About this visa
Free Working Holiday Visa in Slovakia
This free working holiday visa allows young Canadians, Australians and Kiwis to work and travel in Slovakia in up to one year!
COVID-19 UPDATE:
EU countries are starting to reopen their borders to international travelers. However, before heading off to Europe be sure to double check with the country's Embassy or Consulate in your home country as the EU countries are not legally bound to follow this new EU recommendation.
Participating countries
Slovakia has made Working Holiday visa agreements with the following 3 participating countries:
If you are a Citizen of Slovakia and are considering a Working Holiday experience in one of the participating countries above, contact the Embassy of the country in question for more information.
With this visa you can
This visa allows you to:
- Live in Slovakia up to one year
- Work for an employer for 6 months
- Study/participate in a course for up to 6 months
- Re-enter Slovakia within the visa period
Conditions
- You must be aged between 18 and 30 years, both inclusive, at the time of application
- You must not be accompanied by dependent children;
- You must have a valid passport from either Canada, Australia or New Zealand
- You must possess a ticket for departure from the territory of Slovak Republic, or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket
- You must have sufficient funds for your visa period duration (4.000 EUR or 2.500 EUR and valid departure ticket from Slovak Republic);
- You must remember to pay any fees associated with the visa application (Excl. Canadians where it’s free of charge)
- You must be a holder of tertiary qualifications, or has successfully completed at least two (2) years of undergraduate university study
- You must hold a medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance for the duration of their stay in the territory of the Slovak Republic
- For Australians – You must possess a letter from the relevant ministry of the Australia which includes a statement concerning their stay in the territory of the Slovak Republic under the terms of Memorandum of Understanding;
- You must previously not have taken part in the ‘Work and Holiday’ or ‘Working Holiday’ Programmes in the territory of the Slovak Republic
Note: The visa conditions outlined above are subject to change without notice.
How to apply
- Normal processing time: Depends on each case but max. processing time is 30 days
- Visa fee: Free of charge
- Collect the required documents for visa application submission. Here is a checklist for Australia, Canada and New Zealand
- Fill out the visa application form
- Hand in the filled out visa application and required documents to your nearest Slovakian Embassy in person
Canada: Slovakian Embassy in Ottawa
New Zealand and Australia: Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Canberra
The immigration authority in Slovakia for processing Working Holiday visa's is Slovak Republic Embassy in Australia.
Go to: Slovak Republic Embassy in Australia
Need more help?
If you are seeking advice about Working Holiday visa's drop a comment below and we will be happy to answer any Working Holiday & Youth Mobility visa question you have! We are travellers too! 🙂
Hello,
I am a Canadian currently living in Canada. I plan to move to Slovakia, hopefully under a Working Holiday Visa, and have a question on the different “category” types of the Visa that can be applied for; specifically the “Career development – Others” vs. “Working Holiday”.
If I am to obtain a remote – Canadian job (i.e. employed and paid in Canada), would I qualify for the “Career development – Others” visa as this would be a “pre-arranged contract of employment (job offer) in support of [their] career development”? Or would I have to specifically be employed by a Slovakian employer?
Any recommendation or direction would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much,
Katie
Hi Maria,
My step daughter would like to apply for a Slovak working holiday visa from Australia (she is still in Australia), but is having problems obtaining all the relevant documents especially the letter from an Australia government body.
Are you able to advise the exact application procedure and where she could find all the relevant forms? The Australian agencies she has spoken to are giving her the run arounds or are saying there is no such thing as a Slovak working holiday visa?
I appreciate all the information you are able to share.
Thanks so much.
Sheila
Hello,
I am a Canadian currently living in Canada. I plan to move to Slovakia, hopefully under a Working Holiday Visa, however the Slovak Embassy in Ottawa is not processing visas yet.
I am looking for options to get to Slovakia as soon as possible, but in doing so I want to ensure I am still viable to work there.
Is it possible to apply for a working holiday visa from within Slovakia if I were to go there on a regular tourist visa to start?
Any recommendation or direction would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much,
Brendan
Hi Brendan,
Unfortunately, you are only able to apply for the working holiday visa to Slovakia from your home country. The Slovak Immigration department do not accept these applications as they will have to be lodged via the embassy of the participating countries.
An alternative for you could perhaps be to arrive as a tourist under the tourist visa (Schengen Visa), and see if there is a Slovak company who wishes to hire you and sponsor you for a work visa.
The Slovak Immigration rules are not as tough as other EU countries, so perhaps this could be an alternative for you?
If you wish to travel to Slovakia under a tourist visa but with the aim to stay in Slovakia, you must still remember to have a return ticket out of Europe, as otherwise you will be denied entry into Europe.
Good luck with your travels!
Cheers,
Maria