Slovakia ETIAS
Located in the very center of Europe Slovakia is a growing touristic destination both for Europeans and non-Europeans, and also has a fast-growing economy that is allowing it to create new partnerships with many trading firms situated outside of the European Union.
ETIAS to Slovakia: summary of main terms
Slovak Republic to require ETIAS to incoming Visa Waiver travelers from 2025
ETIAS needed to enter Slovakia for visitors from 60 Visa Waiver Countries
ETIAS to cover for a permanence in EU’s Schengen Area as a whole of no longer than 90 days in 6 months
ETIAS to cover only for incoming journeys for business, leisure, transit or medical treatment.
Application for ETIAS to be submitted electronically only
Passport must have 3 months of remaining validity throughout the whole stay in ETIAS Area
A quick look at Slovakia
Located in the very center of Europe Slovakia is a growing touristic destination both for Europeans and non-Europeans, and also has a fast-growing economy that is allowing it to create new partnerships with many trading firms situated outside of the European Union.
The history of Slovakia dates back to centuries ago but its full independence was only obtained in year 1993 after the dissolution of what formerly was the Czechoslovakian Republic coming as an aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union happening two years prior.
As an independent nation Slovakia became Member of the European Union in 2004 and of the Schengen area in 2008.Slovakia ETIAS application process
Beginning from 2025 Slovakia will also become an ETIAS destination, meaning that the Visa Waiver will than be necessary in order to access in territory for many visitors coming from outside the EU’s Schengen Area.
As for other 33 destination countries the application for ETIAS to Slovakia requires candidates to electronically input a short set of data to forward their application. Such data include personal information, contact details, specifics about the first planned trip to ETIAS Area and background eligibility questions.
Once issued the ETIAS Visa Waiver issued is valid for 3 years and allows for multiple entries in the Slovak Republic and in all the EU/Schengen Area Nations besides Ireland.
The ETIAS approval notification will be sent directly to the petitioner’s personal e-mail, and it is therefore important for each applicant to input a valid and working e-mail account when they fill out the required form.ETIAS terms of use
Although it is necessary for short term tourism, business, transit and medical treatment trips, ETIAS Visa Waiver itself does not automatically give a certainty that the Visa Waiver rights holders will be allowed to enter the European Borders since the decision making on this topic is always and only responsibility of the Border Control Officers.
As a matter of fact, travelers entering Schengen Area from abroad, regardless of the place of origin of the journey and of the mean of transportation used, might be required to provide further documents like:- return ticket to origin country
- onwards ticket to a non-ETIAS Member Country
- proof of sufficient funds
To avoid problems during the Border Control Procedures it is of paramount importance that all data inputted in the ETIAS Application form are correct and truthful.
Eligibility exceptions
It also to be highlighted that Visa Waiver citizens already holding a valid Schengen Visa or Residence Permit issued by one of the ETIAS Area Country will not need to apply for ETIAS. Such exception currently does not cover those that possess a National Visa, or a Residence Permit issued by any of those 3 EU Nations that are bound to join Schengen Area but have still not perfected their membership. These countries are: Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria.
The same limitation applies to holders of Ireland Visas or Residence Permits since EIRE is EU Member but will not subscribe to the Schengen Acquis.
ETIAS can also be used to enter the Slovak Republic for short training/study programs and for family/friends visit as long as the combined stay in the ETIAS countries area will not pass the threshold of ninety days within six months. More details on the Visa Waiver eligibility criteria are available here.Territorial limitations of ETIAS
While an ETIAS will, for most non-EU voyagers be required to enter Slovakia it is important to highlight that the nearby country of Ukraine is not part of either the European Union or the Schengen Area and therefore access to its territory is subject to local immigration rules that might also imply the obligation to have a valid Consular Visa and that, to this day, do not include ETIAS Visa Waiver.