Travelling to Slovakia

Slovakia Visa Guide: Schengen Requirements, Fees & How to Apply

Start your application

It depends on your passport. Passports from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, EU, and many other countries enter Slovakia visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Most other passports need a Schengen visa. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.

Slovakia visa at a glance

Government fee
EUR 90 per adult / EUR 45 per child (6–12) — passed through at cost, no markup
Official processing
14–21 business days (Slovak Republic consulate average)
Validity / stay
Single/multiple entry · up to 90 days within 180 days
Visa types
4

Do you need a visa for Slovakia?

Some nationalities can enter Slovakia visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements. Check the Slovakia Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you need a visa.

Slovakia visa types

Tourist visa
Tourism, leisure, sightseeing — Up to 90 days within 180 days
Business visa
Business meetings, conferences — Up to 90 days within 180 days
Transit visa
Passing through Slovakia to a third country — Per the transit rules
ETIAS
Visa-exempt visitors (online authorization from 2024) — 3 years multiple-entry

Who is eligible

Whether you need a visa for Slovakia depends on your nationality:

Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.

Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Slovakia visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — typically up to 90 days within a 180-day period depending on the agreement.

Visa-required nationalities need a Schengen visa for tourism, business, family visits, or transit.

All Schengen Zone visa applications must be submitted by the applicant in person. Applicants in countries with no Slovak consulate may use licensed visa agents like VFS.

What you need

Documents required for a Slovakia visa

What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.

  • Valid passportTourist/Business Schengen visa · 3+ months validity from entry date, issued within last 10 years, 2+ blank pages.
  • Completed and signed Schengen visa application formTourist/Business Schengen visa · Completed and signed Schengen visa application form.
  • Recent passport photo (white background, taken within 6 months)Tourist/Business Schengen visa · Recent passport photo (white background, taken within 6 months).
  • Proof of travel itinerary (flight reservation)Tourist/Business Schengen visa · Proof of travel itinerary (flight reservation).
  • Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation)Tourist/Business Schengen visa · Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation).
  • Proof of financial means (bank statements or employment letter)Tourist/Business Schengen visa · Proof of financial means (bank statements or employment letter).
  • Travel medical insurance with minimum coverage EUR 30,000 for the Schengen areaTourist/Business Schengen visa · Travel medical insurance with minimum coverage EUR 30,000 for the Schengen area.
  • Cover letter explaining the purpose of the visitTourist/Business Schengen visa · Cover letter explaining the purpose of the visit.
  • Valid passportTransit visa · 3+ months validity from entry date.
  • Confirmed onward ticket to a third countryTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
  • Visa for final destination if requiredTransit visa · Visa for final destination if required.
  • Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.

Slovakia visa fees and processing time

Government fee
EUR 90 per adult / EUR 45 per child (6–12) — passed through at cost, no markup
Expedify processing fee
Shown before you start
Validity / stay
Single/multiple entry · up to 90 days within 180 days
Official processing
14–21 business days (Slovak Republic consulate average)

Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.

How it works

How to apply for a Slovakia visa

The official route, step by step.

  1. Confirm you need a visa

    Check the Slovakia visa-exemption list for your nationality. If exempt, you need ETIAS instead.

  2. Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy/Consulate of Slovakia or an authorized visa center (e.g., VFS Global) for your country

    Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy/Consulate of Slovakia or an authorized visa center (e.g., VFS Global) for your country.

  3. Gather your documents

    see the checklist in Required documents for a Slovakia visa above.

  4. Submit your application

    in person at the embassy, consulate, or authorized visa center. Pay the Schengen visa fee.

  5. Wait for processing

    the consulate average is 14–21 business days. Apply at least 3–4 weeks before travel.

  6. Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued

    Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.

Start your application
Two ways to do this

Applying yourself vs. with Expedify

The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.

Research

Apply yourself
Check Slovakia's requirements yourself
With Expedify
We confirm what you need for your route

Document check

Apply yourself
Common errors cause refusals
With Expedify
Pre-reviewed before submission

Appointments

Apply yourself
You book and attend yourself
With Expedify
We prepare your application and guide you

Status tracking

Apply yourself
You check the embassy portal
With Expedify
We track and notify you at every step

Government fee

Apply yourself
Same
With Expedify
Same — passed through at cost, no markup

At the border: what to expect

A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Slovakia is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.

Entry requirements

  • Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
  • Return or onward travel ticket.
  • Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
  • Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.

Conditions of stay

  • Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
  • A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
  • No full-time study on a tourist visa.
  • Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Before you apply

Common reasons a Slovakia visa is refused

Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.

  • Incomplete or inconsistent documentation

    documents that don't match your application form.

  • Insufficient financial means

    evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.

  • Unclear travel purpose

    an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.

  • Weak ties to your home country

    limited evidence you'll return after your stay.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Slovakia visa questions, answered.

Keep exploring

More for your Slovakia trip

How we reviewed this page

Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review

About this service

Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.