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When is a Ukrainian allowed to work in Slovakia?
Citizens of Ukraine that have been granted entry across the Slovak border can either spend up to 90 days on a short stay or apply for either temporary protection or asylum. It is preferable for people from Ukraine to apply for temporary protection rather than asylum in light of the current situation.
Ukrainian residents are allowed to stay in Slovakia and the Schengen Area for 90 days if they have a valid biometric passport.
If they are staying during this period with relatives, friends
or acquaintances, they are required to register the address with the Foreign Police within three (3) working days of entry (the form can be downloaded HERE). The person providing them with accommodation will report the accommodation of foreign nationals to the police if they are staying in a hotel, pension or private accommodation (download the report to the Foreign Police HERE).
However, they are not allowed to work or run their own businesses if they are staying in Slovakia and have no visa.
Right of asylum means protection of a foreign national against persecution on grounds set out in either the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or the Constitution of the Slovak Republic. Asylum can be requested:
- Upon entering Slovakia at any border crossing police station; or
- After entering Slovakia at any police station established at any reception center, such as in Humenné.
A decision regarding asylum will be made within 90 days of having requested it.
Eligible applicants are entitled to remain in Slovakia while their requests for asylum are being processed. At the end of the stay in a reception center, they will either be placed in a residential camp or allowed to remain outside of it. The ministry may place anybody seeking asylum in an integration center for the necessary period.
He or she will be provided with accommodation, meals and basic hygiene needs at no charge while staying in a reception or integration center.
An applicant for asylum staying at a reception or integration center will receive pocket money. During this time, he or she can choose to attend a Slovak language course and any related expenses will be covered by the competent ministry.
Anybody applying for asylum can work while Ukraine is under a state of emergency, but cannot run their own business. They can only work within Slovakia. Once they have been granted asylum or refugee status, they can be employed or run your own business, and you will be covered by public health insurance. They can only work or run their own business within Slovakia.
Temporary protection is granted to protect foreign nationals from war, consequences of a humanitarian disaster or widespread human rights violations in their country of origin. This is the fastest form of protection that can be provided and it ensures a foreign national access to accommodation, food, health care, while allowing them to stay and work in Slovakia.
Temporary protection will be provided to Ukrainians immediately upon registration if they can prove their identities with either a passport or identification card. If they have no documents on their person, the application for temporary protection will be decided shortly thereafter, usually within about 30 days. Accommodation, food, emergency medical care and sanitary articles will be provided to them right away.
Once their cases have been handled, they will receive a residence permit marked DOČASNÉ ÚTOČISKO [TEMPORARY PROTECTION]. (If the documents say ODÍDENEC [DISPLACED PERSON], there is no cause for worry). For the time being, temporary protection is granted for the period until 4 March 2023.
In light of the current situation, it is preferable for people from Ukraine to apply for temporary protection rather than asylum.
Any person that has been granted temporary protection can move freely within Slovakia, travel to another EU member state and even can travel anytime to Ukraine and return back to Slovakia. Should anybody opt to return to Ukraine with no intention of returning to Slovakia as a displaced person, they will need to expressly withdraw their temporary protection status in a written request to the Migration Office, Ministry of Interior, Pivonkova 6, 812 72 Bratislava.
Where can temporary protection be requested?
In person at any of the large-capacity centers operating non-stop at the locations below:
- Humenné: Chemlonská 7
- Michalovce: Športová 31
- Nitra: Akademická 4
In person at departments of the Foreign Police handling applications to be registered for temporary protection:
- Monday to Friday, 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
or electronically: Registering for temporary protection
Anybody granted temporary protection status will be able to access the following services:
Emergency accommodation will be provided for ten days to anyone that requests it. Temporary protection has to be arranged within ten days. More information about available accommodation can be found at https://pomocpreukrajinu.sk/. If there is a need for re- accommodation, contact the district office. It will check the displaced person status, where they last stayed and book them into new accommodation. Report any change in address to the municipality or city where a displaced person has moved. When reporting the change, please provide proof of accommodation. You can offer displaced persons any spare capacity your accommodation establishment has regardless of whether they are working for you or not. An accommodation allowance will be paid to businesses by the Ministry of Transport and Communication..
The allowance will be provided in the following amounts:
€7.70 incl. VAT per night accommodation for a displaced person, or €7.00 if not a VAT payer, if it concerns anybody who has already reached their 15th birthday;
€3.85 incl. VAT per night accommodation for a displaced person, or €3.00 if not a VAT payer, if it concerns anybody who has not reached their 15th birthday.
Information on payment of the allowance can be found at https://www.mindop.sk/lex- ukrajina.
Residents of Ukraine granted temporary protection have the same access to the labor market as Slovak citizens (except to civil servant jobs). They can be employed either under an employment contract or by agreement.
They can get information about job vacancies and employment opportunities in Slovakia from the Office of Labor, Social Affairs and Family. This information is also available in Ukrainian language at:
www.sluzbyzamestnanosti.gov.sk
www.istp.sk
www.profesia.sk
www.kariera.sk
Free transport is provided for displaced persons on all ZSSK trains (except InterCity trains). They can also get free transport on intercity buses marked “bezplatná preprava” [free transport] on a yellow-blue background and also in Ukrainian.
Displaced persons will be treated and receive any necessary medical care if they have any health problems. Applicants for temporary protection are entitled to medicines, medical supplies and dietetic foods at no extra charge and also to urgent and necessary indicated medical care. This is any healthcare recommended after a physical examination by a doctor. Outpatient emergency care is available for them in any region or city, or at any hospital reception center. Contacts: www.e-vuc.sk. For more information, including contact details for physicians and dentists, please visit www.ua.gov.sk.
Applicants for temporary protection can visit any kindergarten, primary or secondary school where they would like their child to attend and also apply to enroll him or her. If the child is enrolled in the school, the director will arrange for him or her to take language courses. For higher education, they should contact the specific university for admission guidance. All important information about education in Slovakia can be found at https://ukrajina.minedu.sk/.