Moving to Slovakia from The UK

Best known for stunning landscapes and high mountains, Slovakia is a beautiful place to live. If you’re thinking about moving from the United Kingdom to start a new life in Slovakia, you might want to clue yourself up on some of the main differences from place to place.

If you are considering making the move from the United Kingdom to Slovakia, this guide will tell you everything you need to know – from visa requirements to cost of living differences; healthcare top tips to rules about moving country with your pets – helping you to feel empowered when the time comes to make the big move.

Quick Slovakia Facts:

Population: 5.447 million (2021 estimate)
Official Language: Slovak (de facto) is spoken by 78.6% of the population; English is also commonly spoken
GDP Per Capita: $21,390 USD (2021 estimate)
Random Fact: Slovakia is a landlocked country, and is home to the only capital city, Bratislava, that borders two different countries – Austria and Hungary
Currency: Euro (€). As of 2024, £1 = €1.20, $1 USD = €0.89, $1 CAD = €0.66, $1 AUD = €0.61

Sections

1. Moving Costs to Slovakia from the UK

The table below shows the estimated cost of hiring a 20- or 40-foot container from the 10 largest cities in the UK, and shipping it to some of the largest locales in Slovakia:

Origin City	Destination	20FT	40FT
Birmingham	Bratislava	£800 - £850	£1,400 - £1,500
	Košice	£810 - £860	£1,410 - £1,515
	Prešov	£820 - £870	£1,430 - £1,530
	Nitra	£830 - £880	£1,440 - £1,545
	Žilina	£840 - £890	£1,460 - £1,560
Bristol	Bratislava	£850 - £900	£1,470 - £1,575
	Košice	£860 - £910	£1,490 - £1,590
	Prešov	£870 - £920	£1,500 - £1,605
	Nitra	£880 - £930	£1,520 - £1,620
	Žilina	£890 - £940	£1,530 - £1,635
Glasgow	Bratislava	£900 - £950	£1,550 - £1,650
	Košice	£910 - £960	£1,560 - £1,665
	Prešov	£920 - £970	£1,580 - £1,680
	Nitra	£930 - £980	£1,590 - £1,695
	Žilina	£940 - £990	£1,610 - £1,710
Leeds	Bratislava	£950 - £1,000	£1,620 - £1,725
	Košice	£960 - £1,010	£1,640 - £1,740
	Prešov	£970 - £1,020	£1,650 - £1,755
	Nitra	£980 - £1,030	£1,670 - £1,770
	Žilina	£990 - £1,040	£1,680 - £1,785
Liverpool	Bratislava	£1,000 - £1,050	£1,700 - £1,800
	Košice	£1,010 - £1,060	£1,710 - £1,815
	Prešov	£1,020 - £1,070	£1,730 - £1,830
	Nitra	£1,030 - £1,080	£1,740 - £1,845
	Žilina	£1,040 - £1,090	£1,760 - £1,860
London	Bratislava	£1,050 - £1,100	£1,770 - £1,875
	Košice	£1,060 - £1,110	£1,790 - £1,890
	Prešov	£1,070 - £1,120	£1,800 - £1,905
	Nitra	£1,080 - £1,130	£1,820 - £1,920
	Žilina	£1,090 - £1,140	£1,830 - £1,935

All figures are in GBP;
The rates above are estimates only and may have changed since the time this article was updated (September 2024). They are based on the lowest estimated rate from either Freightos, Flexport, or Maersk;
To get a more accurate idea of the cost for you, please use the quote form at the top of this page;
Please also see our guide to international container shipping.

2. How Long Does It Take To Move to Slovakia from the United Kingdom?

While some flight times are non-stop and fairly quick, some airport terminals – Heathrow and Gatwick – will require you to have a connecting flight, which can make your flight time considerably longer than it needs to be.

We suggest that you fly from the following locations for the fastest, non-stop service from the UK:

Luton to Bratislava – 2 hours, 20 minutes – £35
London Stanstead to Bratislava – 2 hours, 10 minutes – £35
Edinburgh to Bratislava – 2 hours, 40 minutes – £60

This duration covers the flight time only, so additional time will need to be added to get you from the terminal to your final location.

3. Moving Restrictions to Slovakia from the UK

Moving from one country to take up residency in another will incur various restrictions – most notably, this comes in the form of visa requirements, which we will cover in the next section.

Your passport must be valid at the time of travel, and be issued less than 10 years before your date of entry to Slovakia. It must have at least 3 months left on the expiry date.

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area – an area that allows people to travel freely between member countries without going through border controls, encompassing most EU countries – for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.

There are currently no COVID-19 travel restrictions, but it’s advised that you keep up-to-date on any developments to ensure you are abiding by the most recent information at the time of travel.

If you are a resident of Slovakia, you must carry your passport and a valid residence permit at all times as police officers may ask to see them.

There are customs rules in Slovakia that you must abide by, meaning that you must declare anything that may be deemed prohibited by the country. This includes meat, milk or products including those substances – there are some exceptions to the rule that include infant milk or pet food – full information can be found here.

4. Visa Requirements to Slovakia from the UK

As Slovakia is part of the Schengen area, UK residents can enter the country for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. This is permissible for tourism, business or family visits to Slovakia.

You will need to apply for a residence permit for employment if you wish to work in Slovakia as a UK resident. If you have a job offer from a Slovakian employer, they can apply for the work permit on your behalf as your ‘sponsor’ – once this has been approved, you can then move on to apply for your residence permit.

Generally speaking, you will need the following to do so:

Valid UK passport
Proof of health insurance
Proof of accommodation within Slovakia
Employment contract and letter of employment
Evidence of economic stability (either from your employment income or other means)

In all cases, you need to speak to a visa specialist to advise you on your individual circumstances and always keep up to date with the latest changes in the rules. You can take a look at the Slovak Embassy in London’s visa guidance for individual support on your application.

5. Cost of Living Differences in Slovakia

While this article is covering Slovakia as a whole, house prices will obviously vary from area to area but the figures below will give you an indication of what’s available at what price.

As a general note, it is estimated that the cost of living in Slovakia is 35,7% lower than that of the United Kingdom, with rent being around 73.2% lower.

Monthly Rental Prices in Slovakia:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: €680+
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: €530+
3 bedroomed flat in City Centre: €1,200+
3 bedroomed flat outside the City Centre: €850+

Slovakia Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: €5,000+
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside the City: €3,500+

Source: Numbeo

6. Tax Treaties in Slovakia

Slovakia operates a personal income tax (PIT) which ranges from 19% to 25% depending on your gross income amount. Certain types of income may be subject to different tax rates.

The corporate income tax in Slovakia is 21%, with reduced rates applying to certain activities – for instance, research and development services. There’s a general VAT added to goods and services of 20%, while some services may benefit from a reduced rate of 10% or even 0% on some specific goods.

If you are employed in Slovakia, you will contribute to social security, which helps to fund the country’s healthcare, pensions and other social benefits. These rates can vary and are usually calculated based on your gross income, with caps on the contributions per year or term.

Slovakia has entered into a double taxation treaty to avoid the double taxation of income.

These rates can of course change with time, so it’s best to stay up-to-date with the latest rates as and when they apply to you.

7. Working Rules in Slovakia

There are several work permits available in Slovakia which are applicable for different employment situations. Some of the most common are:

Temporary residence for employment
Blue card
Intra-company transfer (ICT)
Seasonal employment
Research and development permit

The temporary residence permit gives the citizen permission to live and work in Slovakia for a given time period as outlined in their employment terms. This will cease when the job contract ends.

A blue card is a residence and work permit given to highly skilled individuals, allowing the holder to live and work in Slovakia. The individual must meet certain criteria to obtain this, including higher education, a job contract/offer and a salary that is deemed 1.5 the average salary in Slovakia.

The ICT covers the individual for purposes of them being transferred to work for the Slovakian branch of their existing company. Seasonal employment would be suitable for those visiting Slovakia for set contracts for a limited duration, such as seasonal work.

Research and development permits can be given to those conducting certain types of research that need to be carried out in the country.

Whatever your employment circumstances, it’s important to have your visa ironed out before entering the country to ensure a smooth transition. It’s also important to get up to speed with taxes and any beneficial programs, such as healthcare schemes so that you are completely clued up on your rights.

8. Healthcare in Slovakia

While the UK benefits from the NHS, offering free healthcare to those who need it, as well as elective private healthcare for a fee, in Slovakia you must register for healthcare – for which, Gov.uk advises you can use three insurance companies:

Union zdravotná poisťovňa (in Slovak only)
Dôvera zdravotná poisťovňa (in Slovak only)
Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa

If you are unable to register for healthcare for whatever reason, you must ensure you have private healthcare cover instead. If you are working in Slovakia and have an employment contract, you are not permitted to use your European or Global Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) as they will not be valid.

9. Rules Around Moving With Pets in Slovakia

Moving house includes lots of boxes of belongings – but it can also include some particularly important furry friends, too! If you need to move to Slovakia with a pet in tow, here’s what you need to know.

Gov.uk says that you must ensure that your pet – including cat, dog and ferret – has:

A microchip
Valid rabies vaccination
Animal health certificate or pet passport

Your pet must be deemed fit and healthy to travel at least 10 days prior to your trip to ensure the safety of them during the journey.

10. Similar Cities

The location considered most similar to Slovakia is the Czech Republic – notably because they did once combine to create Czechoslovakia before splitting peacefully into separate nations in 1993.

For this reason, there is an obvious shared history between the two countries, including the Velvet Divorce – the period in which the two countries split. There are Slavic backgrounds in both countries, which encompass similar cultural traditions, language and folklore.

They are neighbouring countries, giving similar climates and geographical landscapes, and both appeal to tourists looking for medieval architecture and picturesque vistas.

11. Pros and Cons of Moving to Slovakia from the UK

Perhaps you’re moving for a new job opportunity, or just want to try out a completely different country and climate – whatever your reason for wanting to move from the UK to Slovakia, let’s take a look at some of the main pros and cons associated with moving.

Advantages of Moving from the UK to Slovakia	Disadvantages of Moving from the UK to Slovakia
Cost of Living: Slovakia generally has a lower cost of living than the UK, including housing, groceries, and everyday expenses	Language Barrier: While English is increasingly spoken, especially in urban areas, there might be language barriers, and knowledge of Slovak can be beneficial for daily life
Natural Beauty: Slovakia is known for its stunning landscapes, including the High Tatras, castles, and picturesque towns, offering a rich and diverse environment	Limited Job Market: The job market may be more limited compared to larger European countries, and finding suitable employment can be competitive
Cultural Heritage: Slovakia has a rich cultural history, with medieval towns, folk traditions, and a vibrant arts scene, providing a unique cultural experience	Bureaucracy Challenges: Navigating administrative processes and bureaucracy may pose challenges, and understanding local procedures is essential
Central European Location: Slovakia's central location allows for easy travel to neighbouring countries, providing opportunities for exploration and cultural diversity	Public Transportation: While improving, public transportation infrastructure may not be as extensive or efficient as in some countries

Whatever you decide, you must understand the legal factors affecting your move – be sure to check Gov.uk for all the information you need.