Slovakia visa for South African citizens

Slovakia’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities. Processing time, as Slovakia states it: 15 calendar days from the day the application is accepted; up to 45 days if more checks are needed. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.

Slovakia has 1 mission in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria.

In 2025, Slovakia’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Pretoria) received 102 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 101. The refusal rate was 1.0%. That is barely different from 2024 (0.5%). Applications fell by 45% compared with 2024 (185).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. Slovakia’s consulates worldwide refused 9.6%. Slovakia was the 20th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.

You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.

For a trip from South Africa to Slovakia, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates Slovakia at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 11 February 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Slovakia (updated 28 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Slovakia (updated 13 October 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.

How long South African citizens can stay in Slovakia

How long South African citizens may stay in Slovakia is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How South African citizens apply

In South Africa, applications go to the Slovak embassy in Pretoria, or to a visa centre acting for Slovakia; fees, documents and processing times are published by Slovakia.

Slovakia and the Schengen area

A Schengen visa issued by Slovakia lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Slovakia when it is the main destination of the trip.

Slovakia’s neighbours for South African citizens

Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.

Slovak citizens travelling to South Africa

South Africa admits Slovak citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.