The Minister of the Interior of Slovakia, Matúš Šutaj Eštok, submitted a draft law on international protection, intended to replace the current Asylum Act of 2002.
The draft law aims to streamline asylum procedures, revise and tighten the rights and obligations of applicants for international protection and align national legislation with uniform European standards set out in EU regulations and directives. These cover asylum procedures, reception conditions, border return procedures, and responses to crisis situations and extraordinary migratory pressures.
Changes provided by the new law include the introduction of a border asylum procedure, allowing applications at the EU’s external borders to be decided within 12 weeks, or up to 16 weeks in exceptional cases, including appeals.
The law also introduces new terminology, provides for free legal assistance during administrative proceedings and requires audio recording of applicant interviews.
For beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, the draft provides for protection to be granted for an indefinite period, removing the need for repeated extension and harmonises residence status rules for persons granted refugee or subsidiary protection. The law also clarifies applicants’ obligations and sanctions for non-compliance, restricts access to asylum accommodation for EU citizens and regulates temporary accommodation pending transfers to the responsible Member State.
The draft further incorporates and partially amends provisions on temporary protection, originally transposed from Council Directive 2001/55/EC, and includes amendments to several related laws.
The new legislation is expected to enter into force on 12 June 2026.