The Slovak authorities have revealed that the country is seeking to extend the validity of national visas granted to third-country nationals.
Under the proposal of the Interior Minister of Slovakia, Matúš Šutaj Eštok, the validity of national visas is set to be extended soon by an additional 30 days from the current 90 to 120 days, Schengen.News reports.
By extending the validity of this document, Slovakia wants to give more time to applicants to secure an appointment for residence permits through the mandatory reservation system and also prevent crowding at foreign police departments.
The validity period of a national visa currently granted to third-country nationals for 90 days is to be extended to 120 days. The aim is to provide more time to secure an appointment in the reservation system, the use of which will be newly mandatory by law.
The proposed change regarding the validity of national visas was approved by the Cabinet on May 21, 2025. However, in order for the new rules to enter into force, they need to be approved by the Parliament. If given the green light by the latter, new rules could become effective on July 1, 2025.
New Rules to Benefit Thousands of Foreign Nationals
A large number of foreign nationals, mainly workers, will benefit from the new rules expected to be introduced this summer.
While Slovakia attempts to attract workers from various countries, recently, the authorities have been working on creating a better relationship with China.
The Slovak authorities just recently said that the country is considering granting more visas to Chinese nationals. Reportedly, Slovakia plans to issue up to 1,000 national visas to passport holders of China yearly.
In addition, the authorities shared that they are also working to make the issuance of national visas for Chinese entrepreneurs easier.
By facilitating the national visa rules for Chinese entrepreneurs, Slovakia wants to boost its economic growth and, at the same time, strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Foreign nationals who want to relocate to Slovakia for long-term purposes, such as employment, need to first obtain a national visa and then apply for a residence permit after their arrival in the country.
Eurostat data show that Slovakia granted 642,710 residence permits in 2023. The majority of these permits were for employment purposes, with Slovakia issuing 225,237 work permits during that year.