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Visa Information

Updated 25.07.2022
Published 25.07.2022

Visa information

The Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Warsaw is a regional visa center with territorial competence for Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Polish citizens/EU citizens do not need visas to enter the Slovak Republic.

A common list of countries whose citizens must have visas when crossing the external borders and a list of countries whose citizens are exempt from that requirement are set out in the Regulation (EU) 2018/1806.

Based on bilateral agreements Member States may exempt holders of diplomatic, official, service or special passport from the visa requirement.

There are also EU law derogations from the visa requirement for the territory of all Member States:

  • Third-country nationals holding a residence permit issued by a Schengen Member State; 
  • Holders of diplomatic (and, occasionally, service) passports who under the Visa Facilitation Agreements or specific visa waiver agreements with certain third countries are exempt from the visa requirement;
  • Third-country nationals holding a ‘local border traffic permit’ when exercising their rights within the context of the local border traffic regime; 
  • School pupils who are nationals of third countries whose nationals are subject to visa requirements and who reside in an EU Member State and are travelling in the context of a school excursion as a member of a group of school pupils accompanied by a teacher from the school in question;
  • Recognised refugees and stateless persons and other persons who do not hold the nationality of any country who reside in a Member State and are holders of a travel document issued by that Member State;
  • Certain categories of family members of EU/EEA and Swiss citizens are exempt from visa requirements.

 

Criteria, conditions and procedures for submitting an application for a SCHENGEN visa 

An application for a Schengen visa or a National visa shall be submitted by a foreign national residing in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia to the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Warsaw in person. Appointment has to be made by e-mail: cons.warsaw@mzv.sk, well in advance, 14 days before the planned journey at latest.

The Slovak Embassy in Warsaw is competent to accept and process a visa application if Slovakia is the main destination of the foreigner's trip. Where a journey(s) involves more than one Member State, the State competent to accept the application shall be the State which is the main destination of the journey in terms of length and purpose of stay.

Where it is not possible to determine the main destination, the Member State concerned shall be the Member State whose borders are first crossed by the applicant when entering the Schengen area.

In general, when lodging the application for a Schengen visa, the applicant is required to:

1) present a completed application form

The application must be filled-in properly and signed by the applicant; in case the applicant is under 18 or a person lacking legal capacity, the application shall be signed by a parent or guardian who is required to attach a copy of the document identifying him/her as the applicant’s legal guardian.

Visa application forms for downloading.

 

2) present a valid travel document; the travel document shall, in general, meet the following criteria: 

  • its validity shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States or, in the case of several visits, after the last intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States.
  • it shall contain at least two blank pages; 
  • it shall have been issued within the previous 10 years.  

 

3) present a full-face colour photo, conform to ICAO standards, 

 

4) allow the collection of his fingerprints, where applicable. 

The following applicants are exempt from the requirement to give fingerprints: 

  1. children under the age of 12; 
  2. persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible; 
  3. heads of State or government and members of a national government with accompanying spouses, and the members of their official delegation when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose; 
  4. sovereigns and other senior members of a royal family, when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose.

The fingerprints of the applicant are collected once in 59 months. During this period they are stored in the Visa Information System (VIS) and can be used in the future visa applications submitted by the applicant. However, there are several reason why the applicant may be required to submit her/his fingerprints even during the 59 months period:

  • if there is reasonable doubt regarding the identity of the applicant, 
  • if at the time when the application is lodged, it cannot be immediately confirmed that the fingerprints were collected within the period of 59 months, 
  • if the low quality of fingerprints stored in VIS does not allow their repeated use.

 

5) provide supporting documents indicating the purpose and conditions of the journey

 

6) where applicable, provide proof of possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance 

The insurance must cover any expenses, which may arise in connection with the repatriation for the medical reasons, urgent medical treatment, emergency hospital treatment or death during the stay on the territory of the Member States. Applicants for a uniform visa for multiple entries must prove that they are in possession of the adequate and valid travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit.

The insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Member States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30 000. 

Schengen visas for family members of the citizens of EU/EEA and Swiss Confederationare granted under special and simplified conditions.

Detailed information on Schengen visa issuance.

Further useful information on visa issuance at the European Commission´s website

 

Criteria, conditions and procedures for the submission of applications for a NATIONAL visa

National (long-stay) visa may be issued for stays of duration of more than 90 days.  A third country national may be granted a national visa, if 

  1. it is necessary in relation with the granting of a residence permit in the Slovak Republic;
  2. the applicant is older than 15 years and is accepted for language education at a language school in the extent of not less than 25  lessons per week;
  3. it is necessary in order to fulfil the obligations of the Slovak Republic following from international treaties;
  4. it is in the interest of the Slovak Republic;
  5. the applicant is a family member of a foreigner who was granted asylum or subsidiary protection.

The national visa entitles its holder to reside in the Slovak Republic for the duration of its validity but also in other Member States for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period. The national visa may be issued with maximum validity of 1 year.

Please note that if the length of stay of a foreigner in the Slovak Republic exceeds 90 days the foreigner shall apply for a residence permit or a national visa (if the criteria for the granting of the national visa are met).   

Further information on conditions for the issuance of national visas

 

If the duration of the planned stay of the foreigner in the Slovak Republic exceeds 90 days and the foreigner is not eligible for granting a National visa, it is necessary to apply for a residence permit pursuant to Act No. 404/2011 Z. z. on residence of foreigners and on amendments to certain acts as amended.