Slovakia internship visa (temporary residence for a stáž)

Special activity under § 25 of the Act includes an internship during university studies outside Slovakia, or within two years after completing university studies outside Slovakia. Applicants must not be entrepreneurs. The police refuse the permit if the focus of the internship does not match the degree obtained or the studies in progress, so choose a host whose training plan clearly relates to your field.

The host organisation issues a confirmation of the internship describing the training programme with its educational objective, its length, the conditions of placement and supervision, the working hours and the legal relationship between you and the host. The host also undertakes to cover the costs of an administrative expulsion if one becomes necessary.

You add proof of ongoing studies (a university confirmation) or of your degree: a diploma no older than two years together with a decision recognising it in Slovakia. Further documents are a valid passport, criminal record extracts with apostille and Slovak translation, and proof of accommodation for at least six months, all not older than 90 days.

A temporary residence application filed abroad is lodged in person at the Slovak mission accredited for the country that issued your passport or where you live. The mission conducts a short interview, records it, translates the record into Slovak and sends it with its recommendation to the foreign police department that decides. Once the permit is granted, a visa-required applicant obtains a national visa for collecting the permit (fee EUR 15) and picks up the residence card in Slovakia; the card costs EUR 10, or EUR 39 for delivery within two working days.

The police decide within 30 days. After collecting the card you have 30 days to hand in proof of health insurance and a medical report from an infectious disease specialist.

If the training plan runs longer than the granted period, apply for renewal at the foreign police by the last day of the permit; the renewal fee is EUR 50 and the total cannot exceed the two-year ceiling for special activity. Interns cannot change their purpose of stay to business at the police within the first two years, and time spent on an internship counts only half towards the five years needed for long-term residence.