Details about visa for Slovakia and customs information

IMMIGRATION AND VISAS

Passport Requirements:

All travelers need a passport, except for the following:

1. Travelers who have a national identification card provided to:

a. Individuals of the Republic of Slovakia;

b. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

2. Passengers with a Hong Kong (Special Administrative Area of China) Identification Card.

3. Travelers with travel certificates given to Kosovo’s permanent inhabitants by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

4. Travelers who have travel permits provided by Israel to:

a. People of Israel (orange);

b. Israel’s foreign nationals (brown).

5. ‘Kinderausweis’ tourists, a German identification document given to children younger than 16 years of age. There is no requirement for the record to include a picture of the infant for children younger than ten years of age.

6. Refugees and individuals without nationality or citizenship, with travel certificates, provided under the United Nations (London 09/04/65).

7. The ‘Laissez-Passer’ Travelers.

8. Persons without citizenship or nationality and refugees holding travel certificates issued by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom according to Article 28 of the 1951 Geneva Convention.

Document Validity

Passports and substitute certificates, or any of them, must be valid for the length of the planned stay.

a. Passports and alternate certificates, or any of them, given to residents of the Slovak Republic, must be valid upon entry.

b. Citizens of the Slovak Republic can enter travel documents, which must be valid upon arrival.

Additional Information

Students, rather than their ethnicity, living in a Member State of the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland and participating as part of a school party within the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland do not require a passport given that:

1. They are indicated on the ‘List of Travelers’ stamped by the school and approved by the competent authority in their home country;

2. The school party is followed by one of the school’s teachers;

3. This’ Travelers List’ must include an image of the student.

N.B.

Not all Member States of the European Union issue this sort of ‘List of Travelers.’ Besides, the exception would NOT extend to the ‘List of Passengers’, which is stamped only by the school without pictures.

Visa Issuance

Before arrival: Visitors are kindly advised to update the nearby official of the Slovak Republic.

Visa Exemptions

All travelers must hold a visa, except as follows:

1. People of the Republic of Slovakia;

2. Travelers, irrespective of race, with a residency permit provided by one of the Schengen States or Monaco. This exception shall not extend to residents of the Republic of Kosovo.

3. Travelers are living for no longer than 90 days providing they have travel permits granted by the United Nations to refugees and people without nationality or nationality according to the Geneva Convention by Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Switzerland.

4. Travelers residing for no more than 90 days provided:

a. Turkish people who have special, diplomatic, or service passports;

b. People of Bosnia and Herzegovina with diplomatic passports;

c. ‘British Overseas Territories Resident’ which contains the label’ right of residence’ issued by the United Kingdom; or ‘British Subject,’ which also contains the label’ right of residence’ issued by the United Kingdom;

d. Travelers carrying passports from the Sovereign Military Order of Malta;

e. Citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Venezuela

f. Passengers with a ‘Laissez-Passer’ given by the U.N.;

g. British passport travelers who are endorsed by ‘British National (Overseas)’;

h. Travelers with passports given by Hong Kong (China Special Administrative Region) and Macau (China Special Administrative Region);

i. Official and diplomatic passports given that they are citizens of Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, Laos, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Republic of Serbia, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and the Republic of Yemen.

5. Travelers, irrespective of ethnicity, who live in Liechtenstein for no longer than five days and have evidence of their residency provided that they are in transit via the Schengen area and begin their journey to a country beyond the Schengen area, other than utilizing transport. This exception shall not extend to residents of the Republic of Kosovo.

6. Citizens of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

7. Travelers with British passports that are endorsed ‘British Citizen.’ 

8. Travelers with a temporary or permanent residence permit, which is issued by the Slovak Republic. 

TWOV (Transit Without Visa)

TWOV is permissible for Travelers continuing their trip towards a third country within 48 hours; and

1. holding tickets with confirmed reservations and all other necessary documents for their onward trip; and

2. Traveling from and moving to non-Schengen countries; and

3. Not permitted to exit the airport transit area;

a. For travel documents provided by Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (Kinshasa), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka, TWOV may not extend to people without nationality or citizenship, as they need an airport transit visa.

b. Individuals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (Kinshasa), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka who have a regular passport merchant seafarers need an airport transit visa at all occasions.

c. If you have a residency permit for Andorra, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland, Japan, Romania, San Marino, the United States of America, or the United Kingdom, travelers with regular passports can use the TWOV facility referred to above.

Additional Information

1. The cumulative stay indicated in any visa exemption shall not exceed six months.

Students, rather than their ethnicity, living in a Member State of the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland and traveling as part of a school party within the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland do not require a visa given that:

a. They are indicated on the ‘List of Travelers’ stamped by the school and approved by the competent authority in their home country;

b. The school team shall be followed by one of the teachers at that school; where the ‘List of Travelers’ is stamped only by the school and is not validated by the authority concerned or includes photographs of the pupils, each student shall have his/her travel documentation and proof of place of residence.

2. Citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, even when residing in another Schengen member state that has recognized Kosovo, require a category LTV visa that is valid for entering the Slovak Republic.

3. Travelers must have health assurance and enough money (at least USD 50 or its equivalent for each day of stay); traveler’s checks are accepted, but credit cards are not.

Exemptions:

a. Residents of Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Keith, Iran, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Palau Island, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates.

b. Persons without nationality or citizenship holding travel papers issued by Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros Island, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Republic of the Dominican Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Mali, Mauritania, Marshall Islands, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Marshall Islands, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe;

c. Citizens of European Economic Area member states and Switzerland;

d. Travelers with Palestinian travel papers;

e. Travelers with Chinese Taipei passports.

N.B.

The Travelers mentioned above must have at least USD 700 shown upon arrival except if they have:

1. Proof of the deposit in freely transferable foreign currency at the Slovak Consulate;

2. A coupon which may be provided by an accredited travel agent of the Slovak Republic covering all traveler’s expenses;

3. An invitation letter confirmed by the Passport and Visa Management Office in the event of a private tour.

Warnings

Suppose Passengers do not comply with the conditions of entry. In that case, the immigration officials have the power to detain any passenger who fails to comply with specific conditions at the airline’s expense. The airline would also be liable for a detention charge of EUR 85 (approximately USD 103) per passenger per day to cover the cost of remaining at the airport for deported passengers before the time of their departure.

CUSTOMS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Import Regulations

1. Travelers arriving with goods bought within the European Union for personal use only are allowed free import of:

a. tobacco products: 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos each weighing no more than three grams; 200 cigars; one kilogram of smoking tobacco;

b. alcoholic beverages: 10 liters of alcoholic drinks over 22%; 20 liters of alcoholic drinks less than 22%; 90 liters of wine but no more than 60 liters of sparkling wine; 110 liters of beer.

2. Travelers arriving from non-European Union countries including the Aland Islands, Canary Islands, Channel Islands, and other similar regions are allowed free import of: 

a. Travelers aged 17 years and over are permitted 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos each weighing not more than three grams, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco or a proportionate combination of these goods;

b. Travelers aged 17 years old and more are allowed one liter of alcoholic drinks over 22% volume, or non-denatured ethyl alcohol with more than 80% volume, or two liters of alcoholic drinks or aperitifs made of wine or similar drinks less than 22% volume, or sparkling wines or liqueur wines; or a proportional mixture of these products, and in addition to sixteen liters of beer and four liters of wine;

c. Medicines for personal use only;

d. Air Travelers are allowed other goods up to a total value of EUR 430 per adult Travelers.

3. Prohibited Goods

Animal products not originating in the Member States of the European Union, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland cannot be imported into the Member States of the European Union, excluding a small number of goods occurring in Andorra, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and limited amounts of specific products originating in other nations.  

Export Regulations

There are no restrictions on exporting all goods.

Further Information:

An export permit is required to export rare objects listed in the ‘List of Cultural Monuments.’ This export permits can be received from the ‘Slovak Commission for Parts of Cultural Inheritance.’ An authorization from the seller is required to export fine art and works of art, indicating no restriction on this work’s export. For further details about export allowances, local consulates may be contacted. 

Pets

Regulation (E.C.) No 998 of 2003 and Regulation (E.U.) 576 of 2013 apply to dogs and cats. Get in touch with the Ministry for Soil Management, Veterinary Department (www.svssr.sk). The veterinary test shall take place upon entry. Pre-notification of delivery should be submitted at least 24 hours before arrival to the airline’s station manager.

Baggage Clearance regulations

A traveler’s luggage should be cleared at the last port of entry.

Airport Tax

All Travelers are not required to pay any airport tax upon departing from the airport.

Currency Import Regulations

For travelers coming from or going to a country within the European Union, there are no limits on importing local currency (EUR-Euro) and foreign currencies. As long as travelers coming directly from or commuting to a country outside the European Union are concerned, import quantities of more than EUR 10,000 or equivalent in some other currency must be recorded, including cheques of any kind and banker’s draft.

Currency Export Regulations

There are no limits on the export of local currencies (EUR-Euro) and foreign currencies for passengers coming from or traveling to a country within the European Union. As long as passengers coming from or commuting to a country outside the European Union are concerned, import quantities of more than EUR 10,000 or equivalent in some other currency must be recorded, including cheques of any kind and banker’s draft.

Additional Information On Regulations

It is advised that a list of all valuable personal belongings (particularly sports equipment, tents, photo cameras, video cameras, and sleeping bags) be submitted or declared to the customs officer upon entry.

N.B.

If travel finishes within two days, only half and the amounts, as mentioned above, are permitted.

Arms And Ammunition Regulations

If the traveler is traveling with guns, it is essential to show a special accompanying license. It is possible to obtain this license from the local police department to export weapons. It is advised that this authorization be received from any consulate of the Slovak Republic abroad or the customs office at the airport of arrival for importing weapons. Citizens of the Slovak Republic must also show a weapons import permit. Different taxes are levied on both residents and non-residents for the import of weapons and ammunition upon entry.

Prohibited: Import of ammunition and firearms from the Russian Federation and Syria is not permissible. See https://sanctionsmap.eu/#/main/ for more information.