I am a foreigner and want to start a business in Slovakia
4 tasks in suggested order
1. First check whether your citizenship and residence status allow you to do business in Slovakia without another residence permit or whether a specific residence route is required.
Before starting the business.
Ministry of Interior/Foreign Police; EU citizens follow a different regime from third-country nationals.
Travel document, citizenship, current residence status and planned activity.
Trade registration does not replace a residence permit if your status requires one.
Official source: minv.sk
2. Choose the legal form and check whether the activity is a trade, regulated activity or a company registered in the Commercial Register.
After determining the residence route and before registration.
Point of Single Contact, Commercial Register or specific regulator depending on the activity.
Description of the activity, business address and evidence of professional competence if required.
Not every business activity is a free trade, and conditions for foreign persons differ by legal form.
Official source: slovensko.sk
3. Obtain the required authorisation or registration and only then start the activity where prior authorisation is required.
Before starting a regulated or trade activity.
Point of Single Contact/district office, Commercial Register or competent regulator.
Documents required for the chosen legal form and activity.
If forming an LLC, use the separate company-formation checklist; from 17 August 2026 the relationship between Commercial Register entry and authorisation changed for selected free trades.
Official source: justice.gov.sk
4. After the business starts, check tax, insurance and residence-related duties.
After the business starts and whenever residence or cross-border activity changes.
Financial Administration, health insurer, Social Insurance Agency and, depending on status, Foreign Police.
Registration, residence and actual activity documents.
For cross-border activity in the EU, first determine which country’s social-security and health-insurance rules apply.
Official source: socpoist.sk
