Your first 90 days in Slovakia: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The 30-day medical certificate is a real condition of the permit, not a formality, and it must come from a Slovak doctor on the prescribed form — a certificate from home will not be accepted. Book it in the same week you report to the Foreign Police.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Report your arrival to the Foreign Police department within 3 working days and complete the temporary residence file
Report to the Foreign Police within 3 working days of entry; a medical certificate proving you carry no disease threatening public health is due within 30 days of the permit
Two clocks run at once — the 3-day reporting duty and the 30-day medical certificate — and the second is what most people miss because nothing chases you for it until the permit is at risk.
Get your rodné číslo (birth number) or a Slovak tax identification number (DIČ)
Payroll, the health insurance company, banking and Financial Administration filings all key off it.
A birth number is assigned with the residence permit; a DIČ for self-employment or a trade licence (živnosť) is registered separately with the Financial Administration and the trade office.
Open a bank account
Slovenská sporiteľňa, VÚB and Tatra banka open accounts on the residence card; before the card, a passport-only account is possible but comes with limits. Slovakia is in the eurozone, so there is no currency conversion friction with the rest of the bloc.
Enrol in healthcare
Health insurance is compulsory and you choose an insurer (VšZP, Dôvera, Union); employees are enrolled by the employer, everyone else registers and pays directly. Coverage starts when the policy does, not when you arrive, so the first weeks are a private-pay window unless you carry travel cover.
Sort your driver's license
EU/EEA licences remain valid. Non-EU licences must be exchanged after taking up residence, and Slovakia grants exchange without testing only where a reciprocity arrangement exists — otherwise you sit the theory and practical exams. A certified translation of the original licence is required for the file.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Slovakia: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Slovakia?
Report your arrival to the Foreign Police department within 3 working days and complete the temporary residence file — Report to the Foreign Police within 3 working days of entry; a medical certificate proving you carry no disease threatening public health is due within 30 days of the permit. Two clocks run at once — the 3-day reporting duty and the 30-day medical certificate — and the second is what most people miss because nothing chases you for it until the permit is at risk. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the rodné číslo and do I need one?
rodné číslo (birth number) or a Slovak tax identification number (DIČ) is Slovakia's personal tax/ID number. Payroll, the health insurance company, banking and Financial Administration filings all key off it. A birth number is assigned with the residence permit; a DIČ for self-employment or a trade licence (živnosť) is registered separately with the Financial Administration and the trade office.
Can I drive in Slovakia on a US license?
EU/EEA licences remain valid. Non-EU licences must be exchanged after taking up residence, and Slovakia grants exchange without testing only where a reciprocity arrangement exists — otherwise you sit the theory and practical exams. A certified translation of the original licence is required for the file. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Slovakia?
Health insurance is compulsory and you choose an insurer (VšZP, Dôvera, Union); employees are enrolled by the employer, everyone else registers and pays directly. Coverage starts when the policy does, not when you arrive, so the first weeks are a private-pay window unless you carry travel cover. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Slovakia's system treats foreign residents.