Quality of life – on top of the EU social policy agenda
Favourable living conditions depend on a wide range of factors, such as quality healthcare services, education and training opportunities or good transport facilities, just to name a few aspects affecting citizens’ everyday life and work. The European Union has set for itself the aim to constantly improve the quality of life in all its Member States, and to take into account the new challenges of contemporary Europe, such as socially exclude people or an aging population.
Employment in Europe
Improving employment opportunities in Europe is a key priority for the European Commission. With the prospect of tackling the problem of unemployment and increasing the mobility between jobs and regions, a wide variety of initiatives at EU level are being developed and implemented to support the European Employment strategy. These include the European Employment Services network (EURES) and the EU Skills Panorama.
Health and healthcare in the European Union
Health is a cherished value, influencing people’s daily lives and therefore an important priority for all Europeans. A healthy environment is crucial for our individual and professional development, and EU citizens are ever more demanding about health and safety at work and the provision of high quality healthcare services. They require quick and easy access to medical treatment when travelling across the European Union. EU health policies are aimed at responding to these needs.
The European Commission has developed a coordinated approach to health policy, putting into practice a series of initiatives that complement the actions of national public authorities. The Union’s common actions and objectives are included in EU health programmes and strategies.
The current EU4Health Programme (2021-2027) is the EU’s ambitious response to COVID-19. The pandemic has a major impact on patients, medical and healthcare staff, and health systems in Europe. The new EU4Health programme will go beyond crisis response to address healthcare systems’ resilience.
EU4Health, established by Regulation (EU) 2021/522, will provide funding to eligible entities, health organisations and NGOs from EU countries, or non-EU countries associated to the programme.
With EU4Health, the EU will invest €5.3 billion in current prices in actions with an EU added value, complementing EU countries’ policies and pursuing one or several of EU4Health´s objectives:
- To improve and foster health in the Union
- disease prevention & health promotion
- international health initiatives & cooperation
- To tackle cross-border health threats
- prevention, preparedness & response to cross-border health threats
- complementing national stockpiling of essential crisis-relevant products
- establishing a reserve of medical, healthcare & support staff
- To improve medicinal products, medical devices and crisis-relevant products
- making medicinal products, medical devices and crisis-relevant products available and affordable
- To strengthen health systems, their resilience and resource efficiency
- strengthening health data, digital tools & services, digital transformation of healthcare
- improving access to healthcare
- developing and implementing EU health legislation and evidence-based decision making
- integrated work among national health systems
Education in the EU
Education in Europe has both deep roots and great diversity. Already in 1976, education ministers decided to set up an information network to better understand educational policies and systems in the then nine-nation European Community. This reflected the principle that the particular character of an educational system in any one Member State ought to be fully respected, while coordinated interaction between education, training and employment systems should be improved. Eurydice, the information network on education in Europe, was formally launched in 1980.
In 1986, attention turned from information exchanges to student exchanges with the launch of the Erasmus programme, now grown into the Erasmus+programme, often cited as one of the most successful initiatives of the EU.
Transport in the EU
Transport was one of the first common policies of the then European Community. Since 1958, when the Treaty of Rome entered into force, the EU’s transport policy has focused on removing border obstacles between Member States, thereby enabling people and goods to move quickly, efficiently and cheaply.
This principle is closely connected to the EU’s central goal of a dynamic economy and cohesive society. The transport sector generates 10% of EU wealth measured by gross domestic product (GDP), equivalent to about one trillion Euros a year. It also provides more than ten million jobs.
The Schengen area
The Schengen Convention, in effect since March 1995, abolished border controls within the area of the signatory States and created a single external frontier, where checks have to be carried out in accordance with a common set of rules.
Today, the Schengen Area encompasses most EU countries, except for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania. However, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are currently in the process of joining the Schengen Area and already applying the Schengen acquis to a large extent. Additionally, also the non-EU States Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have joined the Schengen Area.
Air transport
The creation of a single European market in air transport has meant lower fares and a wider choice of carriers and services for passengers. The EU has also created a set of rights to ensure air passengers are treated fairly.
As an air passenger, you have certain rights when it comes to information about flights and reservations, damage to baggage, delays and cancellations, denied boarding, compensation in the case of accident or difficulties with package holidays. These rights apply to scheduled and chartered flights, both domestic and international, from an EU airport or to an EU airport from one outside the EU, when operated by an EU airline.
Over the last 25 years the Commission has been very active in proposing restructuring the European rail transport market and in order to strengthen the position of railways vis-à-vis other transport modes. The Commission's efforts have concentrated on three major areas which are all crucial for developing a strong and competitive rail transport industry:
- opening the rail transport market to competition,
- improving the interoperability and safety of national networks and
- developing rail transport infrastructure.
The Slovak Republic is a parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the president elected for a five-year term by direct general election. The Slovak National Council is the supreme constitutional and law-making body in Slovakia. It is a single-chamber parliament and has 150 deputies. The deputies of the Slovak National Council are elected in general, equal and direct elections by secret ballot for a four-year term. The following political parties are currently represented in parliament: SMER-SD (Direction – Social Democracy), SaS (Freedom and Solidarity), OĽaNO (Ordinary People and Independent Personalities), ĽSNS (People’s Party Our Slovakia), SME Rodina (We are Family), and Za ľudí (For the People). The Government of the Slovak Republic constitutes the executive power. The government is appointed by the president on the basis of parliamentary elections, and its programme must be approved by the parliament. The leader of the strongest coalition party usually becomes the prime minister. The government consists of the prime minister and ministers, four of whom are deputy prime ministers.
The principal legislative act of the state is the Constitution of the Slovak Republic. The Constitution defines the basic organisation of state power and the fundamental principles of the social, political, government and economic system. It also sets out citizens’ fundamental rights and obligations.
The judicial system in Slovakia comprises general courts, the Constitutional Court, and the Prosecutor-General’s Office. General justice is served by independent and impartial courts. Slovakia has a two-instance judicial system. District courts are first-instance courts. Regional courts act as appeal courts. The Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic acts as a court of cassation. As the highest judicial body, the Supreme Court never acts as a court of first instance.
General courts of law make decisions in civil and criminal matters and review the lawfulness of decisions by administrative bodies. Court rulings are made by a tribunal of judges, unless a specific law stipulates that a ruling is to be made by a single judge. The Prosecutor’s Office is an independent, hierarchically structured uniform system of public authorities headed by the Prosecutor-General. In general, the Prosecutor’s Office examines issues of lawfulness. The police is responsible for public law and order.
As regards the administrative system, Slovakia is divided into eight higher territorial units (self-governing regions) and 79 districts. There are 2 933 municipalities in Slovakia, 138 of which have town status. Municipalities and towns have their own local authority, which is represented by the respective municipal or town councils. A municipality or town is headed by a mayor. Councillors and mayors are directly elected in municipal elections for a 4-year term. Every municipality and town has a municipal or town authority.
Links:
Ministry of the Interior | |
Slovak Government Office – 1 | |
Slovak Government Office – 2 | |
Slovak Constitutional Court | |
National Council of the Slovak Republic | |
Central Public Administration Portal | |
Ministry of Justice | |
Information on towns and municipalities in Slovakia |
Taxation in Slovakia is regulated by specific statutory provisions. All taxpayers are subject to tax obligations.
Taxes paid in Slovakia:
Direct taxes are imposed on natural and legal persons, and are levied on their income or property.
TAX ON INCOME FROM:
- employment
- business
- other self-employment
- the letting of properties
- royalties
- capital assets
- income pursuant to Section 3 and other income pursuant to Section 8 of the Act
Personal and corporate income tax is governed by Act No 595/2003 on income tax, as amended
LOCAL TAXES:
- property tax (tax on land, buildings and housing)
- dog tax
- tax on the use of public space
- accommodation tax
- tax on vending machines
- gaming machine tax
- tax on the entry and parking of motor vehicles in historic city centres
- nuclear installation tax
Municipalities also levy local charges for municipal waste and small-scale construction waste.
Local taxes and the charge for municipal waste and small-scale construction waste are governed by Act No 582/2004 on local taxes and the local charge for municipal waste, as amended.
The administration of local taxes is carried out by the municipality concerned.
Indirect taxes are paid by natural persons and legal entities in the prices of goods and services, and are collected and passed on by manufacturers and service providers.
VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT) – standard rate 20% of the tax base; reduced rate 10% of the tax base – medicines, selected medical supplies, selected types of food, goods and services.
EXCISE DUTY – alcoholic beverages; electricity, coal and natural gas; mineral oil; tobacco products
Income from employment
An employee is taken to mean a taxpayer who receives income from employment.
Income from employment means income that is paid to the taxpayer, for example, on the basis of an employment contract or an agreement on work performed outside an employment relationship (independent contractor agreement) under the Labour Code, a service relationship, a civil service relationship (by a current or former employer), or a similar relationship (e.g. a ‘mandatory contract’ or contract of mandate) in which the taxpayer, in the performance of work, is required to follow the instructions and orders of the person paying this income – see Act No 595/2003 on income tax, as amended.
The tax base is taxable income from employment less insurance and other contributions that the employee is obliged to pay, or contributions to the foreign insurance of an employee who is subject to compulsory foreign insurance of the same type.
Calculation and payment of advances
Advances on tax on the taxable pay cleared and paid to employees comprise:
- 19% of that part of the tax base not exceeding 176.8 times the amount of the current subsistence level, inclusive; and
- 25% of that part of taxable income exceeding 176.8 times the current subsistence level.
- These calculated tax advances are reduced by the amount of any tax credit claimed by the taxpayer.
Tax benefits
By law, taxpayers may claim certain tax benefits and reduce their tax base. If they meet all conditions, they can claim:
- Tax-free allowance for the taxpayer (only from active income)
- Tax-free allowance for a spouse (only from active income)
- Reduction in the tax base by contributions to a complementary retirement pension savings scheme (third pillar)
- Tax credit for a dependent child
- Employee premium
- Tax credit for interest paid
For more information, please visit the website of the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic.
Tax-free allowance for the taxpayer
The employee is entitled to a non-taxable part in the personal tax base only on a partial tax base of income tax from dependent activity and from entrepreneurial income, or from another self-employed activity or the total thereof (from work actively done), depending on the reported tax base. If the taxpayer’s tax base is equal to or less than EUR 19 936.22, the non-taxable part amounts to EUR 4 511.43.
If a taxpayer’s tax base is greater than EUR 19 936.22, the non-taxable part is the difference between 9 495.49 and one quarter of the taxpayer’s tax basis; if this sum is lower than zero, the non-taxable part of the tax basis for the year is equal to 0.
Tax-free allowance for a spouse
Taxpayers may claim a tax-free allowance for their spouse only from what is known as ‘actively performed work’ (see Act No 595/2003 on income tax, as amended) and only if the spouse shares a household with the taxpayer and meets at least one of the following conditions:
- they were looking after a dependent minor living in the same household as the taxpayer;
- in the corresponding tax period, they received a carer allowance;
- they were a registered jobseeker;
- they are classified as a disabled person;
- they are classified as a severely disabled person.
If these conditions are met for only one or several calendar months in the tax period, the taxpayers may reduce their tax base by the tax allowance for spouses at an amount equal to 1/12 of the allowance for each calendar month at the start of which they were eligible to claim this allowance.
The amount of the tax-free allowance for spouses depends not only on the taxpayer’s tax base, but also on the spouse’s own income. The amount of the tax-free allowance for spouses and all conditions are laid down in Act No 595/2003 on income tax, as amended.
The taxpayer’s contributions to supplementary pension savings may be deducted from the tax base at the amount demonstrably paid in the tax period, up to a maximum of EUR 180 per year.
All statutory conditions must be met in order for a tax-free allowance covering contributions to complementary retirement savings schemes to be granted.
Tax credit for a dependent child
The child tax credit is a component that directly reduces personal income tax (not the tax base). Employees’ monthly net pay can therefore be increased by this tax credit if they claim it monthly.
This tax credit is a cash ‘benefit’ that is affected by the taxpayer’s income. Taxpayers wishing to claim a child tax credit must attain a certain set income – see Act No 595/2003 on income tax, as amended.
The amount of the tax credit by which the tax is reduced is:
- EUR 22.17 per month if the dependent child has reached the age of 15;
- twice the amount according to point (a) per month if the dependent child has not reached the age of 6, the last time for the calendar month in which the dependent child reaches the age of 6; or
- 1.85 times the amount according to point (a) per month if the dependent child has reached the age of 6 and has not reached the age of 15, the last time for the calendar month in which the dependent child reaches the age of 15; this does not apply where a dependent child is granted a subsidy in support of educating the child to have good eating habits pursuant to special legislation.
Conditions under which a tax credit for a dependent child can be claimed:
- any child maintained by the taxpayer in his or her household – a biological, adopted, step, or fostered child who is classified as dependent (under the Child Allowance Act), but not the child of a common-law spouse;
- attainment of the prescribed taxable income, and
- production of relevant proof, such as the child’s birth certificate or confirmation of school attendance in the corresponding school year, if the child is educated at a secondary school or university.
The employer is responsible for paying the tax credit.
For more information, please visit: https://www.financnasprava.sk
Application and payment of an employee premium
An employee premium is a ‘tax’ advantage granted to a defined group of employees with defined types of taxable income from employment (employment and similar activities) and under specific conditions that must be fulfilled for its application under the relevant law.
An employee premium is always applied after the end of the tax period, either on the basis of:
- the annual tax settlement drawn up by the employer – the person responsible for paying tax on behalf of the employer; or
- a tax return filed at any tax administrator (tax office); however, the employee premium calculated on the basis of that tax return is paid by the tax administrator (tax office) where the employee is permanently resident.
Tax credit for interest paid
The taxpayer is entitled to a tax credit in respect of interest paid in the relevant tax period, calculated on the basis of the amount of the housing loan granted, on the basis of a single housing loan agreement, up to a maximum of EUR 50 000 per one Slovak property intended for housing, either for a flat or a house, if it meets the conditions laid down by law and is at least 18 years old and at most 35 years old on the date on which the application for the loan is made.
The tax credit for interest paid covers 50% of the interest paid in the corresponding tax period, up to a maximum of EUR 400 per year. The taxpayer may claim a tax credit on interest paid for a period of 5 consecutive years starting from the month in which the interest on the housing loan granted under one and the same housing loan agreement started. Taxpayers’ tax is reduced by the amount of the tax credit for interest paid. If you are an employee, you may claim this credit in your annual tax settlement.
Annual tax settlement
If, in the previous year, employees earned taxable income only from employment and income subject to withholding tax (e.g. income from unit certificates, where the tax deducted from this income is not regarded as an advance payment by the employee), they have the option, by 15 February of the following year, of making a written request for an annual tax settlement from the last employer with whom they claimed a taxpayer’s tax-free allowance and tax credit. This employer draws up an annual tax settlement encompassing the aggregate amount of taxable wages from all employers who are classified as taxable entities. If employees have had more than one employer, have not claimed a taxpayer’s tax-free allowance and tax credit at any employer (have not signed an income taxation statement), have had taxable income only from employment and have not received income subject to withholding tax, and have decided to include that income in their total income and to treat any withheld tax as an advance on tax, they may ask any of these employers to draw up their annual tax assessment. This employer takes into account the taxpayer’s tax-free allowance and tax credit in the annual tax settlement if the employee demonstrates that they are entitled to claim that allowance and credit. If employees submit a request by 15 February, the employer is obliged to draw up an annual tax settlement by 31 March of the year following the end of the tax period.
INCOME
The minimum wage is determined on the basis of how labour-intensive a job is.
The minimum monthly wage in 2022 is EUR 646 for level-one labour intensity. Jobs are classified by labour intensity on a scale of six levels. Each labour-intensity level has a specific minimum wage. The minimum wage is EUR 762 at level two, EUR 878 at level three, EUR 994 at level four, EUR 1 110 at level five, and EUR 1 226 at level six.
Calculation of net wage:
The following deductions (contributions) are taken from an employee’s gross monthly wage:
- Health insurance – 4%
- Sickness insurance – 1.4%
- Retirement insurance – 4%
- Disability insurance – 3%
- Unemployment insurance – 1%
- Σ TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS – 13.4%
Gross wage – contributions = monthly tax base
The tax-free allowance is deducted from the monthly tax base (if applicable). Tax at 19% or 25% is calculated based on the resulting amount.
If a tax credit is claimed, it is deducted from the tax, resulting in the following calculation:
Monthly tax base – (tax – tax credit) = net monthly wage
Average monthly wages in the national economy in February 2022, by sector:
Industry | EUR 1 244 |
Construction | EUR 803 |
Wholesaling | EUR 1 178 |
Retailing | EUR 899 |
Accommodation | EUR 821 |
Restaurant and hospitality services | EUR 588 |
Information and communication | EUR 2 137 |
Transport and storage | EUR 1 054 |
Sale and repair of motor vehicles | EUR 1 158 |
Links:
website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic | |
Financial Administration | |
Minimum wage |
The cost of living varies from region to region and changes in response to increases in the prices of food, energy and other everyday spending.
Household monthly expenditure, broken down by use (%): housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels 20.2%, food, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages 25.14%, posts and telecommunications 4.65%, healthcare 3.74%, transport 10.6%, leisure and culture 6.1%, hotels, cafés, restaurants 4.9%, education 0.3%, clothing and footwear 4.3%, furniture, furnishings and home maintenance – 5%, miscellaneous goods and services – 6.2%, other expenses - 8.5%.
Average consumer prices of selected goods in Slovakia in 2022: wholegrain bread – EUR 1.72, ordinary white bread roll (40 g) – EUR 0.09, fresh butter (125 g) – EUR 1.50, semi-coarse premium wheat flour (1 kg) – EUR 0.63, granulated sugar (1 kg) – EUR 0.85, pasteurised whole milk (1 l) – EUR 1.00, cooking oil – EUR 2.47, husked rice (1 kg) – EUR 1.72, ware potatoes (1 kg) – EUR 0.80, bottled beer (12%) (0.5 l) – EUR 0.68, Marlboro King Size cigarettes – EUR 4.80, washing powder (1 kg) – EUR 3.41, ‘Natural’ 95 octane petrol (1 l) – EUR 1.72, diesel – EUR 1.74.
Links:
Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic |
Short-term accommodation can be found in hotels, guest houses, motels, campsites, holiday cottages or chalets, and also in private houses offering short-term rental accommodation.
For long-term accommodation, the possible options are to either rent or buy a property.
When buying a property, the buyer becomes the legal owner upon registering the property with the land registry.
Various fixed and variable costs are connected with housing. These include payments for heating, electricity, water, sewerage, property insurance, radio and TV fees, waste collection, rent (if renting) and also membership fees for housing cooperatives or housing administration companies.
Service fees associated with housing depend on:
- the type of housing (family house, new flat, older flat),
- the floor space and the location (city, town, village).
Housing price developments in 2020: the average price of residential properties rose by 11.9%.
Average price of residential properties
General guide to accommodation prices:
- single hotel room in Bratislava, per night: EUR 53 – EUR 200;
- one-room flat in Bratislava, per month: EUR 400 – EUR 700;
- room in a shared flat in Bratislava, per month: EUR 150 – EUR 250;
- purchase of a one-room flat in Bratislava: EUR 100 000 – EUR 150 000;
- purchase of a house in Bratislava: EUR 270 000 – EUR 1 800 000;
- Košice, Žilina, Nitra, Poprad, Zvolen, Banská Bystrica – purchase of a one-room flat: EUR 89 000 – EUR 130 000.
Accommodation, renting and purchasing property in smaller towns and in the country is cheaper than in Bratislava.
Average property prices by region (EUR/m2) in Q1 2021
Bratislava Region: 2,579
Trnava Region: 1,230
Nitra Region: 1,018
Trenčín Region: 1,127
Žilina Region: 1,395
Banská Bystrica Region: 1,096
Prešov Region: 1,256
Košice Region: 1,494
The National Bank of Slovakia has published data on residential property prices for Q1 2021.
The beginning of 2021 has seen a rise in house prices in particular.
In Q1 2021, the offer prices of residential properties rose by 4.2% compared to the preceding quarter. Increases were recorded in all regions, the highest being in the Trenčín and Nitra regions. House prices made a stronger contribution to the price developments, the growth rate of flat prices slowed down slightly. The expected wage developments in Q1 will have a negative impact on the affordability of housing. The developments in the construction sector indicate that the weak supply of new properties will continue, which may help housing prices to rise in the near future.
The quarter-on-quarter growth rate of offer prices of residential properties accelerated to 4.2% in Q1 2021. Year-on-year, housing prices rose by 15.5%.
At the beginning of 2021, the average price of housing increased by approximately EUR 77/m2 reaching EUR 1 930/m2. The share of the Bratislava region in the price increase is returning to its typical values after the last quarter. All regions contributed to the price growth, with the smallest contribution coming from the Prešov and Banská Bystrica regions. The growth in house prices had a noticeably stronger effect on the overall average price of housing than the growth in the prices of flats.
The average price of flats rose by EUR 53/m2 to EUR 2 179/m2 in Q1 2021. Quarter-on-quarter, the pace of growth slowed down to 2.5% (8.6% year-on-year). Compared to the preceding quarter, the prices of 1-room and 4-room flats grew the fastest. The average price of houses rose by EUR 102/m2 and has reached EUR 1 471/m2. This is an increase of 7.4% compared to the preceding quarter (16.4% year-on-year).
Quarter-on-quarter, offer prices of properties grew relatively consistently across the regions at the beginning of 2021. The only exceptions were the Banská Bystrica and Prešov regions, where price growth continued, but was less pronounced. Prices grew the fastest in the Trenčín (5.7%) and Nitra (4.9%) regions.
Quarter-on-quarter, flat prices grew the fastest in the Trenčín region (6%), with the largest contribution coming from the Považská Bystrica district. The highest growth in house prices was recorded in the Prešov region (10.1%), with the Poprad district contributing to this the most.
The continued growth in housing prices combined with the expected slower wage growth will make housing relatively less affordable in Q1 2021 in all regions.
If you decide to buy a property, it is advisable to consult a solicitor or use the services of an estate agency. That way you will avoid any unnecessary risks.
In accordance with the Civil Code, any contract concerning the transfer of property (i.e. the sale or purchase of property) and any lease contract must be made in writing.
Links:
searching for accommodation by region in tourism and skiing centres | |
information about the capital city and accommodation options in the city | |
properties currently for sale – reality.zoznam.sk | |
properties currently for sale – nbs.sk | |
properties currently for sale – reality.etrend.sk | |
properties currently for sale – aktualnacenabytu.sk | |
general information about Slovakia, information for tourists, maps and accommodation offers |
The healthcare system is administered by the Slovak Ministry of Health. Healthcare services are provided by public and private healthcare facilities. Initial examinations are carried out by general practitioners for adults or children. You are free to choose your own doctor, who will provide primary healthcare and who can also refer you for examination or treatment by a specialist. Outside your practitioners’ office hours and at weekends you can use outpatient emergency medical services (EMS). There is a EUR 2 charge. Patients are not required to pay this fee if they come for treatment immediately after an accident (this does not apply to accidents resulting from the use of alcohol, drugs, or medication other than those recommended by a doctor) or if they are subsequently hospitalised. EMS are available in virtually every district town. If no EMS is available, you will be treated by the inpatient emergency service in any hospital. There is a EUR 10 charge for urgent admissions, which is payable if the patient’s condition is not acute as this constitutes misuse of the service.
Medicines, either prescription or over-the-counter, can be obtained in pharmacies. There are lots of pharmacies in Slovakia and they are generally well stocked. Pharmacies normally open on business days between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. At weekends and on public holidays, designated out-of-hours pharmacies provide an emergency service.
Under the Health Insurance Act, employees, self-employed persons, employers and the state are required to pay health insurance contributions. A large part of healthcare costs are paid from health insurance. Certain medicines and healthcare procedures must be paid in full. Fees for medical procedures are charged according to pre-set tariffs. Health insurance does not always cover the full cost of, e.g., the purchase of prescription glasses, certain types of medication or dental treatment.
All employees must be insured with a health insurer, which then issues them with a registration number and a health insurance policy (HIP) card for use at every visit to or from a doctor. Employers are required to register employees for health insurance within 8 working days of the employment start date, and likewise to deregister the employee when employment ends. Other changes in the health insurance payer’s data must be reported to the health insurer by the policyholder, specifically within 8 days. If you are self-employed in Slovakia, you are obliged to register with a health insurance company within eight days of the date as of which you are required to have public health insurance, and to deregister within the same time limit.
If you have health insurance provided by a Slovak health insurer because your employment is in Slovakia, but you live in another EU Member State, you should ask your Slovak health insurer to issue an S1 form (formerly E 106). Submit this form to the local health insurer where you live in order to be registered. The S1 form (E 106) entitles you to full coverage, by your Slovak insurer, of healthcare provided in the place of your residence. Your dependants are also covered.
Links:
Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic | |
List of healthcare facilities, list of places with emergency medical services | |
General health information | |
Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa [health insurer] | |
DÔVERA zdravotná poisťovňa [health insurer] | |
Union zdravotná poisťovňa [health insurer] | |
National health website |
Compulsory school attendance in the Slovak education system lasts for 10 years. It normally starts at the beginning of the school year following the child’s sixth birthday. It lasts from the age of 6 to 16.
Basic school types: nursery schools (3-6 years), primary schools (6-15 years), secondary schools (15-19 years), colleges and universities (from 19). Depending on the administrator, these schools may be state, private or religious schools, but they all provide education to an equal standard.
Nursery schools (for children aged 3-6) teach basic knowledge and skills. They teach basic knowledge relevant to the children’s age, drawing, reciting, singing, how to explore nature, colours and information about things children come into contact with. At preschool age (5-6 years old), children learn, for example, how to distinguish geometrical shapes, the months of the year, and the names of days. They also acquire hygiene habits and prepare to start primary school.
Primary schools prepare children for further study and experiences. As a rule, these schools last for nine years and are divided into two levels. Level 1 of primary school normally comprises years 1 to 4, while level 2 comprises years 5 to 9. To reach Level 2, pupils are not required to pass any entrance examination; they continue their studies upon successful completion of year four. Or they may go to a grammar school providing eight years of education. Study at a grammar school is conditional upon passing the entrance examination and acceptable results in Level 1 of primary school.
Level 2 education differs from Level 1. In Level 1, only one teacher teaches most subjects, but in Level 2 each subject is taught by a different teacher.
In Level 1, pupils have at least four and no more than eight periods a day, and on average teaching lasts until 12.30 p.m. Pupils in Level 2 have five or six periods, which end between 1 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. Each lesson lasts for 45 minutes and there are short breaks between lessons.
Younger pupils at primary schools may spend their time after lessons have ended in school clubs.
The education system also allows children to attend primary art schools on a voluntary basis in their free time.
Secondary schools. After completing the ninth year of primary school, pupils continue compulsory school attendance at a selected secondary school, where they were accepted by decision of the relevant school system. The education system in Slovakia distinguishes between several types of secondary school.
Vocational secondary schools: At vocational secondary schools and related secondary schools providing apprenticeship training, the study takes 2 (in a limited number of fields), 3 or 4 years. 3-year studies for individual trades are completed with a final examination, after which the student receives a vocational qualification and may continue in 2-year advanced studies in order to obtain a baccalaureate-level qualification. Full secondary school education is completed by passing the baccalaureate-level exam. Studies that go on for 4 years are completed with the baccalaureate-level exam.
Secondary and grammar schools: Secondary schools provide education for 4 or 5 years. In Slovakia, there are electrical engineering, geodetic, hotel management, industrial, nursing, sporting, art, agricultural, forestry, pharmaceutical, chemical and pedagogical secondary schools, as well as conservatories and business academies, among others. Grammar schools in Slovakia provide education for four years (if pupils apply to grammar school after the ninth year of primary school), or eight years (if they apply to the grammar school after the fifth year).
Studies are rounded off with the maturita examination, which has both a written and an oral part.
There is an average of six or seven lessons; lessons last for 45 minutes and there is a short break between lessons.
Secondary schools also organise post-secondary and post-maturita-level courses. Here, students complete further study in readiness for the qualified pursuit of an occupation, or supplement and deepen the education they have already attained.
Universities and colleges help prepare students to be skilled professionals with tertiary education in scientific, economic, social and artistic disciplines. The school system allows students who have completed secondary or grammar school with a maturita exam to study at universities and colleges. There are currently 20 public universities, 10 private universities, three state universities and one foreign university in Slovakia. Study programmes are organised at three levels. At the end of their studies, students defend their thesis or dissertation and sit a state examination. The first level of study for a Bachelor’s degree takes 3-4 years, the second level is a Master of Arts, Science, Engineering or medical degree which takes 4-6 years (including the Bachelor level) and the third level is the doctorate (3-4 years).
Links:
Ministerstvo školstva SR [Slovak Ministry of Education], also in English |
Slovak cultural and social life is very rich and diverse. It is influenced by various traditions and customs passed from generation to generation and still surviving today.
Numerous social and cultural events and activities take place in every town and village. People gather to enjoy themselves, meet one another and talk and, of course, enjoy cultural events. Information about social and cultural events and various other activities can be found on the internet, in newspapers, on television and in tourist information or community centres.
Among the more physical activities, trips to the countryside around cities, towns and villages are popular. The most popular sports are football, cycling, water sports, and more recently golf. Skiing is a popular winter sport.
Links:
Slovakia site – a website offering a range of events in Slovakia | |
Travel in Slovakia |
Birth
The birth of a child should be reported to the competent registry depending on the child’s place of birth, within 3 working days of the birth. The registry enters the child in the register of births and issues the birth certificate together with the application for a childbirth allowance and declaration of the child’s birth.
Practical advice – the first original birth certificate is issued free of charge, EUR 5 is paid for a duplicate, and the application for a duplicate birth certificate is subject to a fee of EUR 2.50.
Responsibilities after the birth of a child
Important facts that must be provided after the birth of a child:
- signature of the agreement on the child’s name and surname;
- their birth certificate;
- registration of the child with a health insurer;
- registration of the child with a paediatrician;
- cash allowances provided by the Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (‘the Office’) and benefits provided by the Social Insurance Agency.
Additional information:
- Obtaining documents for the child (identity card or passport);
- fulfilment of reporting obligations (for example: municipal waste and others).
Marriage
An engaged couple marries by declaring that they consent to their marriage before a body of a municipality or a city district that maintains a registry, or before an authority of a registered church or religious community. The couple declare publicly and solemnly that they are marrying in the presence of two witnesses.
They make their declaration of marriage at a registry office with jurisdiction for the district in which one of them resides. This ceremony is held in front of the mayor or a delegated member of the municipal assembly and in the presence of the registrar.
Before marrying, the couple must submit the documents required by law.
A minor cannot marry. In exceptional cases and depending on the reason for the marriage, a court may allow a minor over the age of 16 to marry. Unless permitted by a court, this sort of marriage is null and void. If such a marriage does take place, it will be ruled null and void by a court of its own motion.
Death
Death in a medical facility is reported by the healthcare provider. If a person dies outside a medical facility, telephone numbers 112 or 155 should be contacted. The death is subsequently certified by a doctor who determines the time and cause of death and draws up a certificate of examination of the deceased.
The death is then reported to the civil registry at the place where the death occurred (possibly to the ecclesiastical registry). To do so, you will need the certificate of examination of the deceased, your identity card and the identity card of the deceased. The registry will make an entry in the death register and issue a death certificate.
Then you select and contact a funeral service.
The civil registry reports deaths to the Social Insurance Agency once a month, and the deaths are reported to the health insurance company by the Healthcare Supervisory Authority. If the deceased had borrowed medical devices, return them to the health insurance company. The personal documents (identity card, driving licence, passport, licence to bear arms) of the deceased become invalid on the day of death and must be handed over immediately to any district headquarters of the Police Force. Police officers will pick up the weapon themselves and kept it until the end of the inheritance proceedings.
Applications may be made to the Office for Labour, Social Affairs and Family for a contribution of EUR 79.67 towards burial at the deceased’s place of residence.
Links:
Central Public Administration Portal – 1 | |
Central Public Administration Portal – 2 | https://www.slovensko.sk/sk/zivotne-situacie/zivotna-situacia/_narodeni… |
Central Public Administration Portal – 3 | https://www.slovensko.sk/sk/zivotne-situacie/zivotna-situacia/_uzavretie-manzelstva-rozvod-m
|
Central Public Administration Portal – 4 | https://www.slovensko.sk/sk/zivotne-situacie/zivotna-situacia/_umrtie2/ |
Transport in Slovakia is overseen by the Ministry of Transport and Construction. The transport system is made up of four principal modes of transport: Rail transport (the railway lines run for a total length of about 3 623 km).
Road transport
The total length of the road network is 18 130 km, of which motorways account for 521 km and expressways 297 km. Motorway use is subject to a toll; a vignette can be purchased electronically or in a network of sales points, such as petrol stations. The list of trading points and all information on the charges for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes can be found on the portal of the electronic system for the collection and registration of vignettes. For vehicles above 3.5 tonnes, an electronic toll system is in place for the use of the defined road sections. Nearly 17 770 km of road sections are covered by satellite-based toll collection technology. Public transport is provided by buses, trams and trolleybuses. The tickets can be bought on board, from newspaper kiosks or from automatic ticket vending machines.
The validity of a 10-day electronic motorway vignette is 10 days including the specified day. The validity of a 30-day electronic motorway vignette is 30 days including the specified day. The validity of a yearly electronic motorway vignette is from 1 January of the given calendar until 31 January of the following year. With a 365-day vignette it is 365 calendar days from purchase.
Electronic motorway vignette for a vehicle of up to 3.5 t: 10-day – EUR 10, monthly – EUR 14, yearly – EUR 50.
Electronic motorway vignette for a towed vehicle: 10-day – EUR 10, monthly – EUR 14, yearly – EUR 50.
Air transport
There are three public international airports in Slovakia with scheduled flights: Bratislava, Košice and Poprad-Tatry. Another six international airports do not have scheduled flights: Nitra, Piešťany, Prievidza, Sliač, Šamorín and Žilina. Passengers can also use the nearest airport, Schwechat in Vienna (60 km from Bratislava) or the airport in Budapest (200 km from Bratislava).
Water transport. In Slovakia, 250 km of natural watercourses and 38.5 km of artificial canals are used for transport. The waterways under surveillance in Slovakia, on which navigability is monitored and maintained, are the Danube, Morava and Váh rivers. The main transport artery is the River Danube, which can be used for travel to Budapest or Vienna. The two largest ports are in Bratislava and Komárno.
Universal postal services, both domestic and international, are provided by the company Slovenská pošta, a.s. (Slovak Post).
Telecommunications service providers are Orange, O2 and 4ka.
In Slovakia, vehicles drive on the right. The maximum speed limit in urban areas is 50 km/h; outside urban areas the speed limit is 90 km/h and on motorways it is 130 km/h. Car hire and taxi companies can be found in the Yellow Pages.
Links:
Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic | |
Slovak Post Office | |
Railways of the Slovak Republic | |
RegioJet | |
Slovak Lines coach company | |
Timetables | |
Timetables | |
Public transport | |
Association of Road Carriers of the Slovak Republic | |
National Motorway Company | |
Electronic motorway vignettes | |
Electronic toll | |
Yellow Pages | |
Telephone directory | |
Slovak Telekom | |
Orange | |
O2 | |
4ka | |
Central Public Administration Portal | https://www.slovensko.sk/sk/zivotne-situacie/zivotna-situacia/_doprava1 |