Foreign Workers Can Now Secure Employment in Slovakia More Quickly
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Slovakia has implemented new rules to expedite the employment process for foreign workers.
2. These changes address ongoing labor shortages in various sectors.
3. Foreign workers can now apply for residence permits only after receiving a positive opinion from the labor office.
Foreign workers can now secure employment in Slovakia more quickly due to the introduction of new regulations. These rules aim to accelerate the employment process for foreigners and address the labor shortages affecting several sectors in the country.
Previously, foreigners seeking residence permits for employment in Slovakia faced a lengthy procedure, which included obtaining a positive opinion from the labor office after filing a request with the police.
Under the new rules, this process will be significantly faster, with applications expected to be processed within two to three months, down from the previous 18 months. Employers in Slovakia will still need to obtain an opinion from the labor office, but this opinion must now be secured before the foreign worker applies for a residence permit, allowing them to enter Slovakia more quickly.
Milan Kurota, Head of SlovakiaInvest Group, praised this change, noting its importance in ensuring that foreign workers know in advance if they have permission to work in the country, preventing them from spending money on residence permit applications that might be rejected.
"According to the new system, if the labor office rejects it, it will reject it in the first step, and the foreigner does not have to pay the costs of applying for residence."
— Milan Kurota, Head of SlovakiaInvest Group
Slovakia Eased National Visa Rules for Non-EU Workers on July 15
As of July 15, 2024, Slovakia has also eased national visa rules for foreign workers in certain professions facing shortages. These national visas, valid for one year, will be available to workers such as cooks, agronomists, bakers, breeders, equipment operators, kitchen workers, learners, and assembly workers.
However, the authorities have clarified that this easier access to national visas will not be available to all foreigners. Only nationals of select countries will be eligible for Slovakia's national visa under these simplified conditions.