The aftermath of Brexit: Implications for work and stay of UK nationals in the Slovak Republic
The United Kingdom (UK) has oficially left the European Union (EU). The
leaving process started on March 29th, 2017 by activation of the Article
50 of the Treaty on European Union and the two parties (UK EU) started
to draft the agreement setting forth the Brexit terms and conditions
(Brexit deal).
Originally, the UK was supposed to leave the EU on March 29th, 2019, however, the UK Government declined to approve the Brexit deal and have asked to extend the EU membership. Such situation has repeated two more times and the final Brexit date was set to January 31st, 2020. As the Brexit deal has been approved both by the UK and EU in January 2020, January 31st was the last day when the UK was considered a member of the EU.
Thanks to the Brexit deal, the rights and obligations of UK nationals residing in the Slovak Republic remain unchanged and they can freely work and stay here similar to any other EU national till the end of a so called transition period on December 31st, 2020.
The transition period has been set to refine, in detail, all subsequent agreements between the UK and the EU to minimize the impact of the Brexit both on the UK and EU and can be extended for maximum additional 2 years. It is recommended to follow instructions of Slovak Ministry of Interior as there may be different actions necessary depending on current status of UK nationals in Slovakia. UK nationals who arrive to Slovakia during the transition period and plan to stay for longer than 90 days will register at the Slovak Foreign Police the same way as EU citizens. They will be able to choose between two options: Either to fill an application form for EU residence permit card (Pobytový preukaz občana EÚ) or Five-Year Permanent Residence permit card (Povolenie na pobyt - trvalý pobyt na 5 rokov).
The EU residence permit card will be issued with validity up to June 30th, 2021 and UK nationals will need to replace it with Five-Year Permanent Residence Permit card before its expiration. The Five-Year Permanent Residence permit card will be issued with a validity of five years. UK nationals with less than five years of registered stay in Slovakia will be automatically given further Five-year Permanent Residence status on December 31st, 2020. They will need to arrange for a new Residence Card before June 30th, 2021. Also UK nationals with Long-term Permanent Residence (over five years) will need to arrange for a new Residence Card before June 30th, 2021. They can apply for a Long-Term Residence Card (Povolenie na pobyt osoba s dlhodobým pobytom EÚ). In case UK nationals arrive to Slovakia after December 31st, 2020, they will be treated as Third Country nationals.
The transition period has been set to refine, in detail, all subsequent agreements between the UK and the EU to minimize the impact of the Brexit both on the UK and EU and can be extended for maximum additional 2 years. It is recommended to follow instructions of Slovak Ministry of Interior as there may be different actions necessary depending on current status of UK nationals in Slovakia. UK nationals who arrive to Slovakia during the transition period and plan to stay for longer than 90 days will register at the Slovak Foreign Police the same way as EU citizens. They will be able to choose between two options: Either to fill an application form for EU residence permit card (Pobytový preukaz občana EÚ) or Five-Year Permanent Residence permit card (Povolenie na pobyt - trvalý pobyt na 5 rokov).
The EU residence permit card will be issued with validity up to June 30th, 2021 and UK nationals will need to replace it with Five-Year Permanent Residence Permit card before its expiration. The Five-Year Permanent Residence permit card will be issued with a validity of five years. UK nationals with less than five years of registered stay in Slovakia will be automatically given further Five-year Permanent Residence status on December 31st, 2020. They will need to arrange for a new Residence Card before June 30th, 2021. Also UK nationals with Long-term Permanent Residence (over five years) will need to arrange for a new Residence Card before June 30th, 2021. They can apply for a Long-Term Residence Card (Povolenie na pobyt osoba s dlhodobým pobytom EÚ). In case UK nationals arrive to Slovakia after December 31st, 2020, they will be treated as Third Country nationals.
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