Slovakia’s immigration services and border guards are improving their communication with foreigners. The Border and Foreign Police Directorate (ÚHCP) has launched a large-scale educational project under which 500 employees will study foreign languages.
The main goal of the initiative is to improve the quality of service provided to individuals at Foreign Police (Cudzinecká polícia) offices, speed up document processing, and enhance the effectiveness of EU external border protection.
Which languages will law enforcement officers learn?
The training program covers six foreign languages:
English;
German;
Russian (as well as the Eastern European language group to facilitate communication with refugees and migrants);
French;
Spanish;
Italian.
These languages were selected based on the largest influxes of foreigners who apply for residence permits, temporary protection status, or visas, or who cross Slovakia’s borders.
Project Details and Timeline
The project “Support for the Professional Development and Language Skills of ÚHCP Employees” is being implemented with financial support from the European Union under the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF) 2021–2027.
Training period: January 2026 through November 2029;
Scope: In total, up to 500 agency employees nationwide will participate in the courses.
Why This Is Important for Foreigners in Slovakia
The language barrier in foreign police departments has long been one of the most pressing issues for foreign students, workers, and refugees. The new program is part of the National Action Plan developed based on the results of the 2024 Schengen Evaluation of Slovakia.
It is expected that improving police officers’ language skills will:
Reduce misunderstandings during the submission and verification of documents;
Speed up the processing of visitors at police stations;
Improve international cooperation and the protection of the Schengen Area’s external border.
