Schengenský priestor je časť územia Európy, v ktorom môžu osoby voľne prekračovať hranice na ktoromkoľvek mieste členských štátov bez toho, aby boli podrobené hraničnej a colnej kontrole. Vnútorné hranice sú zrušené, ale pre ochranu bezpečnosti členských štátov je posilnená kontrola na vonkajších hraniciach. Cieľom spoločných pravidiel kontrol a účinného dohľadu na vonkajších hraniciach je zamedzenie nelegálneho prisťahovalectva, pašovania drog a iných protizákonných aktivít. Členské štáty Schengenu majú tiež spoločný postup pri uplatňovaní vízovej politiky.
As from 11 January 2011, Taiwanese passport holders will no longer require visa to travel to the EU and to the Schengen Area for short period stays (up to 90 days).
However, member state residence permits or national visas are still required if you intend to stay or study for longer than 3 months, or to work for any period of time.
Short term stay
Short term stay in the Schengen area is a stay for tourism, study or business purposes (strictly non paid) not exceeding total of 90 days in any 180-day period. For long term stay see Residence of Foreigners in Slovakia.
This definition of short stay is valid as of October 18, 2013. 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 on 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.
National visa type D: long-stay
National (long-stay) visa may be issued in relation to the granted residence permit or in connection with Slovakia´s commitments under international treaties or for the benefit of the Slovak Republic. It is allowed for long-term visa holders to travel to other member states (outside the frontier of the state who issued the visa), however the total of stay cannot exceed 90 days in any six month period.
For how long is national visa granted?
National visa is granted for a stay longer than 3 months, maximum 1 year. National visa can be granted
a) for 90 days, if it is necessary in relation with granting a residence permit in Slovak Republic,
b) for a time of language education on language school, maximum till 31st of July of the school year in question,
c) for necessary time, in case of applicant is a family member of an alien who was granted asylum or subsidiary protection.
Biometric data
Person applying for national visa is obliged to provide fingerprints of 10 fingers. Persons excluded from this duty are children under 12 years old and persons from whom fingerprinting is physically impossible.
Application for national visa/necessary documents
1. Fulfilled pdf application for national visa
2. Valid passport recognized by the Slovak Republic
3. Recent photo in color 3 x 3,5 cm (1,2 x 1,4 inch)
4. Documents supporting purpose of travel
5. Travel insurance
6. Persons applying for national visa in relation with granting a residence permit in Slovak Republic must submit all documents necessary to submit an application to grant residence permit (see Residence permit in Slovak Republic)
7. Person applying for national visa in relation with accepting the language education on language school must submit document proving sufficient financial means and document proving accommodation too, if mentioned information are not stated in document supporting purpose of travel
Note: The Slovak Economic and Cultural Office is allowed to ask for additional documents. On request of the Officer, applicant is obliged to participate on personal interview at the Slovak Office.
Granting of national visa
The Embassy shall decide on application for national visa in 30 days since the day of submitting of the application.
The Slovak Economic and Cultural Office is allowed to determine a border crossing point to enter Slovak Republic for applicant.
Where to apply for a visa
Foreign nationals legally residing in Taiwan who are subject to visa requirement and want to enter the Schengen area may apply for visa as follows:
If the Slovak Republic is your target destination you can apply at the Slovak Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei
If you intend to visit several Schengen states, visa application must be submitted at the Representative Office of the Schengen state of your main destination.
If you intend to visit several Schengen states and do not have a main destination, visa application must be submitted at the Representative Office of the Schengen state of first point of entry into the Schengen area.
When and how 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 three months prior to your planned trip.
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
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 who is required to attach a copy of the document identifying him/her as the applicant’s legal guardian.
Passport or official travel document issued not earlier than in 10 years recognized by the Schengen countries with a validity that exceeds the intended stay of the applicant 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
Original residence permit in Taiwan - Alien Residence Card (ARC) or valid Taiwan visitor or resident visa. Taiwan residence permit or visa should be valid at least 3 months beyond the intended departure from the territory of Schengen.
5
Evidence of hotel bookings or travel plans for the entire schengen area:
confirmed hotel reservations, stating name, address and telephone number of the hotel, including confirmation number.
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.
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Titulok
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 Foreign Police in the Slovak Republic.
!
Note
The Embassy/Consulate 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 journeys
Invitation letter (original) from a business partner (business company or institution) in the Slovak Republic specifying the nature of the business.
AND
Reference letter from Taiwan 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
AND
Reference letter from Taiwan employer.
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 organizer of the event in the Slovak Republic verified by Foreign Police in the Slovak Republic.
!
Note
The Slovak Economic and Consular Office 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.).
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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);
or
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).
Note: Personal bank account statement of the visa applicant may still be required.
or
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.
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
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
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 Slovak Economic and Cultural Office 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.
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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.).
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Please enquire about the actual fee and payment method in local currency at the time of your application
DECISION on the visa application
Under the applicable law, the visa application procedure shall not take longer than 15 days, in exceptional cases the decision may take up to 60 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, Macedonia, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Serbia and Ukraine. With respect to the nationals of the aforementioned countries, the decision must be delivered within 10 calendar days.
The reason for refusal is notified by the consul using the established refusal form. Notification on the reason for refusal can be obtained at the consulate only by the applicant in person. In case of refusal the consulate will not reimburse the visa fee.
APPEAL PROCEDURE
Applicant can appeal against the decision on the refusal of the application for granting of the Schengen visa or on cancelling or revoking granted Schengen visa.
Appeal against the decision on the refusal of the application can be submitted at the Slovak Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei (that refused the visa application) within 15 days from the date of receiving the decision on refusal.
Fee in the amount of 30 EUR (payment in Taiwan Dollars according to actual exchange rate) is charged and will not be reimbursed, not even in case of a positive decision.
A written Decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the appeal shall be delivered to the Applicant within 60 days from the date of filing of the appeal.
