Slovakia family reunification residence permit

The sponsor must be a third-country national with temporary or permanent residence in Slovakia. Family members are the spouse, if both spouses are at least 18; unmarried children under 18 of the couple, or of either spouse; unmarried adult children who cannot take care of themselves because of a long-term adverse health condition; and a parent of the sponsor or the spouse who depends on their care and lacks family support in the country of origin. Parents cannot join a sponsor whose residence is for study. The parents of an unaccompanied minor refugee can also apply.

A child of only one spouse is admitted only if the other parent, who has contact rights but not custody, agrees.

The family member submits the official form, a valid passport and a civil status document, such as a marriage or birth certificate, which may be older than 90 days. Depending on the case add a declaration by the legal guardian that the child is unmarried, copies of the parents’ or sponsor’s residence cards, a custody decision, the other parent’s consent, or medical evidence of dependency. Applicants aged 14 or over add criminal record extracts. The sponsor proves shared accommodation for at least six months; this is not required when joining a researcher.

Within 30 days of collecting the card, the family member hands the police proof of health insurance and a medical report from an infectious disease specialist. If a refugee’s family applies within three months of the asylum grant, only a valid passport and proof of the family relationship are needed.

Family members abroad apply in person at the Slovak mission accredited for their country, which holds an interview and forwards the file. Those already lawfully in Slovakia apply at the foreign police; a family member of a Blue Card holder who lived with them in another EU state must apply at the police within 30 days of entry. The police decide within 90 days. They may suspend the procedure if the sponsor’s own application is still pending, and decide within the sponsor’s time limit if both were filed at the same time.

Renewal is filed at the police by the last day of the permit with an honest declaration that the reasons for family reunification still apply; it costs EUR 100. If the marriage ends by death or divorce after at least three years of continuous temporary residence, or a child reaches adulthood, the family member can ask the police to change the purpose of stay within 30 days of the death certificate, final divorce or 18th birthday, and remains lawfully resident until the decision.

A family member may do business in Slovakia, except dependent adult children and dependent parents. Employment without a work permit is possible after nine months of continuous residence from the grant, and from the start for families of EU Blue Card holders, intra-corporate transferees and researchers. Before nine months, a family member can work only with a work permit from the labour office.