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Student visa for Slovakia
Money to show for the visa: The subsistence minimum for each month of stay: €295.22 a month. Work while you study: Up to 80 hours a month for university students. Checked against the official pages on 24 September 2026.
The numbers
- Money you must show
- The subsistence minimum for each month of stay: €295.22 a month
- Visa fee
- Temporary residence application free; €4.50 for the residence card (€24.50 expedited)
- Work while you study
- Up to 80 hours a month for university students
- Stay after you graduate
- 30 days automatically, or a 9-month renewal to look for work or start a business
The figure is uprated every 1 July; €295.22 is the rate shown by the IOM Migration Information Centre after the July 2026 uprating. It was €284.13 before.
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; IOM Migration Information Centre, checked 2026-09-24
It is a temporary residence permit, not a visa. A national visa to collect a granted permit costs €14.
SAIA (Research in Slovakia); Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, checked 2026-09-24
No work permit needed within that limit. Some official pages still show an older 20 hours a week.
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, updated 16 December 2024, checked 2026-09-24
Apply for the 9-month renewal no later than the last day your current residence is valid.
IOM Migration Information Centre, updated 31 July 2026, checked 2026-09-24
Worth knowing: Slovak-taught degrees are free but foreign-language programmes charge fees, and the work limit is 80 hours a month rather than a weekly figure.
The visa
Slovakia grants a temporary residence permit for the purpose of study, not a student visa. You apply to the Foreign Police, either in Slovakia or at a Slovak embassy abroad. If you need a visa to enter, the embassy can issue a national visa so you can travel and collect your permit.
Fees. The application for temporary residence for study is free. You pay €4.50 for the residence card (issued within 30 days) or €24.50 for expedited issue within two working days, according to SAIA. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs lists the national visa at €14 where it is needed in connection with a residence permit already granted, and €90 where the visa is issued so you can apply for residence at the Foreign Police in Slovakia.
Processing: now 90 days. From 15 July 2026, the Foreign Police decide on applications for granting or renewing temporary residence for study within 90 days, according to the IOM Migration Information Centre. Earlier sources, including the Ministry's page, say 30 days. Plan for 90.
The money. You must show that your stay is financially secured in the amount of the subsistence minimum for each month of stay. The subsistence minimum for an adult is uprated every 1 July; the IOM Migration Information Centre shows €295.22 a month after the July 2026 uprating, up from €284.13 from July 2025. For a year that is about €3,543. The Ministry accepts:
- A bank statement covering the last three months
- A scholarship confirmation
- A confirmation from a legal entity covering your costs, or an affidavit of support with the sponsor's bank statements
Documents must be no older than 90 days. University students do not need to submit proof of accommodation.
The subsistence minimum is a legal floor far below what living costs. Do not budget to it.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
No student visa is needed: citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland may live and study in Slovakia. For more than three months you normally register your residence after you arrive, and show that you are enrolled, insured and can support yourself.
Where to apply
At the embassy or consulate of Slovakia that covers your country, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.
Official pages: mzv.sk · researchinslovakia.saia.sk · mzv.sk · mic.iom.sk · mic.iom.sk · mic.iom.sk. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.
Government scholarships to study in Slovakia
- National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic open, closes 30 April 2027
Which of these are open to your nationality
By nationality
From Algeria
From Armenia
From Azerbaijan
From Bangladesh
From Brazil
From Cameroon
From Canada
From China
From Colombia
From Egypt
From Ethiopia
From Georgia
From Ghana
From India
From Indonesia
From Iran
From Iraq
From Japan
From Jordan
From Kazakhstan
From Kenya
From Lebanon
From Malaysia
From Mexico
From Morocco
From Nepal
From Nigeria
From Pakistan
From Philippines
From Russia
From Saudi Arabia
From Senegal
From South Africa
From South Korea
From Sri Lanka
From Syria
From Tanzania
From Tunisia
From Türkiye
From Uganda
From Ukraine
From United Arab Emirates
From United States
From Uzbekistan
From Vietnam
From ZimbabweQuestions students ask
How much money do I need to show for a Slovakia student visa?
The subsistence minimum for each month of stay: €295.22 a month. The figure is uprated every 1 July; €295.22 is the rate shown by the IOM Migration Information Centre after the July 2026 uprating. It was €284.13 before. (Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; IOM Migration Information Centre, checked 2026-09-24).
How much is the student visa fee for Slovakia?
Temporary residence application free; €4.50 for the residence card (€24.50 expedited).
Can international students work in Slovakia?
Up to 80 hours a month for university students.
Can I stay in Slovakia after I graduate?
30 days automatically, or a 9-month renewal to look for work or start a business.
Do EU citizens need a student visa for Slovakia?
No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and study in Slovakia without a student visa. For a stay of more than three months they normally register their residence after arriving.
This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.