of the appeal.
The procedure in case of submitting of complains is public at the website of the Ministry.
Family member of Slovak citizen living in other member state of the European Union, family member of citizen of member state of the European Union and family member of citizen of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Family member of Slovak citizen living in other member state, family member of citizen of member state and family member of citizen of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein does not need Schengen visa in case that he is holder of document of residence of family member of European citizen or residence permit under Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of The European Parliament and of The Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code).
Requirement that passport or official travel document must be issued not earlier than in 10 years is not in force.
