NOTE: Last update of this article occurred on December 16th.
Can I travel to Slovakia?
Yes, but
1) All persons who from 8 December 2020 from 7:00 a.m. enter the territory of the Slovak Republic and who have visited exclusively the countries of the European Union, Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the Swiss Confederation during the previous 14 days, isolation in the home environment or in a quarantine accommodation facility is ordered, which shall end:
- upon receiving a negative result of the RT-PCR test for COVID-19,
- upon completion of its 10th day with an asymptomatic course of isolation,
- with an asymptomatic course of isolation in children under seven years of age, byending the obligation of home isolation for persons living with them in the common household.
2) All persons who from 8 December 2020 from 7:00 a.m. enter the territory of the Slovak Republic and who have visited a country that is not a member of the European Union during the previous 14 days, isolation in the home environment or in a quarantine accommodation facility is ordered, which shall end:
- upon receiving a negative result of the RT-PCR test for COVID-19,
- with an asymptomatic course of isolation in children under seven years of age, by ending the obligation of isolation for persons living with them in the common household.
Important: isolation in the home environment is imposed on all persons living in the common household with the persons referred to in par. 1 and 2.
These persons shall be obliged:
- to register at the latest immediately upon entry into the Slovak Republic at the website http://korona.gov.slc/ehranica,
- during their stay in the territory of the Slovak Republic to be able to submit a confirmation under letter a) to members of the Police Force of the Slovak Republic.
- undergo a laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 at the earliest on the fifth day of isolation in the home environment or in a quarantine accommodation facility,
- children under the age of three shall undergo diagnostics for COVID-19 if so determined by the relevant regional public health authority or healthcare provider who provides healthcare in the pediatric specialization and with whom the child has a healthcare agreement concluded.
The above obligations listed under points 1 and 2 do not apply to:
- persons who, upon entering the territory of the Slovak Republic, are able to submit a negative result of the RT-PCR test for COVID- 19 performed in laboratories outside the territory of the Slovak Republic, not older than 72 hours;
- persons who have a permanent or temporary residence in the territory of the Slovak Republic and are nationals of any of the countries of the European Union, Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the Swiss Confederation and who overcame COVID-19 disease no more than 3 months before entering the territory of the Slovak Republic and are able to submit a certificate pursuant to Annex 3 upon entering the territory of the Slovak Republic;
- persons who have visited exclusively a country listed in the “List of low-risk countries and territories” below during the previous 14 days;
- pther persons to whom the exemptions apply can be found in the Decree of the Public Health Authority.
1. List of low-risk countries and territories
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇨🇳 China
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇸 Iceland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇸🇬Singapore
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🇹🇼 Taiwan
2. Arrivals through the internal border
Third country nationals, EU/EEA citizens as well as citizens of Swiss Confederation may enter the Slovak Republic through the internal land borders of the Slovak Republic with the Czech Republic, Republic of Austria, Republic of Poland and Hungary, as well as internal air borders (border crossing points located at the airports on the territory of the Slovak Republic)
- without restrictions – if arriving from a low-risk country, under condition that the person has not visited a country not listed as a low-risk country, within previous 14 days;
- under the condition of compliance with the respective quarantine measures of the Public Health Authority (self-isolation, testing for COVID-19, registration at the website http://korona.gov.sk/ehranica, etc.) in accordance with the provisions of the Decree of the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic, in case they have visited a country not listed as a low-risk country. Categories of persons, to whom exemptions from the quarantine measures apply are stipulated in Sections 4 – 7 of the Decree of the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic.
There are no border control checks carried out on internal borders of the Slovak Republic. Therefore a foreigner with a valid travel document and a visa or a residence permit (if required), who has legally entered or is staying in the Schengen area, may also enter the territory of the Slovak Republic, independent of the purpose of travel to the Slovak Republic (business trips, visit of family or friends, unmarried couples etc.). Please note that the conditions of entry to the country (countries) of transit should be verified with the competent authorities of the country of transit and the respective air company. An individual confirmation certifying the authorisation of entry of the foreign national to the Slovak Republic through internal borders is not required.
3. Arrivals through the external border
The external border (i.e. Schengen border) is a land border between the Slovak Republic and Ukraine. The external air borders include also international airports in the Slovak Republic (M. R. Štefánik Airport, Airport Poprad-Tatry, Košice Airport), in case of arrivals from countries outside Schengen territory.
On condition that the person complies with all epidemiological measures, the arrival to the Slovak Republic through the external border is possible for the following categories of foreign nationals:
a) Third country nationals who are relatives of persons with the permanent or temporary residence in the Slovak Republic or relatives of the Slovak citizens, i.e. husbands/wives, minor children, parents of a minor child entering the Slovak Republic Minor children, husbands/wives do not have to travel together with the foreign national; their family relationship shall be demonstrated by presenting, for example, a birth certificate or marriage certificate (Should a foreign national not carry the original, a standard copy of the document shall suffice.). If the document exists only in a foreign language, the foreign national shall provide for its translation (a non-official translation is enough). When undergoing the check, the foreign national should present the original in the foreign language and its translation.
b) Third country nationals who have a valid residence in the territory of the Slovak Republic, pursuant to Act No. 404/2011 on the Residence of Foreign Nationals, as amended, and who present themselves with a valid residency permit, a residence ID and a statement confirming that their residency has been registered, or who are holders of the national visa issued by the diplomatic mission of the Slovak Republic. The entry of third country nationals for the purpose of attending the nursery school, basic school, high school or university in the territory of the Slovak Republic is considered a valid residence permit pursuant to this point as long as the person is able to present a written confirmation of this fact.
c) Persons with the residence in Australia, China, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan. The residence in one of these countries may be demonstrated by presenting a travel document, a residence permit or at least two other documents (e.g. confirmation of health insurance, lease contract, work contract, confirmation of employment, title of deed etc.).
d) Third country nationals – pendlers (cross-border workers), permanently or temporarily residing in neighbouring border areas of Ukraine within 30 km from an open border crossing to the territory of the Slovak Republic and who have an employment relationship, a similar employment relationship or a place of work (e.g. for self-employed persons) in the territory of the Slovak Republic within 30 km by road from an open border crossing to the territory of the Slovak Republic and hold a certificate of the employer of such performance of work or a certificate of such performance of work in a unified format.
f) Foreign nationals who belong to certain categories of the Decree of the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic which imposes measures in the event of a threat to public health concerning the quarantine obligations of persons after entering the territory of the Slovak Republic in the wording of its later amendments (e.g. transiting persons, persons providing care of close relatives),
g) Third country nationals, who are holders of an exemption in accordance with the Section 6 of the Decree of the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic. The person, to whom an exemption has been granted, must have a negative result of the RT-PCR test for COVID-19 not older than 72 hours when entering the territory of the Slovak Republic. In justified cases, the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic may grant an exemption from this obligation based on a justified written request of a member of the Government of the Slovak Republic under his authority.
h) citizens of EU member states;
4. Passenger Locator Form
All persons who arrive to Slovakia by airplane are obliged to fill in the registration form: Public Health Passenger Locator Form and to obey all epidemiological measures as ordered by the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic.
Request for consent of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic with transit shall be sent to: corona.transit@minv.sk.
