Slovakia adopts new international protection law

The National Council of the Slovak Republic has approved the government’s draft law on international protection, aimed at implementing the EU's asylum and migration reform and modernising existing procedures. Despite reservations about certain aspects of solidarity, the legislation represents a step towards harmonising rules among Member States and improving the effectiveness of migration management. The new law will replace the current Asylum Act of 2002.

Slovakia’s new law on international protection, effective from 12 June 2026, aligns with the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, introduces border asylum procedures with decisions within 12–16 weeks, new terminology aligned with EU law, expanded security measures, and free legal assistance for applicants. The legislation also grants asylum and subsidiary protection indefinitely, linked with permanent residence, improves transparency through recorded interviews and establishes independent monitoring, carried out by the Public Defender of Rights in Slovakia.

In practice, the border asylum procedure will operate as follows: once the police authority has taken a decision on the application, the applicant may be subject to restrictions on personal liberty or freedom of movement, subject to judicial review. During the procedure, the applicant will be accommodated in a specialised facility. If a decision is not reached within the prescribed time limit, the case will be transferred to the ordinary procedure conducted within the territory of the Slovak Republic.

At the same time, the new law regulates the provision of temporary protection in line with EU law, particularly in situations involving a mass influx of displaced persons, such as arrivals from Ukraine.

The new law also includes amendments to several related legal instruments, including the Act on the Residence of Foreigners, the Code of Administrative Procedure, and the Health Insurance Act.