The Foreigners' Police department in Bratislava. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
On July 15, new regulations regarding the residence and employment of foreigners in Slovakia came into effect. This is the most significant amendment since 2011, when the Foreigners Residence Act first came into effect.
For example, the conditions for employing highly qualified foreigners have changed, and the conditions for changing the purpose of residence have become stricter.
The process to apply for temporary residence for the purpose of employment has also changed. According to the amendment, a foreigner will be able to apply only after receiving a positive opinion from the Central Labour Office on the possibility of filling a vacant position. Until now, the police had asked for the opinion from the Office; from now on, an employer will request it in advance.
In this way, the entire process should be quicker, relieving the police of part of the administrative burden. Foreigners will thus know whether their application will be rejected by a labour office before they apply for temporary residence at the police.
Lawyer Marina Kapustina, who focuses on raising awareness of legislative changes concerning foreigners, appreciates the amendment. The fact that the police had to request the opinion of the office slowed down the entire residence procedure.
"In the transitional period, people will be confused because they don't know the new conditions," Kapustina says.
Foreigners who apply for residence and have an appointment at the Foreigners' Police department in the coming weeks will not be able to submit their application. This is because it will only be possible to request a labour office's opinion from July 15, and the office has 15 working days to evaluate it.
The police recommend foreigners to cancel their appointment and request a new one when they receive the opinion. Depending on the region it may take some time to get an appointment.
