Important notice
As of 1st May 2018 the Slovak Republic cancels the visa exemption for holders of a travel document for refugees issued by Ireland under the Convention on the Status of Refugees of 07/28/1951. Holders of mentioned travel documents need visas for entry to the territory of the Slovak Republic.
Do I need a visa to enter the Schengen Area?
Notice for all visa applicants
Don´t forget to print out, sign and bring the application form together with all supporting documents for a personal appointment at the Embassy. You can find the application at http://www.minv.sk/?ziadost-o-udelenie-schengenskeho-viza
The Republic of Ireland is not a member of the Schengen Area. Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) do not need a visa to enter Slovakia.
Application for a visa must be submitted in person at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Dublin. The Consular Section works strictly on an appointment system arranged by e-mails! All applicants are asked to arrange their appointment in advance via e-mail cons.dublin@mzv.sk. No other appointments will be accepted.
The type of visa you will need depends on the length and purpose of your visit. A decision on the particular type of visa is made by the competent Embassy staff.
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. 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 nationals of some countries which have signed Community-level visa facilitation agreements. Such countries include: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Montenegro, Macedonia, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine. With respect to the nationals of the aforementioned countries, the decision must be delivered within 10 calendar days. Nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine don´t need a visa, if they are holders of biometric passports
Types of visas
Type A Schengen visa: airport transit visa
You can normally stay in the international transit area at the airport without a visa while waiting for a connecting flight. However, some nationalities are required to have a valid visa, even if they do not leave the international transit area. The Airport Transit Visa only authorizes the holder to transit through the airport's international transit area.
Type C Schengen visa:
The visa entitles its holder to enter and stay in the Schengen area for no more than a total of 90 days within any180 day period. This visa may be issued for one or several entries (single entry and multiple entry visa).
National visa type D
National visa may be issued in relation to the granted residence permit, in connection with Slovakia´s commitments under international treaties or if it is in the interest of the Slovak Republic. It enables long-term visa holders to travel to other member states (outside the frontier of the state that issued the visa), however the total days of stay cannot exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.
Family members of EEA nationals travelling to the Schengen Area:
Family members who are holders of the following residence permits are entitled to travel to Slovakia without visas. For entering other Schengen countries we recommend to contact the Embassy of the relevant country.
Conditions for granting a visa to family members of EEA nationals who do not hold the above mentioned residence permits:
1. A completed and printed Schengen Visa application form (pdf; 112.84 KB)
(https://ezov.mzv.sk). The application must be completely filled in and signed by the applicant; 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.
2. Recent full-face colour photo (passport size).
3. Valid travel document; the travel document, with at least two blank pages, must be valid for at least 3 months longer than the expected validity of the visa requested; passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years.
4. Irish re-entry visa and/or Irish Certificate of Registration (GNIB card) valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen area.
5. Original documents confirming family relationship with an EEA National (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate). In case of submitting documents confirming the relationship with an EEA National issued by a third country, the Embassy may request higher verification of the document (Apostille, superlegalisation).
6. Passport or ID of an EEA National.
7. Other documents – the Embassy may require the proof of residence of an EEA national in Ireland (residence permit or other relevant documents proving long-term stay of an EEA national in Ireland).
8. Photocopies of the submitted documents.
Visas for applicants from third countries:
1. A completed and printed Schengen Visa application form (pdf; 112.84 KB) (https://ezov.mzv.sk). The application must be completely filled in and signed by the applicant; 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.
2. Valid travel document - the travel document, with at least two blank pages, must be valid for at least 3 months longer than the expected validity of the visa requested; the passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years.
3. Irish re-entry visa and/or Irish Certificate of Registration (GNIB card) valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen area.
4. Proof of current address in Ireland (bills, rent book, lease agreement etc).
5. Recent full-face colour photo (passport size).
6. Documents demonstrating the purpose and conditions of the planned stay.
The Embassy may decide which of the listed documents will be sufficient to demonstrate the purpose of stay. The Applicant will submit one or more of the listed documents:
Tourism:
- Confirmed hotel booking for your full stay in the Schengen area or any other appropriate document stating planned accommodation; or
- Booking confirmation of a European tour or any other appropriate document.
Private (family - friends) visit:
- Recent invitation letter verified by the Slovak Foreign Police (Cudzinecká polícia), which cannot be older than 90 days – please note that the applicant traveling to the Schengen Area for the first time is required to submit this kind of invitation,
- Invitation from the host if staying with one,
- Documents in relation to accommodation, or
- Proof of sufficient means to cover this accommodation and other expenses,
- Copy of passport data page or residence permit of the host in the Member State, if staying with one,
- Proof of family relationship,
- Original invitation letter signed in front of the notary in the Slovak Republic or at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic. The letter shall be signed by a Slovak National (e.g. wife, husband, child’s parent). Documents confirming the relationship between the applicant from the third country and the Slovak National, such as the Original marriage/birth certificate, must be submitted. In case of submitting documents confirming a relationship with an EEA National, issued by the third country, the Embassy requires higher verification of the document (Apostille, superlegalisation) + Passport or ID of an EEA National, otherwise a recent invitation letter verified by the Slovak Foreign Police (Cudzinecká polícia), which cannot be older than 90 days.
Business:
- An specific invitation-form or invitation with original signature from a firm or an authority to attend meetings, conferences, proof of registration, or events connected with trade, industry or work, indicating cover of travel and/or accommodation expenses, if applicable,
- Other documents which show the existence of trade relations or relations for work purposes,
- Entry tickets or registration for fairs and congresses,
- Documents proving the business activities of the company;
- Proof of accommodation: confirmed hotel/hostel/B&B reservation(s) or other lodgements covering the whole duration of the stay in host country and, if applicable, in other Schengen countries.
Study or professional training:
- A certificate of enrolment at an educational establishment (school, university, college, etc.) for the purposes of attending vocational or theoretical courses within the framework of basic and further training,
- Student card or certificate of the courses to be attended,
- Documents in relation to accommodation, or proof of sufficient means to cover accommodation,
- Recent, official and signed letter from university, college or school stating the above mentioned.
Medical treatment:
- Official document of a medical institution confirming necessity for medical care in that institution,
- Proof of sufficient financial means to pay for medical treatment,
- Proof of prepayment of medical treatment.
Official delegations travelling on the basis of an official invitation addressed to the government of the third country concerned, to participate in meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange programs, as well as in events held in the territory of a Member State by intergovernmental organizations:
- Letter issued by an authority of the third country concerned confirming that the applicant is a member of the official delegation travelling to a member state to participate in the above mentioned events, accompanied by a copy of the official invitation from the intergovernmental organization in the Member State; or
- Note verbale.
7. Documents confirming sufficient means of subsistence, e.g.:
- Recent (showing movements over the last three months) Irish bank statement in the applicant’s name and address showing details and balance showing that he has sufficient means of subsistence for both, the duration of the intended stay and for the return to Ireland or his country of origin, or for transit to a third country into which he is certain to be admitted, or that he is in a position to acquire such means lawfully, in accordance with Article 5(1)(c) and (3) of the Schengen Borders Code or,
- If the applicant is financially supported by her/his spouse (for example if the applicant does not work herself/himself), please also provide a marriage certificate and the spouse's bank statements. Please note that cash is not accepted as proof of sufficient means,
- If the applicant is financially supported by a sponsor, a letter of sponsorship certified by a public notary in the Member State where it was issued should be provided.
8. Travel ticket
- Proof of confirmed return ticket to the Ireland or to the country of final destination,
- When travelling by a passenger motor vehicle, the applicant must submit a valid driving licence and roadworthiness certificate (MOT), motor third-party liability insurance certificate (so-called green card), certificate of car registration, and demonstrate possession of sufficient funds for fuel + return ferry ticket/train ticket.
9. International travel medical insurance
The insurance must cover all costs that may arise in connection with the repatriation (return) of the applicant to their home country due to health problems, urgent medical treatment, emergency hospital treatment 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 EUR 30,000 is required.
10. Original document confirming study/employment/unemployed
General employment:
- Recent, official and signed letter from an employer (headed letter with name, position of signatory and date of issue, address, recent telephone number and registration number in Ireland) and/or work permit and/or payslips for the last 3 months.
Self-employment:
- Company´s registration certificate and a recent business printout available from the Companies Registration Office,
- Letter from the tax authorities.
Unemployed:
- Permission of the local Social Welfare Office for the intended trip (if trip is longer than 2 weeks) and prove of the weekly or monthly social welfare payments.
Students:
- Recent, official and signed letter from university, college or school based in Ireland stating the date of issue, name of the applicant and type of studies and number of lessons (hours) per week and confirming attendance/status, and, if applicable, proof of (part-time) employment (three most recent pay-slips and letter from employer).
11. Particular requirements applying to specific categories of persons
Minors (children under 18 years)
- Birth certificate and recent, official and signed letter from school,
Minors travelling alone or with only one parent:
- Original passports of both parents (unless one parent has the sole custody or residence order for the child);
- Proof of consent of parental authority or legal guardian.
Seafarers:
- Seaman's book,
- Cover letter from a recruiting company stating the name and the rank of the seafarer,
- Vessel's name, vessel's arrival date in port and the date of the seafarer's joining the vessel.
Lorry drivers:
- A written request from the national association (union) of carriers of the host country providing for international road transportation, stating the purpose, duration and frequency of the trips,
- Written request from the partner company based in the Member State,
- Driver's licence for international transport.
Family member of EU/EEA citizen (spouses and children):
- The EU/EEA citizen passport or National ID card,
- Proof of family relationship:
- Marriage certificate,
- Birth certificate (only for children).
12. Visa fee – payable in cash only, in EUR, on the day of submission of an application
13. Photocopies of the submitted documents
14. Other documents – for the purposes of the visa application procedure, the Embassy or the Consulate General may ask foreign nationals to submit other documents in order to verify the declared purpose of the visit and applicant’s intention to return to their home country or the country of their residence.
