Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-slovakia
Change description : 2019-09-03 16:48:00: Brexit Update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating. [Brexit]
Showing diff : 2019-08-12 14:54:47 +00:00..2019-09-03 16:01:14 +00:00
Guidance
Official information for British people moving to and living in Slovakia, including Brexit guidance, residency, healthcare and driving.
This page tells you what to do ahead of Brexit. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.
You should:
register as resident in Slovakia
check your passport is valid for travel
Check the entry requirements for Slovakia.
If you’re staying in Slovakia for more than 3 months, you must register with your local foreign police department. You can also read the Ministry of the Interior’s guide to residence of foreign nationals in Slovakia. You can book your appointment online with the Slovak Foreigners Police Units.
If there is a deal, your residency rights will be recognised and preserved until the end of the implementation period.
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. For more information, you should read:
the Slovak Foreigners Police announcement on UK nationals’ rights in Slovakia in a no deal scenario
After the UK leaves the EU, UK nationals who did not register their residence before Exit Day will have to apply for residency as non-EU nationals.
In the event of changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit, we will update this page as soon as information is available.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Slovakia.
Read 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.
After Brexit, the rules on travel will change. 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 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.
If there’s no deal, you must 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.
If there’s no 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, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You must 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, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence.
Read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals living in and visiting Slovakia.
Health insurance is compulsory in Slovakia and there are 3 insurance companies you can use:
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 must not use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Slovakia.
When you travel from Slovakia for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:
For more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance
If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.
You can find English-speaking doctors in Slovakia.
You must check your prescriptions are legal in Slovakia.
If there is a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Slovakia will remain the same until the end of the implementation period, as long as you remain a resident in Slovakia.
If there’s no 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 must review your healthcare cover.
You must confirm your residency status and decide how you will ensure access to healthcare if there’s no deal. UK nationals will be able to return to the UK for treatment.
Your EHIC may not be valid if there’s no deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme if there’s no deal, however this is reliant on Slovakia continuing to accept UK EHICs.
Read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Slovakia and how it may change after Brexit.
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.
Read the guidance on providing services after Brexit if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after Brexit.
If there is a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.
The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Slovakia to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
Read guidance about:
You should obtain professional advice on paying tax in Slovakia. Find an English speaking lawyer in Slovakia.
Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your state pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
Brexit will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Slovakia. You should send your taxpayer queries about double taxation relief to the relevant tax authority.
If there’s no 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 there’s no deal.
If you retire in Slovakia you can claim:
your UK State Pension if you retire abroad or new UK State Pension
pensions from working abroad, if you have worked in other EU countries
If you have worked for at least 15 years and you have reached the retirement age as stipulated under Slovak law, you can claim your pension in Slovakia. You will only need to make one single application covering all the countries where you have worked. You can make your application in person at the nearest Social Insurance Agency’s branch (in Slovak).
If you have worked in the UK or any other EU Member State you need to indicate this on the form. The Slovak authorities will liaise with the relevant governments and agree on the amount that should be paid to you. Each EU Member State where you have worked will send you the appropriate pension payments separately to your bank account. The UK or Slovak authorities will contact you directly if they need further information.
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.
The UK government will continue to pay the State Pension to those eligible in the EU after Brexit and will uprate your UK State Pension for the fiscal year 2019/2020 in all Brexit scenarios.
If there is 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 Slovak pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.
If there’s no deal, the Slovak government will continue the current arrangements until the end of 2020. Periods of working in the UK while it was a member of the EU and before 31 December 2020 will count towards your Slovak pension. Periods of work beyond the end of 2020 will be subject to future negotiations. For more information, you can read the European Commission’s announcement on social security coordination in the event of a no deal.
Read our guidance on pensions if there’s no deal.
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
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit can’t be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
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.
The UK government will continue to pay child and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after Brexit.
If there is 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.
Read the guidance on benefits and pensions if there’s no deal.The Slovak government plans to continue the current arrangements until the end of 2020. This means that your rights will not change if you are a registered resident in Slovakia before the UK leaves the EU. For more information, you can read the European Commission’s information table on social security coordination in the event of a no deal.
If you are a resident in Slovakia, you must 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:
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.
If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.
If there’s no deal, the Slovak authorities will recognise UK driving licenses for driving in Slovakia.
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.
Read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
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.
After Brexit, 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.
If your child is born in Slovakia, you will need to register the birth abroad.
If someone dies in Slovakia you can:
Find out how you can get married abroad.
Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Slovakia.
You may also need:
Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.
You will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret when the UK leaves the EU. But the rules will change. You can read guidance on pet travel to Europe.
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 must visit your vet to obtain 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.
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..
Read guidance on:
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.
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.
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.
2025-08-14 14:51
Launch date of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has been added.
2025-07-03 11:35
Visa and residency was updated with information from the new Foreigners Act.
2025-02-11 16:20
Driving in Slovakia has been updated to reflect an increase in fees for exchanging a driver’s licence.
2024-10-25 12:37
The section about the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has been edited to reflect the postponement of the system’s launch, which had been planned for Autumn 2024.
2024-06-17 14:29
Information on the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) that will be introduced in Autumn 2024 has been added to the Passports and travel section.
2023-02-24 14:29
Guidance has been fully reviewed and updated.
2022-09-06 14:37
Added new guidance: ‘Before you go’ and ‘medicine’. Guidance reviewed and updated in the following sections: ‘healthcare’, ‘visas’, and ‘births, deaths, marriages, and civil partnerships’.
2022-04-28 14:17
Updated information in the “Passports and travel” section about the documents needed when travelling within the Schengen area.
2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the Working in Slovakia, and National insurance sections if you work in Slovakia, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2021-03-01 16:35
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines. Driving section updated with new guidance on exchanging your UK licence for a Slovak one.
2020-09-07 15:13
Major update on Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-06-29 16:33
Visas and residency section updated to include information about how to access the UK National Support Fund for those who may find it harder to complete their residency applications.
2020-01-23 14:58
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-09-23 16:47
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
2019-09-03 16:48
Brexit Update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-08-12 15:51
Brexit update: We have added new information on residency, pensions and benefits.
2019-06-04 09:43
EU Exit update: We have added new information in “Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU section”
2019-05-14 15:19
EU Exit update: We have added new information about pensions.
2019-04-17 15:35
EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in healthcare, visas and residency, passports, driving and working sections