Students who have successfully completed higher education in Slovakia can extend their residence permit for an additional nine months to search for employment or start a business. However, this option is not available to everyone, and it’s easy to make a mistake when choosing the correct police department.

Who is eligible for nine additional months

Nine additional months to search for employment or start a business are available only to those who have successfully completed higher education in Slovakia. A bachelor’s degree is sufficient — even without pursuing a master’s degree.

If you completed secondary or vocational secondary school (for example, a secondary selective school), you do not have the right to automatically receive nine additional months.

Options for secondary school graduates

Completing secondary school does not mean you must leave Slovakia. If you have successfully completed school, have a qualification, and have already found an employer, the law allows you to change your residence purpose from education to employment directly within Slovakia. Alternatively, you can obtain a residence permit for business activities.

Common mistake with police departments

Many people mistakenly believe that to arrange the nine-month extension, they need to apply to the police at the university’s address. This rule applies only to extending a student residence permit during studies, not after graduation.

After completing studies, the nine-month extension is processed as a continuation of your existing temporary residence permit, but you must submit your application to the alien police department at your place of residence, not at the university’s address.

About accommodation documents when extending residence permit

When obtaining and extending a residence permit for study purposes, a university student is not required to provide an accommodation document. For secondary school students, such documentation is usually mandatory.

However, the absence of this requirement for university students does not mean that when extending your residence permit after graduation, you can apply to the police at the institution’s address. Your actual place of residence and the corresponding territorial police department remain the determining factors.

Brief overview of options

Completed university (bachelor’s degree): You can extend your student residence permit for an additional nine months to search for employment or transition to a residence permit for business activities.

Completed secondary vocational school: Nine months for job search are not provided, but if you have found an employer, you can transition to an employment-based residence permit, or register your own business.