<p style="margin-top: 25px;">The Foreigners' Residence Act in Slovakia is now updated more frequently than Apple releases new iPhones — only the changes are far more significant. As of July 1, 2025, major amendments to the <a href="https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2011/404/20250715.html#positionY-73022" target="_blank">Act No. 404/2011 on the Residence of Foreigners in Slovakia</a> will come into force. These changes affect the rules for applying for residence permits for business purposes, financial proof requirements, submission of business plans, and much more. Most of the amendments impose significant restrictions on foreign entrepreneurs. In this article, we detail the key changes. The amendments were approved at the <a href="https://rokovania.gov.sk/RVL/Material/30802/1" target="_blank">90th meeting of the Government of the Slovak Republic</a> on May 21, 2025.</p>

<h2>Changes Concerning Entrepreneurs</h2>
<h3>Applications for Business Residence Permits — Only via Consulates</h3>
<p>Entrepreneurs will <b>no longer be able to apply for a residence permit within Slovakia</b> at the immigration police.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 5px;">Applications can now only be submitted abroad — in person at a diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) accredited for:</p>
<ul style="margin-top: 7px;">
<li>the country that issued the foreigner's passport, or</li>
<li>the country of the applicant’s residence.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Business Plan Required for Business Residence Permit</h3>
<p>Foreigners applying for a residence permit for business purposes are now required to submit a business plan using the official template published on the website of the Slovak Ministry of Economy.</p>
<p><b>What has changed?</b> Previously, it was enough to register a sole proprietorship (živnosť) and submit the business license with the application. This simplified the process of obtaining a residence permit. That approach is no longer possible; a business plan is now mandatory. This could result in a high number of application rejections.</p>

<h3>Changing the Purpose of Stay to "Business" Will Be Harder</h3>
<p>Changing the purpose of stay to business is now <b>not allowed</b> if the current residence permit is valid for <b>less than 2 years.</b> Previously, the restriction applied only to permits under 12 months.</p>

<h3>Quotas for Residence Permits for Entrepreneurs</h3>
<p>New §129a: Authorities may limit the maximum number of residence permit applications for business purposes that can be accepted at embassies. Some consulates may not accept such applications at all.</p>
<div class="responsive-table-container">
<table border="1" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0">
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td><b>Consulate / Embassy</b></td>
      <td><b>Max. amount of applications per year</b></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Uzhhorod / Kyiv</td>
      <td>190</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Sydney</td>
      <td>6</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Taipei</td>
      <td>1</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Abu Dhabi</td>
      <td>6</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Ankara</td>
      <td>3</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Istanbul</td>
      <td>3</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Astana</td>
      <td>3</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Athens</td>
      <td>5</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Baku</td>
      <td>4</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Bangkok</td>
      <td>4</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Beirut</td>
      <td>4</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Belgrade</td>
      <td>62</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Berlin</td>
      <td>2</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Brasilia</td>
      <td>6</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Buenos Aires</td>
      <td>6</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Bucharest</td>
      <td>1</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Delhi</td>
      <td>9</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Dublin</td>
      <td>2</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Hanoi</td>
      <td>53</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Havana</td>
      <td>3</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Jakarta</td>
      <td>8</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Yerevan</td>
      <td>4</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cairo</td>
      <td>9</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Chisinau</td>
      <td>8</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>London</td>
      <td>3</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Madrid</td>
      <td>4</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Mexico City</td>
      <td>9</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Minsk</td>
      <td>4</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Moscow</td>
      <td>22</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Nairobi</td>
      <td>23</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Nicosia</td>
      <td>1</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Ottawa</td>
      <td>3</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Paris</td>
      <td>7</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Beijing</td>
      <td>17</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Shanghai</td>
      <td>18</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<h3>Business Residence Permits Now Issued for 3 Years</h3>
<p>Business residence permits will now be issued for 3 years immediately, instead of being left to the discretion of the immigration authority. This change reduces the frequency of renewals and lowers administrative burden.</p>

<h2>General Changes</h2>
<h3>New Rules for Proof of Financial Means</h3>
<p>Starting July 1, 2025, <b>bank statements for the last 3 months will no longer be required.</b> Instead, it will be sufficient to provide a <b>confirmation of the current balance</b> in the bank account.</p>

<div class="blog-services"><p><b>Who must prove financial means?</b></p>
<p>✅ Mandatory: only for applicants for business residence permits.<br/>
❌ Not required: for applications based on study, family reunification, or other non-business purposes.</p></div>

<p style="margin-bottom: 5px;">The requirements for entrepreneurs remain the same. They must submit confirmations from two separate bank accounts:</p>
<ul style="margin-top: 7px;">
<li>one for personal expenses (at least 12 times the minimum subsistence level),</li>
<li>the other for business operations (at least 20 times the minimum subsistence level for sole proprietors).</li>
</ul>

<h3>The End of the Photo Mania in Migration Matters</h3>
<p>The requirement to provide photos for residence permit applications or renewals is abolished.</p>

<h3>National Visas: Now Valid for 120 Days</h3>
<p>The validity of national visas has been extended from 90 to 120 days, but <b>this does not apply to entrepreneurs.</b> National visas for residence permit purposes in Slovakia can now only be granted for employment, study, or family reunification purposes.</p>

<h3>After Submitting the Application — Legal Stay Allowed</h3>
<p>The law now explicitly states: after submitting a complete residence permit application <u>(in cases where this is allowed),</u> the foreigner is entitled to remain in Slovakia legally until a decision is made.</p>


Starting July 1, 2025, significant amendments to Act No. 404/2011 on the Residence of Foreigners in Slovakia will come into force. The new rules will affect residence permits for entrepreneurs, financial requirements, and the application process.

The Law on the Residence of Foreigners in Slovakia Is Changing Again! What Awaits Applicants Starting July 1, 2025?