Slovakia to Grant Up to 1,000 National Visas Annually to Chinese Nationals

Following recent discussions with Chinese officials, the Slovak government is considering expanding the number of national visas issued to Chinese nationals.

The initiative aims to strengthen trade relations and foster economic development between the two nations.

According to unofficial details from the draft regulation, Slovakia is set to increase the annual national visa quota for Chinese nationals to 1,000. The proposal has been put forward by Slovakia’s Minister of Labour, Erik Tomáš, and outlines specific conditions under which these visas will be granted.

"The legal regulation proposes to establish the conditions and purpose for the expression of interest of the Slovak Republic in granting a national visa for the purpose of employment to nationals of the People’s Republic of China who are employees of selected investors for a period of employment of no more than one year," the Slovak Ministry of Labor stated.

Chinese citizens seeking employment in Slovakia will be eligible to relocate if they hold a valid residence permit and possess skills that align with Slovakia’s labor market needs, provided that local resources have been fully utilized first.

Slovakia Increases Residence Permits for Foreign Workers

In recent years, Slovakia has raised the number of residence permits available to foreign employees. For 2024, the national visa quota for skilled workers has been set at 2,000, while 3,000 visas have been allocated to highly qualified professionals, with transport drivers among the key beneficiaries.

"The Slovak Republic will grant national visas to selected groups of third-country nationals in the professions of bus drivers with 200 national visas, heavy-duty truck drivers (international transport), and heavy-duty truck drivers (domestic transport) with 2,000 national visas in the year 2024," Slovakia’s Ministry of Labour stated.

Data from Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, indicates that Slovakia issued 642,710 residence permits in 2023, with the majority being granted for employment purposes. Out of this total, 225,237 permits—or 35 percent—were issued for employment, while 218,241 residence permits, representing 33.9 percent, were granted for other reasons.

Additionally, 170,242 residence permits were issued for family reunification, while 25,461 were granted for educational purposes. Refugee protection accounted for 3,529 residence permits.

Statistics further show a rise in the number of residence permits issued to non-EU citizens in Slovakia in 2023. The number increased by 9.7 percent, making it one of the largest increases in residence permits across European nations.

Among the countries that also recorded high growth in residence permits issued during recent years were Lithuania, Malta, Croatia, Romania, Ireland, Bulgaria, and Finland.

By fLEXI tEAM