
9 EU Countries That Grant Citizenship to the Great Grandchildren of Their Citizens
Globally, hundreds of millions of people have a great grandparent from an EU country. Too few of them are picking up citizenships for free.
Slovakia offers a Business Residence Permit for foreign entrepreneurs who establish or manage companies in Slovakia. Successful applicants receive a 2-year renewable residence permit, which can lead to permanent residence after 5 years and citizenship after 8 years of continuous residence.
The program requires registering a Slovak company and maintaining business activities, with different financial requirements based on the type of business activity.
To qualify for the Slovakia Residence for the Purpose of Business, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Business Registration:
Applicants must establish a business in Slovakia, such as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or another legal entity, and provide proof of business registration with the Slovak Commercial Register.
Proof of Sufficient Financial Resources:
Applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to sustain themselves during their stay in Slovakia. The required amount depends on the type of applicant:
For Individual Applicants:
Applicants must show funds amounting to 20 times the monthly subsistence minimum for living expenses.
For Company Representatives:
Applicants representing a company must prove they have 100 times the monthly subsistence minimum.
For Business Operations (if applicable):
Proof of sufficient funds is also required for the business itself. The amount depends on the type and scale of the business:
Financial resources must be demonstrated through bank statements, balance confirmations, or other financial documents showing the required amounts.
Accommodation Evidence:
Applicants must provide proof of suitable accommodation in Slovakia, such as a lease agreement, property ownership document, or a statement from a host.
Proof of Health Insurance:
Applicants must provide documentation of valid health insurance covering the duration of their stay in Slovakia.
Clean Criminal Record:
Applicants must submit a criminal record certificate from their country of origin and any country where they have resided for more than 90 days in the last three years.
Valid Travel Document:
A photocopy of a valid travel document, such as a passport, is required.
Recent Photos:
Applicants must submit passport-sized photos (3×3.5 cm) taken in the last six months.
Applicants can apply for permanent residency after 5 years of continuous legal residence in Slovakia. After residing legally for 8 years, they may apply for Slovak citizenship.
Note: Slovakia generally does not permit dual citizenship. Applicants may be required to renounce their original nationality when applying for Slovak citizenship.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Applications for this program may be directed to Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic.
Legislation upon which this program is based Act No. 404/2011 on Residence of Foreigners and Amendment and Supplementation of Certain Acts.

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See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.