Meridian Migration

Slovakia work permit: the process, step by step

The usual route from India is the temporary residence for employment (single permit) with Labour Office confirmation, in 7 steps. Who applies: your employer, then you. Official decision time: 60 days from a complete application for a single permit; 30 days for shortage occupations (IOM, Aug 2026).

Checked on
Unclear for non-graduate jobs

What are the steps for a Slovakia work permit?

  1. 1

    Employer reports the vacancy to the Labour Office (at least 20 working days ahead unless it is a shortage occupation).

  2. 2

    Worker applies in person for temporary residence at a Slovak embassy in the country of citizenship or residence (or at the Foreign Police if already legally in Slovakia on a qualifying basis), with documents not older than 90 days.

  3. 3

    The police ask the Labour Office for the confirmation; under the 2024 rules it decides within 15 working days (secondary).

  4. 4

    Foreign Police decide: 60 days for a single permit, 30 days for shortage occupations.

  5. 5

    Worker gets a national D visa to travel (its validity rose from 90 to 120 days from 15 Jul 2026, secondary) and collects the residence card.

  6. 6

    Within 30 days of receiving the card: proof of health insurance and a medical certificate.

  7. 7

    If the job ends, notify the Foreign Police within 7 working days; single-permit holders get 3 months (under 2 years' residence) or 6 months (2+ years) to find new work.

mic.iom.skchecked 24 Oct 2026(secondary)mzv.skchecked 24 Oct 2026mzv.skchecked 24 Oct 2026podnikajte.skchecked 24 Oct 2026(secondary)

How long does a Slovakia work permit take?

Only the times the government publishes. Where it publishes none, we say so.

Official decision times for Slovakia
RouteOfficial decision time
Temporary residence for employment (single permit) with Labour Office confirmation60 days from a complete application for a single permit; 30 days for shortage occupations (IOM, Aug 2026).
EU Blue Card30 days from a complete application.

Not confirmed yet

  • Whether the New Delhi embassy's suspension of online appointments for low- and medium-skilled national D visas still applies in 2026.
  • EU Blue Card salary multiplier: IOM (Jul 2026) says 1.2 times the average wage and 6-month contract; the Ministry of Labour page says 1.5 times and 1 year. 2026 EUR amount not found.

How do appointments work for Slovakia in India?

Embassy of the Slovak Republic, New Delhi (personal attendance required).

Temporary-residence appointments are requested by email to [email protected]; the embassy does not accept requests from agencies for more than one applicant. National D visa categories for work listed by the embassy: highly qualified employees, highly qualified job seekers, relocated employees, 'selected categories' (Regulation 113/2023, needing a contract and a driving licence) and selected industrial occupations (Regulation 383/2023). Regular online appointments for national D visas for low- and medium-skilled jobs were suspended (page updated March 2024; 2026 status not confirmed). The mission decides a national visa within 30 days after the Ministry of the Interior consents; national visa fee EUR 90 when a residence application is to be filed in Slovakia. Schengen (C) visas go through BLS International in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore — not for work.

mzv.skchecked 24 Oct 2026mzv.skchecked 24 Oct 2026

Can an agent get you an appointment or a decision faster?

No. Not us, not anyone.

  • The Slovak Embassy in New Delhi does not accept appointment requests from agencies for more than one applicant. You request your own appointment. mzv.skchecked 24 Oct 2026
  • The destination authorities decide every application. Anyone who offers to influence that is a reason to walk away.

Where can you check a Slovakia application?

On the official systems and pages below. Government pages come first; secondary sources are marked.

  1. 1.Documents – employment, Annex 11 to Directive 46/2019 (Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic) mzv.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  2. 2.General information on residence of foreigners in Slovakia (Embassy of Slovakia in Ottawa) mzv.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  3. 3.Employed worker – Slovakia (EU Immigration Portal, page dated 1 Apr 2025) home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, checked 24 Oct 2026
  4. 4.Employment of foreigners (Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic) mpsvr.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  5. 5.National visa (Embassy of Slovakia in New Delhi, updated 03.04.2024) mzv.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  6. 6.Embassy of Slovakia in New Delhi – visa and residence announcements (updated 27.03.2024) mzv.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  7. 7.Temporary Residence – Employment (IOM Migration Information Centre Slovakia, updated 11 Aug 2026) (secondary) mic.iom.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  8. 8.Prechodný pobyt na účel zamestnania od 15.7.2024 (podnikajte.sk) (secondary) podnikajte.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  9. 9.Zverejnili nový zoznam nedostatkových povolaní (SITA, 26 Jan 2023) (secondary) sita.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  10. 10.Zamestnávanie cudzincov: jedno povolenie (Právne noviny, 7 Sep 2026) (secondary) pravnenoviny.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  11. 11.EU Blue Card (IOM Migration Information Centre Slovakia, updated 15 Jul 2026) (secondary) mic.iom.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026
  12. 12.Permanent residence (IOM Migration Information Centre Slovakia, updated 2 Sep 2026) (secondary) mic.iom.sk, checked 24 Oct 2026

The full rules for every Slovakia route, documents and FAQs are on the Slovakia work permit page.