The Parliament approved the amendments to the Act on the Residence of Foreigners, aligning national law with the EU Directive on single residence and work permit and addressing the status of refugees after the end of temporary protection.
The reform aims to:
- extend national visa validity from 90 to 120 days
- provide the foreigners with a digital copy of the document via the eDoklady application, however this digital copy cannot be used during border control or in proceedings where the presentation of a physical version of the document is required to verify the document has not been lost or falsified.
- clarify requirements for renewal and permits, proving the purpose of the stay or accommodation is simplified, extending the exceptions to the submission of a medical opinion and the rules for long-term stay including proving the knowledge of Slovak language.
- prepare for the end of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in March 2027 by establishing a one-year transition period allowing beneficiaries of temporary protection to continue working and apply for standard residence permits.
- simplify citizenship procedures and enable applications via embassies or electronic devices.
The law is expected to enter into force on 15 July 2026.
Source(s)
- Ministry of the Interior | Ministerstvo vnútra (2 June, 2026), Parlament schválil rozsiahle zmeny v zákone o pobyte cudzincov [Parliament approves extensive changes to the Act on the Residence of Foreigners],