Slovakia entry requirements, by passport

Vaccinations

• No mandatory vaccines for entry. Slovakia does not ask any traveller for a yellow fever certificate, wherever they arrive from, according to the list the WHO publishes under the International Health Regulations.

Customs limits

Cash

Cash or travellers' cheques from 10,000 euros must be declared when entering or leaving the EU (Regulation (EU) 2018/1672). Customs gives you a stamped declaration; without it the money can be held when you leave.

Alcohol

From outside the EU, aged 17 and over: 1 litre of drinks over 22% or 2 litres at 22% or under, plus 4 litres of still wine and 16 litres of beer (Directive 2007/74/EC, Art. 9).

Tobacco

From outside the EU, aged 17 and over and arriving by air: 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco. Directive 2007/74/EC (Art. 8) lets each State cut the limit to 40 cigarettes for travellers arriving by land, which in Slovakia means the border with Ukraine; the figure applied there could not be confirmed against Slovak customs. Meat, milk and products containing them cannot be brought in.

Overstay penalties

Overstaying can bring a fine of up to 1,600 euros, according to the UK Government. As a Schengen State, Slovakia can also issue a return decision with an entry ban, recorded in the Schengen Information System and valid across the whole area. The amount could not be confirmed against the text of the Slovak law on the residence of foreigners.

Check whether you would go over the limit →

What happens if you stay past 90 days →

Grounds for refusal

Apply to: Visa-free

• Not presenting a valid travel document: valid for at least three months after the intended departure and issued within the previous ten years (Art. 6(1)(a)).
• Not justifying the purpose and conditions of the stay, or not showing sufficient means of subsistence for the stay and the return (Art. 6(1)(c)).
• Having already used up the 90 days within the current 180-day period (Art. 6(1)).
• Being the subject of a Schengen Information System (SIS) alert for the purpose of refusing entry (Art. 6(1)(d)).
• Being considered a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of a Schengen State (Art. 6(1)(e)).

Source: Regulation (EU) 2016/399 (Schengen Borders Code) , Art. 6(1). A refusal is given in writing with its reasons and can be appealed (Art. 14).

Apply to: Visa required

• A false travel document, or reasonable doubts about the authenticity of the documents submitted (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 32(1)(a)(i) and 32(1)(b)).
• Failing to justify the purpose and conditions of the trip (Art. 32(1)(a)(ii)).
• Failing to show sufficient means for the stay and the return (Art. 32(1)(a)(iii)); Slovakia's reference is 56 euros a day.
• Having already used the 90 days of the current 180-day period (Art. 32(1)(a)(iv)).
• Having an alert in the Schengen Information System for the purpose of refusing entry (Art. 32(1)(a)(v)).
• Being considered a threat to public policy, internal security or public health (Art. 32(1)(a)(vi)).
• Not presenting valid travel medical insurance where required (Art. 32(1)(a)(vii)).
• Reasonable doubts about the intention to leave the Schengen area before the visa expires (Art. 32(1)(b)).

What to do if you are refused entry →