Living in Slovakia

EU Exit updates

• sign up for email alerts to this guidance
• read UK nationals in the EU: essential information
• read the Slovak government’s announcement on the rights of UK nationals living, working and studying in Slovakia if the UK leaves the EU without a deal
• read the Slovak Foreigners Police information for UK nationals on residence in relation to EU Exit
• register for our outreach events
• follow your local British Embassy on Facebook and Twitter

Residency and visas

You may want to check the entry requirements for Slovakia.

If you’re staying in Slovakia for more than 3 months, you have to register with your local foreign police department (in Slovak). See also residence of foreign nationals in Slovakia.

Residency and visas after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Slovak government has stated that if you register your stay with the Foreigners Police before the day the UK leaves the EU, you will be entitled to permanent residency. After the UK leaves the EU, UK nationals will need to apply for residency as a non-EU national.

In the event of changes to residency rules or registration processes after the UK leaves the EU, we will update this page as soon as information is available. Sign up for email updates to this guide on living in Slovakia to get the latest information.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Slovakia. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’.

You can look at our travel advice for Slovakia and sign up for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

Read our guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, new travel rules will apply. You should have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU country, within a 180 day period. You should retain evidence of travel (e.g. train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU Member State, you will be able to transit through other EU Member States to reach your country of residence. We will update this guidance as more information becomes available.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

Healthcare

The NHS has more information about healthcare for UK nationals living in and visiting Slovakia.

Health insurance is compulsory in Slovakia and there are 3 insurance companies you can use:

• Union zdravotná poisťovňa

• Dôvera zdravotná poisťovňa

• Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa

Your employer will pay contributions to your health insurance on your behalf.

You need to take your insurance card when visiting a doctor.

If you live in Slovakia and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

If you are resident in Slovakia, you should not be using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Slovakia.

• you may use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland
• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
• for more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

You can find English-speaking doctors in Slovakia. You should also check your prescriptions are legal in Slovakia.

Healthcare after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Slovakia will remain the same until 31 December 2020, as long as you remain a resident in Slovakia.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Slovak government has said that all UK nationals in Slovakia will be able to access healthcare until at least the end of 2020. We will update this guidance when there is more information.

If you are a resident you should review the status of your healthcare cover.

You should take action now to confirm your residency status and decide what steps you need to take to ensure access to healthcare if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. UK nationals will be able to return to the UK for treatment.

Your EHIC may not be valid in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme should the UK leave the EU without a deal, however this is reliant on Slovakia continuing to accept UK EHICs.

You should read the NHS’s guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Slovakia and how it may change after the UK leaves the EU.

Working in Slovakia

Read our guidance on working in another EU country..

You may need to apply for a UK police certificate..

Your employer must notify the local labour office within 7 working days of you starting your job.

Working in Slovakia after the UK leaves the EU

If you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after the UK leaves the EU, further guidance can be found here..

If the UK leaves with a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of implementation period.

Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Slovakia to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

You should read the guidance on:

• telling HMRC if you leave the UK to live abroad

• tax on your UK income if you live abroad.

• paying income tax in Slovakia

We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Slovakia. Find an English speaking lawyer in Slovakia.

National Insurance

You may be able to pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

Money and tax after the UK leaves the EU

The UK leaving the European Union will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Slovakia. You should direct individual taxpayer queries about double taxation relief to the relevant tax authority.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it may become more expensive to use your bank card in Slovakia. Read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Pensions

If you retire in Slovakia you can claim:

• your UK State Pension if you retire abroad or new UK State Pension. Please contact the International Pensions Centre to claim

• your Slovak pension if you have worked in Slovakia, by submitting a written application to your local social security office

• pensions from working abroad, if you have worked in other EU countries

Life Certificates

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

Pensions after the UK leaves the EU

The UK Government will continue to pay state pension to those eligible in the EU after the UK’s leaves the EU. Find guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario.

The UK government will uprate your UK state pension for the fiscal year 2019/2020 in any scenario.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Slovakia, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Slovakian pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Slovakia. You should:

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live abroad

• use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while you’re abroad

If you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit can’t be paid.

You may be eligible to claim some Slovak social security benefits.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Benefits after the UK leaves the EU

The UK Government will continue to pay child and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Slovakia, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Slovak contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario.

Driving in Slovakia

If you are a resident in Slovakia, you should exchange your UK licence for a Slovak driving licence after 185 days. You can still use your Slovak licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

Read our guidance on:

• driving licence renewal and exchange

• what you need to drive abroad

• road travel in Slovakia

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Slovakia

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK. You should read the European Union’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Slovakia. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.

Driving in Slovakia after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Slovak authorities will recognise UK driving licenses for driving in Slovakia.

You may want to consider exchanging your UK licence for a Slovak one if you plan to drive to other EU countries. You can exchange your UK driving licence on a voluntary basis if you have been residing in Slovakia for at least 6 months. We advise you to check the Foreign Office Travel advice for any EU Member States that you intend to drive through.

Please read our guidance on driving in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote

• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

If you’re resident in Slovakia, you can vote in local municipal and European parliamentary elections. You can read the European Union’s guidance on voting in Slovakia.

Voting after the UK leaves the EU

After the UK leaves the EU, you will continue to be able to vote and stand in local elections. You will no longer be eligible to vote in European Parliament elections.

Births, deaths, getting married

If your child is born in Slovakia, you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Slovakia you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad

• read guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Slovakia

• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Slovakia

Find out how you can get married abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Slovakia.

You may also need:

• English-speaking lawyers in Slovakia

• translators and interpreters in Slovakia

• notary and documentary services for Slovakia

Accommodation and buying property

Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.

Pets

When the UK leaves the EU, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret but the rules will change. You can read guidance on pet travel to Europe after the UK leaves the EU.

While the UK is still a Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport. If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you’ll have to visit your vet to get a pet passport.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK. For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number 112 or Slovakia also has:

• 150 for fire and rescue

• 155 for emergency medical service

• 158 for police

You can read a list of emergency numbers in Slovakia.

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British embassy in Bratislava.

Returning to the UK

You should read our guidance on:

• returning to live in the UK

• returning to live in the UK in the case of no-deal

• bringing your family to the UK

• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding

• importing vehicles back to the UK

• bringing your pet back to the UK

• checking your tax status after returning to the UK

You should tell the Slovak and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

You need to return your residence card to your local foreign police department when you leave Slovakia.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

Check if your tax status will change if you return to the UK.

If you get healthcare in Slovakia through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Slovakian authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.