With the new academic year approaching, the Migration Police of Slovakia appeals to foreign students with a strong request not to delay booking an appointment to submit documents for obtaining a student dočasné útočisko (temporary residence permit). A significant influx of applicants is expected, and the number of available slots, as law enforcement warns, is limited.
Why is it important to act quickly?
Every year before the start of the school season, police departments for foreigners face a large number of people wishing to submit documents. Delaying the reservation may result in you simply not getting the residence permit before the start of studies. This can create significant difficulties and even threaten your status in the country.
How to register for document submission?
For online appointment booking, you need to select the section «Ostatné životné situácie» (Other life situations). This applies both to the initial submission of documents and to the extension of the residence permit.
Important changes in 2026:
From July 15, 2026, changes to the Act on the Stay of Foreigners came into force in Slovakia. One of the key innovations is the extension of the processing time for temporary residence applications for study purposes to 90 days (previously it was 30 days). This is another reason not to postpone submitting documents to have enough time for your application to be processed.
Where to submit documents?
When applying for a student residence permit for the first time, you can choose any police department for foreigners in any city in Slovakia, regardless of your place of study. However, for extending the residence permit, you usually need to contact the department at your place of registration.
What is needed for online booking (for those who already have a residence permit)?
If you already have a valid dočasné útočisko with a chip and are registered on the Slovensko.sk portal, you will need an activated BOK (bezpečnostný osobný kód – personal security code). This will allow you to book appointments 60 days in advance.
For those who do not yet have a residence permit or are not registered in the national foreigners database, booking is available 40 days in advance, and you will need to manually enter your personal data.
Additional advice:
Documents: Make sure all your documents are current and translated into Slovak by a certified translator. Most documents should not be older than 90 days at the time of submission.
Financial support: For 2026, the recommended amount of financial support is about 3500–4000 euros per year.
Health insurance: You must have valid health insurance for the entire period of stay.
Centers for foreigners: International students can get free support on residence permits, integration, and daily matters at Centers for Foreigners, which operate in several regions of Slovakia.
Remember, timely submission of documents is the key to successful and trouble-free studies in Slovakia.
