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According to information published by the Slovak Police Force, as of 15 July 2026, third-country nationals who have been granted Temporary Protection in Slovakia may apply for temporary residence under the new provision of Section 131o of Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Foreigners.
This provision introduces a simplified procedure for persons with Temporary Protection who wish to transition to one of the purposes of temporary residence provided for under the Act on the Residence of Foreigners, namely business, employment, study, special activities, research and development, or family reunification.
How to submit an application
Applicants must first book an appointment through the Slovak Ministry of Interior’s online reservation system.
When making a reservation, applicants should select:
- Category of situations: “Temporary refuge”
- Situation: “Application for the issuance of a residence permit (temporary refuge)”
Applications for the transition from Temporary Protection to temporary residence cannot be processed if the appointment is booked under a different situation.
Appointments can be booked up to 21 days in advance.
Application period and conditions
Applications for temporary residence under Section 131o may be submitted from 15 July 2026 until the termination of Temporary Protection in Slovakia, provided that the applicant meets the conditions established by law.
The applicant must:
- have been granted Temporary Protection in Slovakia;
- apply for temporary residence for one of the purposes covered by Section 131o;
- have pursued the purpose for which temporary residence is requested for at least six months immediately before submitting the application;
- fulfil the legal requirements applicable to the specific purpose of temporary residence.
The specific requirements and supporting documents may differ depending on the purpose of temporary residence requested.
The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative, known as UNHCR’s DAFI scholarship programme, is offering refugee students, including students who have been granted Temporary Protection in Slovakia, the possibility to complete an undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in a Slovak university.🎓
DAFI scholars in Slovakia are receiving an allowance to cover costs such as accommodation, food, local transportation and study materials. Participation in the DAFI programme includes a variety of student activities and scholars are strongly encouraged to get involved in volunteering activities.
Applications for the academic year 2026/2027 have to be submitted in English through the DAFI online portal by 31 August 2026 at the latest: https://unhcr-dafi-tertiary.scholarshipsplatform.com/
Detailed information about the eligibility criteria and selection process can be found on the UNHCR Help site.
Following advocacy efforts of UNHCR partner organization Human Rights League (HRL), the Border and Foreign Police Bureau issued guidance in April 2026 clarifying that time spent under temporary protection must be counted towards the period of lawful and continuous residence required for long-term residence permits, helping ensure a uniform approach across Slovakia.
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More information is available on the HRL website: https://www.hrl.sk/sk/o-nas/aktuality/docasne-utocisko-sa-zapocitava-do-doby-potrebnej-pre-udelenie-dlhodobeho-pobytu?utm_source=chatgpt.com
1 March 2026: Due to recent legislative changes in Ukraine, all Ukrainian pensioners residing abroad must complete a verification procedure in order to continue receiving pension payments.
How to Complete Verification
You can complete the procedure through one of the following modalities:
1. Diia Application
Via Diia Signature on the PFU web portal or the PFU mobile app ( video guide is available here)
2. Videoconference Verification via the PFU Portal
You may request a video call via the PFU portal or by calling the hotline: 0800 503 753.
Calls are usually scheduled within 10–30 days and conducted via Google Meet, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Viber, or Zoom.
You will be asked to present your original passport/ID and pension certificate during the call.
3. Verification at a Ukrainian Consulate
Visit the nearest Ukrainian consulate to confirm your identity and place of residence.
You will receive a certificate of identity, which you can upload via the PFU portal to complete verification.
4. In-Person Verification in Ukraine
If you are currently in Ukraine, you can visit any PFU service centre.
Please note: Due to the suspension of thousands of pensions in January 2026, long queues are currently reported nationwide.
Additional Requirement for Pensioners from Temporarily Occupied Territories (ToTs)
If you are from the ToTs, you must confirm that you are not receiving a pension from the Russian Federation, by doing one of the following:
- Selecting the relevant declaration box in your PFU online account
- Stating this explicitly during videoconference verification
- Sending a written declaration by email or postal mail to the PFU
After completing all steps, please verify that your PFU personal account reflects the correct date of verification and declaration. You may check this online or by contacting the PFU hotline (0800 503 753).
Need More Help?
For more information and technical support completing the verification process through the Diia app or PFU portal please contact the UNHCR Regional Contact Centre (RCC). Additional information will also soon be available viathe Ukraine is Home website: https://ukraineishome.org/
8 January 2026: As officially announced by the Ministry of the Interior , a Foreign Police Unit has been opened in Snina on 2 January 2026. It is located within the premises of the Snina District Office, at Partizánska 1057/21 .
This unit will primarily handle:
- Exchange of paper Temporary Protection documents for new plastic ID cards
- Registration of new applicants for Temporary Protection.
Snina Opening Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 08:00–15:00; Wednesday: 09:00–17:00; Friday: 08:00–14:00
Appointments are mandatory and must be booked through the updated reservation system .
IMPORTANT: If you recently came to Slovakia, here you can find information about the possibility to seek protection (asylum) in Slovakia, and about the document “Potvrdenie o zotrvaní” you may have been issued.
This information was prepared by the organization Human Rights League and is available for download in the following language versions: Arabic, English, Pashto, Turkish, and Slovak.
If you seek more information about asylum in Slovakia, please click here.
The information on international protection in Slovakia is available for download in the following language versions: Arabic, English, Persian, French, Kurdish, Pashto, Russian, Slovak, Swahili, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
On this website, you will be able to find information about:
