Immigrate to Slovakia from the UK

Slovakia is one of the emerging economies of the European Union which makes it very appealing for those who want to move here and be part of the ongoing development of this country. Among these, UK citizens have started showing a great interest in immigrating to Slovakia, considering the recent exit of the British from the EU.

If you are among those who want to immigrate to Slovakia from the UK in 2026, you can rely on the support of our law firm who can help you obtain a Slovak residence permit. You can also rely on our Slovak lawyers for other services related to business or immigration matters.

Slovakia in the context of UK’s Withdrawal Agreement

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, the UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020 (the transition period ended on 31 December 2020) and this has led to the enabling of the Withdrawal Agreement under which British citizens who were living in Slovakia before 1 January 2021 keep broadly the same rights as before Brexit, while those arriving later are treated as non-EU nationals.

Quick Facts
Visa requirements for UK nationals	No, for stays not exceeding 90 days.
Available facilities (if any)	Slovakia is part of the Schengen Area; the UK is not, so UK nationals can stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Requirement to apply for a residence permit (YES/NO)	Yes, for stays of more than 90 days.
Relocation options	– studentship, – employment and self-employment, – investment, – family reunion.
Residence permit types	British citizens can obtain temporary and permanent residence visas.
Permanent residence requirements	– staying in the country for the minimum required period, – not committing any crime on Slovak territory, – being able to prove one’s financial stability.
Access to investor/citizenship by investment visa	Yes.
Family reunification visa availability (YES/NO)	Yes, family reunion visas are available in the form of temporary residence permits.
Timeframe to have a residence permit issued (approx.)	Around 30 days, provided all documents are in order.
Timeframe to obtain permanent residency in Slovakia as a British national	5 years.
Citizenship requirements	Living in Slovakia for at least 8 years.
Possibility to acquire real estate (YES/NO)	Yes, British nationals can buy real estate in Slovakia.
Slovakia-UK double tax treaty (YES/NO)	Yes, the 1990 UK–Czechoslovakia convention still applies, as modified by the MLI (effective from 2019).
Dual citizenship allowed by Slovakia (YES/NO)	Yes.
Support in moving to Slovakia from the United Kingdom (YES/NO)	Yes, our lawyers in Slovakia offer immigration services to UK nationals.

The conditions also apply to UK citizens who have moved to Slovakia and who do not need to comply with additional requirements if they are Slovak residents. For those who have not completed the immigration procedures yet, the Withdrawal Agreement no longer helps: those arriving since 2021 follow the rules for non-EU nationals.

Our lawyers in Slovakia can help UK citizens with the procedures of relocation here.

Types of residence permits of UK citizens in Slovakia in 2026

There are several ways under which one can immigrate to Slovakia from the UK, and these are:

through employment;
through self-employment;
through business;
through a student visa;
through an investor visa.

All types of visas can lead to permanent residency followed by citizenship in Slovakia provided that the living requirements are met.

All conditions related to immigration to Slovakia under one of the visas presented above can be explained by our lawyers. They can also provide assistance in divorce matters in Slovakia.

How to immigrate to Slovakia from the UK as an employee

Employment is one of the best ways for British citizens to move not only to Slovakia but to an EU country. They can do that by getting hired by a local company or through company relocation. Applying for an EU Blue Card is also an option for those interested in moving to Slovakia from the UK.

Since the salary is one of the most important aspects to consider in terms of relocation through employment, here is some useful information in this sense:

the average salary, on the other hand, is about EUR 1,130 after taxes;
for EU Blue Card holders, the minimum gross monthly salary is 1.2 times the average monthly wage in the Slovak economy for the previous year.

When can a UK citizen become a resident of Slovakia

Permanent residency is the main goal of most foreign citizens who move to Slovakia and this right can also be obtained by UK citizens provided that:

he or she has an indefinite work contract with a Slovak company;
he or she is self-employed or runs a business as a sole trader in Slovakia;
he or she is a student and has sufficient funds to support their stay in Slovakia;
he or she has sufficient funds to support him/herself and health insurance in Slovakia;
he or she is in Slovakia with the purpose of finding employment.

UK citizens who already have family members established in Slovakia can move here under family reunification.

It should be noted that since the end of the Brexit transition period (31 December 2020), UK citizens looking to immigrate to Slovakia must obtain a residence permit for stays over 90 days, like other non-EU nationals.

We kindly invite you to discuss your options with our lawyers in Slovakia for updated information depending on the period you decide to immigrate here. If you plan to move to Slovakia in 2026, our law firm is at your disposal with complete services.

If you have relocated to Slovakia and decided to apply for a passport, there are several things you should note. Among them, that even if there isn’t a separate citizenship exam in Slovakia, you must submit documentation of your language proficiency and attend an interview when you submit your application.

What is the simplest way to immigrate to Slovakia from the UK?

The conditions for immigration to Slovakia are not harsh, as there is a rather large community of expats from all over Europe that lives here. Depending on the skills, qualifications, and work experience of a UK citizen, relocation to Slovakia can be quite easy whether he or she finds employment or starts a business here.

Stating a business in Slovakia is much easier and less bureaucratic compared to other similar countries which is why it is worth considering this option. It is also one of the easiest ways to permanent residency once a British citizen becomes a shareholder in a local company.

No matter the choice, immigration applications are submitted to a Foreign Police department (part of the Police Force under the Ministry of Interior) or a Slovak embassy or consulate.

Foreign citizens who want to relocate to Slovakia can rely on us.

The Slovak Golden Visa Scheme

Slovakia’s residency by investment scheme is similar to other EU countries’ programs, as it imposes a specific amount of money to be invested, and it also requires the investment to be made in a local business.

The program comes with several advantages, among which the following are worth mentioning:

Slovakia offers a cheap labor force and progressive income tax rates (19% to 35% for individuals; 10%, 21% or 24% for companies);
the minimum amount to be invested is set at 30 million euros and 50 new jobs under the Act on Significant Investments (halved in the least developed districts);
permanent residence can be obtained after 5 years of living here;
Slovak citizenship is available after 8 years of dwelling here.

Altering the purpose of residence in Slovakia

Foreign citizens, including British nationals, can apply to the Foreign Police department to convert the purpose of temporary residence obtained through business after 2 years from obtaining it.

In the case of students, after successfully completing studies (passing the final exam) at a secondary school in Slovakia or after earning the first, second, or third degree of university education (no matter whether they completed the university abroad or in Slovakia), it is possible to change from temporary residence for study to another purpose at the same Foreign Police department.

It is also important to note that when submitting an application to live in Slovakia, the national visa validity duration was extended from 90 to 120 days.

If you are interested in immigrating to Slovakia from the UK and need assistance, please contact our local law firm. We can assist foreign citizens from other states who want to relocate to Slovakia in 2026.