Single permit

What it means

A single permit is a permit under EU rules that grants a third-country national both residence and the right to work for a specific employer in one procedure. The foreign national does not have to go through two separate procedures at the labour office and the foreign police.

In Slovakia the single permit takes the form of temporary residence for the purpose of employment. The application includes the labour office's confirmation that the vacancy can be filled, which replaces a separate work permit.

The regime is governed by the Single Permit Directive, which the EU recast in 2024. Among other things, the new rules make it easier to change employer while the permit is valid and give the holder some time to find a new job after losing one, once the state writes them into national law.

How it works in practice

The employer first reports the vacancy to the labour office. After the prescribed period, during which the job is offered to candidates from the domestic and EU labour market, the office may issue the confirmation, and the foreign national applies for residence at an embassy or the foreign police.

When employing foreign nationals, the employer must offer the same pay and working conditions as for local staff. After the start date come registration with the Social Insurance Agency and the health insurer and, within a set period, notifying the labour office that the employee has started.

For highly qualified specialists, the EU Blue Card may be better: it has stricter education and salary requirements but offers easier mobility within the EU. A foreign national who wants to run their own business needs a different residence purpose, not a single permit.

What to watch out for

The permit is tied to a specific employer and job. If the job or employer changes, this must be dealt with promptly with the authorities; working in a different position without approval is illegal employment, for which both the employer and the foreign national face fines.

The procedure takes weeks or months, and foreign documents often need to be translated and legalised. Build this time into recruitment plans and do not make commitments, such as a start date on a client project, before residence has actually been granted.