Slovakia Student Visa – Eligibility and Requirements

Are you looking for information on Slovakia Student Visa? then you are on the right article. For those students who want to study on Slovakian territory, the country provides excellent education. International students participating in study programs at Slovakia’s higher education institutions are required to apply for and receive a Slovakia student visa before their trip.

Once they arrive in the nation, they can keep applying for a residency permit. Anyone accepted into a Slovak institution is permitted to remain, reside, and work inside the borders of the Slovak Republic with a student visa.

In this blog, we have curated information on Slovakia Student Visa in detail. 

Key Takeaways:

• There are four types of Slovakia visas. Out of this, a long-term visa or national visa is issued to students.
• The application process for a Slovakia student visa includes contacting the embassy, filling out the application form, assembling the documents, submitting the applications, etc.
• Students have to submit various documents which include passports, photographs, medical certificates, and more.
• Quite often the processing time for a Slovakia student visa is about 60 days. 
• The Slovakia student visa is termed valid for as long as the course is tenured.
• The universities located in Slovakia are classified into private, public, and state universities.

Types of Slovakia visas:

For those from other countries who want to study in Slovakia, a student visa can be necessary. The National or Long Term Visa D is the name of the student visa that is granted in Slovakia for study.  Slovakia belongs to the Schengen region.

The types of Slovakia visas are:

• Schengen visa type A: airport transit visa
• Schengen visa type B: transit visa
• Schengen visa type C: entry visa
• Long-term visa D or National visa D: Student visa or residence visa

1. Schengen Visa A: Airport transit visa:

International travelers are permitted to remain in the airport’s international transit area without a visa to wait at the airport or change between two international flights. Only the international transit area of airports may be entered by an individual with an airport transit visa.

2. Schengen Visa B: Transit visa:

Foreign nationals with this visa can enter and exit Schengen countries as they travel from one non-Schengen nation to another. There will only be a 5-day transit.

3. Schengen Visa C: Entry visa:

The Schengen visa C is a travel, entrance, or tourist visa that permits foreign nationals to visit the Schengen states for up to 90 days within 6 months. It is possible to receive this visa for one or more entries.

Another type of short-stay visa that is issued by all Schengen area members is the Schengen visa. You have 180 days to enter Schengen countries with this visa, which is good for 90 days of travel.

4. Long term visa:

Long-term visa D is a business, residential, or student visa. Those from other countries who want to study in Slovakia need to apply for this visa. With this visa, international students can spend a total of 90 days to six months in Slovakia. When staying more than ninety days, you need to apply for a residency permit. 

Who needs a visa to study in Slovakia?

People will have to apply for Slovakia Student Visa if they are:

• a foreign national from a nation where entry into the nation requires a visa. Additionally, a temporary residence permit will be issued to you for the duration of the study.
• a foreign national whose study program extends beyond ninety days and from a nation with whom Slovakia has a visa liberalization agreement.

Citizens of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland are exempt from the need for a visa, but if they intend to stay for more than three months on a study program, they must register with the local government.

What is the procedure for a Slovakia Student Visa?

To be able to get a Slovakia Student Visa, students should be enrolled in a university or college located in the territory of Slovakia. Once the students receive the acceptance letter, they can proceed with their student visa application as follows:

1. Contact the Slovak embassy or consulate:

Students should promptly contact the Slovak embassy or consulate in their country if they want to apply for a Slovakia Student Visa. Once they locate the nearest visa office, they must book an appointment to apply.

2. Fill out the application: 

Students must fully complete the visa application form and sign it at the end before the submission is made. Students should make sure they enter the right information otherwise their application could be rejected.

3. Assemble the documents: 

Students should fill out their application forms for a Slovakia Student Visa and should submit them along with the required documents. 

4. Submit the application and documents: 

Students who wish to apply should visit the Slovak diplomatic mission in person to submit their application and supporting documentation. While Slovak student visa applications cannot be submitted online, applicants can confirm with the embassy before submitting their application.

5. Wait for an answer: 

The embassy or consulate will duly notify the students about their visa status and will inform them about what has to be done further.

Since Slovakia shares its borders with Hungary, the application process and processing time for student visas for Hungary and Slovakia are quite similar. 

What are the documents required for a Slovakia Student Visa?

Students are expected to submit the following documents along with their Slovakia Student Visa application form:

1. Valid passport: The student’s passport should be valid during the time of their application and should have a minimum of six months of validity after the visa expires.

2. Passport-sized photographs: The students should submit two colored photographs which should not be older than three months.

3. Proof of financial support: Students should submit a document that proves that the applicant can support themselves during their stay in the territory of the Slovak Republic.

4. Visa fee: Along with other documents, students should also submit proof that they have paid the visa fee.

5. Travel itinerary: Students should submit proofs of their confirmed flight itinerary or onward and return ticket. 

6. Documents that prove the purpose of stay: Students are required to submit a letter of acceptance from the University of Slovakia. 

7. Proof of enrollment: Students have to submit an enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses at Slovak University. 

Students can contact the Slovak embassy or consulate to find out if they require additional documents before the date of the visa appointment. It is essential to note that if the documents are not submitted in the Slovak language, they must be translated by a certified translator and notarized the translation. 

How much time does it take to process a Slovakia Student Visa?

The length of time it takes to process a Slovakian student visa varies on when it is needed. The processing period will normally not go over 60 days, but in certain circumstances, it may reach 120 days.

What is the duration of the Slovakia Student Visa?

With a Slovakia student visa, foreign students can remain in the nation for an extended length of time, typically one to three years until their academic program is finished. 

After completing your studies, you must apply for a work and residence permit if you wish to remain in Slovakia and continue working.

Can students work in Slovakia with a Student Visa?

While studying in Slovakia, students are often permitted to work up to 20 hours a week in a part-time capacity. But there’s a chance that their educational provider has particular requirements on the kind of work they can complete. 

Thus, students must make sure they get in touch with their university to inquire about the job policies that apply to overseas students.

Can the Slovakia Student Visa be extended?

No. Slovakia does not permit the extension of a student visa. However, in exceptional situations such as a natural disaster or medical emergency, students can be granted an extension due to the circumstances. 

Health insurance for Students in Slovakia:

Upon arrival in Slovakia, international students are required to acquire health insurance that is valid across the Slovak Republic. Depending on their home country, they can receive any of the following types of student health insurance:

• Non-EU student’s health insurance: 

International students must possess health insurance, either from a Slovak health insurance company or from their place of origin. You must have health insurance for the duration of your visit to Slovakia.

• EU student’s health insurance: 

Before traveling to Slovakia, students from the EU/EEA must get a European Health Insurance card (EHIC card), which must be provided by their home nation. The expense of emergency medical care is covered by this card. 

However, remember that an EHIC cannot take the place of appropriate insurance. Thus, health insurance is required if you intend to remain in Slovakia for an extended period.

Types of temporary residence for residents of third world countries:

You may apply for any of the following forms of temporary residency, depending on what you plan to do in Slovakia and how it will be done:

• Temporary residence for studies,
• Temporary residence for special activities,
• Temporary residence for research and development. 

Studying in Slovakia:

The universities in Slovakia for higher education are classified into public, state, and private schools:

1. Public schools of higher education: These are the basic universities and a huge majority of schools of higher education are public. These schools are financed by the government and sometimes, by businesses as well.
2. State institutions of higher education: These are medical, police, and military schools. The ministries corresponding to these schools in the government finance these programs.
3. Private institutions of higher education: These types of universities are rarely found in Slovakia. They are established and financed by non-government organizations. However, the approval is sent by the Ministry of Education of the country. 

Living in Slovakia:

• Most universities in Slovakia offer housing facilities in dormitories. This could cost around €100 every month for the student.
• A one-bedroom flat could cost about €370 every month which includes utilities. 
• The average living costs could be around €800 every month. However, if students can cut down their expenses it could be as low as €500 every month.
• There are various state and private healthcare providers in Slovakia. This makes it relatively safer for students.
• The residents of Slovakia prefer eating lunch to dinner since it is the main meal of the region.

Top universities in Slovakia for international students:

The universities in Slovakia are famous throughout the world. As per the QS World University ranking, 4 universities in Slovakia are listed among the top-ranking universities of the world. Some universities for international students are:

University	QS World ranking
Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice	651-700
Comenius University in Bratislava	701-750
The Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava	801-1000
Technical University of Kosice	801-1000
The University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava	8065
Tuke university Slovakia	1001-1200
Matej Bel University	2584
university of economics in Bratislava	1001-1200

What are the top courses to study in Slovakia?

International students can find various study programs in Slovakia. This is because this country offers courses in various fields of study. Some of the popular courses in Slovakia for international students are:

• Psychology in Slovakia
• Finance, Banking, and Investment in Slovakia
• Civil Engineering Structures in Slovakia
• medicine in Slovakia
• Architecture in Slovakia
• Marketing and Management of Business in Slovakia
• Construction Management and Information Systems in Slovakia

What is the cost of studying in Slovakia?

International students from EU nations are entitled to free education in Slovakia’s public universities. Fees for bachelor’s degree programs range from 550 to 5,500 euros per year for non-EU students. 

For graduate courses, the annual tuition ranges from 2,200 EUR to 5,500 EUR, which is significantly more. 

With 750 EUR, you can try to maintain yourself and take care of everything, including rent. Prices, however, vary from one place to the next. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Conclusion:

For those students who want to study on Slovakian territory, the country provides excellent education. International students participating in study programs at Slovakia’s higher education institutions are required to apply for and receive a Slovakia student visa before their trip. 

Once they arrive in the nation, they can keep applying for a residency permit. Anyone accepted into a Slovak institution is permitted to remain, reside, and work inside the borders of the Slovak Republic with a student visa.