International protection
asylum and subsidiary protection · Official name: Medzinárodná ochrana (azyl, doplnková ochrana)
Slovakia's Migration Office decides claims for international protection. A new Act on International Protection replaced the 2002 Asylum Act from 12 June 2026 to apply the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. It adds an asylum border procedure (decision within 12 weeks, exceptionally 16, including appeal), free legal counselling, and recorded interviews. Asylum and subsidiary protection are now granted for an unlimited time together with permanent residence.
Life in Slovakia
Finance
3
Currency
Euro
EUR
Euro
Cost of living
64
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
19–35%
Income tax (national)
VAT 23%
19% up to 154.8 times the subsistence minimum, 25% to 212.4 times, 30% to 264 times, 35% above; non-taxable part of the tax base applies.
Living
1
Happiness
#52 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Who it’s for
People at Slovakia's border or in Slovakia who fear persecution or serious harm at home.
Eligibility
Persecution or serious harm
International protection covers asylum (refugee status) and subsidiary protection.
Border procedureSome applicants
Some claims are handled in a border procedure at the EU external border, with a decision within 12 weeks including appeal.
Border procedure time limit
- Standard limit
- 12 weeks
- Exceptional limit
- 16 weeks
- Your freedom of movement may be restricted, with court review
- If not decided in time, the claim moves to the regular procedure
- Applies to some applicants only
Official wording
Some claims are handled in an asylum border procedure at the EU external border, decided within 12 weeks (exceptionally 16) including appeal; applicants may have their freedom of movement restricted, with court review. If not decided in time, the claim moves to the regular procedure.
Security checks
Applicants are screened with the intelligence services; grounds for detention were widened.
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- 2 documents
- 1 fee
- 3 steps
- Processing times and conditions
