An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside of Ukraine

BUY

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 300,000 Ukrainians have crossed the Ukrainian-Slovak border. Some pass through Slovakia in transit and go to other EU countries, but many remain in the country. More than 57,000 Ukrainians applied for temporary protection status in the country. We have collected information about the rules of moving to Slovakia and social support in this article.

Rules of entry

Currently, there are 3 checkpoints on the state border with Slovakia. Maly Berezny (24/7), Uzhhorod (24/7, but pedestrians are not allowed), Maly Selmentsi (open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.).

 A biometric passport is not required to cross the border. Ukrainians can enter Slovakia on the basis of a foreign passport, an internal passport of a citizen of Ukraine or another document certifying identity. For children, it is enough to have a birth certificate with you.

A visa is not required, a short-term stay in the country of up to 90 days is allowed. For a longer stay, it is necessary to obtain the status of temporary protection.

There are no quarantine restrictions due to the COVID-19 epidemic in Slovakia.

Where to apply for protection?

An application for temporary asylum status (Dočasne útočisko) can be submitted immediately upon arrival. This status will give you access to the Slovak system of health care, education and the labor market, and you will also be able to receive housing, food and humanitarian aid.

Documents are accepted at special registration centers and police departments dealing with foreigners. More detailed information on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Slovak Republic.

Attention! Temporary asylum does not expire when leaving the territory of the Slovak Republic, persons granted this status are allowed to travel to Ukraine and back.

You can also apply for refugee status in Slovakia, but it has a number of restrictions.

Financial assistance

The amount of financial aid in Slovakia depends on the number of Ukrainian family members and their age. However, the amount cannot exceed 380 euros per family per month.

Amount of payments per month:

• €80 for an adult;

• €160 for children under 3 years;

• €60 for children from 3 to 18 years old.

Families with a person with a disability can receive additional funding.

The application for receiving financial assistance is submitted together with the registration of the status of temporary protection.

Slovakia also introduced an additional payment for winter needs. This will be a one-time transfer of €150 per person, with a maximum of €400 per family.

Every registered refugee whose data is in the UNHCR database will automatically receive winter cash assistance and will not need to go to the registration points.

Housing in Slovakia

Slovakia provides Ukrainians with temporary housing. You can be accommodated in a hotel or with a Slovak family. You can get acquainted with the list of state, hotel and private housing on the Pomoc pre Ukrajinu platform.

Furthermore, you can also rent an apartment yourself:

• a one-room apartment in the capital will cost 600-800 euros;

• one-room apartment in a small town - 400-600 euros.

Additionally, you will have to pay 150-200 euros per month for utility bills.

Where to look for work?

According to Slovak legislation, Ukrainians who have received the status of temporary protection can work, but do not have the right to conduct business activities.

You can quickly find a job on the Istp.sk portal. You fill out a form in which you indicate in which city or district you would like to work in Slovakia. The data will be transferred to employers' associations of Slovakia, to the migration office and registered employers on the ISTP website.

If you speak English or Slovak, you can try to find a job through Linkedin or Upwork.

Education in Slovakia

Ukrainian children who arrived in Slovakia with their parents have the right to attend educational institutions, like all Slovak children.

Preschool education is mandatory for a child who has reached the age of 5. You can find a kindergarten by following the link.

Primary and secondary education in Slovakia is free. Children attend school from 6 to 16 years old. List of schools at the link.

To register, you must contact the kindergarten or school of your choice directly.

Medical services

Ukrainians who have obtained the status of temporary protection in Slovakia have the right to receive emergency medical care.

Consultations in Ukrainian:

• + 421-2-21025075 is available every day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Consultation is free.

• ua.diagnose.me

Please note! That if you do not apply for temporary protection status in Slovakia, but are planning a trip to the country, you should take care of an insurance policy, because it is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside of Ukraine. In order not to have trouble abroad and to be calm for yourself and your loved ones, Visit Ukraine recommends taking out medical insurance in advance.

Free travel

Citizens of Ukraine can travel around Slovakia for free on trains and buses of the Unified Transport System of the Bratislava Region (IDS BK). However, for this it is necessary to provide a "Slovak help" document with a red stamp, which you will receive after crossing the border, or a document on temporary asylum.

In the regional bus (ARRIVA Mobility Solutions company) and railway transport of the Bratislava region, citizens of Ukraine can travel for free with the specified documents on the day of receipt of the document and for the next 4 days.

We advise you to find out information about the conditions of public transport on the spot.

Auto

Traveling by car to Slovakia does not require special preparation. To cross the border, you must have a technical passport and a driver's license. Insurance is also mandatory. You can purchase a "Green Card" insurance policy for traveling abroad in your own car here.

For more details about the rules for using your own car in Slovakia, see the link.