Slovakia Visa: Requirements and Fees

• US, UK, Canada, Australia: no visa
• Up to 90 days in any 180
• Others: Schengen visa (type C)

Slovakia is in the Schengen area, so whether you need a Slovakia visa depends on your passport.

Sources: Slovak Ministry of Interior, visa regime table (official information, October 2026).

• Schengen since 21 December 2007
• EU since 1 May 2004
• Euro since 1 January 2009

Yes. Slovakia joined the EU on 1 May 2004, the Schengen area on 21 December 2007 and the euro on 1 January 2009 (official information, October 2026). A Slovak visa is a Schengen visa, and a valid Schengen visa issued by another member country also lets you enter Slovakia.

If you visit several Schengen countries, you apply to your main destination: the country of your main purpose or where you spend the most time (official information, October 2026).

Many people see Bratislava as a day trip from Vienna, which is how we visited too, flying home the same evening. In that case Austria is usually the main destination. The rule is explained on the European Commission's Schengen visa page .

If you plan the same day trip, trains run between the two cities: See Vienna to Bratislava train tickets  Ad. Ad Prefer a guide? See Bratislava day trips from Vienna  Ad

Sources: European Union, Slovakia country page, European Commission, applying for a Schengen visa (official information, October 2026).

• Citizens: no visa for 90 days in 180
• No paid work on a visa-free stay
• ETIAS has not started

US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens can visit Slovakia without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (official information, October 2026). The Slovak embassy in Washington adds that the stay must be for tourism, study or business with no paid work, and that the 90 days count for the whole Schengen area together, not per country (official information, October 2026).

• EES at the borderYour face and fingerprints are recorded and your passport is no longer stamped; details in section 12
• ETIAS is not required yetIt has not started (official information, October 2026). Sites that charge for an ETIAS today are not official
• Count your daysThe EU short-stay calculator on the travel-europe.europa.eu site counts the 90/180 rule for you

Living in the US on a passport that needs a visa?

Foreign nationals legally resident in the US who need a visa apply in person at the Slovak consulate for their state, or through the BLS International or VFS Global visa centres (official information, October 2026). Residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming may also apply through the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles, which can accept or refuse the submission (official information, October 2026).

Sources: Slovak Ministry of Interior, visa-free table, Embassy of Slovakia in Washington, Schengen visa, EU, ETIAS (official information, October 2026).

• Apply to your main destination
• 6 months to 15 days before
• Decision in 15 calendar days

If your passport is not visa-exempt, you need a short-stay Schengen visa (type C). You apply where you legally live; section 5 shows how to find the right Slovak mission or visa centre.

Sources: Embassy of Slovakia in Washington, Schengen visa, Embassy of Slovakia in Ankara, Schengen visa, European Commission, applying for a Schengen visa (official information, October 2026).

• Apply where you legally live
• Embassy, consulate or its visa centre
• Some missions cover several countries

As a general rule you apply at the consulate responsible for the country where you are legally resident, not by nationality (official information, October 2026). Many consulates use visa service centres that collect applications for them; these may charge an extra service fee (official information, October 2026).

Slovakia has 84 missions abroad and is represented in 62 countries (official information, October 2026). One embassy often covers several countries, so look up your country in the official list of Slovak missions  and open that mission's visa page.

Sources: Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs, list of diplomatic missions, Embassy of Slovakia in New Delhi, Schengen visa, Embassy of Slovakia in Washington, Schengen visa, European Commission, applying for a Schengen visa (official information, October 2026).

• BLS International or VFS Global
• Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai
• Fee paid in rupees

The Slovak embassy in New Delhi handles Schengen visas for India. Applications go in through two visa centres, BLS International and VFS Global, and appointment slots are published on their own websites (official information, October 2026).

• CitiesIndian citizens can apply in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai; the embassy recommends the BLS centres in Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore
• Working daysBoth centres accept applications on working days, except public holidays in Slovakia and India
• FeePaid in Indian rupees at the current monthly exchange rate; with BLS you pay at the centre
• Proof of fundsOriginal bank statements and salary slips for the last 6 months
• FlightA confirmed round-trip booking with fixed dates, at most 90 days
• FingerprintsAll ten fingers are scanned; children under 12 are exempt

Citizens of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka who apply at the embassy book by email at cons.delhi@mzv.sk and fill in the online application (e-ZOV) before the appointment (official information, October 2026). Full details are on the New Delhi embassy's Schengen visa page .

Sources: Embassy of Slovakia in New Delhi, Schengen visa, European Commission, applying for a Schengen visa (official information, October 2026).

• 90 euro for adults
• Visa centres add a service fee
• Not refunded if refused

The Schengen visa fee is 90 euro for adults and 45 euro for children aged 6 to 12 (official information, October 2026). Children under 6 pay nothing (official information, October 2026). A visa centre adds its own service fee on top.

How you pay depends on the mission: in India the fee is paid in rupees, and at the Washington embassy in US dollars by card only (official information, October 2026). Some categories are exempt, among them spouses and children of EU citizens, students on study trips and researchers (official information, October 2026).

Sources: European Commission, applying for a Schengen visa, Embassy of Slovakia in Washington, Schengen visa, Embassy of Slovakia in New Delhi, Schengen visa (official information, October 2026).

• Passport issued in the last 10 years
• Insurance of at least 30,000 euro
• Bring original documents

The core list is the same at every Slovak mission. Your own centre may ask for more, so print its checklist before the appointment.

• Application formFilled in and signed; details in section 9
• PhotoSize and rules in section 9
• PassportValid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, issued in the last 10 years, at least 2 blank pages (official information, October 2026)
• Travel medical insuranceAt least 30,000 euro, valid in the Schengen area for the whole journey (official information, October 2026)
• Purpose of the tripDocuments that show why you travel, such as hotel bookings or an invitation
• Proof of fundsBank statements, salary slips or a guarantee from the person who invites you
• Flight bookingRound trip with fixed dates
• For applicants under 18The form is signed by a parent or guardian, with a copy of the document that shows it (official information, October 2026)

Flight and hotel bookings

A confirmed booking is what the checklists ask for. Look at flights first to fix your dates: See flights to Bratislava  Ad

A hotel with free cancellation lets you cancel at no cost if the visa is refused. Check that the last free-cancellation date falls after the decision, which usually comes within 15 days (section 10). See Bratislava hotels  Ad

Sources: Embassy of Slovakia in Washington, Schengen visa, Embassy of Slovakia in New Delhi, Schengen visa, Embassy of Slovakia in Ankara, Schengen visa (official information, October 2026).

• Form free to download
• Signed by the applicant
• Photo: white background, 6 months

The Schengen application form can be downloaded free from Slovak embassy websites in English, Slovak, German, French, Spanish and Russian (official information, October 2026). You can also fill it in through the electronic visa request, which emails you the completed form to print; some missions make the electronic request compulsory (official information, October 2026).

• Fill it in completely and sign itA parent or guardian signs for applicants under 18
• Match your datesEntry and exit dates on the form should match your flight, hotel and insurance
• Name Slovakia as the main destinationOnly if it really is; see section 2

Photo

The Washington embassy asks for a full-face colour photo that meets ICAO standards; the New Delhi embassy asks for a passport-size photo with a white background, not older than 6 months (official information, October 2026).

The checklist used for applications in Turkey sets the size at 35 x 45 mm (official information, October 2026). Check the exact size on your own centre's list.

Sources: Embassy of Slovakia in New Delhi, visa application forms and Schengen visa, Embassy of Slovakia in Washington, Schengen visa, Slovakia tourist visa checklist used in Turkey (official information, October 2026).

• Decision: 15 calendar days
• Up to 45 days in some cases
• Apply 6 months to 15 days before

A decision is usually made within 15 calendar days and can take up to 45 days when more checks are needed (official information, October 2026). You can apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before the trip.

Where demand is high, missions advise booking early: the Istanbul consulate recommends 2 to 3 months ahead (official information, October 2026).

Sources: Embassy of Slovakia in Ankara, applying in Turkey, Consulate General of Slovakia in Istanbul, applying in Turkey (official information, October 2026).

• Refusal letter gives the reasons
• Appeal route in the letter
• Fee not refunded

A refusal comes in writing with the reasons and how to appeal (official information, October 2026). The New Delhi embassy puts it simply: the appeal procedure is explained in the refusal letter you receive (official information, October 2026).

• Read the letter firstThe deadline and the address for the appeal are in it
• Example from TurkeyThere the appeal goes to the mission that decided, within 15 days, in Slovak or with an official translation, with an 80 euro fee refunded if the appeal succeeds (official information, October 2026)
• Or apply againFix what was missing and pay the visa fee again

We do not quote a refusal rate: we found no official figure for Slovakia.

Sources: Embassy of Slovakia in New Delhi, Schengen visa, Embassy of Slovakia in Ankara, Schengen visa, BLS International Turkey, FAQ (official information, October 2026).

• EES: no passport stamps
• ETIAS: not started
• Austria checks until 15 March 2027

EES  began on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. Your face and fingerprints are recorded and your passport is not stamped (official information, October 2026).

ETIAS is not in operation yet (official information, October 2026). When it starts it will apply to visa-exempt travellers, not to people who hold a Schengen visa.

Going between Vienna and Bratislava? Austria runs temporary controls on its land and river border with Slovakia from 16 September 2026 to 15 March 2027 (official information, October 2026). Carry your passport, and your visa if you need one.

Police registration: foreigners register with the police within 3 working days; if you stay in a hotel, the hotel does it for you (official information, October 2026).

Sources: EU Entry/Exit System, EU, ETIAS, European Commission, temporary border controls, Embassy of Slovakia in Ankara, applying in Turkey (official information, October 2026).

• BLS International or VFS Global
• Your province decides the city
• Foreign residents: book by email

Residents of Turkey apply through BLS International or VFS Global. The 23 western provinces, including Istanbul, Izmir and Bursa, apply in Istanbul or Izmir; all other provinces in Ankara or Antalya. An application at the wrong centre is rejected (official information, October 2026).

Province list and details: Embassy of Slovakia in Ankara, Schengen visa page .

Sources: Embassy of Slovakia in Ankara, Schengen visa, Consulate General of Slovakia in Istanbul, VFS Global Turkey (official information, October 2026).

This page is not legal advice or a visa service. The Slovak mission decides every application. All facts are official information checked on 25 October 2026; rules and fees change, so check the official page before your appointment.

We do not link visa agencies or insurers. The hotel, flight, train and tour links on this page are affiliate links; the disclosure is at the bottom of the page.

Visiting Hungary on the same trip? Our Hungary visa guide  covers the same questions for Hungary.