Slovak Response to COVID-19, Travel Restrictions to The United States of America, and Consular Services at Embassy Bratislava

COVID-19 Information

Last updated: 12/08/2020

Country-Specific Information:

Please see the section below on Entry and Exit Requirements for information on the new entry requirements at all Slovak borders, effective December 8, 2020. Note that none of the countries bordering Slovakia are currently classified as “green low-risk” for purposes of entry to Slovakia.
Slovak authorities request that you do not go to the hospital if you believe that you might have COVID-19.  Officials request that those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 contact health authorities at 0917-222-682.  A healthcare provider will explain treatment options after discussing your concerns.
Facial coverings (mask, scarf, etc.) are required in all indoor public spaces.  As of October 15, 2020, facial coverings are required also outdoors if the distance between two unrelated persons is less than 5 m.  Children under the age of six and those with autism are exempted.
State offices have returned to normal operations with modified schedules.  Confirm opening hours prior to seeking assistance.
As of June 15, nearly all businesses are now open subject to health and sanitation requirements.     
As of October 25, preschools and elementary schools through grade 4 remain open. All students in grades 5 and above, including university students, can only attend classes online. In some cases, schools may open classes for up to six students at a time. Schools may require that students obtain a declaration that they have no symptoms of COVID-19 and have not traveled in “red zone” countries within 14 days of starting school.
As of October 23, 2020, hospitals have postponed all non-essential services.  
International trains and buses are operating, but some local interruptions and delays at the borders may still occur.   
Official government of Slovakia COVID-19 statistics can be found at www.korona.gov.sk

Entry and Exit Requirements:

Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter?No, in most cases. They may be admitted only if they are immediate family members of a Slovak citizen or resident, receive an entry exception from Slovak authorities, or otherwise qualify for entry as outlined on the European Commission website. No travel for tourism or regular business from the United States to the Schengen zone, including Slovakia, is permitted.
- Flights to the Schengen zone through Vienna, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt permit transit as long as the traveler has proof that the final destination in the EU will allow their entry. Please carry a document that shows an immediate familial relationship to a Slovak citizen or resident, such as a marriage certificate or a birth record when boarding the flight. When transiting Austria from other country than Slovakia, it is required to complete a transit form. When considering a flight through other countries, please verify if transit to Slovakia through those countries is permitted to non-citizens or non-residents at their respective Embassies in the United States and/or with the airlines.
- As of September 1, 2020, the border with Hungary is closed. Only Hungarian citizens and long-term residents will be allowed entry to Hungary. Arrivals and departures of third country nationals at the Budapest international airport will not be permitted.
- As of November 9, 2020, persons traveling to the Czech Republic must complete entry form at https://www.mzv.cz/file/4081246/Prijezdovy_formular.pdf and either present negative COVID-19 test not older than 72 hours, or stay in home quarantine for minimum 5 days and take a PCR test, or stay in home quarantine for 10 days. Exemptions apply to EU citizens and residents transiting the Czech Republic for up to 12 hours, or traveling to the Czech Republic for less than 12 hours for emergency reasons, minors up to 5 years of age, and residents and citizens of the Czech Republic.

NEW BORDER RESTRICTIONS EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 8, 2020

In order to be allowed entry to the Schengen zone, travelers must meet the criteria as outlined by the European Commission. Anyone who has been allowed to enter another Schengen member state, and thus is already present in the Schengen zone, can enter Slovakia for any purpose of travel.

Please visit the Covid-19 page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for details about the below entry regulations. Note that “internal border” means all land, air, and water arrivals from within the Schengen zone. “External border” means air arrivals originating outside the Schengen zone, as well as land entry from Ukraine. A full English translation of the Public Health Decree that explains entry requirements can be found here.

A flowchart outlining current restrictions in Slovak can be found here.

For the purposes of border entry requirements, the current list of “green low-risk countries” is: Australia, China, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

All persons who arrive to Slovakia by airplane are required to fill out the registration form: Health Passenger Locator Form and to obey all epidemiological measures as ordered by the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic.

Beginning December 8, 2020 at 7:00 a.m., travelers who have been physically present ONLY in the above green low-risk countries for the prior 14 days may enter Slovakia and move freely by presenting negative results of a COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken within the prior 72 hours OUTSIDE of Slovakia. They do not need to register with the Ministry of Health.

Beginning December 8, 2020 at 7:00 a.m., all people entering the Slovak Republic who have been physically present only within the European Union, Great Britain, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland in countries OTHER THAN those on the “green low-risk” list during the previous 14 days, must present at the border a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken within the prior 72 hours OUTSIDE of Slovakia. OTHERWISE, they must remain in home quarantine or at a quarantine accommodation facility when ordered, UNTIL:

- a) receipt of a negative RT-PCR test for COVID-19 taken on or after the fifth day of home isolation; OR 10 days of home isolation are complete AND all people in the household remain asymptomatic. All people in a household must remain in isolation until the traveler’s quarantine ends.

In addition to testing and quarantine rules above, all travelers arriving from within the European Union but outside of the “green low-risk countries”, including those with valid RT-PCR negative tests, must:
- a) Register in advance of or immediately upon entry into the Slovak Republic at the website https://korona.gov.sk/en/ehranica/ and follow all directions as indicated.
- b) Carry results of a negative RT-PCR test with them at all times while moving freely in Slovakia and be willing to present it to the Slovak Police Force.

Beginning December 8, 2020 at 7:00 a.m., all people entering the Slovak Republic who have been physically present in countries OUTSIDE the European Union, Great Britain, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland, and NOT on the “green low-risk list”, during the previous 14 days, must remain in home isolation, or in a quarantine accommodation facility as ordered, which only ends upon:

- a) receipt of a negative RT-PCR test for COVID-19 taken after the fifth day of home isolation. All people in a household must remain in isolation until the traveler’s quarantine ends.
- Note that COVID-19 testing at the Ukrainian border has been suspended. For information about who may enter Slovakia from the Ukrainian border, please see information about arrival through the external border.
In addition to following the quarantine rules above, travelers arriving from outside the European Union, Great Britain, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland must:
- a) Register immediately upon entry into the Slovak Republic at the website http://korona.gov.en/ehranica and follow all directions as indicated.
- b) Carry results of a negative RT-PCR test with them at all times while moving freely in Slovakia and be willing to present it to the Slovak Police Force.

Travelers listed in Section 4 of the Public Health Decree are exempt from testing and quarantine requirements unless otherwise indicated.

Beginning December 8, 2020, several categories of travelers previously excepted from testing and quarantine requirements will now need the negative results of an antigen test taken within the prior two weeks at an authorized facility in Slovakia OR an RT-PCT test taken within the prior 72 hours anywhere. This includes all travelers listed in Sections 5-7 of the Public Health Decree, including temporary workers and students.

Contact information for public health authorities in each region of Slovakia can be found here.

For information on additional restrictive measures adopted by the Public Health Authority (limitations on free movement of persons in public without face protective equipment, etc.) visit the Public Health Authority page.

For a flowchart in English on Entry Requirements to Slovakia, click here.

Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes, for some travelers. Please see Entry and Exit Requirements above for more information.
Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry?
- The airports in Vienna and Bratislava have been conducting temperature checks on arriving passengers for some flights. Travelers should be prepared for health and border officials to require temperature checks.

Are visa extensions for residents and/or tourists available? Yes
- Temporary and permanent residents, as well as anyone on paroled status in Slovakia, whose validity expires during the declared state of crisis and up to a month afterwards will have their legal status extended for two months after the official state of crisis is declared over. Travel for tourism to other EU countries during that period is only permitted for legal residents. Temporary residents and visitors must remain in Slovakia.
- Travelers that legally entered Slovakia on a Schengen visa will maintain their legal status until one month after the official state of crisis ends. They are not, however, permitted to travel for tourism to other countries, unless they have permanent residency in Slovakia.
- Temporary and permanent residents who are outside of Slovakia and are unable to return during the state of crisis can submit an application for the renewal of their residency status at the closest Slovak Embassy abroad mzv.sk/washington. The Slovak embassy can provide details on application procedures.

Movement Restrictions:

Is a curfew in place?
Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? Internal travel is not restricted at this time.
If the Public Health Authority imposes new measures to restrict movement in order to control the spread of the virus, they will be posted at http://www.uvzsr.sk/en/index.php/contacts

Quarantine Information:

- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Yes, unless they meet certain criteria as outlined in the Entry and Exit Requirements section above.
  - If travelers arrive via Vienna International Airport, the negative COVID-19 test must not be older than 72 For transit through other Schengen airports, please monitor the changes of entry and transit requirements at their respective Embassies in the United States and/or with the airlines.
  - State-provided quarantine and use of the application eKarantena have been terminated.

COVID-19 Testing:

Private testing is available at lab.online.skor www.medirex.sk in various locations throughout the country. If not ordered by the Regional Public Health Authority or a medical provider, the fee for testing is paid by the traveler. The standard cost is €50-€70. Fee-based testing will be available, and may be required, at selected borders.
Residents can undergo free rapid antigen testing in each district upon request at facilities listed in the link here.

Transportation Options:

Are commercial flights operating?
- There are no direct flights to the United States from any Slovak airport. The Vienna and Prague airports remain open with indirect and some direct itineraries to the United States. However, airlines have reduced their schedules and flights are subject to constant change. Check with your airline before your scheduled departure. For more detailed information visit the websites of the Viennaand Prague
- If arriving in Slovakia via commercial flight, it is required to complete the following form.
- The Bratislava, Kosice and Poprad airports now have limited commercial flights and charter flights to destinations in Europe.

Is public transportation operating? Yes.
- Masks are required on all forms of public transportation. Taxi and ride sharing app services are available, and also require the use of face masks.

Fines for Non-Compliance:

Violation of the quarantine rules in Slovakia can result in fines of €1,650 ($1800).  Slovak authorities recently announced increased monitoring along Slovak borders and state that they may soon impose fines of up to €5,000 for travel and quarantine rule violations. In cases of serious quarantine violations, foreigners may be deported from Slovakia and could face permanent bans on reentry.
Non-compliance with mask requirements can result in fines or prosecution.

Consular Operations:

As of November 16, 2020, American Citizen Services at the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava is accepting limited appointment requests for routine services.
As of November 16, 2020 the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava is accepting limited appointment requests for nonimmigrant visa applicants who are exempt from all Presidential Proclamations or qualify for National Interest Exceptions. Nonimmigrant visa applications are available at https://www.ustraveldocs.com/sk/. Please do not pay the fee until the U.S. Embassy approves your appointment request.

Local Resources:

Other Links:

By U.S. Embassy Bratislava | 20 April, 2020 | Topics: Alert, Consular Affairs, Notification, U.S. Citizen Services