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On 18 December 2024, the Government of the Slovak Republic approved the National Implementation Plan of the Slovak Republic for the Reform of Asylum and Migration Policy.[1] The Plan is based on the Common Implementation Plan prepared by the European Commission with the aim of ensuring uniform implementation across all Member States. From Slovakia’s perspective, the Plan identifies several key challenges:
- The introduction of a border procedure, which had not previously existed in Slovakia. This requires the development of the necessary infrastructure, material and technical capacities, information systems, and staffing. In this regard, the construction of a new hybrid administrative and accommodation facility near Slovakia’s external border with Ukraine is envisaged. The facility is intended to enable the effective screening of persons arriving in Slovakia, their subsequent referral to asylum or return procedures, and the handling of appeals before the competent administrative courts.
- The need to streamline existing procedures through greater use of digitalisation and new technologies, including the strengthening, upgrading, and interconnection of existing information systems and databases used in the field of migration and asylum.
- the importance of reinforcing safeguards, particularly for minors and vulnerable persons arriving in Slovakia. This includes ensuring access to information on rights and obligations during different stages of proceedings, access to free legal counselling, the appointment of a sufficient number of guardians and legal representatives for minors, and the establishment of an effective independent monitoring mechanism for fundamental rights during procedures.
On 12 June 2025, the Government of the Slovak Republic approved the National Strategy of the Slovak Republic for the Management of Asylum and Migration[2], reflecting the requirements arising from the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The first two chapters of the Strategy follow the template established by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/503 of 18 March 2025, which aims to ensure comparability of national asylum and migration management strategies across Member States.
Building upon the Migration Policy of the Slovak Republic with a View to 2025, the National Strategy represents the current migration policy of Slovakia and establishes a comprehensive framework for asylum and migration management for the following five years. It addresses key migration-related areas while referring to strategies and policy concepts already developed in specific sectors.
In April 2026, the Parliament of the Slovak Republic (Národná rada Slovenskej Republiky) adopted a new International Protection Act (IPA), which entered into force on 12 June 2026, replacing the former Asylum Act and amending several related legal instruments. Its main objective is the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The most significant changes include:
- Introduction of a asylum border procedure: applications examined under the border procedure must be decided within 12 weeks and, in exceptional cases, within 16 weeks, including the appeal procedure. Following a decision by the police authority that an application will be examined under the asylum border procedure, the applicant will be subject to a regime of deprivation or restriction of liberty of movement. Such decisions are subject to judicial review. During the procedure, applicants will be accommodated in a specialised facility.
- Introduction of new terminology: the term “asylum applicant” (žiadateľ o azyl) is replaced by “applicant for international protection” (žiadateľ o medzinárodnú ochranu), while the term “person provided with subsidiary protection” (osoba s poskytnutou doplnkovou ochranou) is replaced by “foreigner granted subsidiary protection” (cudzinec s udelenou doplnkovou ochranou).
- Expansion of detention grounds and stricter safeguards against removal: the grounds for detention are broadened, while the conditions under which a person may not be expelled or extradited for criminal prosecution are tightened.
- Introduction of free legal counselling during the first-instance procedure: the Act introduces free legal counselling for applicants already at first instance. It also allows such counselling to be provided in groups or through audio-visual communication technologies.
- Mandatory audio recording of interviews: interviews must be audio-recorded. The recording is stored on a data carrier attached to the asylum file, or a note is made in the asylum file indicating where the recording is stored.
- Scope of health care for minor applicants for international protection: Minor applicants for international protection will be provided with health care to the same extent as that provided under public health insurance.
- Changes to subsidiary protection status: subsidiary protection is now granted for an indefinite period, and foreigner granted subsidiary protection acquire permanent residence in Slovakia. Previously, subsidiary protection was granted initially for one year, with the possibility of repeated extensions of two years, while beneficiaries were granted temporary residence. Holders of subsidiary protection are now covered by public health insurance.
- Establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism: the independent monitoring mechanism will be carried out by the Public Defender of Rights.
- Travel Documents: Travel Documents for Foreigners under the Act on the Travel Documents will now be issued only to refugees granted 1951 Geneva Convention Asylum and Constitutional Asylum. Beneficiaries of asylum for family reunification and asylum on humanitarian grounds will now be issued only a foreigners’ passport with validity of two years.
At the level of political statements, Slovakia continues to reject participation in mandatory solidarity mechanisms, whether in the form of relocations or financial contributions.[3]
[3] See the press release of the Ministry of the Interior of 8 December 2025, available (in Slovak) here, and the press release of 5 March 2026, available (in Slovak) here.