Can international students work and stay on after studying in Slovakia?

Temporary residence for the purpose of study in Slovakia, granted under Act No. 404/2011 for up to six years, allows limited work alongside your studies subject to the rules in force. So you can gain some work experience while you complete your programme.

Staying on after graduation usually means moving to another residence purpose. If you secure a job, you would typically apply for temporary residence for employment, or the EU Blue Card if you hold a recognised degree and meet the salary threshold. Those who want to work for themselves can look at the business route. The key point is that Slovak residence is purpose-bound, so a change of purpose generally means a new permit.

Encouragingly, time spent lawfully resident as a student can count toward EU long-term residence, available after five years of continuous lawful residence. Because work allowances and the rules for switching routes change periodically, confirm the current details with the Bureau of Border and Foreign Police — and ACME can help you plan the move from student to worker.