On July 15, 2024, Slovakia implemented streamlined national visa procedures for workers from non-EU countries. These new regulations are designed to address labor shortages in specific sectors by issuing national visas for a duration of one year to eligible foreign workers.
Under these facilitated rules, professionals in shortage-affected sectors such as cooks, agronomists, bakers, breeders, equipment operators, kitchen workers, learners, and assembly workers, among others, will find it easier to obtain a national visa.
However, Slovak authorities have clarified that this simplified visa access will not be available to all foreign nationals. Only individuals from certain designated countries will be eligible to benefit from these eased visa conditions.