Slovakia Travel Information

Only persons with a permanent or temporary residence permit are now allowed to enter the country. For more information on coronavirus and entry, see the section Health. According to Abbreviationfinder, SVK stands for Slovakia in geography.

Safety

Most trips to Slovakia are made without any special problems. The greatest risk is related to transport safety, primarily car accidents. Norway is represented in Slovakia at the Norwegian embassy in Bratislava.

When driving, one should be aware of the high speed of some motorists. There are rarely street lights outside the cities.

Slovakia has a relatively low level of crime, but as a tourist you are more prone to pocket thefts. This is especially the case in the summer months when the influx of tourists increases. Particular attention should be paid to places with much congestion, such as public communications and night spots. One should also be aware if strangers are excessively contact seeking on the street.

Car thefts occur from time to time, so you should not leave valuables such as money, passports, cell phones, etc. in the car.

When traveling to the Tatra Mountains, one should take into account local recommendations regarding avalanche danger in winter. There is also a relatively large bear population there. Travelers should exercise particular caution in the Liptov region, where several cases of nearby bears have been reported.

The risk of terrorist incidents in Slovakia is considered low.

The risk of serious natural disasters is small Slovakia. However, the rivers, including the Danube, can be hit by floods.

Norwegian citizens staying for a shorter or longer period in Slovakia are encouraged to register on reiseregistrering.no.

Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance.

  • Countryaah: Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. Check to find information of population, geography, history, and economy about the capital city.

Local emergency numbers: Ambulance – 112/155, Police – 112/158, Fire/Accidents – 112/150

In case of crisis or emergency please contact the Norwegian Embassy in Bratislava:
Visiting address: Palisady 29, Bratislava
Phone: +421 2 59 100 100
E-mail: emb.bratislava@mfa.no
Outside the embassy’s opening hours, the UD’s 24-hour operating center can be contacted by phone: +47 23 95 00 00 or by e-mail: UDops@mfa.no

Major Landmarks in Slovakia

Entry

Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.

Norwegian citizens do not need a visa to Slovakia. Although Slovakia is part of the Schengen area, passports must still be brought. Passport is the only valid travel document for Norwegian citizens.

Upon entry, the following valid documents are also accepted:

  • Emergency passport
  • refugee travel document (green travel document)
  • travel document for people staying on humanitarian grounds (blue travel document)

Health

Coronavirus (covid-19): Cases of the coronavirus have been detected in Slovakia. Norwegian travelers should keep abreast of how the virus is developing in the region. Follow local authorities’ advice, guidance and instructions on how to deal with the situation.

The Slovak Government has introduced the following measures:

  • All border crossings towards neighboring countries are controlled. Only persons with permanent or temporary residence permits are allowed to enter the country. Organized transit through the country is possible, but it requires approval from the Slovak authorities. In such cases, an application must be sent in a note from the Embassy to the Slovak Ministry of the Interior at least three working days before the transit is to take place.
  • Anyone returning from abroad will be quarantined for 14 days, regardless of the country they traveled from. They have introduced quarantine regulations where everyone must be installed in quarantine camps for corona testing and only after testing negative (no corona infection) can they be transferred to the home quarantine for 14 days. It is recommended that anyone traveling to Slovakia sign up on the government’s registration formbefore they arrive in the country so that they can be assured that there is space on quarantine camps near their place of residence. There are exceptions for pregnant, seriously ill persons, those over 75 years, border commuters and those in transit through Slovakia.
  • All three international airports will be closed to scheduled services.
  • International transport is canceled (except for freight transport).
  • Schools will be closed. Some exams will be conducted with physical presence.
  • Outdoor tourist facilities such as zoos and castles can stay open. Sports facilities may remain open under special conditions. Among other things, the public is not allowed, nor is it allowed to use wardrobes and showers.
  • National trains run on holiday routes.
  • Church services are allowed, but there is a requirement for masking and keeping away.
  • Most stores will be able to stay open except for those at malls. Only those over the age of 65 can trade between 10 am 9 am and 2 pm11:00. The stores will remain closed on Sundays with the exception of pharmacies and veterinarians. Hygiene and safety requirements have been increased at all stores. Hairdressers and beauty salons can stay open.
  • Prohibited customers from accessing restaurants and fast food chains. It is possible to eat and drink at outdoor dining (under strict infection control requirements) and to deliver and retrieve food.
  • Hotels can stay open under certain conditions. Among other things, joint food service is not allowed. There is a requirement that the guest must have their own toilet/bathroom. Fitness or spa services are not permitted and there must be a 24-hour period between each guest in the rooms.
  • Taxi companies can operate passenger transport, but passengers are required to sit in the back seat with a glass wall between passengers and the driver. It is not allowed to use air conditioning in the taxis. There is also a requirement for disinfection between each passenger.
  • As a general rule, everyone must wear a mouth and nose mask wherever they stay and travel (this includes workplaces) except when one is at home. There are also exceptions for children under the age of two, people with autism, bus drivers who sit in their own closed sections of the bus and when traveling in the nature and there are more than 20 meters to others. Everyone must keep a safe distance to each other wherever they go.

All information, including information leaflets can be obtained on the website of the Slovak authorities (mainly in Slovak, but also some in English).

Here are links to relevant Slovak authorities:

  • Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic
  • E-mail

Information that has so far been published on these websites is only in Slovak.

24-hour telephone services (including regional):

Slovakia Public Health Office: +421 917 222 682

Regional Public Health Office in Bansk¨¢ Bystrica: +421 918 659 580

Regional Public Health Office in Bratislava: +421 917 426 075

Nitra Regional Public Health Office: +421 948 495 915

Regional Public Health Office in Trnava: +421 905 903 053

Regional Public Health Office in Trenč¨ªn: +421 911 763 203

Košice Regional Public Health Office: +421 918 389 841

Prešov Regional Public Health Office: +421 911 908 823

Regional Public Health Office in Zilina: +421 905 342812

You can find more information and guidance from the Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. See also UD’s answers to frequently asked questions about travel and coronavirus.

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The health service in Slovakia is relatively well developed, but public hospitals in Slovakia do not have the same standard as in Norway. There are private hospitals, but they do not offer all types of health services. An emergency room is only available in public hospitals.

European health insurance card is valid in Slovakia.

There are no vaccine requirements for entering Slovakia. Vaccine against wooded cephalitis (TBE vaccine) should be considered for longer stays. See the Public Health Institute for official health travel advice and guidance.

All travelers abroad are advised to take out travel insurance before leaving.

It is relatively easy to get an appointment with private doctors in Slovakia. Upon request you can get an English speaking doctor.

Practical information

According to allcitycodes, the area code for calls from Norway to Slovakia is +421. The telephone network is stable. There is no time difference between Norway and Slovakia.
The electricity in Slovakia is 220 v/50 Hz. The coin unit is the euro.

Credit cards can usually be used in shops and restaurants, but usually not in taxis. In central areas there is good accessibility at ATMs. For your safety, it is recommended that you bring more than one type of card.

The malls in the big cities are normally open until late at night and also on Sundays. Some large grocery stores are open 24 hours a day. Smaller shops close earlier, especially on Saturdays, and do not have Sundays open. Banks have normal business hours from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Banks can be found at the large shopping malls that are open until 21:00 on weekdays, and also open on Saturdays and Sundays.

National holidays are: January 1, January 6 (Holy of Three Kings Day) Good Friday, Easter 2, May 1, May 8, July 5 (St. Cyrils and St. Methodus Day), August 29 (Memorial Day of the Slovak National Uprising in 1944), September 1 (Constitution Day), September 15 (Religious Holidays), November 1 (All Saints Day), November 17 (Memorial Day against dictatorship), December 24, December 25, December 26th.

The Internet domain is ‘.sk’

A separate fee for the use of motorways is required. Oblat is available at gas stations.

Slovak is the official language. English skills are varied and one cannot expect to be understood in English. German is more widely used than English, but you cannot expect to be understood in German in all respects.

Embassy of Norway in Slovakia
Royal Norwegian Embassy
Palis¨¢dy 29, 811 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
Tel: +421 (0) 259 100 100
Fax: +421 259 100 115
E-mail: emb.bratislava@mfa.no
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 0830- 1600