Many people choose to move to Slovakia because of the low cost of living. The cost of living in Slovakia is really low compared to other European countries, which makes Slovakia an attractive place to find work and stay in Slovakia. The country’s economy is stable and unemployment is currently not high.
If you are a third-country national from outside the European Union, you will need to apply for a work permit. This permit is issued on the basis of an existing job offer. It follows that you will need to secure a job before applying for a work permit. Employers must notify the job vacancy to the employment office at least 10 days before the possible start of employment.
If you have moved to Slovakia and have successfully secured a job, your employer will issue you with an employment certificate. This employment certificate will be part of the application for a work permit. You then need to go to the labour office where you must submit the following documents:
- employment contract or a letter of employment,
- proof of your qualifications,
- copy of your passport,
- official application form for a Work Permit (completed in Slovak and signed),
- copy of the document of residence (if it was granted to you),
- copy of a document proving your status as a third country national with acknowledged long-term residence in another EU Member State (if applicable),
- authenticated copy of a business contract, or copy of the in-house transfer (in the case of deployed workers or in-house transfer)
- written power of attorney (if the application is submitted on your behalf by your future employer or by the company you were deployed to). Your signature must be authenticated by a notary.
It can take a long time (sometimes up to a month) to get a work permit.
It is possible to extend your work permit, but you must remember that the work permit is connected to your employment contract. If the contractual relationship with your employer ends, your work permit will also end, which may affect your stay in Slovakia.
Teaching English is a popular employment choice if you are a foreigner and have moved to Slovakia. Usually employers want a TOEFL certificate from applicants and ideally a university degree, which guarantees a higher salary.
In Slovakia, the manufacturing sector is predominant. The service sector (administrative and office work) is also widespread, but here you are usually required to speak Slovak as well.
IT is the fastest growing sector in Slovakia. If you have digital skills, then moving to Slovakia will open up a lot of opportunities.
Most of the available vacancies are in Bratislava, Košice, Prešov or tourism centres.
A working week in Slovakia is usually 40 hours per week or 8 hours per day. Overtime is paid at a higher rate. Annual leave entitlement is set at 4 weeks. If you are an employee who is 33 years old or older, your annual leave increases to 5 weeks.
Maternity leave is 34 weeks. If you, as a mother-to-be, have paid at least 270 days of social security contributions to the health insurance scheme in the two years before giving birth, you are entitled to maternity benefit.
If your spouse is a citizen of the European Union, he or she can also start working in Slovakia. If he or she is a third-country national, he or she will have to apply for a work permit.
After moving to Slovakia, you can contact our consultants. They can advise you on how to get a work permit and which documents are related to the work permit in Slovakia.