Slovakia Tourist Visa - Definitive Guide

Also known as the Slovakia Schengen tourist visa, this is issued for people entering Slovakia for the purpose of tourism. The permit is issued for a maximum stay duration of 90 days in a 180-day period. The exact duration and validity depend on the consular officer processing your application. The permit can be issued as single-entry, double-entry, or even a multiple-entry depending on the number of times you would have to exit and enter the Schengen zone. 

The Slovakia tourist visa application from India has been outsourced to the Visa Application Centres (VAC) by the Slovakian Embassy. The application is done offline. Before starting the application, you must ensure that you meet all the eligibility conditions for the tourist visa. After this, you may proceed to make the application as follows - 

1. The first step is to obtain all the documents you would need for the tourist category.
2. After this, you must visit the website of the Slovakian embassy in India and download the Schengen application form.
3. Fill in the form with all the relevant details including the purpose of your visit as ‘tourism’. 
4. Proceed to book your appointment at one of the VACs located across India. 
5. Attend the visa appointment with the completed application form, appointment confirmation, documents and fees in person. You will also have to submit your biometrics here. 

Note that if you have submitted your biometrics for the application for any of the Schengen visas in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again. Also, ensure that you provide only genuine documents and correct information. Providing false information or forged documents are grounds for automatic visa rejection.

To be able to apply for the tourist permit, you must meet the following conditions - 

• You must be living in the country you are lodging the application. If you are residing in a residence permit in any foreign nation, you may apply it to the corresponding visa authority in that country.
• You must possess a valid passport that meets all the regulations.
• The sole purpose of your visit must be to take part in tourism and related activities.
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover all your expenses during the entire stay period in Slovakia.
• You must apply for the permit only if -

• 1. Slovakia is your only destination, or
  2. Slovakia is one of your multiple Schengen destinations, in which case you will be spending the majority of the time here, or,
  3. Slovakia is your port of entry into the Schengen region.

As per the Slovakia tourist visa requirements for Indian citizens, the following are the documents you would need to make an application for the Slovakia tourist visa from India. 

• A valid passport- 

• 1. It must contain at least 2 blank pages.
  2. It should not be older than 10 years.
  3. It should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.
  4. Old passports, if any, are to be attached.
• A covering letter - 
  1. This must include the applicant's details.
  2. It should clearly mention the source of funds.
  3. It should clearly state the purpose of tourism, and the duration of the visit.
  4. It should be signed by the applicant and addressed to the Embassy of the Slovak Republic.
• Flight reservation for round trip
• Detailed travel itinerary
• Proof of accommodation - hotel bookings/invitation to stay/residence bookings, etc 
• Medical travel insurance coverage up to at least 30000 Euros
• Proof of occupation - 

Proof of occupation such as employment letter, Copy of business license, etc.

• Financial documents -

Financial documents such as bank statements of the past 3 months, Passbook copy, ITR, etc.

• Dimensions: 35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription glasses
• Headgears - only for religious reasons
• Facial hair - permitted

The processing time for the tourist application is dependent on the validity of the permit, the number of applications at the embassy, as well as your previous travel history. Normally, it takes around 15 working days to process your application. However, this can sometimes even take up to 30 days or 60 days in certain extreme conditions. As a result, it is suggested that you apply for a visa well in advance. 

The application fees for this tourist permit is dependent upon the foreign currency exchange rates, as well as the embassy. Apart from the application fee, there will be biometric charges, delivery charges, as well as any service charges levied by the VAC. As a result, you must check the exact amount before starting the application.

Once you have submitted the application at one of the VACs, it is then forwarded to the Embassy of the Slovak Republic for processing. Note that even though you have submitted the application at a VAC, the processing is solely in the hands of the embassy. The VAC has absolutely no say in the processing. And cannot influence in any circumstances. 

If your visa has been approved, you can collect it directly from the VAC, or have it delivered to you for an additional charge. 

You can perform the Slovakia tourist visa status tracking by clicking here and entering your reference number and date of birth. Alternately, you can contact your travel agency to know the status. 

Once you have received your passport with the visa back, you must keep in mind the following points to ensure a hassle-free journey. 

• Keep in mind the expiry date, the duration of stay, as well as the number of entries mentioned on the visa sticker. You must not stay longer than the permitted duration.
• Carry all the travel documents while travelling. You will be denied entry into Slovakia without this. 
• Ensure that you travel to Slovakia within 6 months of the visa issue date, or as mentioned in the Schengen sticker. After this date, your permit will become invalid and you will not be able to enter the country. 
• While you are travelling within the country, ensure that you always carry a copy of your travel documents with you. 
• While you are on a tourist permit, you cannot take part in paid work for a Slovakian company or establishment. 
• You will not be able to extend the tourist visa under any normal conditions
• You can move freely within the Schengen zone with the tourist visa.