Slovakia visa and entry requirements

Slovakia applies the EU's Schengen visa rules. Your Europe says EU nationals can travel freely in the EU and in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland with a valid passport or national identity card. Under Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, nationals of the third countries listed in Annex II are exempt from the visa requirement for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, and nationals of those listed in Annex I must hold a visa when crossing the external borders.

Every fact on this page verified on or after: Aug 26, 2026· How this site works

Check requirements for your passport

Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.

How long you can stay

90 days in any rolling 180-day period

90 days in any rolling 180-day period, counted across the whole Schengen Area rather than per country. The day you arrive counts as the first day and the day you leave counts as the last. Leaving and coming back does not reset the allowance: on any given day, days already spent anywhere in the area during the preceding 180 still count against the 90.

Work out your own dates in the stay calculator · Compare every country

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu (opens in a new tab) · Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Article 4(1) · archived copy Jul 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Visas & entry authorisations

Schengen Short-Stay Visa — European Union and Armenia visa facilitation agreement

Fee
35 EUR
Processing
up to 30 days
Stay per entry
90 days

Article 6 of the EU–Armenia visa facilitation agreement sets the fee for processing visa applications at EUR 35 and waives it for listed categories, including pensioners and children under the age of 12.

Schengen Short-Stay Visa — European Union and Azerbaijan visa facilitation agreement

Fee
35 EUR
Processing
up to 30 days
Stay per entry
90 days

Article 6 of the EU–Azerbaijan visa facilitation agreement sets the fee for processing visa applications at EUR 35 and waives it for listed categories, including pensioners and children under the age of 12.

Schengen Short-Stay Visa — European Union and Belarus visa facilitation agreement

Fee
35 EUR
Processing
up to 30 days
Stay per entry
90 days

Article 6 of the EU–Belarus visa facilitation agreement sets the fee for processing visa applications at EUR 35, and EUR 70 where the applicant has requested a decision within two days and the consulate has accepted; it waives the fee for listed categories, including children under the age of 12. Council Decision (EU) 2021/1940 suspended provisions of the agreement as regards members of Belarusian official delegations and of Belarus's national or regional Government or Parliament, Constitutional Court or Supreme Court.

Schengen Short-Stay Visa — European Union and Cabo Verde agreement on facilitating the issue of short-stay visas

Fee
67.5 EUR
Processing
up to 45 days
Stay per entry
90 days

The EU–Cabo Verde visa facilitation agreement as amended in 2021 (Article 5) sets the fee at 75% of the amount charged under domestic law (the European Commission lists EUR 67.50); children aged 12 to below 18 pay 50% of it, and children under 12 pay nothing, among other listed categories.

Schengen Short-Stay Visa for Russian nationals

Fee
90 EUR
Processing
up to 45 days
Stay per entry
90 days

Standard fee under the EU Visa Code: children from six years and below 12 pay EUR 45, and the fee is waived for children under six. Council Decision (EU) 2022/1500 suspended the EU–Russia visa facilitation agreement in whole as regards citizens of the Russian Federation from 12 September 2022.

National (long-stay) visa (D visa)

Fee
90 EUR
Processing
up to 30 days

Slovakia's Foreign Ministry lists EUR 90 for a national visa granted in connection with a residence permit application to be submitted in Slovakia; other national visas cost EUR 15 (holders of a Slovak residence permit), EUR 30 (applicants over 15 accepted at a language school for at least 25 lessons a week) or EUR 50 (visas under international treaties or for the benefit of Slovakia). The fee is non-refundable if the visa is refused. The Foreign Ministry says national visas are issued for stays longer than 3 months, with a maximum validity of one year.

Entry requirements

Passport validity

The UK government says Slovakia follows Schengen area rules: your passport must have a date of issue less than 10 years before the date you arrive and an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.

Vaccinations

Not officially stated

No official source we read lists a vaccination certificate required for entry.

Travel insurance

Required

The EU Visa Code requires Schengen visa applicants to hold travel medical insurance valid throughout the Member States for the entire intended stay, with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000.

Onward or return ticket

Not officially stated

No official source we could read makes a return or onward ticket a condition of entry in itself. The UK government says that at border control in Slovakia you may also need to show a return or onward ticket and proof of your accommodation, for example a hotel booking confirmation.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Proof of funds

Required

The European Commission's table of reference amounts required for the crossing of the external border, fixed by national authorities, lists EUR 56 per day and per person for Slovakia. The UK government says that at border control you may need to prove you have enough money for your stay.

Staying past your permitted stay

Fine: up to 1,600 EUR

A third-country national must leave at the latest on the last day of authorised stay. Unauthorised stay in Slovakia is an offence punishable by a fine of up to 1,600 euros, or up to 165 euros in on-the-spot (block) proceedings. The police administratively expel a third-country national with unauthorised stay and may impose an entry ban of one to five years in the expulsion decision.

Registering your presence after arrival

Required

Done by the accommodation or the traveller.

A third-country national with a Schengen or national visa, or exempt from the visa, must report the start, place and expected length of stay to the police within three working days of entry, unless the accommodation provider has this duty. The police issue a confirmation on request. An accommodation provider must verify the foreigner's identity, record their nationality and date of birth in the guest book, and have the official stay-report form completed and delivered to the police within five days of accommodation; delivery is also possible through an electronic service. The foreigner may be fined up to 300 euros, and the provider up to 3,300 euros.

If not done: A third-country national who fails to report the stay may be fined up to 300 euros. An accommodation provider who commits the administrative offence is fined up to 3,300 euros.

Other compulsory government charges

  • Accommodation tax (daň za ubytovanie) — The municipality sets the rate in euros per person and night (Sadzbu dane určí obec v eurách na osobu a prenocovanie). At most 60 nights per guest with one accommodation operator in a calendar year are taxed. Paid at the accommodation.

    Accommodation tax is one of the local taxes a municipality may levy. The taxpayer is the natural person who stays for payment in an accommodation facility; the payer is the operator who provides that accommodation. The tax base is the number of overnight stays, at most 60 per taxpayer with one payer in a calendar year. The municipality sets the rate in euros per person and night and may set different rates for parts of the municipality or its cadastral areas.

    Exemptions: A displaced person (odídenec) under a special law is not a taxpayer.

Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: static.slov-lex.sk (opens in a new tab) · Zákon č. 582/2004 Z. z. o miestnych daniach a miestnom poplatku za komunálne odpady a d…Compare every country: Compulsory government charges beyond the visa, country by country

Customs & currency

Your Europe (EU) says that if you plan to enter or leave the EU with €10,000 in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies), you must declare it to the customs authorities in the EU country you are entering or leaving.

  • Your Europe (EU) says that when you enter the EU from a non-EU country you can bring, free of VAT and excise duties, 1 litre of spirits over 22% vol. (among other alcohol allowances) and other goods up to a value of €300 per traveller or €430 for travellers by air and sea. It lists Slovakia among the countries that may apply the lower tobacco limit (40 cigarettes instead of 200) to land and sea travellers.

Country in a nutshell

Currency
Euro (EUR, €)
Safety — Generally safe
The UK government says there is a risk of petty crime, especially in Bratislava, and that pickpockets operate around the main tourist areas, particularly the Christmas markets and in bars. It says bear sightings and occasional attacks have been reported, and advises hikers to stay on marked trails and check local warnings before setting out.Verified Oct 6, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Power plugs
C, E · 230V 50Hz
Emergency numbers
General emergencies: 112 · Police: 158 · Ambulance: 155 · Fire: 150
Languages
Slovak
Time zone
UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer)
International Driving Permit

Slovakia is a party to the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna Conventions on Road Traffic (UN Treaty Collection). Slovakia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs says that, under §102 of the Road Traffic Act No 8/2009, Slovakia recognises valid driving licences issued in the Member States of the European Economic Area and in countries that are parties to the Geneva or the Vienna Convention, and recognises international driving licences issued under those conventions if the holder also has a valid driving licence from the same country. The UK government tells British drivers they can use a UK photocard driving licence in Slovakia for up to 6 months, and must exchange it for a Slovak one if they stay longer. Canada's travel advice tells Canadians that to drive in Slovakia they must have a valid Canadian driver’s licence and an international driving permit, and that Slovakia has a zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving. No Slovak official source we could read states for how long a foreign licence may be used.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: treaties.un.org (opens in a new tab) · Convention on Road Traffic · archived copy Aug 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) Compare every country
Motorway vignette — electronic, tied to the number plate

Mandatory · motorways and expressways. Two-track vehicles up to 3.5 t and every M1 car whatever its weight; if car plus trailer exceeds 3.5 t the trailer needs a second vignette.

  • 1-day€8.10
  • 10-day€10.80
  • 30-day€17.10
  • 365-day€90.00

Slovakia's electronic vignette operator says vignettes are in electronic form and are a fee for using the specified sections of motorways and expressways, and that a 30-day or 10-day vignette purchased in December is also valid in January of the following year until its expiry date.

Buy on the official site (opens in a new tab)

Verified Oct 7, 2026 · Source: eznamka.sk (opens in a new tab) · archived copy Aug 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) Compare every country
Tap water
safe to drink

Best time to visit

No official source we could read gives seasonal guidance for Slovakia. The UK government says Slovakia can experience extreme weather, including heatwaves, storms, heavy rain, flash flooding, winter snow and mountain weather that changes quickly.

Tips & warnings

Slovakia's electronic vignette operator says vignettes are in electronic form and are a fee for using the specified sections of motorways and expressways, and that the specified road sections marked by traffic signs may be used following payment of an electronic vignette. The UK government says you could get a heavy fine without a vignette.

The UK government says that if you need help from the Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) you will have to meet costs of up to 1,000 euros, advises making sure your insurance includes rescue costs, and says anyone ignoring or violating HZS rules or instructions will get a fine of up to 3,320 euros.

The EU says visa-exempt travellers will need an ETIAS travel authorisation for the 30 European countries requiring it, and that ETIAS is currently not in operation.

Visa requirements by nationality

Visa requirements by nationality. Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
PassportsVisas & entry authorisationsMax stay
AfghanistanEmbassy visa—
AlbaniaVisa-free90 days
AlgeriaEmbassy visa—
AndorraVisa-free90 days
AngolaEmbassy visa—
Antigua and BarbudaVisa-free90 days
ArgentinaVisa-free90 days
ArmeniaEmbassy visa—
AustraliaVisa-free90 days
AustriaFree movement—
AzerbaijanEmbassy visa—
BahamasVisa-free90 days
BahrainEmbassy visa—
BangladeshEmbassy visa—
BarbadosVisa-free90 days
BelarusEmbassy visa—
BelgiumFree movement—
BelizeEmbassy visa—
BeninEmbassy visa—
BhutanEmbassy visa—
BoliviaEmbassy visa—
Bosnia and HerzegovinaVisa-free90 days
BotswanaEmbassy visa—
BrazilVisa-free90 days
BruneiVisa-free90 days
BulgariaFree movement—
Burkina FasoEmbassy visa—
BurundiEmbassy visa—
Cabo VerdeEmbassy visa—
CambodiaEmbassy visa—
CameroonEmbassy visa—
CanadaVisa-free90 days
Central African RepublicEmbassy visa—
ChadEmbassy visa—
ChileVisa-free90 days
ChinaEmbassy visa—
ColombiaVisa-free90 days
ComorosEmbassy visa—
Costa RicaVisa-free90 days
Côte d'IvoireEmbassy visa—
CroatiaFree movement—
CubaEmbassy visa—
CyprusFree movement—
CzechiaFree movement—
Democratic Republic of the CongoEmbassy visa—
DenmarkFree movement—
DjiboutiEmbassy visa—
DominicaVisa-free90 days
Dominican RepublicEmbassy visa—
EcuadorEmbassy visa—
EgyptEmbassy visa—
El SalvadorVisa-free90 days
Equatorial GuineaEmbassy visa—
EritreaEmbassy visa—
EstoniaFree movement—
EswatiniEmbassy visa—
EthiopiaEmbassy visa—
FijiEmbassy visa—
FinlandFree movement—
FranceFree movement—
GabonEmbassy visa—
GambiaEmbassy visa—
GeorgiaVisa-free90 days
GermanyFree movement—
GhanaEmbassy visa—
GreeceFree movement—
GrenadaVisa-free90 days
GuatemalaVisa-free90 days
GuineaEmbassy visa—
Guinea-BissauEmbassy visa—
GuyanaEmbassy visa—
HaitiEmbassy visa—
HondurasVisa-free90 days
Hong KongVisa-free90 days
HungaryFree movement—
IcelandFree movement—
IndiaEmbassy visa—
IndonesiaEmbassy visa—
IranEmbassy visa—
IraqEmbassy visa—
IrelandFree movement—
IsraelVisa-free90 days
ItalyFree movement—
JamaicaEmbassy visa—
JapanVisa-free90 days
JordanEmbassy visa—
KazakhstanEmbassy visa—
KenyaEmbassy visa—
KiribatiVisa-free90 days
KosovoVisa-free90 days
KuwaitEmbassy visa—
KyrgyzstanEmbassy visa—
LaosEmbassy visa—
LatviaFree movement—
LebanonEmbassy visa—
LesothoEmbassy visa—
LiberiaEmbassy visa—
LibyaEmbassy visa—
LiechtensteinFree movement—
LithuaniaFree movement—
LuxembourgFree movement—
MacauVisa-free90 days
MadagascarEmbassy visa—
MalawiEmbassy visa—
MalaysiaVisa-free90 days
MaldivesEmbassy visa—
MaliEmbassy visa—
MaltaFree movement—
Marshall IslandsVisa-free90 days
MauritaniaEmbassy visa—
MauritiusVisa-free90 days
MexicoVisa-free90 days
MicronesiaVisa-free90 days
MoldovaVisa-free90 days
MonacoVisa-free90 days
MongoliaEmbassy visa—
MontenegroVisa-free90 days
MoroccoEmbassy visa—
MozambiqueEmbassy visa—
MyanmarEmbassy visa—
NamibiaEmbassy visa—
NauruEmbassy visa—
NepalEmbassy visa—
NetherlandsFree movement—
New ZealandVisa-free90 days
NicaraguaVisa-free90 days
NigerEmbassy visa—
NigeriaEmbassy visa—
North KoreaEmbassy visa—
North MacedoniaVisa-free90 days
NorwayFree movement—
OmanEmbassy visa—
PakistanEmbassy visa—
PalauVisa-free90 days
PalestineEmbassy visa—
PanamaVisa-free90 days
Papua New GuineaEmbassy visa—
ParaguayVisa-free90 days
PeruVisa-free90 days
PhilippinesEmbassy visa—
PolandFree movement—
PortugalFree movement—
QatarEmbassy visa—
Republic of the CongoEmbassy visa—
RomaniaFree movement—
RussiaEmbassy visa—
RwandaEmbassy visa—
Saint Kitts and NevisVisa-free90 days
Saint LuciaVisa-free90 days
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesVisa-free90 days
SamoaVisa-free90 days
San MarinoVisa-free90 days
São Tomé and PríncipeEmbassy visa—
Saudi ArabiaEmbassy visa—
SenegalEmbassy visa—
SerbiaVisa-free90 days
SeychellesVisa-free90 days
Sierra LeoneEmbassy visa—
SingaporeVisa-free90 days
SlovakiaFree movement—
SloveniaFree movement—
Solomon IslandsVisa-free90 days
SomaliaEmbassy visa—
South AfricaEmbassy visa—
South KoreaVisa-free90 days
South SudanEmbassy visa—
SpainFree movement—
Sri LankaEmbassy visa—
SudanEmbassy visa—
SurinameEmbassy visa—
SwedenFree movement—
SwitzerlandFree movement—
SyriaEmbassy visa—
TaiwanVisa-free90 days
TajikistanEmbassy visa—
TanzaniaEmbassy visa—
ThailandEmbassy visa—
Timor-LesteVisa-free90 days
TogoEmbassy visa—
TongaVisa-free90 days
Trinidad and TobagoVisa-free90 days
TunisiaEmbassy visa—
TurkeyEmbassy visa—
TurkmenistanEmbassy visa—
TuvaluVisa-free90 days
UgandaEmbassy visa—
UkraineVisa-free90 days
United Arab EmiratesVisa-free90 days
United KingdomVisa-free90 days
United StatesVisa-free90 days
UruguayVisa-free90 days
UzbekistanEmbassy visa—
VanuatuEmbassy visa—
Vatican CityVisa-free90 days
VenezuelaVisa-free90 days
VietnamEmbassy visa—
YemenEmbassy visa—
ZambiaEmbassy visa—
ZimbabweEmbassy visa—

Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.

Czechia94 of 199 passports visa-freePoland94 of 199 passports visa-freeUkraine83 of 199 passports visa-free · 42 eVisa/ETAHungary94 of 199 passports visa-freeAustria94 of 199 passports visa-free

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Slovakia?

Your Europe says EU nationals can travel freely in the EU and in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland with a valid passport or national identity card. Under Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, nationals of the third countries listed in Annex II, which include the United States, are exempt from the visa requirement for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, and nationals of the countries listed in Annex I must hold a visa when crossing the external borders.

Is Slovakia in the Schengen Area?

Yes. The EU lists Slovakia among the Schengen area countries. The UK government tells people travelling on a full British citizen passport that visits to Schengen countries in the 180 days before they travel count towards their 90 days.

Will I need ETIAS for Slovakia?

The EU says ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications are collected at this point, and that it will announce the start date several months before launch. It says applying directly through the official ETIAS website will cost EUR 20, that applicants under 18 or over 70 years of age are exempt from the payment, and that an ETIAS will be valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

What currency does Slovakia use?

Canada's travel advice says the currency of Slovakia is the euro (EUR).

Sources & verification

Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:

Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source