Slovakia - Business Travel Slovakia Business Travel
Business Customs
Business practices and etiquette in Slovakia represent a mixture of those used in Western Europe and the United States and those used in Eastern Europe. Decision-making in a company is often restricted to a small number of people, if not just one person. Even relatively minor decisions may require the approval of a high level official. Appointments should be made well in advance, with re-confirmations made one or two days prior to actual meetings. Business dress is similar to that in Western Europe.Titles and positions are highly respected and are generally used on business cards. U.S. business people occasionally have difficulty in receiving replies to inquiries and are encouraged to follow-up to ensure contact with the intended recipients. E-mail is the most common way of communicating.
Doing business successfully in Slovakia generally requires the establishment of good personal relationships and a feeling of mutual trust. General social conversation prior to getting down to business is the norm and launching directly into business topics may impede the development of a good personal relationship with the Slovak business partner. After initial meetings, written summaries of goals, objectives, and points of agreement or disagreement should be used to minimize misunderstandings among business parties.
Offers to host business dinners and/or lunches are welcomed as compensation for gifts. If invited to a person’s home, you are expected to bring flowers for the hosts. Small gifts are also appreciated, but not expected. It is common to give small presents such as a bottle of wine, cookies or chocolates in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Travel Advisory
Please check the following U.S. Department of State website for updated travel advisories.Visa Requirements
Slovak Entry Requirement for U.S. CitizensSlovakia is a party to the Schengen Agreement. As such, U.S. citizens may enter Slovakia for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa issued prior to departure from the United States. U.S. passports should be valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay.
In accordance with the Law of the National Council of Slovakia No. 48/2002 Coll. on the stay of foreigners in Slovakia as later amended by law 558/2005 (effective December 15, 2005), persons intending to stay in Slovakia longer than a total of 90 days during any 6-month period must submit an application for a Temporary Term Residence Permit, either at a Slovak diplomatic or consular mission in the country of their residence Embassy of Slovakia, 3523 International Court, NW, Washington D.C. 20008, telephone: 202-237-1054), or at the alien’s police department in the Slovak district of their residency. A permit can be granted for a period of not more than two years, with a possibility of repeated extensions provided that the application for renewal of the permit is submitted no later than 60 days before the expiration of its validity. Please check the documents needed to accompany an application for a permit, which is to be completed in Slovak.
Meeting the requirements of Slovak law to obtain a long-term stay permit can be a long and difficult process, with health and police checks, among other things, needed to complete the process. Slovak authorities have been criticized for the length of this process.
U.S. companies seeking long-stay residency permits for their employees should contact the Slovak Embassy in Washington, D.C., for further application information and detailed instructions. Most U.S. companies engage the services of an attorney with extensive knowledge and experience with Slovak immigration law to guide them through the application process.
U.S. Entry Requirements for Slovak Citizens.
Slovaks may travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). To travel under the VWP, Slovak citizens must have a biometric passport issued by the Slovak Government after January 1, 2008, an electronic travel authorization obtained in advance of the trip through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) , and be staying in the U.S. for 90 days or less for tourism or non-paid business purposes. Visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP can apply directly for travel authorization via this website. The ESTA application website is available in many different languages and includes a "help section" that helps guide VWP travelers through the application process. There is no benefit to utilizing private web sites that charge for information about ESTA or to apply for an ESTA on behalf of VWP travelers.
Embassy of the United States of America Consular section.
U.S. companies that require the travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following link for additional information.
Currency
Includes the local currency, other currencies commonly accepted and where, credit or debit cards accepted, access to ATMs that accept U.S. ATM networks (and which networks are readily accessible), and acceptability of travelers’ checks.Slovakia joined the Euro-zone on January 1, 2009. The EUR is therefore the official currency. Other currencies are commonly exchanged in banks and at exchange booths on the street.
Payments can be made with a credit or a debit card that holds the Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus Discover symbol. American Express and Diners Club are not as widely accepted, thus it is recommended to ask in advance when using them. Each bank affiliate has an ATM, and ATMs are plentiful in the cities. (The “ATM Slovakia” applications for Apple and Android can help you find the nearest ATM.) ATMs offer instructions in Slovak and other languages including English. Check the logos on ATMs to determine which card brands are accepted. Prior to your departure, ask your bank if they have a Slovak partner bank, find out what fees are charged when withdrawing cash abroad.
Bratislava is the home of Europe’s first Bitcoin ATM. Another bitcoin ATM is in Košice. Travelers’ checks are not accepted.
As of June 25, 2019, Apple Pay is available in Slovakia supported by these Slovak banks and applications: Boon, Edenred, J&T Banka, Monese, N26, Revolut, Slovenska Sporitelna, Tatra banka and mBank.
Telecommunications/Electronics
Includes information on internet accessibility, the cellular phone technology in use, which U.S. cell phone services work in this country, the prevalence of Wi-Fi in hotels, what types of voltage and plugs are used, and other technological information of interest to U.S. businesses.
The Slovak telecommunications system is comparable with other EU countries. Internet access in Slovakia is widespread. According to the Slovak Ministry of Telecommunications, there are approximately 1.27 million customers connected to the Internet with fixed access and approximately 7,2 million with mobile access. Internet access is easily available in all cities and towns. Wi-Fi spots are widely available in hotels and public places, including restaurants and coffee houses in several major cities.Mobile telecommunication and Internet services are provided in the LTE, GPRS/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, F-OFDM and UMTS/FDD standards. There are four mobile service providers in Slovakia: Orange, T mobile, O2 and Swan. More than 94% of the country is covered by mobile telephone service, with the exception of very remote rural areas. Fixed line services are very reliable. There is one primary fixed-line operator, T-Com, and 57 alternative fixed-line operators. The country code for Slovakia is +421. Direct-dial, VoIP and cellular telephone calls can be made easily throughout the country.
Electric voltage is 220 volts, with a frequency of 50 Hz. Slovakia uses the standard continental European "europlug," with 2 round pins and a socket and plug system.
Transportation
Includes how to get to and from the country/economy as well as the different transportation options and their reliability within this country.
Slovakia's transportation system is well organized but some modes of transport are aging. Commercial air transport is available regularly from Bratislava and Košice, and seasonally from the Žilina, Piešťany and Poprad - Tatry international airports. The country’s leading international airport is Bratislava with 2.22 million passengers, 30,366 flights and 26,000 tons of cargo.Slovakia does not have a national carrier. Commercial service operators at Bratislava airport are: Ryanair, Pobeda, Flydubai, Wizz Air, Smartwings, Cyprus Airlines, Air Cairo, ABS Jets, AirExplore, Air Transport Europe, Elite Jet, Go2Sky, JetAge and Tatra Jet. The top three are Ryanair (roughly 80% of flights), Wizz Air, and FlyDubai. The summer flight schedule can be viewed here. Since December 2018 there are no flights connecting Bratislava (West) with Kosice (East).
Commercial air transportation in Slovakia is hampered by the close proximity (30 miles) of Bratislava to the Vienna International Airport and the availability of long-haul flights from there. Vienna International Airport can be reached by car, taxi or scheduled bus service that starts at as low as EUR 1 (USD 1.14) per ride.
Travelers should check destinations and timetables carefully, as they change frequently. Travel by train within Slovakia is reliable, although coaches are not generally up to the standards of those in Western Europe.
Private Czech companies RegioJet and Leo Express service specific rail routes and compete with Slovakrail in price and in service (WIFI, free refreshments, food delivery to the seat, mobile bar, free newspapers, and 24hour free parking).
Automobile travel is another option, although, due to many narrow two-lane roads, travelers often find that driving times can be longer than expected.
Slovakia imposes a "road user fee" for intercity highways and certain other roads, which applies to both citizens and foreigners. Fees vary by length of validity and vehicle type and weight. E-stickers can be purchased at border crossings, gas stations, and through the internet or mobile applications. Information on highways and stickers can be found here. Vehicles exceeding 3.5 tons (trucks, buses, etc.) are obliged to pay additional tolls on certain highways and motorways. Please check the following website for fees and a list of roads that require the purchase of an e-sticker. Taxi service is readily available, reliable, safe, and generally inexpensive. Many drivers do not speak English, but some taxi companies have English-speaking dispatchers. Potential difficulties may arise from the confusing system of multiple rates (based on distance, location, use of a highway or a regular road when getting to the destination and how the taxi was called, whether by telephone or at a taxi stand), but taxis are metered. It is advisable to call for a taxi or use UBER, HOPIN, BOLT (Taxify) or LIFTAGO applications rather than hail one on the street, as called taxis are typically less expensive and more reliable. All major cities have public bus and tram services that are convenient and inexpensive.
Language
Includes official and accepted business languages spoken in this country/economy.
Slovak is the official language. Slovaks are usually friendly and open to Americans, and English is increasingly used as a business language, especially in Bratislava. German is also widely spoken as a second language. . Czech is very well understood. Russian is widely understood by older Slovaks. Hungarian is spoken by about 10% of the population, mainly in southern Slovakia, but is not widely understood in Bratislava. Many Slovak companies have English speakers among their top managers, but U.S. business representatives should be prepared to sometimes do business through interpreters in order to avoid possible misunderstandings.Health
Includes health and sanitation standards within the country, as well as any potential health risks that businesspeople should be aware of. Includes any mandatory or highly recommended vaccinations.
There have been no major health risks encountered in Slovakia. Updates may be found here. There are several private medical clinics in Bratislava with English-speaking doctors on staff. Many private dentists use the most recent technologies and equipment. Medicines are easily available at pharmacies conveniently located throughout larger towns and cities. Some provide 24-hour service. Pharmacies in smaller cities and towns may be closed during the weekend. Prescriptions are always required. If a U.S. traveler’s private health insurance does not cover medical services in Slovakia, it is highly recommended that he or she obtain temporary coverage from a well-known international insurance company. Hygienic standards are comparable to those in Western Europe.Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays
Includes the local time zone, typical hours of business and a list of holidays in the country/economy.
Slovakia is on CET (Central European Time). As in many European countries, the workweek is Monday through Friday (40 working hours), and Saturday and Sunday are days off for most employees.The following holidays will be observed in Slovakia in 2019:
January 1 (Tuesday) Slovakia Day; New Year’s Day
January 6 (Sunday) Epiphany
April 19 (Friday) Good Friday
April 22 (Monday) Easter Monday
May 1 (Wednesday) Labor Day
May 8 (Wednesday) End of World War II
July 5 (Friday) St. Cyril & St. Methodius Day
August 29 (Thursday) Slovak National Uprising Day
September 1 (Sunday) Slovak Constitution Day
September 15 (Sunday) Day of the Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows
November 1 (Friday) All Saints Day
November 17 (Sunday) Day of the Fight for Freedom & Democracy
December 24 (Tuesday) Christmas Eve
December 25 (Wednesday) Christmas Day
December 26 (Thursday) St. Stephen's Day
Business travelers to the European Union seeking appointments with officials in the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, should contact the Commercial Service in advance.
The Commercial Service at the U.S. Mission to the European Union can be reached by telephone at +32-2 811-4100 or e-mail at Office.BrusselsEC@trade.gov. A current directory of staff and locations worldwide may be accessed on the U.S. Commercial Service website.
Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings
Includes information on what is required for temporary entry.There are no difficulties or special requirements for bringing personal items such as software, laptops and other belongings into Slovakia on a temporary basis. See “Temporary Entry” above for information on obtaining temporary import approval for commercial goods.
Business Travel Web Resources
U.S Department of State Travel Information and Resources
Embassy of Slovakia in the United States
U.S. Embassy in Slovakia
Bratislava Stefanik International Airport
Vienna International Airport
Slovak Toll Road Network Information
Slovak National Tourism Portal
State Department Visa