Contents
For a residence application the foreign police almost always require foreign documents authenticated with an apostille (or superlegalisation) and accompanied by a sworn translation into Slovak. There is also a rule that surprises many: a translation done abroad must additionally be confirmed by a Slovak diplomatic mission – whereas a translation by a sworn translator in Slovakia is accepted directly. This guide sums up which documents are required, what needs an apostille, and why translating in Slovakia is the safest route.
Which documents the foreign police require
The exact list depends on the type and purpose of residence (work, business, study, family reunification), but the core recurs: a document proving the purpose of residence (employment contract, school confirmation, trade licence, or marriage/birth certificate for family), a criminal-record extract from your home country, proof of accommodation, health insurance, and proof of financial means.
Not sure which documents apply to your case? Tell us the purpose of residence – we say which of them need an apostille and translation, so you don’t get stuck on a request for supplements at the foreign police.
Authentication and translation: what to watch for
Every document issued abroad must be authenticated for the foreign police – by an apostille in Hague Convention states, otherwise by consular superlegalisation – and accompanied by a sworn translation into Slovak (Czech is also accepted).
Mind two things. First, documents enclosed with the application must be no older than 90 days – arrange the criminal-record extract, especially, right before filing. Second, if you have a document translated abroad, the foreign police usually require confirmation from a Slovak diplomatic mission that an authorised person produced it (a translation from the Czech Republic is exempt). So the cleanest solution is to have the translation produced in Slovakia by a sworn translator – one authentication step falls away.
Source: Residence of foreigners – Slovak Ministry of Interior (foreign police) · as of 2026
Ukrainian documents and temporary protection
Ukrainians under temporary protection (odídenci) have a separate regime, but when switching to another type of residence – for work, say – the same requirements apply: an apostille and a sworn translation of the documents.
A Ukrainian document usually needs to be apostilled by a Ukrainian authority, which you cannot do in Slovakia. We can: we arrange the apostille directly in Ukraine through our own Kharkiv and Kyiv offices and then translate the document officially. We align the name spelling with your passport – a transliteration mismatch is a common reason an authority sends a file back.
The most common mistakes that drag out the procedure
Files are most often returned because of the exceeded 90-day window (an old criminal-record extract), a missing apostille, an inconsistent name spelling across documents, and a translation that is not sworn or was produced abroad without confirmation from a Slovak diplomatic mission.
All of it is avoidable by preparing in the right order: apostille first, then a sworn translation in Slovakia with a unified name spelling – and filing before any document passes 90 days.
Step by step
- Determine the type and purpose of residence – it decides the exact document list.
- Obtain the documents in your home country (especially the criminal-record extract) and apostille them.
- Have the documents translated into Slovak in Slovakia – by a sworn translator, with a unified name spelling.
- File the application with the foreign police before any document passes 90 days.
- Respond to any authority requests; after residence is granted, meet the arrival deadline (180 days).
What we help with
We take care of the apostille of Ukrainian documents and their sworn translation into Slovak – in a single order and with a unified name spelling. As the translation is produced by a sworn translator in Slovakia, the foreign police accept it without a diplomatic-mission confirmation. Details are on the sworn Ukrainian translation page; for the whole document package see also documents for Slovakia. If you need an interpreter for the interview, we also provide interpreting.
Preparing your residence documents?
Send scans – we arrange the apostille from Ukraine and the sworn translation into Slovak, ready for the foreign police.
Get a quoteFAQ: documents for the foreign police
Must the criminal-record extract be apostilled?
Yes – a foreign criminal-record extract for the foreign police must be apostilled (or superlegalised) and must be no older than 90 days. Obtain it right before filing the application.
Is a translation I had done abroad enough?
A translation done abroad usually needs confirmation from a Slovak diplomatic mission that an authorised person produced it (except a translation from the Czech Republic). So it is simpler to have it produced by a sworn translator in Slovakia.
Which documents must I translate into Slovak?
Usually all foreign documents enclosed with the application – the criminal-record extract, birth and marriage certificates, the proof of purpose and others. Authorities accept a sworn translation into Slovak (and into Czech).
How long are the documents valid?
Documents enclosed with the application must be no older than 90 days. Plan the apostille and translation so you file within that window.
Do you arrange the apostille of Ukrainian documents?
Yes – we arrange the apostille of Ukrainian documents directly in Ukraine through our own offices and then translate the document officially into Slovak in a single order.
