With effect from the date of the announcement on October 3, 2023, the Decree of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 383/2023 Coll. on the interest of the Slovak Republic in granting national visas to selected groups of nationals of third countries in selected jobs in the field of industry (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulation") provisions were adopted in the Slovak legal order to simplify the employment of foreigners, i.e. employees from countries other than EU member countries. These employees will be  granted the so-called national visas, as their employment is in the interest of the Slovak Republic. The condition "interest of the Slovak Republic" is one of the conditions on the basis of which a national visa can be granted.

A national visa is a permit granted by the Slovak Republic, which entitles you to stay on the territory of the Slovak Republic (no other EU states).

A national visa is granted to a national of a third country (former Soviet Union states except EU member states and Russia, former Yugoslavia states except Croatia and Slovenia, Philippines, Nepal, Indonesia) who has not been granted temporary residence for the purpose of employment or has not applied for such temporary residence. National visas are issued for the purpose of employment in jobs in industry specified in the Regulation, such as an operator of a machine for the production of rubber products, an assembly worker (operator) in engineering production, an assembly worker in chemical, rubber and plastic production, an assembly worker (operator) of electronic equipment, metal welder, CNC machine adjuster, etc.

Also, the employer with whom the employee with the granted national visa should be employed must meet the criteria according to the Regulation. These criteria include residence in the territory of the Slovak Republic for at least four years, no fine issued for violating the ban on illegal employment in a period of two years, fulfilment of the taxpayer's obligations and fulfilment obligations to pay advance payments for public health insurance premiums, social insurance premiums and mandatory contributions for pension savings.

National visas are granted for a maximum of one year and their maximum number may not exceed 2,000 in a calendar year.

In order to grant a national visa, the employer submits to the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family electronically through the central public administration portal a draft list of third-country nationals signed with a qualified electronic signature. After checking that the conditions have been met, the Central Labour, Social Affairs and Family subsequently submits the list of third-country nationals, with which he expresses his agreement, to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic.

National visas are then granted based on the procedure specified in the Act on the Residence of Foreigners.