Digital Nomad Visa in Slovakia

Many countries have started creating digital nomad visa programs to keep up with this trend. This is also the case in many European countries, even if Slovakia is not among them yet. Even so, foreign citizens who want to live and work from here have several options.

Below, we invite you to discover the main alternatives to a digital nomad visa in Slovakia. You can always rely on the support of our immigration lawyers in Slovakia if you want to move here. We can also help you if you need to obtain a digital nomad visa in the UAE or another attractive country.

Digital nomads in Slovakia

Even if there is no digital nomad visa in Slovakia, the number of people who moved here during the COVID-19 pandemic was significant. The lower living costs compared to other European and EU countries and the excellent internet infrastructure have made people choose the capital, Bratislava. For example, the average rental cost of an apartment in Bratislava is approximately 700 euros, which is quite low compared to other European cities.

Another reason to choose immigration to Slovakia, especially for EU citizens, is that they don’t need to apply for a visa to enter the country.

For non-EU citizens, however, different rules apply if they come from their home countries directly here. For this purpose, our lawyers in Slovakia can assist with tailored immigration services.

What is a digital nomad visa?

A digital nomad visa offers the possibility for foreign citizens to live and work for a limited period of time in another country. However, in order to qualify for such a visa, there are several important conditions to meet, among which:

• for the duration of the visa to be limited;
• for the employer of the foreign worker to be a company registered in a country other than the one of the employee works from;
• the foreign citizen must have a specific income that meets the minimum living conditions in the country he/she has moved to.

As there is no digital nomad visa in Slovakia yet, foreign citizens who decide to move here do not need to meet such requirements; however, they still need to comply with specific conditions.

If you want to move to Slovakia and work from here, our immigration lawyers in Slovakia can help you find a suitable relocation option, including if you are a digital nomad.

Alternatives to the digital nomad visa in Slovakia

While EU citizens do not need to apply for visas to enter the country, they still need to be able to support themselves during their duration of stay here. Moreover, their work must allow them to be completed remotely. If you want to have an idea about the average living costs in Slovakia, these are a little over 600 euros per month per person without the rent.

For non-EU citizens, the following options are available as alternatives to the digital nomad visa in Slovakia:

• tourist visas that have a validity of 3 months, and can be used for staying here for this period of time;
• business visas can also be obtained for staying in Slovakia for 90 days within a maximum period of 180 days (this is also a multi-entry visa);
• temporary residence permits can also be obtained by digital nomads who want to work from Slovakia; a temporary residence permit for business purposes is granted for 3 years;
• for temporary residency purposes, applicants must submit proof of a minimum monthly income of nearly 250 euros.

Applications for Slovak visas are submitted at Slovak embassies or consulates, and residence permit applications also at the Foreign Police departments in Slovakia; the Migration Information Centre only provides free advice.

Business residence visas – an alternative for digital nomads in Slovakia

Freelancers can apply for business residence permits if they want to work remotely from Slovakia. However, it must be noted that starting in July 2025, new rules apply for this type of visa. Specifically, the annual quota for foreigners who could enter a start a business in Slovakia based on it was reduced to 700.

As a freelancer, this visa would also enable you to have clients in the local market. As such, if you are searching for an alternative to a digital nomad visa and are considering this option, you can obtain updated information from our lawyers in Slovakia.

Changes in the validity of temporary residence permits

The new immigration regulations come with several changes, some of the most important covering the validity of certain residence permits. As a digital nomad, you will be interested in the following:

• the validity of the type D national visa (issued to collect a residence permit) is now 120 days from the previous 90 days;
• the entrepreneurial residence visa is issued for 3 years, directly from the previous up to 3 years condition.

Changes also occur in the documents required when filing for any type of visa or Slovak residence permit. The following are to be considered:

• the requirement of adding color photographs to the application has been cancelled;
• for financial self-sufficiency, a bank account balance certificate will be the only document required.

Such changes will directly influence residence permit applicants and digital nomads. We invite all categories of people to ask for detailed information from our Slovak lawyers to ensure compliance with the new rules.

The digital nomad visa vs. temporary residency in Slovakia

While many countries decide to implement specific visas for digital nomads, others, which is also the case of Slovakia, have not taken this measure yet. In most cases, a digital nomad visa clarifies the conditions of work and duration of stay for remote workers. It also comes with specific income requirements, which is its downside.

When opting for a visa or temporary residence permit, you may enjoy the following as a digital nomad:

• the possibility to expand your client base in Slovakia, as such a restriction is not in place, which is the case with a digital nomad visa;
• temporary residence permits have longer validity than digital nomad visas;
• a temporary residence visa also enables you to settle in Slovakia permanently, should you decide on this option.

On the other hand, you can choose one of the available types of short-term stay visas in Slovakia and then move on to the next destination, which is the main purpose of a digital nomad.

If you are interested in applying for a digital nomad visa in Slovakia, do not hesitate to contact our law firm for information and support in moving here temporarily or permanently. You can also rely on us for permanent immigration to Slovakia.