Applying for temporary residence (prechodný pobyt) or permanent residence (trvalý pobyt), preparing a renewal, waiting for a decision, leaving for a while, or simply living in Slovakia with a residence permit? Letters from the Foreign Police (cudzinecká polícia) can arrive at any time. A letter may contain a request to supplement your documents (výzva) with a short deadline, and missing it can have serious consequences, up to refusal of your application or revocation of your residence permit.

With Guardian Shield, official correspondence about your case goes to an English-speaking partner attorney. You receive a scan of every letter and a clear explanation: what arrived and whether you need to do anything.

Who it is for

• you are applying for temporary or permanent residence, renewing it or changing its purpose;
• you are moving from temporary protection to a residence permit;
• you have applied and are waiting for a decision;
• you are leaving Slovakia for a while or travel often;
• you live in another country but hold a Slovak residence permit;
• you simply live in Slovakia with a residence permit and want to be on the safe side;
• you have received a letter from the Foreign Police and are not sure what to do with it.

Documents for a residence permit and its renewal: what is missing from the list

The list of documents depends on the purpose of your stay: business, employment, family reunification or study. Our initial review helps if you are applying for the first time, and our renewal preparation if you are renewing.

A power of attorney in favour of an attorney is not on this list, and the law does not require it. Still, we recommend attaching one to every application, and we believe it will become a standard part of the package over time. An application takes months to process, and this is exactly when requests to supplement documents with short deadlines arrive. With a power of attorney, they go to a partner attorney who is sure to receive them and will know what to do with them.

Sound familiar? Your application is in, weeks pass, then more weeks, and there is still no clarity. Is the case moving? What does the letter from the Foreign Police mean? Do you need to do anything? Guardian Shield does not speed up the decision, as timelines are set by the police. But it gives you an official channel through a partner attorney and more clarity throughout the proceedings.

How it works

1. When you place your order, you fill in the details for the power of attorney. The finished document and detailed instructions arrive by email.
2. You have your signature certified on two copies by a notary in Slovakia (you can send the document to the notary electronically). Abroad, your signature can be certified by a Slovak embassy or consulate, or by a local notary with an apostille.
3. If you are submitting an application now (first residence, renewal or change of purpose), attach one copy to it and send the other to us. In all other cases, send us both copies and the partner attorney will submit the power of attorney.
4. From then on, the police must send correspondence about your case to the attorney. If a letter is sent to you instead, this is a procedural breach, and deadlines only start running once the attorney receives it.
5. You receive a scan of every letter with an explanation. If the proceedings take longer than usual, the partner attorney can send an official status request.

What you get

• power of attorney and instructions for the next steps;
• 12 months of monitoring of correspondence about your case;
• a scan of every letter with a short explanation;
• an official request to the Foreign Police (nahliadnutie do spisu) to check the status of your case;
• the option to extend support if needed;
• and above all, peace of mind: no letter about your case goes unnoticed.

Price: €259 per year

Online, no office visits. Our partner attorneys speak English, and you can also communicate in Slovak or Russian.

Lawvia is not a government authority and does not issue documents. Residence decisions are made by the Slovak Foreign Police. We provide professional support through partner attorneys registered with the Slovak Bar Association.

Need an English-speaking attorney in Slovakia for a different matter?

If you do not need Guardian Shield right now but have a question, book a consultation with a partner attorney. They will go through your situation with you in English, Slovak or Russian.

Our guarantee

If it turns out the service is not right for your case, we will offer a suitable alternative or refund your money.

Questions? Write to us at questions@lawvia.sk