Slovakia · Business & founder
Temporary Residence for the Purpose of Doing Business
This has become materially harder since 1 July 2025. There is now an annual national quota of 700 applicants across all Slovak embassies and consulates combined, allocated per post, ranging from 1 to 190 slots. Applications are accepted only at consulates abroad, and a business plan is mandatory.
The 700-slot national quota introduced on 1 July 2025 is the single biggest practical risk in the Slovak business route. Most advisory material has not caught up with it. Per-post allocations run as low as one slot, so choosing a consulate is now a real strategic decision. The quota can simply run out.
Qualifying routes
A personal account of EUR 3,409.56, plus a business account of EUR 5,682.60, held in two bank accounts in the applicant's own name (figures valid 1 July 2025 - 30 June 2026).
A personal account of EUR 3,409.56, plus a business account of EUR 28,413 (figures valid 1 July 2025 - 30 June 2026).
The facts
- Minimum investment
- €3.4k
- Total landed cost
- EUR 9,092 in demonstrated funds for the self-employed route, or EUR 31,823 for an s.r.o. executive, plus incorporation and advisory costs.
- Route type
- Business & founder
- Timeline
- 3–6 months (A decision arrives within 90 days, plus embassy delivery time. The permit is granted for 3 years.)
- Physical presence
- Genuine business activity
- Family
- SpouseMinor childrenThrough family reunification
- Permanent residency
- 5 years of continuous residence
- Citizenship
- Under the ordinary route, this means 8 years of continuous permanent residence and passing a Slovak language test.
- Language test
- Slovak language exam under the ordinary route
- Dual citizenship
- Permitted
- Requirements
- one of the 700 annual quota slotstwo bank accounts in the applicant's own name meeting the thresholdsmandatory business planapplication at a Slovak consulate abroad
- A hard national quota caps applicants at 700 a year across all posts, with per-post allocations ranging from 1 to 190. Post selection is now a strategic decision, and the quota can be exhausted. Most advisory material has not caught up with this.
- Applications are accepted only at Slovak embassies and consulates abroad. You cannot apply inside Slovakia.
- A business plan is now mandatory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs weighs in on whether the activity benefits the Slovak economy. This opinion is advisory only, but it still acts as a gate.
- The financial thresholds are revised annually. The current figures run from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, so verify them before budgeting.
- Non-EU/EEA nationals may only conduct business on one of several bases: permanent residence, a TRP for business, family reunification, studies, R&D, Slovak-living-abroad status, or EU long-term residence from another member state.