- What documents and cards must an EU citizen prepare before coming to Slovakia?
- Where to look for vacancies in Slovakia.
- How to apply for a job in Slovakia.
- If you are unemployed in Slovakia.
- Who can EU citizens turn to for assistance?
- Non-compliance penalties.
1. What documents and cards must an EU citizen prepare before coming to Slovakia?
Before arriving in Slovakia, we recommend to:
- arrange an accommodation (at least temporary);
- take enough money to cover your living costs for at least one month until your first pay day;
- find out which residence and work permits in Slovakia apply to you;
- obtain a promise of employment (or employment contract) before;
- check the employer, the working conditions, the wage, compulsory insurance and social security contributions, the place of work, the type of work, the duration of employment, etc.;
- find out whether you need to have your non-Slovak evidence of education and professional qualifications recognized in order to perform a particular type of professional job in Slovakia;
- take the necessary documents and papers with you:
- valid passport/identity card;
- driving license;
- European Health Insurance Card;
- U1 (E301) or U2 (E303) forms, or other portable documents for the social security coordination that may relate to your life situation;
- evidence of formal qualifications and relevant professional experience (preferably with a certified Slovak translation);
- CV in Slovak;
- several passport photos;
- a criminal record note if the job or the nature of the work requires you to be a ‘person of integrity’).
2. Where to look for vacancies in Slovakia.
The Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family as well as local offices of labour, social affairs and family maintain an up-to-date database of vacancies. Current job offers you can find on the portal www.sluzbyzamestnanosti.gov.sk. It is a platform managed by the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic to help jobseekers in search for employment.
You can contact EURES Slovakia advisers to help you as you look for job offers and provide you with information, advice and mediation services. EURES facilitates the free movement of workers within the EU and has an EU-wide database of vacancies. The European EURES portal also contains information on living and working conditions in the Member States and on the situation on the various labour markets.
Private employment services can also help you to find a job. Services of private job agencies, temporary employment agencies and supported employment agencies are one of the ways to look for work in Slovakia.
You may find the following websites helpful if you are actively searching for work or need useful information on the job market in Slovakia:
3. How to apply for a job in Slovakia.
Prepare a job application, a cover letter and a CV the best you can as this is your first contact with a potential future employer. Pay attention to the formal style, quality of written expression and correct spelling.
Your application should be persuasive. It is meant to create interest in arranging an interview. It should be no longer than one sheet of A4 paper. Specify the position you are applying for and where you found out the job offer. Describe briefly your previous experience, education, abilities and skills. We recommend you to state the date on which you will be available to start working and that you express an interest in an interview. Be sure to include your contact details. Keep the cover letter short and to the point. State why you are applying for the position, what you can offer the employer, and why you are the right person for the job.
Most employers require a structured CV. It should contain your personal data, education, previous experience, other qualifications, language skills, PC skills, type of driving license you hold, other certificates or trainings and references. The Europass template is generally recommended CV structure.
4. If you are unemployed in Slovakia.
As an EU citizen, you are entitled to the same assistance from public employment services as Slovak nationals when looking for a job in Slovakia. If you are unemployed and you want to look for work, you may register with the local office of labour, social affairs and family. You can also apply for suitable employment electronically.
If you are receiving unemployment benefit, you may receive it while you are looking for work in another EU country. If you transfer your unemployment benefit to Slovakia, you need to register with the competent office of labour, social affairs and family within seven calendar days of the date on which you cease to be at the disposal of the employment services of the Member State you have come from. After this, submit a PD U2 form (or E 303 or SED U008) on the export of your unemployment benefit to the relevant branch of the Social Insurance Agency. If you export your unemployment benefit, this benefit will continue to be paid to you by the institution of the Member State under whose legislation you qualified for unemployment benefit. Unemployment benefit may generally be exported for three months. In certain exceptional cases, this period may be extended to a maximum of six months at the client’s request. Over the time that the unemployment benefit is exported, EU citizens must comply with all obligations imposed on them by the office of labour, social affairs and family.
5. Who can EU citizens turn to for assistance?
6. Non-compliance penalties.
During the time that the unemployment benefit is exported, EU citizens must comply with all obligations imposed on them by the office of labour, social affairs and family. Otherwise, they may be deregistered from the database of jobseekers and would then forfeit the unpaid part of their exported unemployment benefit.
Last modified: 5. 2. 2024
Publication date: 12. 11. 2020
The responsible person:
Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family