From temporary protection to a Slovak residence permit (2026)
Updated 22 August 2026 against Act No. 128/2026 Coll. (the amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreigners No. 404/2011, in force since 15 July 2026). Provisions are quoted from the Collection of Laws; check current police practice before filing — it changes faster than the law.
Since 15 July 2026 Slovakia has a separate, simplified route for holders of temporary protection (dočasné útočisko): the new § 131o of the Act on the Residence of Foreigners lets you obtain a temporary residence card (prechodný pobyt) without the full “general” file — on the strength of what you have already been doing in the country for at least six months. Here is how it works, who it is for, which documents you need and where people lose weeks.
The essentials in a minute
- The simplified route is open from 15 July 2026 until the day temporary protection ends (§ 131o par. 14), and for those who miss it, for one more year after it ends (pars. 1 and 4).
- One condition: your purpose of stay — employment, business, study, special activity, research or family reunification — has been carried out for at least six consecutive months before filing (or before protection ended) and continues on the day you file.
- Documents: passport, proof of purpose, a Ukrainian criminal-record extract no older than 90 days, proof of accommodation. For employees the proof of purpose is a Social Insurance Agency (Sociálna poisťovňa) confirmation no older than 30 days — no labour-office step.
- Police deadlines: 60 days for the notice that conditions are met + 30 days to issue the card (pars. 10–11).
- Permit validity follows the purpose document; if it is open-ended, two years (par. 11).
- A refusal comes without a formal decision — as a notice with reasons (par. 12); an incomplete file is simply not accepted (par. 9).
Key dates
| Date | What happens | Provision |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 2026 | Amendment 128/2026 in force; simplified route opens | Art. V, § 131o par. 14 |
| 31 Jul 2026 | End of some concessions from the “extraordinary situation” period | § 131k pars. 3–4 |
| 4 Mar 2027 | Formal end date of temporary protection in Slovakia. On 15–16 Jul 2026 the EU member states agreed to extend it to 4 Mar 2028 (Decision 2026/1912) — until Slovakia implements that, work with 4 Mar 2027 and follow minv.sk | special act (Act 69/2026, § 64) |
| end of protection + 1 year | You are still treated as a protection holder; you may apply under § 131o; your employer may keep employing you | § 131o pars. 1–4; § 72bc Employment Services Act |
| 15 Jul 2027 | Latest end of the deferrals introduced during the extraordinary situation | § 131k par. 1; § 72au |
| end of protection + 1 year, last day | Deadline to leave if no permit was granted and there is no other basis to stay | § 131o par. 3 |
Who § 131o is for — and who it is not
The Act lists the purposes in § 21 par. 1 letters a) to f): a) business, b) employment, c) study, d) special activity (lecturing, sport, arts etc.), e) research and development, f) family reunification. The “six months of purpose” rule: you must have carried out that purpose without interruption for at least six months immediately before filing (if filing during protection, par. 14) or before protection ended (if filing afterwards, par. 4) — and still be carrying it out on the day you file.
§ 131o is not for you if you only just found a job or registered a trade licence, if you switched grounds without six unbroken months on any of them, or if your purpose is outside letters a)–f). The standard procedure for a permit based on employment or business remains available — with the full file — and protection holders can still go through it in Slovakia without leaving.
Two filing windows
Window 1 — while protection lasts (par. 14). From 15 July 2026 until the day protection ends; the six months are counted immediately before filing. Your protection status continues while the police decide.
Window 2 — the year after protection ends (pars. 1, 4). If protection ended and you did not file, the law still treats you as a protection holder for one year and extends your card for that year (par. 2). You may file under § 131o during that year — but the six months are counted up to the day protection ended, and the purpose must still be ongoing on the filing date. Exceptions (par. 1): no extra year for those who applied for international protection, already hold a temporary or permanent permit, were granted asylum or subsidiary protection in another EU state, hold open-ended residence in another state, or temporary protection elsewhere.
Window 2 is a safety net, not a plan.
Documents by scenario
Attach a valid passport and (pars. 5–8):
| Scenario | Proof of purpose (par. 5 a, par. 6) | Criminal record (par. 7) | Accommodation (par. 8) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Social Insurance Agency confirmation that you are registered as an employee, no older than 30 days | Ukrainian criminal-record extract no older than 90 days (not required under 14) | Proof of accommodation under § 32 par. 8 and § 122 |
| Business | Nothing to submit if you are entered in the commercial, trade or another register, or as a person authorised to act for a company — the police check the register themselves | same | same |
| Study, special activity, research, family | Documents under § 32 par. 5 letters c) to n) — as in the standard procedure for that purpose | same | same (no accommodation proof only for the categories in § 32 par. 2 e) — e.g. university students, researchers and their families, EU volunteers; there is no exception for family reunification) |
What § 131o does not require compared with the general procedure: proof of funds, health insurance at filing, criminal-record certificates from third countries, and — for employees — the labour-office step. The doctor’s certificate that you do not have a disease threatening public health, due within 30 days of receiving the card, still applies: it is a general duty, not part of § 131o.
How filing works
- Book an appointment in the Ministry of the Interior reservation system — choose the “life situation” for temporary protection / a protection holder switching to residence, not the general residence-permit application. Slots open at most 21 days ahead.
- File in person with a complete set. If anything is missing, the police do not accept the application and hand you a written list of what to add (par. 9).
- Within 60 days the police notify you, on paper or electronically, that the conditions are met and there are no grounds for refusal (par. 10); other authorities have 30 days to object (par. 13).
- Within 30 days of the notice the police issue the residence card (par. 11); with issuance the temporary residence is granted.
Smooth case: up to 90 days from filing to card.
Your status while the case is pending
During protection (window 1) the application does not end it — all protection-holder rights continue. After protection ends (window 2) you remain a protection holder with an extended card for a year (pars. 1–2). The protection status ends only when the permit is granted (par. 1 a) — no gap.
Working during the switch (§ 72bc)
The amendment also changed the Employment Services Act. An employer may keep employing a former protection holder without new permits if, on the day protection ended, the person had been employed in Slovakia for at least six consecutive months and remains continuously employed — for up to one year after protection ends; or if the person holds a § 131o residence card for employment or family reunification. Such employment counts as employment under § 23a (no work permit).
Validity and what comes next
Validity follows the purpose document; if open-ended, two years (par. 11). After that — ordinary renewal under the general rules for that purpose, with the full file.
Do protection years count towards the five years? That concerns EU long-term resident status, not family-based permanent residence. Under an internal instruction of the Bureau of Border and Alien Police from April 2026 time spent as a protection holder counts — but that is police methodology, not statute, and § 131o is silent on it. Citizenship counts only from permanent residence. Check how the police will count your years before you file.
Refusal
The police refuse (par. 12) if the six-month condition is not met or on the grounds in § 33 par. 6 letters a), b), d), e), f) or h) — the general grounds that apply to any permit (see § 33 par. 6 for the exact wording). No formal decision is issued; you receive a notice with reasons. Afterwards the standard procedure or handling a refusal remain open.
7 mistakes that get the application returned
- Six months not reached — a two-week gap when changing employer breaks continuity.
- Social Insurance confirmation older than 30 days.
- Criminal record not from Ukraine or older than 90 days.
- Accommodation “by word of mouth” — you need a document under § 32 par. 8 and § 122.
- Wrong “life situation” in the booking.
- Filing in window 2 with a purpose that began after protection ended — for par. 4 the six months are counted before the end of protection.
- Relying on the old rules — proceedings started before 15 July 2026 finish under the old wording, under the new one only if more favourable (§ 131n par. 1).
FAQ
Can I file without leaving Slovakia?
Yes — § 131o is a procedure at the alien police in Slovakia.
I have had a trade licence for 8 months. What do I attach?
Passport, Ukrainian criminal-record extract (≤ 90 days) and proof of accommodation; the police verify the business in the register (par. 5 a).
My employment contract is for one year. How long will the permit be?
As long as the contract (par. 11); an open-ended contract → two years.
Do I need health insurance at filing?
It is not on the § 131o list; after receiving the card the general duties apply, including the doctor’s certificate within 30 days.
Do I need to prove funds?
No — not for any § 131o purpose.
What if protection is extended beyond 4 March 2027?
That is already agreed: on 15–16 July 2026 the EU member states decided to extend protection to 4 March 2028 (Decision 2026/1912); in Slovakia the date 4 March 2027 formally stands until implementation. Window 1 moves with it — you may file until the day protection ends. Follow minv.sk.
What if I am refused?
Fix the reason and re-file under § 131o while the window is open, or use the standard procedure.
I am neither working nor studying — is § 131o for me?
No: you need a purpose a)–f) carried out for six months. Options: family reunification if your spouse obtains a § 131o permit, or the standard procedure.
Can I get permanent residence under § 131o?
No — § 131o covers temporary residence only; five-year permanent residence follows the general rules.
Children?
A separate application for family reunification (f); under 14 no criminal-record extract (par. 5 b).
Where is the law?
Act No. 128/2026 Coll. in the Collection of Laws (slov-lex.sk), point 85 — § 131n and § 131o; Act No. 404/2011 Coll. as in force from 15 July 2026; guidance at minv.sk (Bureau of Border and Alien Police).
Rather not count months and chase certificates yourself — we handle the switch: we check whether you qualify under § 131o, build the file for your scenario, book the right “life situation” and go to the police with you. The first consultation is free.
Would rather not deal with it yourself? We will handle it for you. Drop us a line — the first consultation is free. We reply within an hour during business hours.
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