Flight in balloon in Liptov region (source: TASR)
This text is regularly updated to ensure that our readers always receive the most up-to-date information.
Planning the summer holidays ahead can be complicated with the varying anti-Covid measures applicable in different European countries.
The Slovak Spectator presents a set of FAQs on travelling to Slovakia, staying in the country and enjoying holidays without breaching any of the anti-pandemic measures in place and protecting your own health.
If you have any question we have not answered below, do not hesitate to contact us at editorial@spectator.sk.
How to plan your holiday in Slovakia
Am I as a foreigner allowed to enter Slovakia for touristic purposes?
When is a person considered fully vaccinated? Is one Covid vaccine dose enough?
I am travelling with my children, but they are not vaccinated. What rules should they follow?
Is there a difference between coming with my own car or by bus, train and plane?
Are there any restrictions when travelling within the country?
Are restaurants and cafés in general open outside the hotels? What measures apply?
Arriving in Slovakia
Am I as a foreigner allowed to enter Slovakia for touristic purposes?
All foreigners who are rightfully staying in the Schengen Area are allowed to enter Slovakia via inner borders (via Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic or Poland) for any purpose. They are obliged to observe the current anti-epidemic measures.
When entering Slovakia via outer borders (Ukraine), there are slightly different rules.
Citizens of member countries of the EU and their family members may enter Slovakia via the outer border for any purpose.
The entrance of a non-EU national via outer borders is limited. They may enter only if one of these exceptions applies to them:
- they are related to a person with permanent or temporary residence in Slovakia or to a Slovak citizen (ie spouse, child, parent of a child who is Slovak citizen);
- they have a valid residence permit in Slovakia or they are a holder of a national visa issued by a Slovak embassy abroad
- they fall under the general exception from obligatory isolation and other obligations after entrance (e.g. members of a freight crew, transiting passengers to the Member States in which they are granted residence, holders of diplomatic and service passports)
- they are residents of Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Israel, China (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Macao)
The Interior Ministry added that these people are still required to follow all anti-pandemic rules after their arrival.
What do I need to do upon arrival to Slovakia?
As of July 9, Slovakia will benefit people fully vaccinated against Covid. This means that it will no longer matter which country a person comes from, but if they have been fully vaccinated. If so, they do not have to self-isolate.
Prior to arrival, everybody is required to register with the eHranica form at https://korona.gov.sk/en/ehranica/ (regardless of being vaccinated or not). In addition, those arriving by plane are required to fill in a special form at https://www.mindop.sk/covid. The confirmation of registration should be shown during a border check.
