Ukrainians moving to Slovakia have battled bureaucracy, but also witnessed gestures of kindness

Back in Ukraine, Natália Bielovceva and Sergej Bielovcev ran a beauty salon that belonged to the French network Frederic Moréno.

Then the full-scale Russian invasion of their homeland started in mid-February 2022, and the two escaped to Slovakia, where their friends had recently relocated. After realising that the war might last a long time, they started mulling over how to earn a living in their new home.

At the time, they were contacted by Fanny and Frederic Moréno, who offered to help them. So they decided to open a new beauty shop under the same brand in Bratislava.

“It was a fascinating process,” Natália Bielovceva and Sergej Bielovcev told The Slovak Spectator. “A different country, a different language, different rules. We were pleasantly surprised by the openness of Slovaks, their willingness to help.”

Preparing the necessary documents and projects was easier than to start working, however, because they needed various certificates for hairdressing, manicure, pedicure and massage. They eventually opened their beauty salon in December 2023.

“Now we are in the process of developing the beauty shop; clients like the services and the quality of the services,” they added. “We see how quickly the clientele is growing and the business is gaining momentum.”

Getting a trade licence can be a struggle