Temporary residence for business
Slovakia grants temporary residence for the purpose of business to third-country nationals who will conduct business on the basis of a trade licence or through a company, subject to Ministry of Interior rules. Practical English-language explanations for foreigners are commonly accessed via the Migration Information Centre (MIC) resources at foreigners.mic.sk / mic.iom.sk, while binding procedures and forms sit with the Ministry of Interior (minv.sk) and foreign police units. Expect to document: (1) the business basis — trade licence (živnosť) or company documents; (2) financial means for the stay; (3) accommodation; (4) health insurance; and (5) a coherent purpose of stay. Pakistani applicants typically need a national visa pathway to enter lawfully before or while completing residence formalities — confirm the live consular sequence. Slovakia does not market a universal low-capital “startup visa” brand for all nationalities; treat this as an activity-and-means based temporary residence. Always verify-on-official-site before transferring capital or signing leases.
Min. capital
No universal golden-visa floor; financial means + trade/company setup costs
Best for: Founders who will genuinely trade or manage a Slovak company and can show financial means and housing.
Residence is not priced as a fixed investment product. Confirm current financial-means amounts and document formats on MIC / Ministry of Interior pages (verify-on-official-site). Company share capital follows commercial law separately.
Investment options
- Slovak trade licence (ĹľivnosĹĄ) for the intended activity
- Or formation / shareholding in a Slovak company with documented role
- Proof of financial means for the temporary stay
- Accommodation proof and health insurance
- Clear purpose-of-stay narrative aligned with business documents
Eligibility
- Third-country national applying for temporary residence for business
- Valid trade licence or company documentation accepted for the purpose
- Financial means meeting current published thresholds
- Accommodation and insurance as required
- No statutory exclusion grounds
Process timeline
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1
Choose trade vs company
Pick the business vehicle that matches your operating model and residence purpose.
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2
Assemble means & housing
Bank statements, lease/ownership, and insurance in formats accepted by foreign police.
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3
Visa / residence filing
Follow consular + Ministry of Interior steps for Pakistani nationals; biometrics as required.
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4
Operate & renew
Keep the business active and renew temporary residence with updated evidence.
Family
Family members may seek temporary residence for family reunification when conditions are met — confirm dependent work rights on MIC / minv.sk (verify-on-official-site).
Work rights
Business-purpose temporary residence authorises the declared business activity. Separate employment for another employer may need a different purpose or permit — verify card annotations.
Route to PR
Permanent residence may be available after continuous temporary residence and meeting statutory conditions. Confirm years and criteria on Ministry of Interior / MIC guidance.
Route to citizenship
Slovak citizenship by naturalisation is separate. Dual nationality implications for Pakistani citizens need personal legal advice.
Pros
- MIC resources summarise foreigner procedures in accessible English
- Trade or company routes both recognised for business purpose
- EU location with competitive operating costs vs Western Europe
- Clear official Ministry of Interior presence at minv.sk
Watch-outs
- Financial-means proof is frequently decisive — under-documented files fail
- Dormant companies / inactive trades undermine renewals
- Do not confuse information-centre guides with binding statutory text
- Always verify-on-official-site for thresholds and appointment rules