The option of emigrating to Slovakia is suitable for those who are not ready for drastic changes. They will love this Slavic country, which treats people from neighboring eastern countries well. The population here is friendly, professes Christianity, and respects family values. In addition, the language resembles a Russian-Ukrainian-Czech mix and is not difficult to learn. As for the economy, it showed stable growth even during times of crisis.
Slovakia on the map
Grounds for obtaining Slovak citizenship
Naturalization
Having lived in Slovakia for more than 8 years, you can apply for citizenship. To do this, you will have to prove your integration (naturalization) into Slovak society. An education diploma, an employment contract, and a successfully operating company will do.
Family reunion and marriage
Spouses of subjects of the Slovak Republic can apply for citizenship after five years of marriage. At the same time, you need to live in the country, under one roof and run a joint household.
Minors, unmarried children or disabled children who require care can also be reunited with their family.
By birth
Children have the right to automatically obtain citizenship if at least one of their parents is a citizen of Slovakia. In this case, the place of birth (republic or abroad) does not matter.
Children born in Slovakia also become citizens if:
- their parents are stateless;
- the parents are foreigners, but at birth the child did not receive the citizenship of either of them.
Adopted children and minors found on the territory of Slovakia and whose parents have not been identified can also apply for citizenship.
Business in Slovakia
The republic has fairly favorable conditions for those wishing to do business in Slovakia. When applying for a business residence permit, you will need to provide a business plan and proof of funds to start it. If the plan is recognized as real and conducive to the development of the republic, a residence permit is issued for 2 years. Family members are also allowed to come with the businessman.
Buying real estate in Slovakia, does this affect obtaining citizenship?
You cannot become a Slovak citizen simply by purchasing real estate. However, having your own home will be a plus when you receive it, as it proves your intention to stay for a long time and integrate into Slovak society.
Reasons
The procedure for moving to Slovakia is complex and, as with other EU countries, it takes a long period of time. But why do Russians apply for passports from this European state?
Intensive migration to Slovakia from Russia is due to the following reasons:
- similar cultures and mentality;
- high quality of life;
- a number of benefits and convenient features of business legislation when opening a private business.
So, in order to emigrate from Russia and obtain Slovak citizenship, a Russian must go through the following three stages:
- Registration of a temporary residence permit valid for a year (sometimes longer) with the possibility of extension;
- Registration of a permanent residence permit (PR). You can count on this status after 5 years of stay in Slovakia on the basis of a residence permit and it has an unlimited validity period. The rights provided are completely similar to those provided by a passport of a citizen of Slovakia, with the exception of the opportunity to participate in the political life of the state (voting and employment in the civil service);
- After receiving permanent resident status, a Russian can apply for Slovak citizenship.
But to immigrate to Slovakia, a certain reason for moving is required. The most common:
- family reunification;
- business immigration;
- naturalization;
- obtaining political asylum.
At family reunion
If a Russian has relatives among the citizens of Slovakia, then his chances of obtaining citizenship of this state increase significantly. The immigration police cannot refuse applicants moving to live with their relatives without serious reasons (the applicant has problems with the law, submits false information, etc.).
The following relatives of Slovak citizens can apply for citizenship through family reunification:
- adult spouses;
- minor children;
- adult children aged 18 to 25 years who are dependent due to health problems.
How to obtain Slovak citizenship when purchasing real estate?
But is it possible, with significant income, to obtain Slovak citizenship for investing in real estate? Unfortunately, there are no potential investors. The presence of real estate contributes to obtaining a Slovak residence permit, but does not give the right to apply for citizenship of this EU state.
The same applies to other investment programs. Unlike other European countries, it is not possible to obtain a Slovak passport on the basis of financial contributions to the country's economy. An exception is business immigration, in which the applicant either opens his own company or becomes a co-founder of an enterprise already opened in the territory of the Slovak Republic.
Upon marriage
Immigration through marriage with a Slovak citizen also falls under the family reunification program. But there are nuances here. First of all, the couple must prove that their marriage is not fictitious. For this purpose, the relevant documents are provided (the list is further in the article). Also, spouses may be required to undergo an interview and fill out a questionnaire with a series of simple questions about the tastes, preferences and interests of the partner.
Process for obtaining Slovak citizenship in 2021
Slovak passport
An application for Slovak citizenship is submitted to the regional office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence in Slovakia. Adult applicants submit packages of documents for themselves and minor children. Persons over 14 years of age must also apply in person. At the same time, their applications must be signed by their parents.
Requirements for an applicant for citizenship
You can apply for Slovak citizenship if the foreigner:
- Permanently resides in the territory of the republic for the required number of years on the basis of permanent residence (8 for naturalization, 5 for spouses) or 10 years in total for residence permit and permanent residence;
- Fluent in the Slovak language and general knowledge of the values of the republic;
- Has a good reputation (no criminal record or prosecution within 5 years before applying for citizenship);
- Fulfilled the requirements for foreigners while living in the republic (has health and social insurance, makes pension savings, pays taxes, etc.).
Permanent residence requires absence from Slovakia for no more than 180 days per trip or in total for the year.
Obtaining residence permit and permanent residence
An application for a temporary residence permit can be submitted both to the diplomatic mission of the country of residence, and to the police department for foreigners already in Slovakia. In the latter case, you need to be in the country with a national visa. A tourist Schengen visa will not allow you to apply. The reason for applying may be study, work, family reunification, or running a business.
After several years (usually 2-3) of living in Slovakia on the basis of a residence permit, you can apply for permanent residence. It can be for a period of 5 years or indefinite.
Collection and submission of documents
Documents must be completed in Slovak. Documents from the country of origin must be translated and certified by a Slovak court translator.
The following must be attached to the application for Slovak citizenship:
- short biography;
- international passport or other identification document;
- birth certificate;
- civil status certificates (marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, etc.);
- proof of legal residence in the republic (permanent residence);
- certificate of good conduct.
Also, depending on the reason for applying for citizenship, an employment contract, a certificate from the employer about the payment of taxes and health insurance for employees, an extract from the trade register for entrepreneurs, a bank statement and confirmation of self-payment of insurance premiums may be required.
Exam on knowledge of language, history, laws of the country
A potential new citizen's level of knowledge of the language and values of Slovakia is checked when submitting an application. For this purpose, a commission of 3 people is created at Obvodný Úrad (district department of the migration service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) or at the diplomatic mission of the republic abroad.
Children under 14 years of age and persons who have made a significant economic, scientific, technical, cultural, social or sporting contribution to Slovakia are exempt from the exam.
How is the exam going?
The exam is an interview during which questions are asked about the family, as well as general ones (history, geography, socio-political development of the Slovak Republic). The applicant must also read a newspaper article of at least 500 words in length that has not been seen before. After this, half an hour is given to write down what you read.
A report on the results of the interview is completed on the day of testing knowledge of the language and values of the republic.
Preparation
There are no special courses to prepare for an interview. Slovaks believe that 5-8 years is enough to learn a language at home or in special courses or online.
Time frame for obtaining citizenship
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia.
Slovak officials can consider an application from a potential new citizen for up to 24 months. The period may be extended if it is necessary to obtain the opinion of other government agencies in Slovakia.
If the decision is positive, you will need to take an oath and receive a certificate of citizenship. After this, all that remains is to issue Slovak identity documents.
How much does it cost to obtain citizenship?
The fee for granting Slovak citizenship is;
- 100 euros for children under 15 years old;
- 150 euros for minors from 15 to 18 years old;
- 700 euros for adult applicants.
Refugees are exempt from paying fees.
The fee must be paid only after a positive decision on granting citizenship.
Advantages of Slovak citizenship for Russians, Ukrainians and other foreigners
An immigrant who has acquired citizenship has the same rights and opportunities as native-born citizens:
- use public health care, receive social benefits and education;
- run your own business or look for work on an equal basis with other EU residents;
- live in any country of the European Union and travel freely within it;
- participate in the political life of Slovakia, i.e. vote in elections and referendums.
In addition, a citizen does not need to constantly renew his residence permit and permanent residence permit.
Video: cons of Slovakia
Registration procedure
The application is submitted in person on the territory of Slovakia to the district police department at the place of residence or to the Slovak consulate in your country. Then the documents go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and then - for consideration by the Minister of Internal Affairs; according to the law, it is he who must make a decision.
How much does it cost to become a citizen of Slovakia
You will also need to pay an administrative fee of 20 € for those who had one of their parents who was Czechoslovak or Slovak at the time of birth; for all other candidates the fee will be 700 €. Refugees and displaced persons from Chernobyl are exempt from this fee. The fee is paid after receiving the citizenship certificate.
What do you need besides documents?
Before consideration of the application, the candidate must undergo an interview with a committee of 3 people. It consists of the following parts:
- the interview itself about the applicant and his life, his family and biography;
- questions about the history of Slovakia, its geography and socio-political structure;
- testing knowledge of the Slovak language. Most often, the candidate is given an excerpt from a newspaper article and 30 minutes to prepare, and then he reads the text aloud and retells its contents.
Timeframe for making a decision
After accepting citizenship you will need to obtain a passport
Officially, the decision period is 2 years, but in fact, most often the answer comes within a year. Upon receiving a positive decision, you must:
- pay an administrative fee,
- take the oath of citizenship of Slovakia,
- personally pick up the decision on granting citizenship.
These actions must be completed within 6 months of receiving written notice.
If unsuccessful, you are allowed to re-apply only after 2 years.
It is quite rare for emigrants from the Russian Federation and Ukraine to obtain Slovak citizenship, although the decisions are usually positive. The main reason is the need to renounce your first citizenship. Many people still have relatives in their homeland who need to be visited, and doing this with a Slovak passport is less convenient. In addition, currently not many emigrants have lived in the Slovak Republic for the period necessary to obtain citizenship.
There are people on the forum who have received a decision on citizenship, but they do not implement it because they are stopped by the need to renounce their Russian citizenship. The reasons are different: some have close relatives and need to be able to visit them, others have assets that they are not yet ready to sell. Anything can happen.
Vanek
https://forum.slovnik.org/
Purchasing real estate as a basis for obtaining citizenship
Any foreigner can purchase residential or commercial real estate, however, this will not be the basis for obtaining citizenship, permanent residence or residence permit. The exception is forestry and agricultural land - their purchase by foreigners and persons without permanent residence in the country is impossible.
The average price per square meter of housing in Slovakia at the end of 2015 was 1,230 € per sq. m. m. The cost of real estate varies greatly depending on the location of the property. Thus, a square meter of space in Bratislava costs from 1650 € to 3000 € (in the historical district of the city). Buying real estate in the capital is more often considered an investment, since housing prices are rising at the highest rates here - 10–15% per year versus 1.5% in the country.
The cheapest price per square meter is in the Nitra and Trenčany regions - 550–650 €. An ordinary apartment of 80 sq. m. in the Nitra region can be found for 40 thousand €, and a small apartment in Bratislava with an area of 50 sq. m. m. will cost about 80 thousand €.
The cheapest real estate is in the Nitra and Trencian regions, which are located 100–120 km from the capital
useful links
- Ministry of Internal Affairs of Slovakia.
- Forms and forms.
- Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia.
- Ministry of Justice of Slovakia.
Nowadays, many people want to have an “alternate airfield” in Europe, since life in the countries of the former USSR is unstable and full of surprises. Citizenship of a European state is perceived as a kind of guarantee of a stable and comfortable life. Clean air, quality food, safety and an internationally recognized education are the best things you can give your children. And in Slovakia you can find all this in abundance.
- Author: Yulia Kazionova
Psychologist, psychotherapist, neuropsychologist. Rate this article:
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Naturalization
This program is intended for foreigners who have close family or social ties with Slovenia. The condition for long-term residence in the country is compliance with the residency requirement.
It is necessary to work, live with family, run a business, or have special services to the people of Slovenia and the government.
Residence permit in Slovakia
Family reunification
According to the family and migration legislation of Slovakia, family members of a resident of an EU country have the right to immediately obtain permanent residence, bypassing the procedure for obtaining a residence permit. They need to obtain from the archives a certificate confirming that their ancestors belonged to the Slovak people or have in their hands a blood confirmation of kinship with residents staying in the EU.
Permanent residence permit is issued to the following categories of citizens:
- a spouse, other close relative who is related to a Slovak, who has a national passport or a foreigner with permanent residence in the country;
- a child under 18 years of age, one of whose parents has a permanent residence permit or citizenship of Slovakia;
- a minor under 18 years of age, if he has a family connection with a local passport or resident status of an EU state, if he does not have sufficient financial support;
- a person who has achievements of a cultural, sports, scientific nature and works in the interests of the Republic of Slovakia.
How to obtain a residence permit in Slovakia
Embassies and consulates of Slovakia
Applicants from Russia can submit documents to the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Citizens of Ukraine submit a package of documents to the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Kyiv or the Consulate General in Uzhgorod.
All documents must be translated into Slovak by a Slovak court translator, and an apostille is affixed to those certifying education, legal documents and notarizations, archival certificates and other official documents.
A package of documents is accepted only in the personal presence of the applicant.
Location and appearance of the Slovak Embassy in Moscow
How to obtain dual citizenship in Slovakia?
Dual citizenship is not supported in Slovakia and is generally limited. It is sometimes possible to keep two passports in the event of the birth of a child in a family with different citizenships or through marriage.
However, Russians are deprived of this instrument: according to the agreement between Czechoslovakia and the USSR dated July 5, 1981, citizens of these countries cannot have dual citizenship. Therefore, if you need a Slovak passport, you will have to give up the Russian one. At least for now.
The Slovenian passport ranks 10th in the ranking of passports and allows you to visit 149 countries of the world without a visa.
Do you even need citizenship to legally reside in Slovakia?
In order to live comfortably, work, earn a decent living and even raise children in Slovakia, you do not have to obtain Slovak citizenship . You can remain a citizen of Russia, Ukraine or another non-EU country, but first obtain a residence permit (RP) and then a permanent residence permit (PR) in Slovakia. This will give you all the necessary opportunities for a comfortable life in Europe.
If you are striving to obtain Slovak citizenship, then one day this flag will become native to you, but let us remind you once again that with the status of a residence permit and, moreover, permanent residence, you can officially and comfortably live in Slovakia, build a business in Europe, and give your children the best education
You can stay in Slovakia for as long as you want: you can live permanently (during the entire validity period of the residence permit), or you can not come at all. In many other European countries, in order to maintain a residence permit, it is required to spend at least six months in the country that issued it. Having a residence permit in Slovakia, you will be able to freely move around the Schengen countries, as well as apply for visas or apply for a residence permit in other countries. Residence permit holders also have the right to free school, preschool and even higher education in Slovakia. The right to permanent residence (PR) brings you even closer to a citizen of Slovakia in terms of opportunities (and responsibilities). With permanent residence you will not need to separately obtain a work permit; you will be able to participate in elections (not only as a voter, but also as a candidate), claim various social benefits and even a pension. At the same time, we will help you obtain the right to long-term or even indefinite permanent residence.
Another important nuance: according to the agreement “On the Prevention of Cases of Dual Citizenship”, concluded back in Soviet times, between Czechoslovakia and the USSR (note that both countries have already sunk into oblivion, but Slovakia and Russia are the successors of that agreement), Russian citizens are prohibited from having dual citizenship. citizenship in Slovakia. That is, if a Russian wants to get a Slovak passport, he will have to give up the Russian one. This is why some Russians live with permanent residence status in Slovakia for 10 years or more. Without changing citizenship (although they already have the right to do so under Slovak laws).
There are no such agreements between Ukraine and Slovakia (as, incidentally, there are no reverse agreements on the admissibility of dual citizenship), but practice shows that, at least in 2019, Ukrainians who have received Slovak citizenship have no problems with Ukrainian citizenship - people fully use both passports.
Required documents
For adult candidates:
- Statement.
- International passport.
- Questionnaire.
- Autobiography in English/Slovak.
- Health insurance and social security document.
- A certificate from work or an extract from the trade register confirming the registration of an individual entrepreneur or company.
- Certificate of payment of all taxes.
- Certificate of no criminal record not older than 6 months (from each state in which the candidate has or had citizenship)
- A document confirming the availability of housing (a lease agreement for a rented property or a certificate of ownership for your own home).
- A certificate from the bank confirming the availability of sufficient funds to ensure accommodation (for each adult this is 2377 €, for a minor child - 1188 €).
- Birth certificate.
- Certificate of marital status.
- 2 standard photographs for documents.
Children under 14 years of age receive citizenship along with their parents. Required documents for children under 14 years of age:
Aerial view of Bratislava - the capital of Slovakia
- Birth certificate.
- Residence permit document.
- Certificate of attendance at an educational institution.
- Documents confirming payment of premiums from the insurance company.
- Statement from the parent(s) where the child is registered. If it is signed by one parent, then a notarized statement from the second is required.
For children over 14 years old, you must submit an additional application with parental signatures.
All documents must be translated by a Slovak court translator into Slovak. He should be on the list of translators of the Ministry of Justice of Slovakia.
